1. Israelite History Thousands of Years of Development
Part I by Jack Mahoney Part II by Gina Belmonte

2. Six Major Middle Eastern Empires
In biblical history, the land of Israel/Palestine was ruled by six major empires:
Egyptians
Assyrians
Babylonians
Persians
Greeks
Romans
Mnemonic Aid: “Eat At Bob’s, Pasadena’s Greatest Restaurant”

3. Pre-Historic Period 3760 BCE - traditional date of creation of world
Year 1 in Jewish calendar
Is Gen 1-11 factual history (Orthodox/Fundamentalist view)?
or foundational myths about basic theological truths (Liberal/Progressive view)?

4. HEBREW / ISRAELITE PERIOD (2nd Millennium to ca. 539 BCE)
ca ca BCE - EGYPTIAN are overlords of area that later belongs to Jewish people, or today’s Israel.
ca Foundations of Israelite People under Patriarchs/ Ancestors; God promises to give Holy Land to Abraham’s descendants

5. Patriarchs 1) ABRAHAM & Sarah (+ her handmaid Hagar)
2) Isaac & Rebekah (+ elder half-brother Ishmael, son of Hagar)
3) Jacob = Israel (two wives, Leah & Rachel, & two handmaids, Zilpah & Bilhah)
4) Twelve Sons of Jacob = 12 Tribes of Israel (Judah = "Royal Tribe"; Levi = "Priestly Tribe"; Joseph; Benjamin; etc.)

6. Moses & the Exodus Generation
ca Israelites (a.k.a. Hebrews) in Egypt (since time of Joseph, the "dreamer"); welcome at first, but later in slavery
ca MOSES and the Exodus –
Plagues; Passover; Exodus from Egypt;
Torah/Covenant on Mount Sinai;
Wandering in the Desert for 40 years
(books of Exodus - Deuteronomy)
Have Jews learned more from troubled eras than from good eras?
What elements of Jewish faith are tied to the Exodus?

7. Joshua and the Judges
ca – after Moses’ death, conquest of Promised Land led by Joshua
Loose confederation of 12 tribes of Israel
Charismatic military/political leaders called "Judges“:
Samson, Deborah, etc.
Events recorded in books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth

8. United Kingdom of Israel: The Golden Age
ca tribes in one united monarchy; first ruler King Saul; continual war with Philistines
ca Jerusalem conquered by King DAVID’s army; made capital of all Israel; David expands kingdom; God promises House of David will rule Israel forever (2 Sam 7)
ca First Temple built in Jerusalem by David’s son, King Solomon; worship centralized
ca Death of Solomon; throne succession struggles; kingdom divides into two parts: North vs. South

9. Divided Monarchies (922 BCE - 587 BCE)
North
"Kingdom of Israel"; ruled by several series of corrupt kings;
721 - fall of Northern Kingdom & capital Samaria to ASSYRIANS; deportation of most Israelites; importation of foreigners into areas of former Israel
South
"Kingdom of Judah"; ruled by David’s descendants: some bad, some good;
720's - religious reforms under King Hezekiah; resistance against Assyrian takeover
620's - religious reforms of King Josiah; Deuteronomy

10. Babylonian Conquest of Judah
605 - Babylon defeats Egypt; territory of Judah becomes part of Babylonian Empire
597 - First unsuccessful revolt of Judah vs. Babylon; ruling elite of Judah exiled to Babylon
587 - Another unsuccessful revolt of Judah vs. Babylon; total destruction of Jerusalem city & temple by Babylonians

11. Questions to Consider
Do you think the Babylonian exile foreshadowed a dark history to come?
To what extent is State of Israel today grounded on the biblical history and religious beliefs of the Jews?

12. Babylonian Exile
BCE - most upper-class Jews (officials, priests, artisans) deported to Babylon; others flee to Egypt, etc.;
much of HB written, esp. major prophets; final compilation of Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) & Deuteronomistic History (Joshua to 2 Kings) by Judean scribes living in exile in Babylon.

