Second Temple Judaism: A Brief Historical Outline--Part Four

Second Temple Judaism: A Brief Historical Outline -- Part Four

Bruce N. Fisk

4. Conflicts and Crises in Judea between 63 BCE and 66 CE

Date	Josephus	Conflict or Crisis
63 BCE	War 1.124-151 Ant.14:41	Pompey invades Palestine, conquers Jerusalem supported by Hyrcanus, lays seige to the Temple for 3 months, enters the Temple and Holy of Holies. The 'nation' expresses to Pompey its rejection of both Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II, and its preference for a priestly theocracy.
40 BCE	War 1.250-252	Civil war rages between the houses of Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II or his son, Antigonus. Many Jewish casualties, including those Herod executed in retaliation for the deaths of sixty of his soldiers.
39-38 BCE	War 1.309-316	Herod takes control of Galilee and slaughters many rebel groups.
5 BCE	War 1.648-655 Ant.17.149-167	Near the end of Herod's life, two elders, Judas and Matthaias, encourage some youths to pull down the eagle image over the Temple gate. Herod arrests, tries and executes the offenders, including the elders, and deposes High Priest Matthias installing Joazar in his place.
4 BCE	War 2.39-79 Ant.17.271-298 War 2.80-92	Herod's death spawns various revolts: pilgrims in Jerusalem, during feast of Pentecost Idumeans in Herod's army Judas son of Ezekias in Galilee Simon in Perea Archelaus (Herod's son) aided by Varus, the Syrian legate extinguish the rebellions. A Jewish delegation appeals to Augustus not to distribute Herod's estate to Herod's descendants, but rather to allow the Jews a measure of self-governance under Syrian administration.
6 CE	War 2.111 War 2.117-118; Ant.18.1-10	A delegation of Jews and Samaritans appeal to Augustus to depose Archelaus because of the brutality of his regime. Judas the Galilean and Saddok the Pharisee lead a revolt against the census initiated by Roman prefect Coponius.
26 CE	Ant.18.55-59; War 2.169-174 Ant.18.60-62; War 2.175-177	Pilate introduces standards bearing Caesar's image into Jerusalem by night. Jewish reaction includes a large delegation to Caesarea, a 5 day & night sit-in that ends with victory. When Pilate uses money dedicated for sacrifices to build an aqueduct, many Jews protest by surrounding Pilate's tribunal. Pilate's reply is swift and deadly.
30CE	Ant.18.116-119	John the Baptist is executed by Herod Antipas because he fears mass uprising. Cf.Matt.14:3-12.
41 CE	Ant.18.261-272; Ant.18.305-309	Gaius (Caligula) determines to have his statue erected in the Temple. Many Jews react by appealing to Syrian legate Petronius, first at Ptolemais and then Tiberias. Eventually the order is repealed.
44-46CE	Ant.20.97-99	During the procuratorship of Cuspius Fadus, Theudas emerged as a `prophet' who lead many to the Jordan. Fadus stamps out the movement and decapitates Theudas. See Acts 5:36.
48-52 CE	War 2.232-244 War 2.228-231 War 2.232-246	Under Procurator Cumanus, a riot erupts in the Temple during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, sparked by a lewd gesture by a Roman soldier stationed on the roof of the portico. Soldiers kill many and others perish attempting to escape (Ant.: 20,000; War: 30,000). One of Cumanus' troops destroys and burns a copy of the Jewish scripture. The Jews appeal to Cumanus and the soldier is executed. Galileans and Samaritans clash over the murder of one or a few Galileans. Cumanus initially ignores the crisis and Syrian legate Quadratus eventually intervenes, but only after the loss of many lives. Josephus describes some Jews as rash brigands bent on war, and others as magistrates from Jerusalem urging peaceful resolution.
52-59 CE	War 2.253 War 2.254-257 War 2.259-260 War 2.261-263; Ant.20.169-172	Procurator Felix imprisons and executes many `brigands'. Josephus describes the rise of the Sicarii (assassins) in Jerusalem. Still under the procuratorship of Felix, a number of `prophets' lead followers into the desert. To prevent these movements from fomenting insurrection, Felix had many executed. An Egyptian `prophet' leads thousands (Josephus: 30,000; Acts: 4,000) in an attack on Jerusalem. See Acts 21:38. Felix uses Roman soldiers to suppress the revolt.
66 CE	War 2.284-308	Under Gessius Florus (64-66), whom Josephus portrays seeking to incite the Jews to war, a dispute erupts in Caesarea over the desecration of space adjacent to a synagogue. Rather than quelling the uprising, Florus makes it worse, demanding money from the Temple treasury, moving Roman troops on Jerusalem and eventually charging them to attack, arrest and crucify. 3,600 die in one day.

5. The Jewish War [66-74 CE]

Date	Josephus	Details and Episodes of the War
66 CE	War 2.309-407 War 2.408-416 War 2.430-32; 449-456 War 2.499-555	The crisis escalates. Herod Agrippa II delivers an impassioned speech to dissuade the rebels (2.345-405). Jewish insurgents seize Masada, killing Roman guards. Eleazar, son of Ananias the high priest, persuades the priests to refuse gifts from foreigners, thus halting sacrifices offered on Rome's behalf. Insurgents capture and occupy the Roman fortress of Antonia (adjacent to 449-456Temple), killing entire Roman garrison. Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, brings 12th Legion from Antioch, burns villages, attacks Jerusalem, retreats and incurs heavy losses.
67 CE	War 3.1-4.120	Sent by Nero, Vespasian and 3 Legions gain control of Galilee.
68 CE (June 9)	War 4.491-96	Revolt in Rome; Nero commits suicide
68-69 CE	War 4.366-556	Vespasian gains control of Perea and Judean countryside.
69 CE	War 4.655-58	Vespasian is proclaimed emperor in Alexandria; he appoints Titus, his son, to continue the seige against Jerusalem.
70 CE	War 5-6	Seige of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple.
74 CE	War 7.252-406	Masada, the last Jewish garrison, falls to the Romans.

6. Two Later Crises

115-117 CE		Jews revolt in Alexandria, Egyptian countryside, Cyprus, etc. but not in Israel.
132-35 CE		The Second Jewish Revolt, during the reign of Hadrian, is lead by Simon Bar Kosiba (= Bar Kochba), a messianic figure.

7. Important Shifts in Jewish Life and Thought from Pre-exilic Israel to Second Temple Judaism

[Adapted from Shaye Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, 20-24]

	Pre-exilic Israel	Second Temple Judaism
Name	Israelites	Jews
Language	Hebrew	Aramaic and Greek
Social Structure	tribal	clan
Identity	nationality	religion
Cultus	temple/priest/sacrifice	add: book/prayer/synagogue
Social Orientation	corporate	more individual
Justice	divine justice rendered in this age	justice rendered in next age; afterlife, resurrection, angels; good and evil forces within individuals
God	immanent	transcendent
Leadership	kings and prophets	priests primary scribes (authority based on knowledge of scripture) others: seers, healers, holy men

(Back to Part Three)

Second Temple Judaism: A Brief Historical Outline -- Part Four

Date

Josephus

Conflict or Crisis

Date

Josephus

Details and Episodes of the War

Pre-exilic Israel

Second Temple Judaism