I.Brief
History of Israel
A.
Strengths:Monotheism; Nationhood;
Persecution
B.
The Patriarchs (c. 1600 BC):Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob = Israel
C.
Moses and the Exodus (c. 1260 BC):Wander
in Desert (Baal / polytheism; X commandments)
D.
The Kingdom of Judah:Monarchy =
Priesthood
1.
Saul:Philistines
2.
David (c. 1000 BC): Army; Jerusalem
3.
Solomon:Temple; Trade
4.
The Divided Kingdom:Judah (South);
Israel (North) = Samaria
E.
Babylonian Captivity (587-538 BC):followed
by restoration under Persia
II. Hellenistic
Judaea
A.
Greek Control (333 BC):Ptolemies
of Egypt; Seleucids of Syria;
Hellenization
B.
Maccabean Revolt (167 BC):Judas
Maccabeus v. Antiochus IV
C.
Hasmonean Dynasty:From Antihellenism
to Hellenism
D.
Roman Rule (63 BC):The Herods; Independence
and Toleration; annexation (AD
6)
III. Variety
of Belief:Religious or political
Division?
A.
Heimarmene
(fate)
B.
Sects =
1.
Pharisees:Law + Custom; origins
of Rabbinic Judaism
2.
Sadducees:Law only; Hellenizers;
Priestly Class
3.
Essenes:Law + Custom + Asceticism;
John the Baptist;
Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran)
C.
Political Interpretation: Sadducees = Hasmonean supporters; Pharisees
= Hasmonean opponents; Essenes = flee dispute
IV. The Theology
of Hellenistic Judaism
A.
Afterlife:Daniel 12.2
B.
Messiah:Restores Israel; Last Judgement;
House of David
C.
Mysticism:Wisdom literature; revelation
(apocalypsis)
V. Diaspora:Outsiders
A.
Jews across the Mediterranean (diaspora):Rome,
Cyrene, Cyprus, Greece, Asia, Egypt (Alexandria)
B.
Tension:Claudius' decree to Alexandria
(LM 13.3)
C.
Revolt and Repression:Destruction
of the Temple under Vespasian (AD 70)
