First Century before Christ

 

Palestine at the Turn of the Century:

·       Hasmoneans are priests with both the titles of king and priest

·       Qumran community is well established by the Dead Sea

·       Other Essenes are scattered throughout the land

·       Pharisees are the most dominant religious force among the people in Jerusalem

·       Sadducees are already around as well

 

Hasmoneans

·       Alexander Janneus (103-76)

§       Killed some 800 Pharisees

 

·       Alexandra (76-67)

 

·       Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II (67-63)

 

 

Roman Period

 

63 BC—Romans Gain Full Control

·       Two Hasmonean brothers vie for power, younger appeals to Romans

·       Pompey enters the city, enters the temple

 

Literature

·       Essene literature may include expansions to 1 Enoch (particularly Epistles and Similitudes) as well as some Testamental literature

·       Pharisees perhaps responsible for 2 Maccabees and Psalms of Solomon

 

Roman Rule

·       Antipater, father of Herod, of great influence (Idumean)

·       40 BC Herod the Great granted client kingship

·       37BC Herod lays siege to Jerusalem

·       31BC Augustus granted the title “emperor”

 

Herod the Great (37-4BC)

·       20 Begins to re-furbish, re-model the temple

·       Philo born in Egypt

·       Jesus born in Palestine

 

Archelaus (4BC-AD6)