history 282/jwst 234
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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 – http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exh
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
• http://www.inisrael.com/ipix/java/holyland.htm
Herod’s Death
• general unrest and rebellions - oppose changes
• period of mixed rule till 41 CE Agrippa I
• Pontius Pilate (c. 26-36) 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 115-117 CE
• Bar Kokhba 132-35 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
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