Derek Morris -Palestine During Inter-Testament Times

Summary

This presentation offers a historical and cultural backdrop to the life and teachings of Jesus, focusing on the period between the Old and New Testaments. It outlines the struggle of Judaism amidst the rise and fall of Greek influence, particularly under Alexander the Great and subsequent Hellenistic rule. The lecture details the transition of power in Palestine, from the Ptolemaic to Seleucid control, leading to the Maccabean Revolt and the fight for Jewish independence. It further explores the reign of Herod the Great, his contributions and his tyrannical rule, including his infamous act of ordering the massacre of infants in Bethlehem. The narrative proceeds to the Roman rule, highlighting key figures like Pontius Pilate and the political complexities of the era. The summary underscores the significance of understanding this historical context to grasp the challenges faced by Jesus and the cultural dynamics of his time.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The presentation begins with a prayer for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus within the historical context of Palestine during the intertestamental period.
• 🏛 Judaism faced significant challenges for survival during this time, struggling against not only military threats but also the cultural influence of Hellenism.
• 🌐 Major shifts in power occurred after the death of Alexander the Great, leading to a struggle for control over Palestine among his generals and the eventual division of his empire.
• 📜 The translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, was a result of Greek cultural influence on Judaism during the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.
• ⚔️ The Maccabean Rebellion, led by Judas Maccabeus, was a response to the persecution of the Jewish people and the desecration of the temple by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
• 🏟️ Herod the Great, a key figure in the gospel narratives, was known for his architectural achievements, including the expansion of the temple in Jerusalem, despite his violent and oppressive rule.
• 👑 Herod's rule and the subsequent rule of his sons, including Herod Antipas, are significant for understanding the political landscape during Jesus' life and ministry.
• 🦊 Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as 'that fox,' highlighting the ruler's cunning and deceitful nature, which played a role in the events leading to John the Baptist's execution.
• 🏛️ The Roman procurators, such as Pontius Pilate, held significant power in the region, including authority over capital punishment, which had critical implications for Jesus' trial and crucifixion.
• ⚖️ Pontius Pilate's decision-making during Jesus' trial reflects a complex interplay of political, religious, and personal factors, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome.
• 📚 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and cultural backdrop of the New Testament to grasp the significance of Jesus' life and mission.

Q & A

What is the time period being discussed in the presentation?

The presentation discusses the period between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament, specifically from around the 4th Century BC to the start of the Christian era.

What was the primary challenge faced by Judaism during the time between the Testaments?

Judaism was struggling for survival, being attacked not just by military power but also by foreign cultures, particularly Greek culture.

Who was Alexander the Great and what was his impact on Palestine?

Alexander the Great was a Macedonian king who created a massive Hellenistic Empire after conquering the Greek city-states. His empire extended to the borders of India, and he spread Greek culture, making it the common language and influence across the conquered regions, including Palestine.

What was the significance of the Ptolemy and Seleucid dynasties in the context of Palestine?

The Ptolemy and Seleucid dynasties were established by generals of Alexander the Great. They divided the Greek Empire after his death, with Ptolemy ruling Egypt and Seleucus ruling Syria. Palestine fell under the control of these dynasties, first under the Ptolemies and later under the Seleucids, which significantly influenced the cultural and political landscape of the region.

What event marked the beginning of the Maccabean Rebellion?

The Maccabean Rebellion began with the Modin incident in 167 BC, when the aged Jewish priest Mattathias killed a representative of the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was enforcing laws to eradicate Jewish culture and religion.

Who was Herod the Great and how did he rise to power?

Herod the Great was the son of Antipater the First, who governed under Roman rule. Herod was appointed as a governor in Galilee by his father and later became the King of Judea in 40 BC due to his effective governance and favor with the Romans.

What was the role of Pontius Pilate during the time of Jesus?

Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator during the ministry of Jesus. He was responsible for collecting taxes for Rome, maintaining law and order, and had judicial powers, including decisions involving the death penalty.

Why did the Jewish leaders request Roman rule in 63 BC?

The Jewish leaders requested Roman rule because the Romans were known to respect the religion and culture of the areas they governed, as long as there was stability. They preferred Roman oversight to the possibility of being under a hostile force that would not respect their religion.

What was the significance of the Septuagint in the context of the Greek influence on Judaism?

The Septuagint was a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. It was a result of the influence of Greek culture on Judaism during the time when Palestine was governed by the Ptolemaic dynasty, reflecting the cultural exchange and the adaptation of Jewish religious texts to the lingua franca of the Hellenistic world.

How did Herod the Great's building projects reflect his rule?

Herod the Great was known as a great builder. He constructed massive projects such as an aqueduct from the north to Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea and significantly refurbished the temple in Jerusalem. These building projects demonstrated his power and the prosperity under his rule, despite his reputation for being a man of blood.

What were the key responsibilities of the Roman procurator?