13. Persian Period 539 BCE – Babylonian empire conquered by Persians
King Cyrus allows all exiles to return to their homelands
Urges reconstruction of city & temple of Jerusalem
Book of Ezra & Nehemiah gives account
Ca. 520 – rebuilding of Second Temple in Jerusalem
Not as nice or large as Solomon’s Temple
Ca – more exiles return to Jerusalem
Led by priest Ezra & governor Nehemiah
Some Jews stay in other parts of the Middle East, sometimes in conflict with other nations.
Book of Esther

15. Hellenistic/Greek Era
334 – Alexander the Great begins conquest of Persian Empire (cf. Daniel 11:1-4)
Hellenization = establishment of Greek language, religion, culture, government throughout East (2 Macc 4:13-15)
323 Alexander dies; empire divided among four generals (Daniel 7)
Hellenistic Empire Divides (cf. 1 Maccabees 1-7)
Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt controls Palestine BCE
Seleucid dynasty from Syria rules Palestine BCE
Ca. 250 BCE – Septuagint (LXX)
HB translated into Greek in Alexandria, Egypt
More books added; categories rearranged

17. Maccabean Era
167 BCE – Desecration of Jerusalem Temple by Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Statues of Greek gods
Sparks revolt of Jews led by Judas “Maccabeus” ( )
Events recorded in First & Second Book of Maccabees
164 – Maccabean Revolt’s first main success: rededication of the Jerusalem Temple (2 Macc 8)
Hannukah, the Feast of Lights
ca – Short independence and expansion of Israel under Maccabean/Hasmonean rulers

18. Hasmonean Dynasty
BC – Hasmoneans rule Israel several generations
Rivalries among various Jewish Groups
Pharisees:
Popular group, mostly laymen
Strict observance of laws and traditions
Sadducees:
Smaller elite group, mostly priests
followed Torah, rejected new traditions.
Essenes:
Small group, lived “monastic” lifestyle near Dead Sea
Associated with Dead Sea Scrolls

19. Roman Era
63 BCE – ca. 650 CE
63 – Roman army under General Pompey takes over Middle East
40-4 BCE – King Herod the Great
Named “King” by Roman Senate
Fights to gain control over Israel
Builds cities with Roman temples, fortresses;
expands Jerusalem Temple.
4BCE – Herod dies;
Kingdom divided between three sons and one sister

21. During & After King Herod
Herod (40-4 BCE)
6-4BC Jesus born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth
Pharisees - (2nd cent. BCE – 1st cent. CE)
Precursors of “rabbis” (founders of “rabbinic Judaism”)
Followed laws of HB; also “traditions of the elders”
NT: Opponents of Jesus (Matt 23, Mark 8:11, Luke 12:1)
High Priests
Members of Tribe of Levi
Leaders of Jewish people; control Temple
Caiaphas: arrest & conviction of Jesus (Matt 26:3, John 11:49-53)
Roman Procurators (esp. Pilate 26-36CE)
Governors of provinces (e.g. Judea)
Military, civil & criminal jurisdiction
Jews had much self-government, run by Sanhedrin
Death penalty had to be approved & executed by Roman Procurator

22. First Jewish Revolt
66-74 CE – Jewish war vs. Rome begins in Galilee & Jerusalem
Recorded in Josephus’ Jewish War
68 CE – Most of Judea recaptured by Romans (General Vespasian)
Emperor Nero dies; Pause in war; 3 short-lived Emperors
70 CE – Jerusalem captured by Roman Army under General Titus (Emperor Vespasian’s son); city burned; Second Temple destroyed

23. Summary and Review 539 BCE – Persians (King Cyrus) conquer Babylon
rebuilding of 2nd Temple of Jerusalem
334 BCE – Alexander the Great & Hellenization of Mideast
323 – Alex dies; Empire divides: Ptolemies & Seleucids
167 BCE – Desecration of Temple by Antiochus IV
leads to Maccabean Revolt; Temple rededicated 164
63 BCE – ca. 650 CE – Romans Control Mideast
40-4 BCE – King Herod the Great
Ca. 30 CE – Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate
70 CE – destruction of 2nd Temple of Jerusalem