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Chapter 4
The Troubled World into
Which Jesus Was Born
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Key Topics/Themes
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The division of Alexander’s empire after his
death
The influence of Rome in Palestine
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Alexander and His Successors
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The conquests of Alexander
The Diadochi: Alexander’s successors
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The Ptolemies (descendants of Ptolemy I)
The Seleucids (descendants of Seleucus)
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Antiochus’s Persecution and
the Maccabean Revolt
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Palestine and the
Hellenistic Kingdoms
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The Seleucids gain control of Palestine
from the Ptolemies (199 B.C.E.)
The rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175163 B.C.E.)
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Rule of Antiochus IV
Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.E.)
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Forced Hellenization upon the Jews
Outlawed the traditions of Judaism
Made Jerusalem Temple into shrine to Greek
god Zeus
The martyrdoms endured by the Hasidim
(“pious ones”)
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Torah Loyalism, Martyrdom,
and the Reward of Future Life
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Torah loyalism and martyrdom in 2
Maccabees
Torah loyalism and martyrdom in the Book
of Daniel
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Maccabean Revolt
(166-142 B.C.E.)
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The defiance of Mattathias
Judas Maccabeus (the “Hammer”)
Rededication of the Temple, December 164
B.C.E.
The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah)
The Hasmonean dynasty (142-40 B.C.E.)
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Domination of Rome
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Roman general Pompey marches on
Palestine (63 B.C.E.)
Jewish Hasmonean kings reduced to client
rulers by Roman power
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The Career of Herod the Great
(37-4 B.C.E.)
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Herod’s political expansion
Herod’s building projects
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Fortresses (Masada)
Port city of Caesarea
Refurbishment of Jerusalem Temple
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Herod’s Successors
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Herod’s three sons
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Herod Philip (4 B.C.E.-34 C.E.)
Herod Antipas (4 B.C.E.-39 C.E.)
Herod Archelaus (4 B.C.E.-6 C.E.)
Judea ruled by procurators after 6 C.E.
Other significant descendants
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Herod Agrippa I (41-44 B.C.E.)
Herod Agrippa II
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Roman Emperors
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Augustus (27-14 C.E.)
Tiberius (14-37 C.E.)
New Testament attitudes toward Rome
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Jesus’ criticisms of Roman power
Key roles of Roman soldiers in Jesus ministry
Paul’s accommodating stance
Revelation: Rome an evil “harlot”
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Jewish Revolts Against Rome
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First revolt (66-73 C.E.)
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Incited by Jewish nationalists
Crushed by Vespasian and Titus
Jerusalem and Temple destroyed (70 C.E.)
Chief historical source: Flavius Josephus
The bar Kochba rebellion (132-135 C.E.)
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Summary
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Jesus’ life framed by Jewish wars for
independence
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Maccabean revolt (166-142 B.C.E.)
First Jewish revolt (66-73 C.E.)
Bar Kochba revolt (132-135 C.E.)
Jesus’ words and deeds to be interpreted in
the context of seething Jewish nationalism
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.