NBST 515 Exam 1

Five main eras of the Second Temple Period. Be sure to know the time frame for each era. - Babylonian (606-539). Persian (539-331). Greek (331-167): Ptolemaic (320-198) and Seleucid (198-167). Jewish Self-Rule (167-63). Roman (63BC - AD70). Three crises experienced by the Jews that resulted from the Bab. captivity. - Dissolution of the monarchy, loss of central sanctuary, proximity to Gentiles. Most likely period of time in why synagogue emerged. - Bab. exile Whether idol worship became more or less common among Jews living in exile - Less common: they learned that God would not tolerate idol worship. Persian king who defeated Bab. - Cyrus of Persia Who decreed that the Jewish people could return from exile to their homeland? - Cyrus Three phrases of the Greek period and the years in which each kingdom ruled Israel. - Conquests of Alex the Great (331-320), Ptolemaic period (320-198), and Seleucid (198-167). Persian king defeated by Alex the Great that led to Alex becoming new world ruler. - Darius III Whether Greek rulers typically provided more or less religious freedom to conquered people than Persians rulers - Less Alex's general who eventually established a kingdom in Egypt - Ptolemy I Soter What Josephus reveals about a great exportation of Jews to Egypt during the Ptolemaic period. - On the Sabbath Ptolemy I invaded Israel and took 120,000 Jews captive to Alexandria, where they stayed until Ptolemy's son Philadelphus freed them. Basic background about the LXX. - 70 or 72 scholars translated the Hebrew Scripture into Greek in Alexandria. This was for Jews who understood Greek better than Hebrew. The meaning of the term "Epiphanes" - "The Glorious One": implying that he was the incarnation of Zeus on earth The two needs/desires of Antiochus IV and led to many hardships amongst the Jewish people - Desire for the spread of Greek culture and the need for great amounts of money to pay Rome led him to look to the Jerusalem temple treasures with ever-increasing avarice. The more severe measures taken by Antiochus IV against the Jewish people - Allowing a Gentile into the temple, banning the Torah, circumcision, festivals, and offerings to YHWH. Worst of all: dedicated the Jerusalem temple to Zeus, erecting a statue of Zeus in the temple and sacrificing a pig on the altar. Jewish priest from Modein who began a Jewish resistance movement against the Seleucids. - Mattathias Event that is commemorated in the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. - Mattathias' son Judas cleansing of the temple in 164 BC. Violation of Scripture made by Jonathan, son of Mattathias. - Accepted position of high priest from one of the other claimants to the Syrian throne in 152 BC. Son of Mattathias who achieved national autonomy for Israel - Simon Son of Simon known for expanding borders of the Judean territory into Moab and Idumea. - Hyrcanus First Hasmonean ruler to assume the title of king. - Aristobulus Unpopular Hasmonean ruler who was married to Salome Alexandra and was known for his brutality - Alexander Janneus Hasmonean ruler known for making amends with the Pharisees - Salome Alexandra Roman general responsible for defeating Aristobulus II and making Judea a client kingdom - Pompey Ruler who was declared "king of the Jews" in 40 BC by the Roman Senate - Herod Herod's relationship to Rome (what type of king was he?) - Client king - friend and ally of the Roman people Descendants of Herod who succeeded him. Be sure to know the regions in which they ruled and their titles. - Archelaus, ethnarch - Judea, Samaria, and Idumea (Jerusalem). Philip, tetrarch 0 Iturea and Trachonitis. Herod Antipas, tetrarch - Galilee and Perea. Notable political event that occurred in 6 AD in Judea - Archelaus was banished to Gaul because of his incompetence; Jerusalem was placed under direct Roman control. City in which the Roman governors of Judea resided - Caesarea Specific religious freedoms given by the Romans to the Jews. - Allowed to mint coins without offensive images containing names without ascriptions of deity, yearly temple tax sent to Jerusalem and not Rome, sacrifice to YHWH. Roman governor during the ministry of Jesus - Tiberius Four factors that made conditions ideal for coming of Jesus - 1. Roman peace 2. Roman roads 3. Greek Language 4. Messianic hope Primary literary sources for the study of the Hasmonean era - Anonymous authors of 1 & 2 Macc and Josephus Place of Rome in the struggle between the Hasmoneans and the Seleucids. Did Rome support a particular side? - Hasmoneans Jewish sect that rejected temple cult and followed teachings of a charismatic leader known as the "Teacher of Righteousness" - Essenes Whether or not Hasmoneans, generally speaking, advanced Hellenization in land of Israel. - Yes Greatest contribution of the Hasmoneans - Preserving monotheism in face of Hellenistic pressure to assimilate Known as "the hammer" - Judas - Maccabeus A resistance fighter who was able to recapture the temple in Jerusalem - Judas Maccabeus Became a priest and military leader of Jewish people and was ultimately killed by Trypon after being lured to Ptolemais. - Jonathan Was first to achieve national liberation when it was declared that the Jews were no longer obligated to pay tribute - Simon Defeated the Akra and constructed large city walls around Mt. Zion and the City of David - Simon Expanded