The conservative Jews revolted against the Jews that collaborated with the Greeks, and the Seleucids themselves. It was called the "Maccabean Revolt" after its leader, Judas Maccabaeus. The revolt was a sucess, with the Jews defeating the Seleucids and regaining control of the Temple and Jerusalem in 165/4BCE. Hannukkah was established to commemorate the victory, and the Jews were able to establish self-rule for the first time since the Babyloanina exiel. The Maccabean revolt have rise to the Hasmonean Dynasty.
The rulers expanded the Jewish territory, but Jewish self rule only lasted for about a century. The Hasmonean rulers became very Hellenized, and they assumed the positions of High Priest and King. They used brutal tactics, and forcibly "Judaized" surrounding gentile regions. Again we see the rise in Priesthood, with their taking the promise to David and redirecting it to themselves. Eventually we see that Jewish self rule turned into a dictatorship, and in 63BCE the Romans capture Jerusalem, under the leadership of Pompey.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Hellenistic Jerusalem
During the Persian period, we saw the High Priest rise in leadership. The Hellenistic period begins when Alexander the Great defeats the Persian King in 333. During this time we see the first mention of Palestine, which Greek translation of Hebrew "Philistine" and applied to the territory around Israel and Judah. After Alexander dies, his kingdom is divided, with Ptolemies capturing Jerusalem first, giving Jerusalem autonomy, but then the Jerusalem is annexed by the Seleucids, who advocate for the people and city to become Hellenized. They try to Hellenize the Jews, and make them speak Greek, and at the same time try to turn Jerusalem into a Polis, or city, of Greek life.
From this time we see every aspect of Jewish life affected by Hellenization. Their tombs are look very similar to the Greek. We also see gymnasiums and theaters sprouting up during this time. In addition we also see it affect the household, where people would eat there was found a mosaic of Greek mythology. Greek becomes the most spoken language of Jews and we see the Septuagint (Hebrew Bible translated to Greek). Some Jews resisted and Antiochus IV, in 167BCE, outlaws Jewish practice and he sacrifices a pig on the temple, and converts the temple to a Temple to Zeus, leading eventually to a Jewish revolt.
From this time we see every aspect of Jewish life affected by Hellenization. Their tombs are look very similar to the Greek. We also see gymnasiums and theaters sprouting up during this time. In addition we also see it affect the household, where people would eat there was found a mosaic of Greek mythology. Greek becomes the most spoken language of Jews and we see the Septuagint (Hebrew Bible translated to Greek). Some Jews resisted and Antiochus IV, in 167BCE, outlaws Jewish practice and he sacrifices a pig on the temple, and converts the temple to a Temple to Zeus, leading eventually to a Jewish revolt.
Persian Jerusalem
The Persian Period in Jerusalem was from 539 - 333BCE. While in exile, the prophet Ezekiel get's a vision where he sees that the God in a mobile ark. It's interesting to see that his prophecy comes when the Jewish people are at the lowest point in their faith. Perhaps the vision did come at the perfect time, because it help establish that God was still around, and he was once again mobile, he was not stationary as in the temple. King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and he gave them money to construct their temple. But everything was not easy when the exiled Jews came back because some Jews had still remained in Jerusalem and conflicts arose between the 2 groups.
During this time Jerusalem is still recovering, with their population being very small. In addition they are heavily taxed by the Persians, but they are still allowed some more freedom than before because they were allowed to return to Jerusalem, and rebuild their temple. Conflicts arose over people that wanted the temple rebuilt, while others who did not want it to be built because they liked the way things were. We also see that during this time, since there was no Davidic king, the rise of the High Priest and his increasing role over the people. This made sense, since both King and Priest were the main leaders of the people, but now with no official King, the High Priest at the time could have seen it as a perfect chance to rise in power and lead the people.
During this time Jerusalem is still recovering, with their population being very small. In addition they are heavily taxed by the Persians, but they are still allowed some more freedom than before because they were allowed to return to Jerusalem, and rebuild their temple. Conflicts arose over people that wanted the temple rebuilt, while others who did not want it to be built because they liked the way things were. We also see that during this time, since there was no Davidic king, the rise of the High Priest and his increasing role over the people. This made sense, since both King and Priest were the main leaders of the people, but now with no official King, the High Priest at the time could have seen it as a perfect chance to rise in power and lead the people.
