The History of Palestine in New Testament Times

Question 1

Describe a brief biography of Herod the Great

Answer 1

• 63 BCE: Palestine subject to Rome
• Pompey’s three month siege of Jerusalem; leading to the end of the Hasmonean line
• Antipater emerged as the most significant figure in Palestine
• 40 BCE: Herod, son of Antipater named king of the Jews by Rome; not until 37 BCE that he gained control
• “Herod the Great” -> title earned due to his competence
• loyally carried out the wishes of Rome, kept peace, reduced petty crime
• notable for his buildings, namely his aqueducts, amphitheaters, citadels, city of Caesarea & most notably the new temple in Jerusalem
• struggled to gain approval of the Jews, seen as an “alien” (outsider)
• three of his sons & wife murdered
• died unmourned in 4 BCE

Question 2

How did the Romans treat the Jews?

Answer 2

• Roman policy to allow a large measure of local freedom to the peoples of the empire
• however the Jews were restive under the pagan rule of Rome; yearned for independence
• native Jews labelled “publicani” (tax-collectors)

Question 3

Narrate the events of the Jewish War of 66-70

Answer 3

1) 66 CE: Jewish revolt broke out
2) however put down by the overwhelming force of the Roman legions in 70 CE
3) Jerusalem levelled & Temple destroyed
4) major dislocations set out for the Jewish religion, which from then on was made to function without the Temple & its ceremonies, which were significant to ancient Jewish practice
5) desperate revolt held by the Jews in 132-35 CE; however cruelly suppressed
6) Roman colony established on the ruins of Jerusalem, a temple to Jupiter was erected, & Jews were forbidden to enter the city

Question 4

How did the destruction of the temple in 70 AD change Judaism?

Answer 4

• “disastrous” war of 66-70 brought an end to the Sadducees; their Temple (which was the foundation of their influence) was destroyed, never to be rebuilt
• Zealots lost all credibility in their program of armed resistance against Rome
• covenanting community of Qumran disappeared in 68
• Pharisees were left as the major group to survive the war & to give their stamp to historic Judaism, down to the present day, but especially to what today is called Orthodox Judaism
• the canon of the Jewish Bible was finally determined, at the gathering of rabbis in 90 CE
• the “sad” separation between Jewish Christians as the Jewish synagogue appears to have been made final by the requirement that these Christians renounce their belief in Jesus

Question 5

What was the common language in Palestine during the NT times?

Answer 5

the common language of this period in Palestine was Aramaic, akin to the language of Syria

Question 6

Describe the influence of language in Palestine

Answer 6

• Aramaic terms have survived in the gospels (which were written in Greek); see Mark 5:41
• some Hebrew was spoken, & in the synagogues it was not unusual to find those who could read the scriptures in Hebrew