Jewish territory and forced the Idumeans to convert to Judaism - John Hyrcanus I Was the first to assume the title of high priest and king - Aristobulus I Expanded Jewish territory to the size it once was in the days of King David while putting to death hundreds of Pharisees - Alexander Jannaeus Was the wife of Alexander Jannaeus who aligned herself with the Pharisees - Queen Salome Alexandra Was sent to Rome as a prisoner after he was captured by Pompey in Jerusalem - Aristobulus II Was the son of Aristobulus II who reigned for a brief time before being defeated by Herod the Great - Mattathias Antigonus Area from which Herod the Great's family descended - Idumea. He was a Jewish proselyte Name of Herod the Great's father - Antipater Roman general who sponsored Herod the Great's bid to become "king of the Jews" in Rome - Mark Antony Herod the Great's key rival who was a Hasmonean and was supported by the Parthians - Antigonus Name of the large coastal city built by Herod the Great that became a center of commerce and government during the New Testament period - Caesarea Herodian ruler who was responsible for the reconstruction and expansion of temple - Herod the Great How Herod the Great differed from the Hasmoneans with regard to the manner in which priests were selected - Chose at random and switched them often. Did not do it based on highest bidding or family relation. Whether or not Herod the Great was known to have participated in the worship of pagan gods or in the construction of pagan temples - Building of pagan temples was in loyalty to Rome and he respected the aniconic convictions of the Jews, but he did present an eagle on the Temple (reasons unsure) Title given to Archelaus upon the death of his father - Ethnarch What became of Archelaus' kingdom after he was deposed - Became a province under Roman control Prominent towns in Galilee founded by Antipas - Tiberias and Sepphoris Father of Antipas' first wife and how he, the father, responded to the dissolution of the marriage of his daughter - Aretas IV; he destroyed Antipas' troops in war Herodian ruler who brought charges against Antipas which resulted in his exile - Agrippa Whether majority of subjects in Philip the Tetrarch's territory were Jewish or non- Jewish - Non-Jewish Wife of Philip the Tetrarch, according to Josephus - Herodias' daughter Salome Roman Emperor with whom Agrippa I shared a close relationship, having grown up with him in Rome - Claudius What happened to Agrippa's kingdom upon his death - Judea was placed under procurators and authority over the temple, holy vessels, and selection of the high priest was given to Herod of Chalcis; custody of High priest's robe was given to Romans Herodian ruler at the beginning of the First Jewish Revolt who was supportive of the Romans while trying to protect innocent Jews - Agrippa II Last member of Herodian dynasty - Agrippa II Meaning of term "apocrypha" - "Things that are hidden" Notable Greek version of the OT that included Apocryphal works - LXX Notable Latin translation of the Bible produced by Jerome - Vulgate Church council that declared the majority of the Apocryphal works to be deuterocanonical - Council of Trent The basic meaning of the term "Pseudepigrapha" and the basic types of pseudepigraphal writings. - False writing. Apocalyptic, testaments, pseudonymous epistle, wisdom or devotional literature, expansions of OT material, religious novels and philosophical treatises. Whether or not the Dead Sea Scrolls portray mainstream Judaism and Jewish attitudes during this era - Do not Whether or not the Dead Sea Scrolls provide valuable information about early Christianity and the ministry of Jesus - Do not - help with the background of the NT in general, but do not directly address Christianity or Jesus The basic background and overriding objective of Philo - Contemporary of Jesus and wrote much. Hellenistic and proposed allegorical interpretation of OT. Basic background of Josephus and the reason he is important in NT studies. - Born into priestly family in Jerusalem and led Galilean forces during the 1st Jewish Revolt against Rome. Later gained favor or Roman General Vespasian by prophesying he would be emperor. He later came under patronage of Vespasian, which is where he published 4 works. He provides information into the background of 1st century Judaism; he provides validation in characters. One of his writings contains the earliest reference to Jesus outside of the NT. General time frame of the composition of the Dead Sea Scrolls - 250 BC - first century AD Jewish sect believed by the majority of scholars to have been the inhabitants at Qumran during the time in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were produced - Essenes Particular prophecy which members of the Qumran community believed they were fulfilling - Isaiah 40:3 What was rejected by members of the Qumran community that led them to live together in a community outside of Jerusalem - Authority of the Hasmonean priesthood Basic types of literatures found in the Dead Sea Scrolls - Scriptural manuscripts and commentaries, rules and legal writings, hymns and prayers, and writings concerned with apocalyptic and wisdom themes Meaning of term "pesher" - "Unloosening" - a solution of the mysteries of prophetic revelation NT figure some believe may have been a member of the sect at Qumran - John the