Unit 1-IT & Historical Background Flashcards
When the Jewish tribes split up from one nation, who secondly conquered the northern kingdom?
The Babylonians
Who did the Babylonians conquer with the Jews when they took over the northern kingdom?
The Assyrians
What nation conquered the southern kingdom of Judah?
The Babylonians
After the Assyrians, what nation took over both kingdoms of Judah and EXILED the Jews?
The Babylonians
What nation/people took control from the Babylonians?
The Persians
Who allowed some Jews back and able to worship under their rule after the Babylonians?
The Persians
What nation’s take-over marked the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the Intertestamental Period?
The Persians
How long was the Intertestamental Period?
400 years
What is the intertestamental period?
A gap of time between the Old and New Testament records from the Bible
What ruler came to power during the intertestamental period and conquered the Middle East by defeating the Persians?
Alexander the Great
What did Alexander the Great’s come to power, and thus rule of Greece-Macedonia, mean for the Jews?
The Greeks absorbed/took over the Jews and Alexander wanted to impose upon them (and all other conquered peoples) the Greek way of life.
What is Hellenism?
Greek culture
What is Hellenization?
The spread of Greek culture (both inside and outside of Palestine), including especially the Greek language, so as to mix w/other cultures
What are 5 features of hellenization?
- Gymnasiums
- Guilds
- Stadiums
- Theatres
- Language
What were features/influences of gymnasiums in culture?
- training center for athletes
- social center
- no dress code
What, for the Jews, was wrong with the gymnasiums?
No dress code; it was a symbol of shame and undermined Jewish values (think back to Genesis)
What were features/influences of the guilds in culture?
- clubs, esp. emphasizing services
- very discriminatory to certain statuses
- often invited to different pagan worships/practices
What, for the Jews, was wrong with the guilds?
Created moral problems for them, esp. regarding status discrimination and pagan practices
What were features/influences of the stadiums in culture?
Sports (on mass)
What, for the Jews, was wrong with the stadiums?
Jewish men would (basically) skip church to go see sports
{*modern much?}
What were features/influences of the theatres in culture?
- could emphasize (and expose) Greek EVERYTHING
- media’s influences {*also very modern)
What, for the Jews, was wrong with the theatres?
- emphasizing Green everything included Greek religion, immoral themes, etc.
- created the danger of forming immoral themes into reality instead of just virtual reality
What were features/influences of the language in culture?
-universal language = less communication issues
What, for the Palistinian and Orthodox Jews, was wrong with the language change?
Hebrew was seen as sacred; Greek was not
What was Alexander the Great’s importance to cultural blending?
He created the universal language, so by the time Christ comes Greek is the common language, which mean less communication issues for disciples and movement of Gospel.
When the Jewish tribes split up from one nation, who first conquered the northern kingdom?
The Assyrians
How many cities did Alexander found and model after Green style?
70
What happened/mixed to produce a Hellenistic style?
Alexander and his soldiers marrying oriental women = Greek and oriental cultures mixing to produce Hellenistic culture.
What were the main parts of Alexander’s divided empire?
- Macedon(ia)
- Asia (Mid-East=modern Turkey, etc.)
- Egypt
Two of Alexander’s divided parts “became important for NT historical background.” What were they?
The Ptolemaic Empire and The Seleucid Empire
Where was The Ptolemaic Empire centered and what was its capital?
Egypt; Alexandria
The series of rulers who governed the Ptolemaic Empire were called what?
Ptolemies (after the name of the first ruler, Ptolemy)
Who was the last ruler of The Ptolemaic Empire?
Cleopatra
Where did the Seleucid Empire center and what was its capital?
Syria; Antioch
What two things were rulers of the Seleucid Empire called and named after? What are they called together?
Some = Seleucus (after first ruler) Others = Antiochus (after capital city) Together = Seleucids
When/why did the Seleucid Empire come to an end?
when the Roman general Pompey made Syria a roman province
What nation was “sandwiched” between Egypt and Syria, thus between the Ptolemies and Seleucids?
