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