The Roman procurator had three major responsibilities: collecting taxes for Rome, maintaining law and order through an army under his control, and having judicial powers, particularly over legal decisions involving the death penalty.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Opening Prayer and Introduction to Palestine's Historical Context

The video begins with a prayer for understanding the situation in Palestine during the intertestamental period, between the Old and New Testaments. The lecturer seeks guidance to teach and learn about the cultural challenges and trends of the time. The main theme is the struggle for survival of Judaism amidst the influence of Greek culture, particularly through the conquests of Alexander the Great, which spread Hellenism far and wide. The lecture aims to provide an overview from the 4th Century BC to the start of the Christian era, emphasizing the impact of Greek culture on Judaism and the rise of Hellenistic influence.

05:04

🌟 The Rise and Struggle of Greek Influence in Palestine

This paragraph delves into the historical context of Palestine under the influence of Greek leaders. It discusses the division of Alexander the Great's empire after his death, leading to a struggle for control over Palestine. The region first fell under the control of Ptolemy, a Greek general who established a dynasty in Egypt and brought Palestine under his domain. This period saw a positive relationship between Egypt and Palestine, culminating in the translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint. However, this relationship soured when Antiochus the Great, another of Alexander's generals and king of Syria, seized control of Palestine in 198 BC, marking the beginning of a period of hardship and persecution for the Jewish people.

10:06

🏛️ The Maccabean Rebellion and Jewish Independence

The paragraph describes the oppressive rule of Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus, who sought to eradicate Judaism and replace it with Greek culture. In 168 BC, he desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and issued an edict prohibiting Jewish worship, Sabbath observance, and scripture reading. This led to the Maccabean Rebellion, initiated by Mattathias and his sons, the most notable being Judas Maccabeus. The rebellion culminated in the restoration of Jewish independence and temple worship in 165 BC, after the Syrian forces were ousted from Palestine.

15:07

🕍 Herod the Great and the End of Jewish Independence

The focus shifts to Herod the Great, a key figure in the gospel record, who was neither Roman nor Jewish but rose to power under Roman rule. His father, Antipater, governed under Roman rule, and Herod was appointed King of Judea in 40 BC after proving himself as a capable governor in Galilee. Despite marrying a Jewish princess to gain favor with the Jews, Herod was known as a great builder rather than a great ruler, having refurbished the temple in Jerusalem. However, his reign was also marked by violence, including the killing of the children in Bethlehem. The paragraph also mentions the end of Jewish independence in 63 BC when Jewish leaders requested Roman rule, preferring it to the potential for another hostile force that would not respect their religion.

20:07

🏗️ Building Projects and the Legacy of Herod the Great

This section highlights Herod the Great's accomplishments as a builder, including the construction of a massive aqueduct and the refurbishment of the temple in Jerusalem, which became known as Herod's Temple. Despite his contributions to architecture, Herod's rule was also characterized by violence and the elimination of threats, even within his own family. His death in 3 BC preceded the rise of his sons to various positions of power, some of whom would play significant roles in the events of the gospels.

25:07

🦊 Herod Antipas and the Rule of Rome in Palestine

The paragraph discusses the rule of Herod Antipas, one of Herod the Great's sons, who governed over Galilee and had significant contact with Jesus. It also touches upon the governance of Philip, another son, and Archelaus, who was eventually removed by the Romans due to his poor leadership. The section concludes with the establishment of Roman rule, specifically under a Roman official following the removal of Archelaus. This sets the stage for understanding the political landscape during the time of Jesus' ministry.

30:10

🏛️ The Roman Pro-Curators and Their Role in Palestine

The paragraph outlines the responsibilities of the Roman pro-curators in Palestine, focusing on their role in tax collection, maintaining law and order, and possessing judicial powers, particularly over capital cases. It emphasizes the importance of the Roman pro-curator's authority in legal decisions involving the death penalty, which is crucial to the narrative of Jesus' trial. The section also introduces Pontius Pilate as the Roman pro-curator during Jesus' ministry, noting his inflexible nature and the challenges his leadership presented.

35:14

🤲 Pontius Pilate's Interaction with Jesus and the Jewish Leaders

This section discusses the character of Pontius Pilate, highlighting his lack of understanding of the Jewish people, his hasty actions that stirred up opposition, and his ultimate weakness when faced with pressure. It describes the trial of Jesus, where Pilate initially finds no fault in Jesus but eventually succumbs to the demands of the Jewish leaders, leading to Jesus' flogging and crucifixion. Pilate's wife's warning dream and her message to have nothing to do with Jesus are also mentioned, underscoring the tragic mishandling of Jesus' case by Pilate.

40:16

📜 Closing Prayer and Invitation for Further Spiritual Messages

The video concludes with a prayer for understanding and clarity regarding the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing both the forces for good and evil at work during this historical period. The prayer seeks insight into Jesus' mission and its significance for each individual. The video is presented by American Cassette Ministries, which offers spiritual messages and invites viewers to explore their catalog and support their ministry.

Keywords

💡Palestine

Palestine is a geographic region in the Eastern Mediterranean, significant for its role in biblical history and the teachings of Jesus. In the video, it is discussed as the setting for the struggles between different powers during the intertestamental period, including the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, which shaped the cultural and political landscape during the time of Jesus.