Palestine
Why was Palestine wanted by both the Ptolemies and the Seleucids?
They both wanted to collect taxes from Palestinians and make it a buffer zone against attack from the other.
Out of the Ptolemies and Seleucids, who kept rule over Jews for about 100 years? How well did the Jews fare?
Ptolemies; well, Ptolemies were very tolerant of Jews and their practices
Under Ptolemaic rule (Ptolemy Philadelphus), what does tradition say 72 Jewish scholars accomplished?
beginning to translate the Hebrew OT into a Greek version
What was the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT called?
The Septuagint
Greek translation of what in the Septuagint came first?
The Pentateuch (remaining sections came later)
What is the Pentateuch?
The first 5 books of the Old Testament
Why were Jews a “mixed bag” ?
Throughout IP, Jews who returned from exile TRIED to be very conservative. Scattered Jews, those outside of Palestine, were much more open to Hellenistic influences/practices (for ex. many of them now ONLY speak Greek and not Hebrew)
Why did the Old Testament need to be translated?
Many scattered Jews (those outside of Palestine) forgot Hebrew and only spoke Greek after Hellenism.
When did the Seleucids finally succeed in gaining Palestine?
Antiochus 3rd defeated Egypt
During the IP, who were the Jews ruled by?
Persians at end of OT, then Greek, Egyptians, and Syrians
What struggle came after Syrian rule of Jews?
Maccabean
What ruler made a bad example of Jews w/forced hellenization and led a Jewish revolt?
Antiochus 4th
Antiochus 4th sought not only to undermine Jewish culture, but their what?
Religion
What title did Antiochus 4th give himself, and what does it mean?
Antiochus Epiphanes; it is a claim for divine status
What ruler shut down the Temple, and thus Jewish sacrificial practices/rights/freedoms?
Antiochus Epiphanes
What did the shutting down of the Temple mean for Jews?
They couldn’t get to God.
What was set up in place of the Temple and by whom?
A pagan altar to Zeus; Antiochus Epiphanes
Who first makes Jews worship pagan gods during the IP, and forbids other practices such as circumcision, festivals, Sabbath keeping, etc.?
Antiochus Epiphanes
Who did Antiochus Epiphanes make High Priest?
Menelaus, who may not have belonged to a priestly family
What does “Hasidim” mean and who were they?
“Pure Ones” ; they were very pious Jews who had the idea of settling apart from the world and remaining Holy
Where did the catalyst for the Maccabean revolt begin?
Modein
What is the story of the catalyst for the Maccabean revolt?
A Jewish priest named Mattathias refused to offer a pagan sacrifice, and then killed another Jew who was going to comply. Mat also killed the soldier enforcing it, broke the altar, and fled to the mountains with his 5 sons and other sympathizers, forming a basic guerrilla force.
Who did the Hasidim join to revolt?
The Hasmoneans/Maccabees
Where did the name The Maccabees come from and what had it meant?
Mat’s son Judas’s nickname: “Judas the Maccabee” or Judas Maccabeus and it literally meant “Judas the Hammer”
What other issue did the Maccabean Revolt trigger?
a civil war between pro-Hellenistic and anti-Hellenistic Jews (the struggle cont. even after death of Antiochus Epiphanes)
What year did The Maccabees regain control of Jerusalem?
164 BC (war didn’t end, but this battle/capturing of city was very important)
What was the first thing done by Judas when The Maccabees took back the Jewish temple? What did it symbolize?
1st thing done=lighting lamps and walking through Temple; symbolized the cleansing of the Temple
What is a commemoration of the lighting lamps and walking through the Temple?
Hanukkah
Who of The Maccabees was more influential in gaining Jewish freedom?
Simon (Judas’ bro)
When did Simon begin rule as king, military leader, rep. of the people, etc.?
140 BC
What did Simon become the 1st ruler of in 140 BC? How long did this period of self-rule last?
