Gospels: Historical Background – Political Background

I. _______________________ for Intertestamental Information

A. _______________________
i. Jewish _______________________
ii. Jewish _______________________
iii. _____________________
B. ____________________
i. 15 short books
ii. Accepted by Roman __________________ as Old Testament Canon
C. ___________________
i. More than _______ additional works
ii. None of these ever accepted as __________________ or canonical
II. Jews Under __________________ Rule (424-331 BC)
A. Cyrus inaugurated a policy of __________________ Jews to their homeland in
539 BC.
B. Rulers __________________ Cyrus' policy.
C. Jews did not immediately establish a __________________.
D. Increased focus on the __________________.
E. Rise of the __________________.
F. Beginning of the __________________ law.
G. Establishment of __________________ as the main language
III.__________________ the Great and Hellenism (331- 167 BC)
A. Alexander born in 356 BC, taught by __________________.
B. Philip II of Macedon defeats __________________ in 338 BC and assassinated
two years later.
C. __________________ conquered and controlled from Greece to India, from
southern Russia to northern Africa.
D. Israel came under __________________ rule in 331 BC.
E. Jews continued a voluntary __________________, many collecting in Alexandria.
F. Greek rule brought improved standards of living and improved
__________________.
G. Hellenization spread as a result of __________________.
 Gospels: Historical Background – Political Background

H. Spread of the Greek __________________.

I. __________________ – Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures
IV.Egyptian Rule Under the __________________ (323-198 BC)
A. __________________ left no living heirs.
B. __________________ (“successors”) – 323-301 BC
C. Empire divided into four, then three, and finally two parts
i. __________________ – Northern Empire under Seleucid control
ii. __________________ – Southern Empire based in Egypt
D. From 311 BC, Israel under __________________ control.
E. Development of tax-__________________ in first half of third century.
V. Syrian Rule Under the __________________ (198-167 BC)
A. In 198 BC __________________ II conquered and occupied Israel.
B. Antiochus IV (__________________) came to power in 175.
i. High __________________ installed as a result of bribery.
ii. __________________ spread through Jerusalem that Antiochus was killed in
battle in Egypt, prompting celebration.
iii. __________________ takes offense and enters temple sanctuary on the way
back and removed sacred objects and monies.
iv. After his next expedition in Egypt, Antiochus loots __________________,
slaughters many Jews, desecrates temple and gives it over to idolatry, and
prohibits elements of Jewish law and tradition.
v. Jews took actions of Antiochus Epiphanes to be the ruler prophesied in
__________________.
VI.__________________ Revolt and Hasmoneans (167-63 BC)
A. __________________, an aged priest, ordered to sacrifice on unlawful altar. He
refuses and kills soldier overseeing sacrifice and fellow Israelite who was to take
his place.
B. Mattathias and five sons flee to hill country and organize a rebellion.
C. Rebels practiced __________________ warfare against Syrian armies.
D. Mattathias died in 166 BC and his son __________________ (Maccabeus - “The
Hammer”) continued leading the attacks.
E. In 164 BC, Judas regained control of temple precincts and purified the
 Gospels: Historical Background – Political Background

sanctuary.
i. Celebrated as __________________.
ii. __________________ occurs during feast of Hanukkah.
F. Antiochus IV dies in 164 and __________________ V treated the Jews more
favorably.
G. Judas and brothers continue to fight __________________, eventually removing
their presence in 142.
H. Judas died around 160 BC. Brothers __________________ and Simon succeeded
him.
I. Jonathan was appointed High Priest __________________ as a stop-gap.
J. Simon succeeded Jonathan and became __________________ and religious
leader and removed the Syrian presence.
K. Simon begins the succession of Hasmonean __________________.
i. John __________________ (134-104)
ii. __________________ (103)
iii. Alexander __________________ (103-76)
L. __________________ begin to protest corruption of Hasmoneans. Pharisees
probably came from Hasidim.
M.Jannaeus determines his wife __________________ would succeed him (76-67).
N. Power struggle between her sons Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II results in each
of them appealing to Rome for help. __________________ responds by
conquering Jerusalem and desecrating the temple.
VII.__________________ Period (63 BC – end of New Testament)
A. Pompey enters __________________ and is resisted by Aristobulus II.
B. Pompey installs __________________ II as high priest.
C. Political leadership was given to a man named __________________ who ruled
from 63-43 BC. Julius Caesar is emperor during this time.
i. __________________ recognized as a religio licita – legal religion
D. After Antipater, a power struggle continued from 42-40 between Herod and
__________________.
E. By 37 BC, __________________ triumphs and rules for 33 years.
i. Herod labeled “the __________________”.
Gospels: Historical Background – Political Background

ii. Massive __________________ projects including the temple.

iii. Toward end of life, he becomes __________________ and kills off several
sons and a wife.
iv. Kills infants in __________________ in search for Jesus.
v. Develops some followers referred to as __________________.
F. Herod leaves his kingdom to three of his sons.
i. __________________ – Judea and Samaria
ii. __________________ – Galilee and Perea
iii. __________________ – Outside Israeal
G. Archelaus treats Jews cruelly and is eventually __________________ by Rome.
H. After Archelaus, Rome appoints __________________ and prefects in the
southern half of Israel (Pilate, Felix, Festus).
I. Antipas more benign to Jews. He is the Herod referred to in many places in the
__________________.
J. Benefits of Roman Rule
i. __________________ is lingua franca.
ii. __________________ Romana
iii. __________________ and communication systems developed
iv. __________________ spirit
v. Elimination of __________________ barriers
vi. __________________ a legal religion
vii.__________________ processes