💡Hellenism

Hellenism refers to the spread of ancient Greek culture, language, and traditions. The video describes how Hellenism, under Alexander the Great and his successors, influenced the region of Palestine, leading to a cultural struggle that threatened the survival of Judaism. The term is used to illustrate the broader context of cultural imperialism that the Jewish people faced.

💡Jewish Independence

Jewish Independence is a concept that emerged from the Maccabean Rebellion against the oppressive rule of the Seleucid Empire, as depicted in the video. It signifies the period when the Jewish people regained control over their land and religious practices after a time of persecution under Greek rule. The video highlights the importance of this struggle for understanding the historical context of Jewish identity and the resistance against cultural assimilation.

💡Herod the Great

Herod the Great, also known as Herod, was a Roman client king of Judea. The video describes his rise to power, his architectural achievements, and his role in the narrative of Jesus' birth. Herod's rule is significant as it marks a period of Roman influence and the intermingling of political and religious authority in the region, which is crucial for understanding the backdrop of the New Testament.

💡Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate was a Roman official, serving as the prefect of Judea during the time of Jesus. The video discusses his role in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, highlighting his position as the Roman procurator with judicial powers, including authority over capital punishment. Pilate's portrayal is central to understanding the political dynamics and the fate of Jesus within the Roman-controlled Palestine.

💡Maccabean Rebellion

The Maccabean Rebellion, also known as the Jewish Independence War, was an uprising led by the Maccabees against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. The video recounts the rebellion as a pivotal moment in Jewish history, where the Jewish people fought for their religious freedom and cultural identity. The rebellion is significant for setting the stage for the subsequent religious and political developments in the region.

💡Ptolemy

Ptolemy refers to a series of Greek rulers of Egypt, starting with Ptolemy I, who were part of the Hellenistic period. In the video, Ptolemy is mentioned in the context of the political division of Alexander the Great's empire and the subsequent control over Palestine. The Ptolemaic rule over Palestine is depicted as a time of relative peace and cultural exchange, influencing the development of Judaism.

💡Seleucid Empire

The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic state ruled by the Seleucid dynasty that succeeded Alexander the Great. The video discusses the Seleucids' control over Palestine and the cultural and religious challenges faced by the Jewish people under their rule. The Seleucid Empire's influence is key to understanding the historical context of the Jewish struggle for independence and the rise of the Maccabean Rebellion.

💡Septuagint

The Septuagint is an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The video mentions the Septuagint in the context of the cultural influence of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, where many Jews relocated, and the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek. This translation is significant as it reflects the cultural exchange between Hellenistic culture and Judaism and is part of the religious literature of early Christians.

💡Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a Seleucid king known for his attempts to Hellenize the Jewish people and his desecration of the Jewish Temple. The video describes his reign as a time of great persecution for the Jews, leading to the Maccabean Rebellion. Antiochus IV's actions are central to understanding the religious and cultural tensions in the region during the intertestamental period.

💡Roman Procurator

A Roman procurator was a governor or administrator of a province in the Roman Empire. The video discusses the role of the Roman procurators in governing Palestine, particularly focusing on Pontius Pilate. The position of the procurator is significant for understanding the political and legal context of Jesus' trial and crucifixion, as they held judicial power, including authority over capital punishment.

Highlights

The lecture provides a historical context for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus during the intertestamental period.

Judaism was under attack not just by military power but also by cultural influences, particularly from Greek culture.

The rise and fall of Alexander the Great and the establishment of Hellenistic culture had a profound impact on Palestine.

The struggle for control over Palestine after Alexander's death led to a division of his empire and significant changes in the region's governance.

Ptolemy, a Greek general, established a dynasty in Egypt and brought Palestine under his control, influencing the culture and religion of the region.

The translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, was a result of Greek cultural influence on Judaism.

Antiochus the Great, a Syrian king, seized control of Palestine from the Egyptian rulers, leading to a period of persecution for the Jewish people.

The Maccabean Rebellion, led by Judas Maccabeus, was a response to the attempts to eradicate Judaism and establish Greek cultural dominance.

The Maccabean Rebellion resulted in the restoration of Jewish independence and the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.

Herod the Great, a non-Jewish, non-Roman ruler, was known for his building projects, including the refurbishment of the temple in Jerusalem.

Herod the Great's rule was marked by both significant architectural achievements and acts of violence, including the killing of innocents in Bethlehem.

The Roman Empire's influence in Palestine began with Pompey's conquest in 63 BC and continued through various rulers and procurators.

Pontius Pilate, as Roman procurator, had significant authority, including the power to make legal decisions involving the death penalty.

The trial and crucifixion of Jesus were influenced by the political and cultural tensions of the time, including the interactions between Jewish leaders and Roman authorities.

The lecture explores the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and political factors that shaped the world in which Jesus lived and taught.

The presentation concludes with a prayer for understanding not just the historical context, but also the personal significance of Jesus' mission.