Exilic Jerusalem
During the late 7th century and early 6th century the Babylonian Empire, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar, was growing in power, and eventually defeated the previous powerhouse, the Assyrians. Josiah was killed by Pharoah Neco at Meggido in 609BCE. Jerusalem eventually fell to the Babylonians, and went through three exiles, but the 2nd Babylonian exile, in 586BCE, saw the destruction of Temple and the city. We also see the mention of Jews in a Babylonian tablet, showing some evidence that Jews were present in Babylon, and perhaps due to exile. Some evidence we have of the destruction of Jerusalem is burnt layers in a house, and a sharp decline in the population of the land.
During their exile, the Jewish people began to question God and their faith, because they were promised many things, such as a Davidic line, a land, which they no longer had. In addition, this entire time they thought that God resided in the temple, but now that it was destroyed they thought where did he go, or where does he live now? They went through a time of cognitive dissonance, where they held two opposing beliefs. A belief they thought they knew that God would always protect them and reside in the temple, but now with the exile and their temple destroyed they could no longer believe what they knew before. In order to maintain their faith they had to redefine the promises and their beliefs. Since they no longer had a temple to worship in, they did other things that helped continue their faith, such as eating only certain foods, and praying.
During their exile, the Jewish people began to question God and their faith, because they were promised many things, such as a Davidic line, a land, which they no longer had. In addition, this entire time they thought that God resided in the temple, but now that it was destroyed they thought where did he go, or where does he live now? They went through a time of cognitive dissonance, where they held two opposing beliefs. A belief they thought they knew that God would always protect them and reside in the temple, but now with the exile and their temple destroyed they could no longer believe what they knew before. In order to maintain their faith they had to redefine the promises and their beliefs. Since they no longer had a temple to worship in, they did other things that helped continue their faith, such as eating only certain foods, and praying.
Josiah's Jerusalem
In the Hebrew Bible, Hezekiah and Josiah are mentioned as being good kings, while other rulers of Jerusalem don't receive that title. The main reason why Hezekiah and Josiah are considered "good" kings is because they brought about relligious reforms. Both had tried to remove idol worships from temple, by destroying idols and any objects they thought were being workshiped. This centralizing worship to the Hebrew God and the Temple in Jerusalem. These acts of bringing people back to worshipping the one and only Hebrew God at the temple in Jerusalem are main reasons that both kings were thought to be "good" kings. The Bible claims that those who do good things, will be blessed by God.
During Hezekiah's reign we see an increase in literacy, as more writings were found during this time. We have Mezad Hasavyahu that had biblical references, mentioning injustices to the poor. Even more surprising was the letter by a soldier, where he writes that he is able to read and write, and he doesn't need a scribe. We see that at this time not only were the rich, or royal class, able to read and write, but also literacy may have spread all the way to a soldier in an army. In addition, the reason a book was chosen to collect the stories of the Hebrew people and God was because it allowed different people to interpret those stories, and to share those stories with others in an easier way, and stories written down will last long as they can simply be passed down and read by someone else.
During Hezekiah's reign we see an increase in literacy, as more writings were found during this time. We have Mezad Hasavyahu that had biblical references, mentioning injustices to the poor. Even more surprising was the letter by a soldier, where he writes that he is able to read and write, and he doesn't need a scribe. We see that at this time not only were the rich, or royal class, able to read and write, but also literacy may have spread all the way to a soldier in an army. In addition, the reason a book was chosen to collect the stories of the Hebrew people and God was because it allowed different people to interpret those stories, and to share those stories with others in an easier way, and stories written down will last long as they can simply be passed down and read by someone else.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Lecture 5.2 Hezekiah's Jerusalem
Hezekiah had fortified the city and extended the water supply in order to prepare for an attack from the Assyrians. In the Bible we then get a reference to a messiah in the Book of Isaiah. In Isiah 9:1-7 there is a mention of a child born that will rule in the throne of David and bring peace. In addition to that, in Isaiah 10 there is another prophecy that the holy mountain, which we can interpret as Jerusalem, will be not be hurt or destroyed. So both of these chapters in the Book of Isaiah speak of prophecys deal with the an upcoming attack from the Assyrians and how Jerusalem will be saved from this attacks.