Hasmonean Dynasty; 77 years
What did the Hasmonean Dynasty (began in 140 BC) end with?
the coming of the Romans
Which brothers especially succeeded Judas Maccabeus in leadership after Judas’ death in battle?
Simon and Jonathon
Why are the Romans able to walk right in, exercise power, and gain control at the end of the HD?
Once the kingdom grew, a civil war broke out between the royal family (Hasmoneans) over land.
What Roman general came in and subjugated Palestine after the HD?
Pompey
What do all the foreign overlords of the IP mean to Jews?
Before Christ, they REALLY wanted a Deliverer
What “puppet ruler” did Pompey set up over Palestine?
Antipater (1/2 Jew and 1/2 Edomite)
Who is Antipater the father of?
Herod the Great (king when Jesus is born)
Who assassinated Pompey?
his rival Julius Caesar (who Antipater successfully transfers allegiance to)
Who assassinated Julius Caesar?
Brutus, Cassius, etc. in the Roman senate (Antipater Faisal to switch his allegiance to B and C)
Who is Antipater killed by, and who is established as King after him?
Brutus and Cassius; his son, Herod
Who killed Brutus and Cassius?
Mark Anthony and Octavian
Who is the first guy Herod the Great supports?
Mark Anthony
Who is the second guy Herod the Gret supports?
Octavian
Who becomes the first Roman Emperor?
Octavian
Who is the Roman ruler (not king over Jerusalem/local ruler) when Jesus is born?
Octavian aka Caesar Augustus
What did Herod the Great’s need to stay on good terms with the Romans entail?
- paying huge amounts of tribute tax
- not really being on good terms w/the Jews
What was the period of relative peace called for Rome during Octavian’s time?
Pax Romana
What were the two kinds of provinces set up by Caesar Augustus (Octavian)?
Senatorial and Imperial
What local ruler tried to impose Hellenization again during Jesus’ time?
Herod the Great
What are some things that Herod the Great did/changed during his rule?
He built a bunch of stuff: for ex. -city of Caesarea -rebuilt Temple (MAJOR reconstruction) He faced a lot: -sales -polls -property
What did the census and property tax mean for certain New Testament people?
It was why Mary and Joseph and to go to Bethlehem.
Who were the Publicani?
Publicans = tax collectors (much despised by Jews)
Who are some Roman emperors mentioned in the book that touched the NT story at various times?
Summary:
Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian
Info:
Augustus/Octavian- Jesus born, beginning of emperor worship
Tiberius-Jesus publicly ministered and died
Caligula- demanded worship of himself
Claudius- expelled Jewish residents from Rome
Nero- persecuted Christians, under whom Peter and Paul were martyred
Vespasian- father of Titus (who destroyed Jerusalem and Temple in 70 AD)
Titus- ^^, and may have been emperor during time Revelation was written
Domitian- some think persecuted the church and thus provided background for Revelation
Why was Herod the Great disliked by the Jewish people?
- extremely jealous
- high taxes (for building things and tribute to Rome)
- puppet king, great friend of Rome
- not REALLY Jewish (and NOT friend to the Christian movement)
- tries to impose Hellenization again
When does construction begin for Herod the Great rebuilding the Temple?
20 BC
When does Herod the Great die?
4 BC
What were the names of Herod the Great’s three sons who ruled after him?
Herod Antipas, Herod Philip, and Herod Archelaus
What lands did Herod Antipas rule?
Galilee and Perea
What city did Herod Antipas build?
Tiberius (very much like his father in building and immorality)
Who did Herod Antipas marry, and why was it immoral?
Herodius; she was his brother’s wife
What made John the Baptist condemn Herod the Great, and what did this lead to?
Herod marrying Herodius; lead to his death (Herod’s daughter wanting John’s head)
Why does Pilate try to send Jesus to Herod Antipas?
Jesus is from Galilee and H Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea.
What lands did Herod Philip rule?
He ruled lands not really mentioned in the NT.
What city did Herod Philip build and how does it matter to the NT?
Caesarea Philippi; Jesus’ retreat with disciples