Transcripts

let's pray as we begin this presentation

Heavenly Father

today as we consider the

situation in Palestine during the into

Testament times

between the end of the Old Testament and

the beginning of the New Testament

period

so that we can understand more fully the

life and the teachings of Jesus I pray

that you'd help me to teach clearly help

us to understand the Trends and the

basic issues that we're challenging the

culture and then as we come to read

scripture may we be able to understand

more clearly what's happening and most

of all what you want us to learn for our

lives today

in Jesus name amen

well this is lecture four and it's

entitled Palestine during into Testament

times

and I want to just give you a broad

overview of what's Happening after the

end of Old Testament Prophet speaking

around the 4th Century BC until the time

of the beginning of the Christian era

but if I were to summarize in one

sentence and it would be a sentence that

you would do well to to take note of

I would say that during these uh times

between the Testaments that Judaism is

struggling for survival

Judaism is being

attacked not just

by military power but by culture

particularly Greek culture

and Judaism is struggling

for survival

as we begin looking at this topic of

Palestine during this new testament time

I'd like to begin major section one by

looking at the coming of Greece

now many of you I'm sure have studied in

world history about Greece

but I want to just look specifically at

how it affects Palestine okay so major

section A Alexander the Great

having crushed the Greek city-states

in the year 338 BC a date that you don't

need to remember but just kind of

framing things for us

Philip of Macedonia gave to his son

Alexander a United Hellenistic or

Hellenic Kingdom

now what is important to know is that

Alexander given this United Kingdom

didn't just sit around and say well

great I can be king now but he went on a

journey of Conquest

starting at this time

and taking him all the way to the

borders of India in the year 326

BC

he established a massive Empire and

we'll discover that that Empire was not

only a political Empire but it was a

cultural Empire

Greek culture which is referred to as

Hellenism

and as he established this massive

Empire

Greek became the common language

and Greek culture with its Adoration of

the human form

and the games

permeated the rest of the cultures that

that it contacted

unfortunately even though Alexander the

Great had a meteoric rise to power

in the year eight 323 BC he died

at age 33. so just a short period of

about 15 years he establishes a massive

Greek Empire but then dies

without a successor

the result of that uh dilemma with with

the death of Alexander the Great is a

struggle for control

in Palestine

we're talking now specifically how all

of this affected Palestine so section V

the struggle for Palestine

because with no successor

some of Alexander the Great generals

jockey for power and eventually the

Greek Empire is divided up into various

sections

Palestine first fell under the control

of a Greek General by the name of

potolami

potomy when the Greek Empire was kind of

carved up

established himself as the ruler of

Egypt

now remember the Ptolemy is not an

Egyptian

what's his cultural background

he's Greek right

but he's establishing his dynasty in

Egypt and Egypt was an important

location as the empire was divided up

now just north of Egypt if you know your

geography around the Mediterranean there

is Palestine and so Ptolemy when he

established his dynasty one of the Greek

generals established his dynasty in

Egypt he took Palestine with his domain

and for about a hundred years and we're

just talking in general terms here

Palestine was governed by its Egyptian

Lords

during this time there was a fairly um

what's the word positive relationship

between Egypt and Palestine many Jews in

fact relocated in Egypt it was during

this time as I mentioned that the Hebrew

scriptures were translated into Greek

not just because they said well we want

to share the scriptures with the world

but Greek culture was influencing

Judaism

and the Septuagint was the result of

that translation

however unfortunately that kind of

pleasant relationship even though they

were being ruled by someone did not

continue

in the year

198 BC

let me give you one other general's name

a man by the name of seleucus before I

give you the date

seleucus another of Alexander the

Great's generals when they carved up the

Empire he became the king

of Syria that was his dynasty

he said I'm going to govern this area

now again if you know your geography

between Syria and the North and Egypt in

the south is

Palestine

and so Lucas governed as king of Syria

and established his dynasty there and it

was one of his descendants

a man by the name of Antiochus the third

or Antiochus the great who in the year

198 BC this is about 100 years later

he's king of Syria Antiochus the Great

sends his army South

and seizes control of Palestine from the

Egyptian Lords to the South

you can imagine the geography of the

region here the Mediterranean and here's

Syria in the North

and here's Egypt in the south

and here's Palestine caught between them

after Alexander dies

says I'm going to govern this area

establishes his dynasty and says

Palestine will be with me for about a

hundred years that's how things rest in

a fairly workable relationship

but 100 years later 198 BC descendant of

seleucus one of the kings of Syria

Antiochus the great says no we want

Palestine to be with us since his army

South and seizes control of Palestine

key point with the shift from being

under the governance of Egypt or the

Egyptian Lords to now being under Syria

a time of persecution a time of hardship

begins

for the Jewish people in Palestine

which brings us to Major section two

which I've entitled

