History of the Second Temple Period - Research Paper Example

? History of the Second Temple Period Table of contents Introduction…………………………………….………………………………………....3 2. Highlight of the Second Temple Period…………………………………………………..3 3. Events, individuals, and groups that impacted on the Jews and land of Israel……………6 4. Herod's rule of Palestine and its Impacts………………………………………………....9 5. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………..11 History of the Second Temple Period Introduction The second temple period lasted in the period between 630 BCE and 70 CE in Jewish history in Judea1. The second temple period became complete at the beginning of the first Jewish-roman war and the demolition of the Jewish temple. During the second temple period, Judaism was faced by three main predicaments and their consequences while different groups of Jews reacted to them differently. The period began with the destruction of Jewish kingdom when the Judeans lost their land, holy city, temple and monarchy and most of them exiled to Babylon. This was followed by a theological crisis, which involved nature, goodness and power of God. They were also threatened in terms of culture, ceremonies and race since they were thrown into propinquity with other individuals and religious groups. The lack of acknowledged prophets later in the period left them lacking divine guidance at the moment when they were mostly in need of (their) support and guidance. The second crisis was the increasing authority of Hellenism in Judea that ended in the Maccabeus Revolt in 167 BCE. The final crisis involved the Roman occupation of the region. The aim of the paper is to describe the Second Temple Period from Alexander the Great to the reign of Herod’s sons. It will address the various events, individuals and groups that impacted on the Jews and the land of Israel leading up to and during the time of Christ. Finally, the paper will highlight how the King Herod’s ideologies affected the first century of the New Testament by encouraging the rise of some political and religious groups that Jesus encountered. Highlight of the Second Temple Period The second temple period, which lasted 600 years, can be divided into various periods each with own distinct political and social characteristics. During this time, different kingdoms took power of Jerusalem, they included Persian, Macedonian Greeks (Alexander the Great), and Egyptian Greeks, Syrian Greeks, nature and Romans and the Egyptians. During the return to Zion from Babylonian captivity, which was during the Persian period, Jerusalem was rather poor. However, the city enjoyed vivacious flourishing religious life. The same time saw the appearance of a dominant religious class, sophisticated elite accessible to foreign influence2. The Persians were conjured by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. The Persians’ defeat by Alexander the Great ushered in the Hellenistic period which reigned until the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE. The Hellenistic period under Alexander the Great comprised of a rising gap between the Hellenized elites who espoused Greek way of life and the city’s observant inhabitants. It is this gap which eventually resulted to the Maccabean Revolt. After the demise of Alexander the Great, the division of his empire among the generals, the formation of the Seleucide kingdom followed3. The decline of associations between the Hellenized Jews and sacred Jews guided the Seleucid King, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, to enforce decrees prohibiting particular Jewish religious rites and traditions. As a result, the orthodox Jews revolted under the rule of the Hasmonean people (Maccabees). The revolt resulted to the creation of an independent Judean empire under the Hasmonaean dynasty. The dynasty later disintegrated following the civil war between sons of Salome Alexandra and Aristobullus II. Those not interested in the governance of the King but wanted to be governed by theoretic clergy made petitions in his spirit to the Roman’s authorities. Following the Syrian campaign conquest and invasion a roman intervention in the civil war was formed with the guidance of Pompey. The pro-Parthian Hasmonian opponent brother shortly passed Parthian support and the throne changed till Herod the great established himself as a new pro-Roman king of Judea4. Herod came to power in 37 BCE and following his rule, the Judean kingdom experienced a period of growth and development. Since he was close and a loyal friend to the Romans, Herod managed to extend his rule to Arabia formed striving projects of construction and refurbished the temple. However, the period was also characterized by contrast and contradictions. The contrast between the holy temple and the pagan city or between the mean and mortal king versus the industrialist who decorated the city in brilliance and lavishness, have fueled the immense interest in the city’s history at one of its most important points. Herod's reign was majorly peaceful and typical of economic affluence and building boom. He led Jerusalem for thirty three years