In this episode, we continue our Biblical Story series. Throughout this series, we will explore the Bible's main themes, ideas, and overarching story. Each episode will focus on "blocks" of scripture and the narrative captured within them. We also will discuss how these stories are a part of one giant narrative about God's redemption of creation and humanity's role in that story. We hope this series can become a useful road map for you to use as you read the Bible for yourself.

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Episode Show Notes:

Babylonian Rule 597-539 BC

Persian-Greek period 538-323 BC

Egyptian (Ptolemaic) 320-200 BC

Syrian (Seleucid) 200-142 BC

Hasmonean 142-63 BC

Roman Empire 63 BC-

1. Alexander the Great and his empire

Empire splits

Ruled by Ptolemaic

Ruled by the Seleucid empire

-Greek Culture (Hellenism) was a major concern to Jews. Most of the world’s culture was based on Greek ideals. How were they meant to remain God’s distinct people in this kind of world. The answers varied. Just like our day

Breaking point with Antiochus Epiphanes IV who wanted to gain a stranglehold on Judea by eliminating Jewish culture and religion. This was too much

He even went so far as to turn Temple Worship toward himself instead of YHWH

2. Martyrs and vindication

- Many Jews died in resistance to Antiochus. Being martyred for their faith. Believing that God would justly vindicate them against this tyrant in the life to come.

A man named Judas Maccabaeus created an insurgency and actually was able to defeat the Seleucid empire. This led to the first independent Jewish state since the Babylonian exile 400 years earlier.

3 years after the desecration Judas rededicated the temple to YHWH. (This is where we get the holiday of Hanukkah)

3. rise of the Hasmonean dynasty

-Judas and his kin quickly rose to power but it wasn’t long before the same problems that plague all nations took hold. In fighting, backstabbing, and injustice quickly eroded their kingdom.

-This left many with a sense that even though God had vindicated his people against the Seleucid empire, there was still something more that was to come.

-The Hasmonean’s failure to honor God and their blatant power grabs left many dissatisfied and searching for where and how the promised rule and reign of God would come again.

4. Roman invasion and rule

In 63 BC the great conqueror Pompey of Rome invaded Jerusalem and even went so far as to enter the Temple’s Holy of Holies.

with this sacrilege, the Romans took on the role of Babylon and Antiochus before them.

Yet to the Jews's great sadness, no new kingly figure rose to fight these new oppressors. Instead, the temple rulers compromised with Rome rendering to Caesar what was his.

Others were determined to follow Torah rigorously, believing when God did return he would vindicate them.

After a brief takeover by a rival nation (Parthia), A man named Herod, backed by Rome became the client king. This Herod is the one who had the Temple of Jesus’ day constructed. (He did this to legitimize his rule)

After Herod’s death the kingdom was divided between 3 sons and this is the time when Jesus is born

5. Messianic Hopes&Movements, God returning as King (a prophetic vision), Return of Spirit to temple

6. Varying “kingdom” agendas: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Herod (puppet king) 3x as many Jews outside Palestine as in it, main lang. Greek not Hebrew

With all these conflicts and compromise a sense of exile and turmoil remained even though they had “returned home”

7. Jesus enters the scene (Pitched his tent of flesh among us)