Second Temple Judaism (520 BC-70AD)
1. Brief historical survey.
2. Major elements:
temple, Torah,
messianic
expectations.
3. Major religious groups.
Timeline
1020-922 undivided monarchy
922 Solomon’s kingdom divided into Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah)
721 Northern kingdom is defeated by the Assyrians
597-538 Babylonian exile; 587 Temple destroyed
538-332 Persian rule; 520 Temple rebuilt. Second Temple Judaism begins.
332-167 Hellenization under Alexander the Great and his successors from
Egypt & Syria
167-63 Hundred years of independence under Maccabees
63 BC Roman conquest of Palestine. Independence lost till 20th c. AD!
70 AD Second Temple destroyed.
……..
1948 Recognition of the State of Israel
Persian king Cyrus (580-529 BCE)
Defeated the Babylonians
Allowed the Hebrews to
return from Babylon and
to rebuild the Temple
Map of Persian invasion
Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)
• Conquered Asia Minor,
Palestine, Egypt, Persia
• Hellenization
Alexander Sarcophagus
Royal Necropolis of Sidon, chamber #3. Last quarter of 4th c BC.
Istanbul Archeological Museum
Alexander’s conquest.
Hellenization
So far has our city [Athens] surpassed
the rest of mankind in thought and
speech that her pupils have become the
teachers of the rest of the world; and
our city has brought it about that the
name ‘Hellenes’ suggests no longer a
race, but an intelligence, and the title
‘Hellenes’ is applied rather to those who
share our culture than to those who
share common blood. – Isocrates.
Antiochus IV—forced Hellenization
Ordered to destroy the Scriptures
Prohibited circumcision
Abrogated Sabbath observance
Sacrificed swine in the Temple
King
Antiochus,
God
manifest,
bearing
Victory
Second Temple (model). Destroyed in 70 A.D.
Inscription Prohibiting strangers to
enter the Temple of Jerusalem
Copy. Museo di Civilta
Romana, Rome.
Original. Archeological
Museum, Constantinople.
Second Temple Judaism: main events
• 520. Jews return from Babylon
and rebuild the Temple
• 332 BC Alexander the Great
conquers the Near East.
Hellenization.
• 167 BC Maccabean revolt
against Antiochus IV. One
century of independence.
• 63 BC Romans conquer
Palestine.
• 66-70 AD Jewish war. Temple
destroyed.
Young Alexander
Pharisees
Sadducees
Pharisees & Sadducees
Luke 18: 10-12
Acts 5:34
Mark 7:1-13
Mark 8:11
Mark 3:6
Acts 23:1-8
Acts 4:1
Acts 5:17
Acts 23:6-8
Mark 12: 18-27
Essenes in Qumran
(2nd c. BCE-1st c CE)
• Lived in an isolated
community founded by
“Teacher of
Righteousness”
• Rejected Temple worship
• Expected two messiahs,
royal & priestly
• About 4000 in 1st c. CE
• Massacred by Romans in
68 AD. Disappeared
towards the end of 2nd c CE
A Fragment of Hosea Commentary
from Qumran
Jewish Diaspora 500 BC – 500 CE
Who do you say that I am?
…On the way [Jesus] asked his disciples, "Who do people say that
I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others,
Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But
who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the
Messiah." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about
him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must
undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief
priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise
again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are
setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Mk 8: 27-33.