Jewish Independence

Jewish Independence

because a descendant of Antiochus the

great who is the descendant of Salukis

so one of the dynasties set up there by

this Greek General seleucus in Syria

a descendant of Antiochus the great was

a man by the name of Antiochus

epiphanies

some of you may even have heard of that

name if you've studied about the

maccabean Rebellion

he was actually the son of Antiochus the

great a man named Antiochus epiphanes

king of Syria from 175 to 163 BC

and you don't need to remember those

dates but again you see we're moving

closer to the time of Christ right

Antiochus epiphanies

had a very specific goal

and that is to obliterate Judaism

the cultural and religious identity of

Judaism obliterated

what does he want to replace it with

well again he's not he's not Syrian is

he what what's his background

Greek and so Hellenistic culture

Hellenism Greek culture to replace

Judaism with Greek culture with the

games and with the Adoration of the

human form

and with the pantheon of Gods

the Greek gods of course

and so

in the year 168 BC

he sends his army South

to Jerusalem

and he desecrates the temple

he builds an altar to Zeus

and sacrifices a pig

in the temple of God

it is a direct Challenge and a

desecration of Judaism

not only does he desecrate the temple

but he passes an edict

and I'd like you to notice what that law

said

he said

that there must be no worship of the of

the god of Heaven the god of the Jews

there must be no Sabbath observance

no reading of the scriptures

and of course no worship of the of of

the Lord in the temple

most of the male inhabitants of

Jerusalem were killed though a few fled

Into the Wilderness under the leadership

of a man by the name of Judas Maccabees

a name some of you may have heard so law

passed no Sabbath no worship of the true

God no reading of the scripture what

does he want to do to Judaism

destroy it eradicate Judaism and replace

it with Greek culture

but not all of the Jewish males were

killed some fled Into the Wilderness

and an event takes place

in a little Community called modin

m-o-d-i-n

referred to as the modin incident

167 BC

again not a date that you need to

remember but you see how time is

unfolding a year earlier desecration of

the Temple

law passed no more reading of scripture

the year 167 BC

Antiochus epiphanes king of Syria

descendant of seleucus the Greek General

Antiochus Epiphany sends a

representative the king's representative

to make sure that this law edict is

being enforced

and in the village of modin

this representative was killed by an

aged Jewish priest

an aged Jewish priest

by the name of matathias

now many of you may not have heard of

Mata theist but you have heard of his

son perhaps

Judas

Maccabees

Maccabee means Hammer his name was Judas

the hammer and that said something about

his opposition to

the desecration that had happened

but Matthias father of Judas Maccabees

kills this representative from the king

of Syria and says I'd like you to notice

and maybe you want to write it down what

he says

let everyone who is zealous for the law

let everyone who is zealous for the law

what law do you think that is

God's law that's right the Torah the

sacred word of God let everyone who is

zealous for the law come out with me

what's he calling for

Rebellion he's calling for a an uprising

and with that call Begins the what we

refer to as the war of Jewish

Independence the maccabean Rebellion

which went from 167

to 165 BC

led by the son of matathias Judas

Maccabees

and finally

in 165 the Syrian forces are ousted from

Palestine Temple worship is restored

now I'm going to hyperspace from that

time

and and move on and just give you one

piece of information at the end and

maybe we we could uh just take a note of

this because we don't have time to focus

in detail on what happens after 165 but

but even though Jewish Independence is

established again in 165

one more day to write down before we

move on to the reign of Herod in the

year 63 BC

still now being governed uh

self-governed Syria is gone

Egypt's no longer in control

in the year 63 BC

Jewish Independence ended

but now not by force at least it seemed

the Jewish leaders requested Roman rule

I said why if they were willing to shed

their blood to get rid of the syrians

would they ask the Romans to come and

oversee them in 63 BC and the answer is

simple

at least we'll try to make it simple

the Romans respected the the religion of

the areas that they governed they didn't

try to obliterate the culture and the

religion of the areas they govern as

long as things were under control they

were happy

and perhaps the Jewish leaders felt it

would be better to be under Rome than

under some other hostile force that

would not respect their religion so even

though they struggled for power and

overthrew through the Syrian overlords

in 165

a hundred years later they asked the

Romans to come and oversee them and of

course that's an important part of the

puzzle as we look at the life of Jesus

because we see Roman soldiers walking

around right and centurions and Roman

Pro curators and you say where did they

come from answer they are connected now

from 63 BC

well that's a brief overview of the

Greek influence but we need to move on

section three and talk about another key

individual that emerges in the gospel

record by the name of Herod the Great

and I've entitled section three

herod's rule

because as you read the gospel record

you come across this individual

and you might say well who is he is he a

Roman is he Jewish

and the answer is he is neither Roman

nor Jewish

section a herod's rise to power

herod's father was a man by the name of

antipater the first

and he governed Under the Umbrella of

Roman rule

after Rome had taken control of

Palestine

and he was able to get his sons also

involved in leadership

in fact in the year 47 BC he arranged