Eventually in the Book of Isaiah we read of the event that could be one of the greatest catalyst in for beginning the legend of Jerusalem as an inviolable city. In Isaiah 36-39 we read of how God delivers Jerusalem from the Assyrians. The Assyrians were able to wipe out all the other cities in Judah, but they weren't able to capture Jerusalem. Thus the people in Jerusalem took this as a sign that their God will always protect this city and their people and he will never let anything bad happen. We have archaeological evidence that the Assyrians went after Jerusalem in the Sennacherib's Prism. The prism mentions that the Assyrians went after the city of Jerusalem, but it never actually states that the city was captured.
Eventually in the Book of Isaiah we read of the event that could be one of the greatest catalyst in for beginning the legend of Jerusalem as an inviolable city. In Isaiah 36-39 we read of how God delivers Jerusalem from the Assyrians. The Assyrians were able to wipe out all the other cities in Judah, but they weren't able to capture Jerusalem. Thus the people in Jerusalem took this as a sign that their God will always protect this city and their people and he will never let anything bad happen. We have archaeological evidence that the Assyrians went after Jerusalem in the Sennacherib's Prism. The prism mentions that the Assyrians went after the city of Jerusalem, but it never actually states that the city was captured.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Lecture 5.1 Hezekiah's Jerusalem
The "Golden Age" in Jerusalem is considered to be the time between David and Solomon's reign. Once Solomon dies, his son, Rehoboam, is the next in line to become King, but the North part of the Kingdom, Israel, doesn't want him to be their king unless he accepts their demands, which include lowering taxes. Rehoboam denies their demands, believing to assert his power, but the North decides to secede and Israel sets Jeroboam as their King. The North build shrines in their region, in Bethel and Dan, in order to prevent people from going to the temple in Jerusalem and the South also builds alternate shrines at Beer-Sheva and the Arad temple.
After the Kingdom became divided, the North and South sought help of greater, bigger nations to help defend their state from attacks. Some of the nations they sought help from included, Syria, Assyria, and Egypt. The Assyrian Empire grows in power and strength and in 721 BCE they take over the capital of Israel. Jerusalem saw expansion and growth because of the exiled people of Israel moving into the city. Assyria used public display of the people they killed in order to frighten people.
Once Hezekiah comes into power we see that he begins preparing for a rebellion against the Assyrian empire. He begins to fortify the city by building the "Broad" Wall." Next we see him also finding means of getting water into the city. He builds Hezekiah's tunnel to bring water into the city and the tunnel inscription, or grafitti text, describes the building of the of the tunnel during 710BCE. We also see that he built the"Israel" pool and Hezekiah's Pool to hold the water inside the city. During this time they also found LMLK, meaning "belonging to the the king," seal impressions on jars of grain in order to stock up on food. He did all of this to prepare in case once they rebelled that Assyria would block of all the food and water supplies outside of the city.
"Run Devil Run" by SNSD. Because Hezekiah and Jerusalem didn't run away from the Assyrians.
After the Kingdom became divided, the North and South sought help of greater, bigger nations to help defend their state from attacks. Some of the nations they sought help from included, Syria, Assyria, and Egypt. The Assyrian Empire grows in power and strength and in 721 BCE they take over the capital of Israel. Jerusalem saw expansion and growth because of the exiled people of Israel moving into the city. Assyria used public display of the people they killed in order to frighten people.
Once Hezekiah comes into power we see that he begins preparing for a rebellion against the Assyrian empire. He begins to fortify the city by building the "Broad" Wall." Next we see him also finding means of getting water into the city. He builds Hezekiah's tunnel to bring water into the city and the tunnel inscription, or grafitti text, describes the building of the of the tunnel during 710BCE. We also see that he built the"Israel" pool and Hezekiah's Pool to hold the water inside the city. During this time they also found LMLK, meaning "belonging to the the king," seal impressions on jars of grain in order to stock up on food. He did all of this to prepare in case once they rebelled that Assyria would block of all the food and water supplies outside of the city.
"Run Devil Run" by SNSD. Because Hezekiah and Jerusalem didn't run away from the Assyrians.
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