Alexander the Great

1. Alexander the Great • Educated by Aristotle (personal tutor) • Very impulsive • A mystic • A scholar • Very handsome and strong • Became king at twenty years old • Followed Philip as the leader of the Hellenic League

4. Jews under Ptolemy Rule • Ptolemy didn’t force Greek culture and religion • Jews were worshiped as they wanted • Many Jews moved and settle in Egypt • They had become dispersed through the Greek empire • 280 BC - Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew Scripture)

5. Jews under Antiochus (Syrian) Rule • 198 BC - Syrian Grecian Empire regained control of Judea. • Continued to be a pawn • Politically it was peaceful for a while • Learned and adopted the Greek language • Learned and adopted the Greek culture

6. Rome comes on the Scene • The Jews are still under the Greek Empire • 264 - 146 Rome has three Punic wars with Carthage • Carthage is trying to hold Rome down • Rome is trying to grow. • Philip of Macedon helped Carthage and upset Rome. • Syrian Grecian Empire having trouble from the East and West.

8. Life in Jerusalem • High Priest serves as the leader for Judea • Not spiritual leader but political leader • Onias IV and Jason (brothers) compete over the High Priest position. • Jason bribes Antiochus and is appointed • Then Menelaus, Jason servant, pays more and Antiochus names him High Priest. • This excites the Jews because Menelaus isn’t qualified to be High Priest.

9. Life in Jerusalem (cont…) • False word came of Antiochus’ death • Jason lead a revolt against Menelaus • The Jews backed the revolt • Antiochus sent soldiers stop the revolt and reinstate Menelaus • Jews were sold as slaves • Part of the wall was destroyed • Took over the Temple • Antiochus tried to wipe out their Religion

10. Life in Jerusalem (cont.) • Antiochus’ men tried to force Mattathias Hasmoneas, an older priest, to worship Zeus • Mattathias refused and started a revolt • Syrian army attacked about 1,000 of the Pious Ones on the Sabbath and they wouldn’t fight • Mattahias convinced them to fight if attacked. • Before his death he appointed • Judas Maccabaeus military leader. • His oldest son, Simon, to be their advisor

11. Life in Jerusalem (cont.) • Judas Maccabaeus lead guerrilla type warfare • He hid in the villages by day and attacked Syrian forces by night. • Though outnumbered he defeated the Syrian forced. • The Maccabean revolt was in full swing • After Antiochus’ death, Judas and his men regained control of Jerusalem and the Temple. • The Temple was cleansed of Zeus • Hanukkah (festival of lights) was born

12. Hasidim • Known as the Pious Ones • Date of organization unknown • Built traditions to ensure observance of the law. • Feared disobedience would cause more punishment • Though obedience would obligate God to bless • The High Priesthood had become corrupt so they viewed themselves as priest (Exodus 19:6) • Ritual praying, fasting, washing of hands, etc… • This became the traditions Jesus rebukes • Built rules around the laws • Their Oral traditions became as binding as the Law

13. Pharisees • Grew from the Hasidim during the Maccabean revolt (160 - 143 BC) • ‘Separated ones’ because they separated themselves when Judas continued the revolt after restoring Jerusalem. • They were at odds with the Maccabean family (later known as Sadducees) • Kept to the laws that could be measured (circumcision, tithe, etc…) • “Straightest of the sects” according to Paul in Acts 26:5

14. Sadducees • Opposed the Pharisees • Politically minded rather than spiritually • Believed in God • Didn’t believe in the traditions of the Pharisees • Didn’t look for a further reward for obedience • They didn’t believe in the resurrection, angels or life after death

15. Essenes • Different from most of the other sects • Withdrew from society and built communities. Zealots • Came into existence after Roman control • Believed they should fight to establish God’s predicted kingdom. • Simon, one of Jesus’ apostles, was a Zealot

16. The Sanhedrin (High Court) • Start Date Unknown • Some date back to Moses • Not mentioned in Scriptures • Name is Greek • We know it existed before Roman control (maybe about 200 BC) • By the New Testament it is the High Court and had authority under Roman control.

19. Roman Empire • Rome watched Syrian Empire weaken • Rome gave political aid to the Maccabean Revolt • Parthia took most of the Syrian territory from the East. • In 75 BC Asia Minor was under Roman control • Rome wanted to control 50 miles from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

20. Life in Jerusalem • After the assassination of Simon, John Hyrcanus took his fathers place in 134 BC. • He subdued the Idumaeans (Greek name for Edom) • He took out the Temple in Samaria • After John’s death the Maccabean revolt died • He was succeeded by his son Aristobulus • He was succeeded by his half brother Alexandar Jannaeus.

21. Life in Jerusalem • The family was at odds with the Pharisees. • Jannaeus was being ran off by the Pharisees • He regained the support of the people • He crucified 800 of the Pharisees who revolted and killed their families before their dying eyes. • Salome his wife followed him on the throne and made peace with the Pharisees. • She make her oldest son Hyrcanus II high priest and Aristobulus head of the military.

22. Life in Jerusalem • After Salome's death, war broke out between her sons for control. • Antipater lent his support and army to Hyrcanus to revolt against Aristobulus. • He did and won in the end. • Hyrcanus also made friends with the Jews • Antipater was a shrewd man who also made friends with Pompey of Rome.. • He was given the position of Procurator of Judea • Little did Pompey know that Jews hated Idumaeans (Edomites)

23. Life in Jerusalem • Antipater’s son Herod eventually became the official king of Judea, under Roman control • A gifted leader • Convinced Rome to let the Jews worship according to Law of Moses to keep down revolts • The Jews didn’t like him because he was an Edomite (not a native Jew) • His lifestyle made a mockery of his “Jewish religion” • Ruler when John and Jesus are born