for one of his sons a man by the name of

Herod to become a governor in Galilee

and Herod did such a good job

governing that region for Rome that in

the year 40 BC

Herod was appointed

as King of Judea

this is the Herod that will be referred

to as Herod the Great

son of antipater given a position as a

governor in Galilee which was kind of a

remote region to the north

a lot of trouble there a lot of Bandits

and Insurrection did such a good job

that he was appointed by the Romans as a

King of Judea now remember he's not

Roman and actually he's not even Jewish

he was from a region to the South called

idumia

and we'll give you a map

on another day but you can look on a map

it's to the South it's where the

descendants of Esau had settled

he was from edumia so he was not loved

by the Jews or by the Romans but he

somehow was able to gain favor with them

and was appointed as a King of Judea in

40 BC

he married a Jewish

princess a hasmanian princess to try to

gain favor with the Jews but was called

Herod the Great

not because he was such a great ruler

but he was a great Builder

I had the opportunity to go and see a

massive Aqueduct that Herod the Great

had built from the north running right

along the Mediterranean Sea to caesarea

which was a settlement during the time

of Jesus on the Mediterranean Coast Is

Still Standing it's incredible

he also totally refurbished the temple

in Jerusalem Herod did and that's why

during that time was referred to as

herod's Temple not his Temple it was the

Temple of the Lord but he refurbished it

so he was a great Builder but

unfortunately Herod was also a man of

blood

if you read the historical record he

would kill his own relatives if he felt

that they were a threat to him

and it was this Herod who also killed

who

all of the children

in Bethlehem remember that

he was the Herod that the wise men came

to and said where's this King and here

it's like a king

hmm bring back news that I may go and

worship him too

no

no intention of worshiping him later

when he finds out that the these Mage I

have left by another route he has all of

the children in Bethlehem killed

two years and younger he doesn't want to

miss this male child

so he was a man of blood

not a great ruler but certainly a great

Builder

that we can pinpoint fairly accurately

here it dies in the year

3 BC

and herod's Sons

before his death he manages to get them

in positions of leadership and I'd like

to share a little about his sons by the

way I just mentioned something in

passing which to some of you raises a

huge question and that is if Herod the

Great died in 3 BC how in the world did

he try to kill Jesus if Jesus was born

in the year 180

um and we'll answer that question in

lecture seven but we're pretty accurate

we don't know when the year sometime

between 4 BC and 3 BC here are the great

dice before his death though he manages

to secure some positions of leadership

for several of his sons and I mentioned

these because they appear in the gospel

record

one of them uh was a man named Philip

and Philip became a governor of the

region Northeast of the Sea of Galilee

the area where caesarea Philippi was

built you say ah built in honor of the

Caesar and in honor of Philip that's

right caesarea Philippi north east of

the Sea of Galilee if you're familiar

with Palestine River Jordan

Sea of Galilee Dead Sea

and this region Northeast of the Sea of

Galilee Philip governed that region and

from what we can tell he was a a good

ruler and had no confrontation with

Jesus during the ministry of Jesus

not mentioned extensively

a much more famous or should I say

infamous ruler son of Herod the Great

was a son by the name of Herod Antipas

Herod Antipas

and he was a governor of Galilee

hence his extensive contact with Jesus

who was raised in Nazareth and was

present during the trial of Jesus

and also of a region on the east side of

the Jordan River called paria

we'll talk about some of those in

another lecture

but he is most famous or inFAMOUS

before he

actually his problems began when he got

involved in a an adulterous relationship

with his brother's wife

with a an evil woman

by the name of herodias gets a little

confusing Herod the Great son here at

Antipas adulterous relationship with

herodias

his brother's wife and in fact it was as

a result of that adulterous relationship

John rebuked Herod antipath said it's

not right for you to be with your

brother's wife that he was put in prison

and will discover in lecture six uh how

the plan is made for his death and it

was not here at Antipas who wanted John

dead

Jesus refers to Herod Antipas as

that Fox

and during the trial of Jesus

Jesus has no word to speak to Herod and

to pass

it's interesting that Jesus always

has something to say to a person whose

Heart is Open tax collector Rebel

prostitute

but no word for Herod and to pass

a third son of Herod the Great

little known mentioned from what I can

tell only one time in the scripture in

the Book of Matthew

a man by the name of arch Elias

he's mentioned when if you remember the

story some of you may have read Matthew

that after Egypt they're on their way

back and Joseph and Mary plan to settle

in Bethlehem in Judea and Angel warnsman

says no don't go there because archeles

should give us a clue as to how well he

was doing arcules is there and so they

go North to Nazareth which is in the

region of Galilee where his brother was

governing

arcules began

his governance

uh in 4 BC

and by 86 about 10 years later he was

doing such a poor job he had massacred

the Jews he had obviously not read the

book How to Win Friends and Influence

People and by 86 the Romans remember the

Romans don't really mind who the puppet

rulers are as long as what is going on

there

stability right it's only things are

stable well things have become so

unstable and Oculus you want to write

down was ruling over Judea well that's

