Second Temple
Judaism: A Brief Historical Outline
Part Four
Bruce N. Fisk
4. Conflicts and Crises
in Judea between 63 BCE and 66 CE
Date
|
Josephus
|
Conflict
or Crisis
|
|
63 BCE
|
War
1.124-151
Ant.14:41 |
Pompey
invades Palestine, conquers Jerusalem supported by Hyrcanus,
lays seige to the Temple for 3 months, enters the Temple and
Holy of Holies.
The 'nation' expresses to Pompey
its rejection of both Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II,
and its preference for a priestly theocracy. |
|
40 BCE
|
War
1.250-252 |
Civil war rages between the houses of Hyrcanus
II and Aristobulus II or his son, Antigonus. Many Jewish casualties, including those Herod executed in
retaliation for the deaths of sixty of his soldiers. |
|
39-38 BCE
|
War
1.309-316 |
Herod
takes control of Galilee and slaughters many rebel groups. |
|
5 BCE
|
War
1.648-655
Ant.17.149-167
|
Near the end of Herod's life, two elders, Judas and Matthaias, encourage some youths to pull
down the eagle image over the Temple gate. Herod arrests, tries
and executes the offenders, including the elders, and deposes
High Priest Matthias installing Joazar in his place. |
|
4 BCE
|
War
2.39-79
Ant.17.271-298
War
2.80-92 |
Herod's death spawns various revolts:
- pilgrims in Jerusalem, during feast
of Pentecost
- Idumeans in Herod's army
- Judas son of Ezekias in Galilee
- Simon in Perea
Archelaus
(Herod's son) aided by Varus, the Syrian legate extinguish the
rebellions.
A Jewish delegation appeals to Augustus
not to distribute Herod's estate to Herod's descendants, but
rather to allow the Jews a measure of self-governance under Syrian
administration. |
|
6 CE
|
War 2.111
War
2.117-118; Ant.18.1-10 |
A delegation of Jews and Samaritans
appeal to Augustus to depose Archelaus because of the brutality
of his regime.
Judas the Galilean and Saddok the Pharisee lead a revolt against
the census initiated by Roman prefect Coponius. |
|
26 CE
|
Ant.18.55-59;
War 2.169-174
Ant.18.60-62;
War 2.175-177 |
Pilate introduces standards bearing Caesar's image
into Jerusalem by night. Jewish reaction includes a large delegation
to Caesarea, a 5 day & night sit-in that ends with victory.
When Pilate uses money dedicated
for sacrifices to build an aqueduct, many Jews
protest by surrounding Pilate's tribunal. Pilate's reply is swift
and deadly. |
|
30CE
|
Ant.18.116-119 |
John the Baptist is executed by Herod Antipas
because he fears mass uprising. Cf.Matt.14:3-12. |
|
41 CE
|
Ant.18.261-272;
Ant.18.305-309 |
Gaius
(Caligula) determines to have his statue erected in the Temple.
Many Jews react by appealing to
Syrian legate Petronius, first at Ptolemais and then Tiberias.
Eventually the order is repealed. |
|
44-46CE
|
Ant.20.97-99 |
During the procuratorship of Cuspius Fadus, Theudas emerged as a `prophet' who lead
many to the Jordan. Fadus stamps out the movement and decapitates
Theudas. See Acts 5:36. |
|
48-52 CE
|
War
2.232-244
War
2.228-231
War
2.232-246 |
Under Procurator Cumanus, a riot
erupts in the Temple during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, sparked
by a lewd gesture by a Roman soldier stationed on the roof of
the portico. Soldiers kill many and others perish attempting
to escape (Ant.: 20,000; War: 30,000).
One of Cumanus' troops destroys and
burns a copy of the Jewish scripture. The Jews appeal to Cumanus
and the soldier is executed.
