History 282/JWST 234 Hasmonean & Herodian Eras

Hasmonean Hellenizing of Judaic Practice Greek burial customs and funerary architecture but banning of any figurative representations of deity emphasis on bathing and ritual purity fine tuning of scripture (e.g., additions to Greek Esther) names continue to be Greek rise of the bet ha-midrash

Sectarian Judaisms period of religious growth and division I Maccabees 2: 29ff-41 –are these radical Sabbetarians? –how new is the Hasmonean textual interpretation?

Josephus’ Picture Antiquities XVIII 3 groups: –Pharisees (popular) -- piety of abstinence? –Sadducees (priestly) -- Zadok –Essenes (Qumran?) -- sicarii, others sectarians are a small minority

Social Message of Qumran much debated among scholars good overview on library of Congress website – ibit/intro.htmlhttp:// ibit/intro.html David Flusser: dualism, poverty, remaining within society, pre-destination, baptism

Roman Domination dynastic struggle between Hasmonean sons leads to Roman takeover shrinkage of control to Jerusalem and Galilee Pompey 63 BCE decline of high priesthood and replacement by Herodian dynasty

Herod 37-4 BCE elimination of last Hasmoneans administration dependent on himself city builder: Masada, Caesarea, Herodium, Tower of David, rebuilds Temple builds for Jews and pagans htm

Herod’s Death general unrest and rebellions - oppose changes period of mixed rule till 41 CE Agrippa I Pontius Pilate (c ) insensitive and cruel –removed at Jewish request

Judaean & Diaspora communities Philo of Alexandria -- member of a very wealthy and prominent Alexandrian Jewish family late first century BCE to mid first century CE mentioned by Josephus fusion of Greek and Jewish wisdom represents the Alexandrians before Gaius Caligula (37-41) -- becomes a spokesman for the Jewish people –“Legatio ad Gaium” ed. E. Mary Smallwood

Rebellion 66 CE -- tension turns into rebellion Josephus (Flavius) divisions among the Jerusalem defenders city destroyed 70 CE (Vespasian and Titus) Masada falls 73/74 Arch of Titus (c. 81?)

Revolts and Reform Jewish tax applied universally rebellions under Trajan CE Bar Kokhba CE –a star comes out of Jacob (Numb. 24:17) last stronghold Betar (SW of Jerusalem) major devastation

Yavneh story of Yohanan ben Zakkai restructuring of Judaism

Implications end of Judaea as center -- shift to Galilee passivity vis-à-vis the Romans