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History. Between the Exile and Jesus. History : Persian Period. Cyrus [ca. 539 BC(E)] Sheshbazzar Darius [ca. 520] Joshua and Zerubbabel Haggai and Zechariah Artaxerxes I 465-425 II 404-359 Ezra, Nehemiah. History: Hellenistic [Greek] Period. Alexander the Great Ca. 333
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History Between the Exile and Jesus
History : Persian Period • Cyrus [ca. 539 BC(E)] • Sheshbazzar • Darius [ca. 520] • Joshua and Zerubbabel • Haggai and Zechariah • Artaxerxes • I 465-425 • II 404-359 • Ezra, Nehemiah
History: Hellenistic [Greek] Period • Alexander the Great • Ca. 333 • Ptolemaic Rule • Ca. 312-200 • Seleucid Rule • Ca. 200-166
Maccabean Age Antiochus IV Epiphanes 175-164 Judas Maccabeus 166-160 Roman Rule (beginning 63 BCE) Judean War (66-74 CE/AD) Jewish Revolt outside Judah (115-117) Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135) Brief History: Maccabean and Roman
Chronology • 200 BC(E) Seleucids take Palestine • 223-187 Antiochus III • 187-175 Seleucus IV • 175-163 Antiochus IV • 168 Suppression of Jewish Worship • 166-160 Judas Maccabaeus • 160-142 Jonathan, high priest • 142-135 Simon, high priest . . . .
1 Maccabees Hebrew Original Covers 175-135 Hasmonean Dynasty 2 Maccabees Greek Abridgement (Jason) Covers 180-161 Judas and Temple Initial Comparison
Brief Outline: 1 Maccabees • The historical context [chapter 1] • The revolt of Mattathias [chapter 2] • Judas the Maccabee [3:1-9:22] • Jonathan [9:23-12:53] • Simon [13:1-16:17] • John [16:18-24]
Readings • 1 Maccabees 1:44-50, 54-61 • Religious suppression • 1 Maccabees 2:1-5, 15-26 • The zeal of Mattathias • 1 Maccabees 4:34-37, 41-47, 52-56 • Temple dedication
Reasons for Persecution • Character of Antiochus • [cf Polybius 26.1] • Goal of conversion of Jews • [Tacitus Histories 5.8] • Gentile arrogance • [1 Maccabees 1:21] • Israel’s sins • [2 Maccabees 5:17-20; 6:12-16]
Brief Outline: 2 Maccabees • Letters to Egyptian Jews [1:1-2:18] • Preface [2:19-32] • Protection of temple [chapter 3] • Punishment of Jerusalem [4-7] • Deliverance and dedication [8:1-10:9] • Victories of Judas [10:10-13:26] • Defeat of Nicanor [14:1-15:36] • Epilogue [15:37-39]
Readings • The perpetual fire and the ark • 2 Macc 1:19-23,30-34; 2:1-7 • Creatio ex nihil(o) [Creation from Nothing] • 2 Macc 7:28 • Resurrection of the dead and Prayer for the dead • 2 Macc 7-8; 12:39-45
It ain’t over 'til it’s over • Rededication of temple? [1 Macc 4:34-59] (164) • Defeat of Nicanor and control of Jerusalem? [2 Macc] (161, Judas) • Establishment of Hasmonean dynasty? [1 Macc] (134, John Hyrcanus)
Setting • Structure of book • International setting 1-7 • Judean struggle 8-16
Characters • Nebuchadnezzar • Evil king [cf real Nebuchadnezzar and Antiochus] • Holofernes • General [named after Persian general] • Achior • Ammonite • Judith • Cf. Maccabee, Miriam, Deborah, Jael, others
Readings • Judith 5:17-21; 6:10-13 • Achior: witness and “punishment” • Judith 9:11-14 • Judith’s theme • Judith 12:13-13:10 • The deed is done • Judith 16:1-12 • Triumph song
Other Historical Stories • 3 Maccabees [not in Latin Bible] • Set under Ptolemy IV (222-204) • combination of persecution of Egyptian Jews and threat to Jerusalem temple • Tobit • before the fall of Assyria to the Medes • about individual sufferings and setbacks [Tobit's and Sara's]
Next Week • Wisdom • Sirach [Ecclesiasticus] • Wisdom of Solomon • Hope • 2 Esdras