that's the way Jerusalem is that's a

primary area for Palestine he's ruling

over Judea he's ruling over Samaria

and he's ruling over that region where

his family was from idumia to the South

but particularly Judea where Jerusalem

is things are so unstable that in the

year 86

uh the Romans removed him for power from

power and he is banished to Gaul g-a-u-l

modern France sent on a permanent

vacation your one-way ticket

you know you won a ticket one way to

goal and that's the last we hear of

archelaus so they felt it was time to

move him out of the way and they

replaced him with a Roman official which

we'll talk about in the

final section here they replaced him

with a Roman official you say well I'm

starting to understand that we've got

these Romans and we've got the

Greek influence and and we've got these

people like Herod who are they they're

not Roman or Greek or Jewish

but while Philip is governing during the

time of Jesus ministry

in the northeast of Galilee Herod add to

pass his governing over Galilee in Korea

arcules by the time of the ministry of

Jesus has disappeared though he was

there during the time when Jesus was

born he's disappeared and has been

replaced by a Roman official

which brings us

to the final section

section four

which I've entitled the rule

of Rome

the rule

of Rome

hopefully now as we begin to look at the

gospel record

we'll see

some names that will recognize

and will understand why these various

political presences are there

you'll remember that Rome has taken

control of Palestine the year 63 BC when

the Roman general Pompeii comes

but most important to us

as we study the life of Jesus is to talk

about this special ruler

called a Roman procurator

not only is the Roman Emperor over the

area but there is a specific Roman

pro-curator

who is governing the region once

governed by who

by arcadeus and that's where Jerusalem

is so we're going to see this Roman

governor in this region where we're not

seeing him in other parts of Palestine

let me tell you what the Roman

pro-curator's responsibilities were and

you'll want to be acquainted with these

three major responsibilities and then in

closing we'll talk about the individual

who was the Roman pro-curator during the

ministry of Jesus and many of you

already know his name

so here are three major responsibilities

you'll want to note down under Section A

Roman procurator

firstly the Roman procurator was

responsible for collecting the Roman

taxes

now they were both the taxes which was

sent for to the emperor back to Rome and

though also the local excise or Customs

taxes and there were Tax Collectors that

were contracted to do the local Customs

taxes and you know some of those people

like Matthew and Zacchaeus but the the

tax that was sent back to the to Rome

was collected the responsibility of the

Roman procurator that was one of his he

was the revenue agent if you will direct

taxes for Rome collected and sent back

to Rome

secondly

and this we've talked about a little

he was responsible for maintaining Law

and Order

something that if the puppet ruler

whether his name was here the greater a

son here at antipast or whoever if if

they didn't maintain stability someone

else from Rome came in and they were

supposed to do that okay so he was

responsible to keep things stable and he

did that through having an army under

his control

now we hear of Roman soldiers but most

of the army were indigenous people we

learned most of them were Samaritans

but they were local people from

Palestine but the

the what would we call them the offices

over them were Romans

in fact they would have an officer over

a hundred men and that Roman official

was called a

Centurion okay so the whole Army I don't

know what you your thoughts were growing

up I guess I always imagine they were

all Romans but the key officials are

Romans the centurions overseeing the

rest of the local soldiers are Romans so

the centurions would would oversee and

make sure things stayed

in hand

obviously those local soldiers were not

well respected either they were viewed

probably as traitors

thirdly what have we got so far

collecting the taxes for Rome secondly

maintaining Law and Order

thirdly and this one is very important

the Roman procurator had judicial powers

let me put that simply make making legal

decisions

third responsibility making legal

decisions

key Point underline it somehow that

involved the death penalty

I mean qualify that because you'll see

this tomorrow

you'll see it another time when we're

reviewing this material the Roman Pro

curator did not have to make all legal

decisions there was a ruling body of the

Jews called

the Sanhedrin right familiar with the

Sanhedrin 70 Jewish leaders and they

made all of the decisions religious

decisions and even civil decisions but

they could not make illegal decision

that involved the death penalty

that is why even though the Sanhedrin

during the trial of Jesus wanted him to

be executed they had to go and disturb

the Roman procurator even during the

night and try to get his support because

you say well they've killed other people

didn't they stoned Stephen and they did

all kinds of things but Jesus was such a

pivotal leader that to have bypassed the

authority of the Roman procurator would

have been considered direct Rebellion

against Rome they knew that they knew

they had to get the Roman proteators

approval

because the Roman pro-curator key Point

had

legal authority over decisions involving

the death penalty

section B last section

as we're talking about this Roman

procurator you're saying I know who that

is during the ministry of Jesus and

there were several Pro curators from 86

on during the early life of Jesus but at

the time when Jesus is involved in his

public Ministry

Section 3

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we have a Roman procurator in power by