Galileans and Samaritans clash over
the murder of one or a few Galileans. Cumanus initially ignores
the crisis and Syrian legate Quadratus eventually intervenes,
but only after the loss of many lives. Josephus describes some
Jews as rash brigands bent on war, and others as magistrates
from Jerusalem urging peaceful resolution. |
|
52-59 CE
|
War
2.253
War
2.254-257
War 2.259-260
War 2.261-263; Ant.20.169-172
|
Procurator Felix imprisons and executes
many `brigands'.
Josephus describes the rise of the Sicarii (assassins)
in Jerusalem.
Still under the procuratorship of Felix, a number of `prophets'
lead followers into the desert. To prevent these movements from
fomenting insurrection, Felix had many executed.
An Egyptian `prophet' leads thousands (Josephus: 30,000;
Acts: 4,000) in an attack on Jerusalem.
See Acts 21:38. Felix uses Roman soldiers to suppress
the revolt. |
|
66 CE
|
War
2.284-308 |
Under Gessius Florus (64-66),
whom Josephus portrays seeking to incite the Jews to war, a dispute
erupts in Caesarea over the desecration of space adjacent to
a synagogue.
Rather than quelling the uprising, Florus
makes it worse, demanding money from the Temple treasury, moving
Roman troops on Jerusalem and eventually charging them to attack,
arrest and crucify. 3,600 die in one day. |
5. The Jewish War [66-74
CE]
Date
|
Josephus
|
Details
and Episodes of the War
|
|
66 CE
|
War
2.309-407
War
2.408-416
War
2.430-32; 449-456
War
2.499-555 |
The crisis escalates. Herod Agrippa
II delivers an impassioned speech to dissuade the rebels (2.345-405).
Jewish insurgents seize Masada, killing
Roman guards. Eleazar, son of Ananias
the high priest, persuades the priests to refuse gifts from foreigners,
thus halting sacrifices offered on Rome's behalf.
Insurgents capture and occupy the Roman
fortress of Antonia (adjacent to 449-456Temple), killing entire
Roman garrison.
Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, brings
12th Legion from Antioch, burns villages, attacks Jerusalem,
retreats and incurs heavy losses. |
|
67 CE
|
War
3.1-4.120 |
Sent by Nero, Vespasian and 3 Legions
gain control of Galilee. |
|
68 CE (June 9)
|
War
4.491-96 |
Revolt in Rome; Nero commits suicide |
|
68-69 CE
|
War
4.366-556 |
Vespasian gains control of Perea and Judean
countryside. |
|
69 CE
|
War
4.655-58 |
Vespasian is proclaimed emperor in Alexandria;
he appoints Titus, his son, to continue the seige against
Jerusalem. |
|
70 CE
|
War
5-6 |
Seige of Jerusalem and destruction of the
Temple. |
|
74 CE
|
War
7.252-406 |
Masada, the last Jewish garrison, falls
to the Romans. |
6. Two Later Crises
|
115-117 CE
|
|
Jews revolt in Alexandria, Egyptian countryside,
Cyprus, etc. but not in Israel. |
|
132-35 CE
|
|
The Second Jewish Revolt, during the reign
of Hadrian, is lead by Simon Bar Kosiba (=
Bar Kochba), a messianic figure. |
7. Important Shifts
in Jewish Life and Thought from Pre-exilic Israel to Second Temple
Judaism
[Adapted from Shaye Cohen, From
the Maccabees to the Mishnah, 20-24]
|
Pre-exilic
Israel
|
Second Temple
Judaism
|
|
Name |
Israelites
|
Jews
|
|
Language |
Hebrew
|
Aramaic and Greek
|
|
Social Structure |
tribal
|
clan
|
|
Identity |
nationality
|
religion
|
|
Cultus |
temple/priest/sacrifice
|
add: book/prayer/synagogue
|
|
Social Orientation |
corporate
|
more individual
|
|
Justice |
divine justice rendered
in this age
|
justice rendered in next age; afterlife, resurrection, angels;
good and evil forces within individuals |
|
God |
immanent |
transcendent |
|
Leadership |
kings and prophets |
priests primary
scribes (authority based on knowledge of scripture)
others: seers, healers, holy men |
(Back to Part
Three)
|