during which he constantly balanced his loyalty to the Romans and his dedication and responsibility to his subservience to them. Herod turned Jerusalem to a Hellenistic city including the basic elements and organizations of a Polis. He constructed a large theater, instituted wrestling contests in respect of the Emperor, and staged spectacles which involved men fighting with animals. He also encouraged gentile immigration to Jerusalem. Most of the archeological findings in Jerusalem dated back in Second Temple Period belonged to the Herodian's origin5. After Herod’s death in 4 BCE, the Kingdom was divided to many parts among the three sons forming the Trashy. The central part was given to Herod Archelaus, that is, Judea proper, Idumea and Samaria. Philip took control of Ituraea and trachonitis until his death and succeeded by Herod Agrippa I. Herod Antipoas ruled Galilee6. The Hasmonean period in Jerusalem comprised great contrast: independence and sovereignty. There was also territorial expansion and paternal prosperity, civil war and increasing social gap. All these led to the growth prosperity of the Land of Israel and Jews. Various government and public institutions were constructed. Jerusalem became a bustling political, cultural, religious and creative center for both Jews and Hellenistic7. Events, Individuals, and Groups that impacted on the Jews and Israel leading before and during the Time of Christ A number of events, individuals and groups impacted a lot on the Jews and land of Israel leading to and during the time of Christ. For instance, initially, Israel had for a long time been under control of the Persian Empire, between 532-332 B.C. During this time, the Jews were allowed by the Persians to practice their religion with very little interference. They were even allowed to worship at the temple according to 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-4. The period witnessed a lot of calm, peace and contentment but this was later to degenerate into a storm and antagonism8. Alexander the Great is one of the individuals who impacted greatly on the Jews and the land of Israel. This is because after defeating Darius of Persia, this brought the Greek rule to the world. Alexander is said to have been a student of Aristotle who had good knowledge of the Greek philosophy and politics. During his reign, he made it mandatory for every land he conquered to promote the Greek culture. This is why the Hebrew Old Testament had to be translated into Greek, thereby becoming known as the Septuagint. As a result, most references of the New Testament to Old Testament used the Septuagint phrasing as dictated by Alexander. Alexander the Great was a dictator according to the Jews since during his rule, despite allowing religious freedom for the Jews, he still insisted that the Jews must continue adopting the Greek lifestyles. This kind event did not ogre well for Israel because the Greek culture was very humanistic, worldly, and ungodly9. After the demise of Alexander, a series of successors ruled Judea, culminating in Antiochus Epiphanes10. Antiochus is said to have two major problems to deal with after coming to power. Firstly, he wanted to regain the land of Israel as a way of gaining control over Egypt. As a result, he had to seek funds to accomplish his mission. This forced him to levy more tax on Jewish people, something that did not go well with the Jews. Antiochus also plundered the temple for its gold, and when the Jews refused, they were subjected to military touchier, who slaughtered many Jews. The walls of Jerusalem were also brought down as the troops friendly to Antiochus manned the newly constructed Acra, a Seleucid military stronghold in the city11. It is said that at around 167 B.C., Antiochus also abolished the rightful priesthood and desecrated the temple, defiling it with a pagan alter and unclean animals according to Mark 13: 14. The Jews equated this religion to rape. As a result, they resisted the practice this kind of religion as imposed on them by Antiochus Epiphanes. They courageously chose to follow martyrdom rather than the religion forced on them by Antiochus. The resistance helped restore the rightful priests and also rescuing the temple. The subsequent events were that marred by war, fighting and violence. It is reported that around 63 B.C., Rome’s Pompey conquered Palestine resulting in Caesars’ control of Judea in its entirety. This event led to Herod being crowed the King of Judea by the Roman senate and empire. King Herod and his empire are the ones who taxed and controlled the Jews people as well as executing the Messiah on the cross. During King Herod’s reign, the Greek, and Roman and Hebrew cultures were fused together in Judea12. Mark 7:1-23 reports that two important religious and political groups emerged in Palestine during the span of Roman and Greek occupations. The verse states that the Pharisees added to Moses’ Law through oral tradition and considering their own laws more important that those provided by God. Even though much of the teachings of Christ agree with those of the Pharisees, Christ railed against