History of Palestine

From Return to Destruction of Israel

• 587 BC - Israel taken captive to Babylon• 559 BC – Cyrus

allows conquered people to return to their lands

• 4th Century BC = Persians try to extend border into Greece; they destroy the temple in Athens

• Alexander the Great conquers Persia to avenge the attempt

• After Alexander the Great’s premature death (323 BC), the empire was fought over by his military successors (called the Diadochi). Eventually, Ptolemy gained control over the Holy Land, but struggles raged on for control for the next 100 years until the Romans took over.

• The Romans allow Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria to rule the area, and he forced worship of the Greek god

• Zeus in the temple.

Desecration of the temple

• Eventually pig flesh was offered in the temple (167 BC) which was a fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. Someone had to step up and defy this pagan worship.

• Daniel 11:31New Living Translation (NLT)

• 31 “His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration

• A man nsmed Mattathias resisted the pagan worship by killing the king’s representative.

• Fleeing into the hills with his 5 sons, they waged war. Mattathias died shortly thereafter, and his son Judas (nicknamed “Maccabeus”” or “hammer” took over.

• After battles with the Syrians, they were victorious, and the temple mount was cleansed (of idols) and rededicated, 3 years after the desecration.

• The temple lamps were lit, and the celebration lasted 8 days, called Festival of Lights (or Hannakuh)

• Syria eventually regained control, and various leaders ruled until 63BC when the Romans decided to rule Palestine themselves.

• In 63BC, Pompey captured Jerusalem,and a Roman from Idumea was named ethnarch (local ruler) of Palestine. He had won the favor of Julius Caesar by helping him out in Egypt years earlier. His name was Antipater.

• Antipator appointed his son Phasael as governor of Jerusalem and another son governor of Galilee. That son was named Herod.

• The assassination of • Caesar in 44 BC

threw the region into turmoil. Cassius and Brutus vied for power against Antony and Octavian.

• Herod chose fhe right side, and became the sole ruler of the territory.

Herod did a lot of good things, being sensitive to the Jews. He rebuilt the temple which had been destroyed, and built the port city of Caesarea.

But he was also mentally unstable.

• Herod died an agonizing death, perhaps from colon cancer. There were many brutalities and murders, and his death was unmourned.

• It is ironic that during this brutal reign the Prince of Peace was born.

• Following Herod’s death riots broke out, while the three sons of Herod went to Rome to persuade Caesar Augustus to make them sole ruler.

• Not making any of them sole ruler, he divided up the territory among them.

• Archelaus was named ethnarch (instead of king), and was given Judea Samaria Idumea

• Antipas was named tetrarch (local ruler) and given Galilee Perea

• Philip, also a tetrarch was given Trachonitis and other northern areas

Archelaus• Archelaus was brutal, as he ruled in the

southern part of Samaria and Judea. His evil reputation forced Joseph and Mary to take Jesus to Nazareth rather than Bethlehem.

• He interfered with the priests, illegally married a brother’s widow, and eventually, a delegation went to Rome to complain.

• For the next 35 years (6 AD – 41 AD), the Romans sent several governors, called procurators during this time.

• The only one of note was the 5th one who was in control from 26-36. His name was Pontius Pilate.

Philip

• Not much is known about Philip, another son of Herod.

• He was well liked , and the only controversy is that he was married to a niece named Herodias. She also was romantically linked to Philip’s brother, Herod Antipas.

Herod Antipas

• As ruler of Galilee, he was in the area where Jesus did most of his ministry.

• Falling in love with his niece and Philip’s wife, Herodias, he planned to marry her anyway.

• When John the Baptist spoke out against it, she asked that he be beheaded.

• This is the Herod that Pilate sent Jesus to in in Jerusalem (Herod was there for the Passover).

Herod Agrippa I• After Philip’s death, a nephew named Agrippa

was given his territory, being labeled a king. Antipas and Herodias went to Rome to seek the same title, and were banished, so Agrippa was given Galilee and Perea as well.

• Trying to please the Jews, he had James executed and sent Peter to prison.

• He died unexpectedly at a festival in Caesarea while accepting recognition as a god.

Herod Agrippa II

• Agrippa II was made nominal ruler until he became old enough. Unlike his father, he cared little for the feelings of the Jews. Paul appeared before Agrippa and tried to convince him of the gospel.