Baptist Unique Messianic belief of the members of the Qumran community - Dual Messiahs - one royal and one priestly Writings commonly designated as apocryphal - Greek Esther, Judith, Tobit, 1-4 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, 1 Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manasseh Tobit - Man is persecuted, wife also faces hardship. Book shows suffering of righteous and encourages those to continue seeking righteousness despite persecution. Judith - Nebuchadnezzar dispatches Holofernes against those who resist him. Judith entices Holofernes into his own beheading. Story reminds readers that Israel's strength is in God, not size. Greek Esther - Six expansions upon the Biblical book of Esther; including a dream of Mordecai, content of Xerxes decree for Jewish extermination, prayers of Mordecai and Esther, description of Esther before king, etc. Wisdom of Solomon - Written in Egypt. Contains unique synthesis of Hellenistic rhetoric with facets of Jewish apocalypticism; contains a narrative of King Solomon and expounds on wisdom. Sirach - Contains poetic acclamations of wisdom, doxology to God, and song of praise for Israel's past heroes; instructive in nature and speaks of the use of speech, familial relations, and wealth and poverty. Baruch - Theme of exile and return and recounts a prayer, wisdom poem, and exhortation to Israel 5 years after destruction of Jerusalem. Letter of Jeremiah - Final chapter in book of Baruch; polemic against idolatry; offers repetitious exhortation to avoid folly of Gentile idols Additions to Daniel (Prayer by Abednego, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon) - Collection of 3 texts added to the canonical book. First contains a prayer by Abednego, second (Susanna) is story of righteous woman who is conspired against by two wicked elders and later saved by Daniel, third (Bel and the Dragon) contains polemics against idolatry. 1 Maccabees - Historical narrative recounting Israel's history from the death of Alex the Great to the rule of John Hyrcanus the priest; affirms the validity of the Hasmonean high-priestly caste by celebrating the military accomplishments of Mattathias and his sons to raid Jerusalem and its temple of Hellenism 2 Maccabees - Historical narrative chronicling events of 180-161. More theological, discussing resurrection, martyrdom, and the miraculous. 1 and 2 Macc. provide main sources of historical material from the middle to the second BC. 1 Esdras - Recasts portions of 2 Chron, Neh, and Esther. Describes events that supposedly occurred around rise of 2nd temple. Christian documents. Prayer of Manasseh - Proposed prayer of repentance and restoration by Manasseh 3rd and 4th Macc - Diaspora Jews' maintaining Israelite identity under Ptolemaic rule in Egypt and reflects Egyptians Judaism from the 1st century BC. Also deals with philosophical treatise affirming Torah and Jewish beliefs, exhorting Diaspora to adhere to traditions even in persecution. Basic differences between books belonging to category of OT Apocrypha and those belonging to the category of OT Pseudepigrapha - Pseudepigrapha are falsely attributed to be written by someone of value (OT writer), and are written also in Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, and other languages, and preserved in Christian traditions. They are near impossible to date. Apocrypha are in Greek and stem from Semitic original and are dated prior to Bar Kokhba revolt Main motivations that authors may have had to compose a work in the name of another - Gain a place among well-known writers Whether or not writings classified as OT Pseudepigrapha were generally preserved by Christians or Jews - Christians Jubilees - Expands on the biblical accounts of Gen. 1 - Ex. 19. Includes a special revelation given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and divides its time into 49 years. It is steeped in priestly concerns and rewrites the events of these books in that light Psalms of Solomon - 18 poetic writings (not sure why contains Solomon's name); make regular allusions to historical events from the era of composition (one describes sinner entering Jerusalem and defiling temple associated with Pompey. Are often associated with Pharisees; have Messianic themes - he will come to set things right. Are written clearly in opposition to Hasmonean dynasty Letter of Aristeas - Fictious epistle by Aristeas (though actually written by a Jew) and recounts the translation of the Hebrew Torah into Greek, sending 72 men to Alexandria for the task. This is a fictional account of the translation of the LXX. 1 Enoch - Collection of writings from the 4th century BC to turn of century. Book of Watchers - Enoch's reception of heavenly visions, rebellion of angels and the work of Azael - leader of rebellion. Enoch goes to the heavenly throne and is commissioned as a prophet of judgment. Similitudes - record of Enochic visions and angelic interpretations as the prophet travels through throne room and universe. Astronomical Book - describes role and structure of heavenly and earthly bodies and addresses the importance of solar calendar of 364 days. Book of Dreams - contains two visions, one of coming flood and the second of an apocalypse in which animals are people and people are angels. Epistle of Enoch - written by Enoch to coming generations and contains an apocalypse of weeks.