their lack of compassion and hollow legalism. In this regard, the Sadducees is a representation of the wealthy and aristocrats. For instance, the Sadducees, who got power through Sanhedrin, rejected everything except the Mosaic books of the Old Testament. In this regard, they did not in any way believe on the resurrection and were just practicing the Greek culture, which they admired a lot13. This rush of events which set stage for the Messiah are said to have impacted greatly on the Jews. It is said that both pagans and Jews from other nations such as Israel were becoming dissatisfied with religion. In connection to this, the pagans began questioning the authenticity of polytheism. The Geeks and Romans were drawn from their mythologies towards Hebrew Scriptures, which today are translated to Latin and Greek languages. The Jews, on the other hand, were pessimistic. In addition, they were oppressed, conquered and polluted. Their hope ran low, as faith faded away. As such, the only thing that could save them from all these agonies and restore their faith was the appearance of the Chris14t. Herod's rule of Palestine, and How the Rule Encouraged the Rise of Some Religious or Political Groups that Jesus Encountered Herod became king in 37 B.C after his father Antipater had assisted the Roman general Pompej take over Jerusalem in 63 B.C. Herod is said to have been a cruel, ruthless ruler whose first and main mission was to destroy the Maccabeans, who had been ruling Palestine before. In fact he killed all of them, leaving only princes Mary whom he took as his wife. Nevertheless, he later executed Mary after his return from Rome after he had been informed that Mary had committed adultery with his brother Joseph. He also executed his sons for being more popular with the Jews. This ruthless led to the rise of various religious and political groups that Jesus Christ later met during his mission on earth15. Herod was seen to be true to his character when he ordered that all male babies in Bethlehem be killed as reported in the Book of Mathew. Prior to his death, he also gave orders that most distinguished men of Jerusalem be executed upon his death so that the country could be in morning after his death. It was unfortunate that these orders were not implemented. After realizing that he had tainted his reputation as a ruthless ruler, he sought to regain his political points by grandiose construction throughout Palestine and Jerusalem. This he did putting up the temple16. Upon his death around 4 B.C., he left his kingdom to his three sons Antipus, Archelaus and Philip. The three sons were also ruthless just as himself. For instance, Antipus, one of Herod’s sons is the one who beheaded John the Baptist just before Jesus appeared (before his crucifixion)17. The most prominent political and religious groups that emerged during King Herod’s reign that Jesus later met are the Pharisees and the Sadducees. These groups applied different ideologies and beliefs that brought a lot of conflict between them and Jesus. The Pharisees, for instance, understood Jesus as a political threat and liability. Some theologists argue that the conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus was a result of the fact that the former viewed Jesus as a dangerous rival, false teacher who had no respect for the Pharisees. The difference was eminent with regard to tithing and Sabbath laws18. This difference reverberated leading to the Pharisees opting to crucify Jesus. Another group that emerged during Herod’s reign is the Herodias. This fation regarded Herod as their Messiah and sought to reestablish Herod’s rule, through his descendants, over autonomous Palestine as a way of preserving the Jews. Bibliography Mordechai, Aviam. Jews, Pagans, and Christians in the Galilee, 25 Years of Archaeological Excavations and Surveys: Hellenistic to Byzantine Periods. Land of Galilee, Vo. 1. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press. 2004. Oded, Borowski. Daily Life In Biblical Times. Archaeology And Biblical Studies. Vol. 5. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. Shirley, Case. The Historicity of Jesus. University of Chicago Press, 1912. Lester, Grabbe. A History of the Jews and Judaism in the second Temple Period, Volume 2: The coming of the Greeks: The Early Hellenistic Period (335-175 BCE). New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2008. Steven, Katz. The Late Toman-Rabbinic Period. The Cambridge History of Judaism. Vol. 4. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Justin, Owens. A Brief History of the Intertestamental Period: Liberty Baptist Theology Seminary. Lynchburg, Virginia (2009). Paolo, Sacchi. History of the Second Temple Period. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004. Second Temple and Talmudic Era. The Jews History Resource Center. 2002 http://jewishhistory.huji.ac.il/internetresources/historyresources/second_temple_and_talmudic_era.htm (accessed August 9, 2012) Rabbi, Spiro. Alexander, the Jews, and Hellenism.2012 http://www.sullivan-county.com/id2/gnostic_files/alexander.htm (accessed August 9, 2012) Read More