the name of

governing over Judea

Samaria edumia that region where

archeles had once had control

Pontius Pilate

according to Philo the historian

was of nature inflexible and owing to

stubbornness harsh

Josephus also agrees that

pilate was a cantankerous man

and I want to suggest to you several

faults that he had which would become

crucially important as we look at the

trial of Jesus number one

he did not understand the Jews

he's a Roman put in there on assignment

he doesn't understand the Jews

secondly he is very

Hasty in stirring up Prejudice he just

seems to be not very wise about that

he's very Hasty in stirring up

opposition and there's an example which

I want to share with you

on one occasion he ordered the Roman

soldiers to take the standard the flag

bearing the emperor's emblem into

Jerusalem well there was no requirement

that that should be done Jerusalem was

considered the holy city the emperor was

worshiped as a God so to take this into

Jerusalem was to desecrate the holy city

the Jews opposed that they pled they got

in the way they said we we please don't

do that and he was a cantankerous man

and said no out of the way or I'll have

you all killed

there were other times he had killed

people they beared their necks and said

we would rather die than see the holy

city

Dishonored

and he backed down

and they learned something

in that situation as I'm sure they did

in other situations that while he didn't

understand them and he was kind of quick

to stir up their prejudice

that thirdly number three he was

ultimately a weak

individual

that he would

give in

under pressure

that if they pushed him hard enough

he would yield to their demand

and we see it during the trial of Jesus

Jesus is brought to Pilate

they have three accusations so he uh

stirs up the people Jesus

is accused of that pilate dismisses that

he knows it's not true

he uh opposes paying taxes to Caesar

pilate dismisses that he knows it's not

true Jesus had said give to Caesar what

belongs to Caesar right

and then the third accusation he says he

is a king

so pilate comes to Jesus and he says are

you a king and Jesus says yes

and pilate's like

it's no problem I mean they don't have a

problem with people saying they're kings

as long as there's stability right

so in that interview that Jesus has with

pilate pilate concludes I find no fault

in him

famous words

what should pilate have done at that

moment

yeah

by the way he knows what are they why

have they brought Jesus to him what do

they want

they want approval to execute him they

want the Roman procurator to say okay

you can kill him

and and pilate says I find no foe with

him

and they begin to complain

pilate should have released him at that

moment they say well he started trouble

all the way from Galilee and and pilate

goes Galilee that's not my

responsibility who's in charge of

Galilee

well one of Herod the Great sons right

by the name of Herod Antipas he says

well and here at an Antipas happened to

be in Jerusalem at the time because it

was passive he says well send him over

to Herod and to pass he didn't need to

do that he could have just said no he's

no fault let him go

but he passes the responsibility over to

Herod Antipas

Jesus has nothing to say to Herod Herod

finally shows his true character begins

to mock Jesus and revile him and then

because he can't do anything sends Jesus

back

to Pilot and here pilate makes a crucial

mistake

he has Jesus flogged

now if you know anything about the this

form of punishment which oftentimes

could be fatal

it was a short whip

you know the details of the flagellum as

it was called with with the leather and

pieces of bone or stone and and it would

literally take a person apart

when they were whipped with this with

the short whip a Roman citizen was never

to be beaten with with this whip the

flag

they were beaten with rods but not with

this whip

now you say wait a minute I thought you

just told us that pilate had said I find

what

no fault in him so what is he doing why

is he having Jesus flogged

to somehow appease or pacify the crowd

he says well they want a little blood

and we'll we'll give them a little blood

even though he's innocent maybe that

will satisfy them

he fails to understand

because the Jewish leaders say well if

he will flog an innocent man

maybe if we keep pushing him he will

kill an innocent man and so Pilot's in a

very difficult situation now and and he

thinks to himself well maybe I mean this

man's innocent is obvious and I flogged

him he probably shouldn't have done that

either so I'll find a prisoner you know

and finds this very evil man by the name

of Barabbas and there was a tradition to

release a prisoner and I think so I'll

just get the worst character he's guilty

of murder and treason and I'll set him

up next to Jesus and they'll obviously

choose Jesus I mean it's obvious what

they'll do and he does that and the

crowd says we want you to release

Barabbas and he says what do you want me

to do with Jesus and they say kill him

crucify him he says why what wrong you

see he's really stuck now what wrong has

he done

crucify him just then he gets a message

from his wife Jesus is praying for

Pilate

it's interesting

it's interesting for Herod and to pass

it appears to be too late

not even a word but for pilate it

appears that there is still time

Jesus is praying and a message in answer

to that prayer is given to pilate's wife

a dream and in that amazing dream which

you'll read about and Desire of Ages an

amazing dream she sees what's happening

out there and who Jesus really is

and she sends a message the last warning

that pilate will receive

have nothing to do with that innocent

man

I have suffered much concerning him in a

dream have nothing to do with you should

have listened to her

instead of that he says well I'm going

to wash my hands you can't wash your

hands you can't sidestep that you say

well these probably would still have

killed Jesus wouldn't they yes but the

blood of Jesus would not have been upon

his hands

he washes his hands and he says it will

do it in whatever you want to do I mean

it was

they knew if they pushed hard enough

that Pontius Pilate this weak man would

finally yield

and would allow Jesus to be killed well

that's the scenario and now as we go in

our next lecture and talk about Judaism

because we're going to understand what's

happening culturally hopefully as we

come to the text you say when are we

going to get to angels and wise men and

we're like we're almost there we just

finished the background as we look at

the culture of Judaism and we look at

the mission of John the Baptist will be

ready to go let's pray before we close

today

Father in heaven

we've taken a broad overview of been

what of what's been happening in the

in that historical time and the rise of

power and the jockeying for position

and we see as things are coming together

that

there are

both forces for good and forces for evil

working planning

and I pray that as we come to this story

now the birth of Jesus as we as we look

at the setting

that we will be able to understand more

clearly what's happening and again as I

have prayed before not just to

understand the information but but to

see what Jesus came to do

for each one of us

I pray in Jesus name amen

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