Jerusalem in revolt 2/17/11

Jerusalem in Revolt

-Herod died in 4BCE
- Romans annex Jerusalem in 63 BCE- under Pompey
4 BCE up to the Great Jewish revolt
There are 2 Revolts, the first revolt in 66-73 BCE which was called the Great revolt and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 132-135 BCE. Jerusalem ceases to be Jerusalem after the Romans conquer it and call it Aelia Capitolina after the failure of the 2nd Revolt. The sources for the first revolt: the bible, Josephus wrote a book about the Jewish War and he also wrote a book called the Antiquity of the Jews. Explained the revolt as resulting from the zealots and corrupt Roman Governors relationships with the gentile population. Josephus was a General in the Jewish revolt against Rome and then he gave in his people to the Romans. Josephus was allowed to live and write histories of the Jews. Most scholars say that his history of the Jews is very pro Roman, tries to do away with Roman blame of destroying the temple. Tacitus histories said that the revolt arise from Messianism, new belief that there will be this son of David coming back and this new introduction of the promise to the Davidic dynasty happening again. He also said it was from an inept administration.
Herod the Great died in 4 BCE. The kingdom divided among three of his sons. And his sons had limited power. The son that got the lion share is Herod Archaelous- special title of ethnarch- the ruler of the people- they refused to call him king. He got Jerusalem, and Samaria. Herod was the last one they called king. He was ineffective, recalled to Rome and sent to exile in 6CE. Mathew Chapter verse 22 and 23 is a reference for Archaeleous. This is how we went to procurators- direct Roman governors. 2nd son- Antipas- named tetrarch rule of a quarter. He ruled from 4 BCE to 39 CE where he was exiled. Rule up in Galilee. The ministary of Jesus takes place in Galilee that is why we know more about Antipas. Luke 3, Ax 4 and more. Minted coins- with no human faces- to respect the Jewish people. Ruled over the Transjordan. 3rd son- Herod Philip- Philip 2nd the tetrarch. Ruled from 4BCE to 34 CE. Luke chapter 3- reference to him. Roman governors were sent to govern, called pocurators. One was Pontius Pilate- mentioned in the gospels, 26-36CE. Jews did not like him. Ordered Jesus to be executed. And he was recalled to Rome 36/37 CE. Evidence for him in the Pontius Pilate inscription. By 66 CE there is the first Jewish revolt- evidence for this is their own minted coins. First revolt: 66 CE revolt, Romans are defeated. 67 CE: Vespian appointed to conquer Galilee and Transjordan. 68-70: Nero dies. Vespain emperor in 70 CE, and then Titus. 9th of Ab- temple destroyed and northern city falls. Destruction: 70 CE by Titus, Hadrian built temple on ruins. Evidence: Herod’s palace, Masada, Judea Capita coins.
2nd Revolt: sources- Dio Cassius, Talmudic sources, and archaeology. Bar kokhba was the leader and was claimed as the Messiah by a great Rabbi. Center of Judaism migrates to Yavneh and then to Tiberias. Jerusalem is rebuilt as Aelia Capitolina, and the Jews are forbidden to visit Jerusalem. There are Bar Kokhba revolt coins- but the Hebrew is bad because he probably did not know much Hebrew. Bar Kokhba’s letters are written in multiple languages. Outcome: banned circumcision, rebuilt Jerusalem as Roman city- Aelia Capitolina and banned Jews from the city.
Rise of the synagogue: out of this broken promise of the temple. There were synagogues before, but later became the center. Evidence of synagogues: Capernaum synagogue in the 1st century.
This informed me of the details of the revolts and how they were successful or not. It also informed of how synagogues came to be and why- as a response of the temple being destroyed and also as a response of Jews not being allowed to visit Jerusalem.