The Intertestamental
Period: From Babylon
To The Birth Of Christ
Jewish Independence
Intertestamental Period
Week
Date
Topic
1
01 Mar 17 Overview
2
08 Mar 17 Babylonian Period (605-539 BC)
3
15 Mar 17 Persian Period (539-332 BC)
4
22 Mar 17 Greek Period (332-323 BC)
5
29 Mar 17 Ptolemaic (323-198 BC)
6
05 Apr 17 Seleucid (198-168 BC)
7
12 Apr 17 Maccabean Part 1 (168-153 BC)
8
19 Apr 17 Maccabean Part 2 (153-139 BC)
9
26 Apr 17 Independence (139-63 BC)
10
03 May 17 Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC)
11
10 May 17 Herod (37 BC – 4 BC)
12
17 May 17 The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD)
13
24 May 17 Review
Today’s Objectives
• Review last week’s lesson
• Learn about Simon’s leadership and the
alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome
• Learn about John Hyrcanus’ conquests
• Review what further divides the Pharisees
and Sadducees
• Learn about Aristobulus and Jannaeus
• Learn about Jannaeus’ cruelty which leads to
further civil war
• Learn how the civil war ultimately leads to
Roman intervention in 63 BC
Last Week…
• Reviewed the story of Mattathias and his five
sons, three die during the early revolt
• The Seleucid empire splits between to
factions, one from Demetrius and one from
Epiphanes
• Learned about Jonathan's role in enlarging
Judah’s political power
• Learned how Jonathan dies at the hands of
Demetrius and how Simon becomes leader
• Learned about Rome’s transition into the
super power of the known world
Reference Material
• KJV (w/ Apocrypha)
– 1st and 2nd Maccabbees
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Josephus – The Complete Works
Herodotus – The History
Intertestamental History – Mark Moore
Ancient Rome – Simon Baker
Harding University – BNEW 112 Course Notes –
Dr. Thompson
• Intertestamental Period – John Battle
Simon
• Makes an alliance with Demetrius II
• Demetrius II takes the throne of Syria
– Grants independence to Judea in 142 BC
– Grants immunity from taxation
• Jews were able to drive the Syrian garrison
out of the Akra
• Built a Hasmonean palace on its foundation
• Hasidim gave Simon the title “Leader and
High Priest Forever” (I Macc 14:41)
– “Until there should arise a faithful prophet”
• He is murdered in 135 BC by a son-in-law
Simon courts Rome and Sparta
• After Jonathan is killed, Rome and Sparta
– Sends Simon a message to renew the alliance
– Previously made with Judas and Jonathan
• Simon
– Reads before the assembly in Jerusalem
– Spartans also sent a message
– Expressive and complimentary decree
– Names Simon the priest and ruler whom the
people could not remove (I Macc 14:44)
– Decree to be posted in a conspicuous place
John Hyrcanus
• Simon and two of his sons are killed in 135
BC, his third son John Hyrcanus, escapes
• Hyrcanus rules from 135-104 BC
• Antiochus VII is the last strong king of the
Seleucid empire, dies in 129 BC
• Hyrcanus is free to expand Judah
• Takes territory in Perea, then Idumea and
Edom
• Conquers the Samaritans and defeats
several strong Greek cities in the region
• Opens up for future expansion into Galilee
Coin of Hyrcanus I
Hyrcanus I Conquests
Start of reign
Conquered
Religious and Political
Developments
• Seleucid/Syrian interference eroded
• Jewish Hellenizers
– Lose support of Seleucid/Greek power
– Become supporters of the king
– Became known as Sadducees
• Hasidim
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Had been more popular, equate to the Roman plebes
Associated with the common people
Began opposing the Hasmonean power
Oppose those holding secular ruler and high priest
Called Pharisees
• Hyrcanus finally allies with the Sadducees
Aristobulus I
• Rules from 104-103 BC
• Son of Hyrcanus, assuming the rule by
murdering one brother and imprisoned two
other brothers and mother
• First Hasmonean to assume the title of king
• Incorporates the territory of Galilee
– Becomes key supporters of Judaism
• Reigns only one year
• Dies as a result of drinking and disease
• Wife was Salome Alexandra
Alexander Jannaeus
• Ruled from 103-76 BC
• Surviving brother of Aristobulus
• Astrobulus’ wife frees Jannaeus from prison
and marries him
• Jannaeus killed one surviving brother, one is
left living
• Seeks to add to Israel’s possessions
– Reached its greatest extent
– Land all around the Dead Sea, the Philistine
coast, and several nearby Greek cities
Jannaeus I Conquests
Start of reign
Conquered
Civil War
• Civil war between Sadducees and Pharisees
– Jannaeus pours water libation at his feet rather
than on the alter
• Enrages Pharisee, throw citrons at Jannaeus
– Many Pharisees killed in retaliation
• Pharisee appeal to Syria (ironically)
– Jannaeus/Sadducees flee
– Pharisee later recant
– Rejoin Jannaeus
– Syrian troops depart
Cruelty of Jannaeus
• Jannaeus’ great banquet for the Sadducees
– Crucifies 800 Pharisees during the banquet
• Causes further split among the Pharisees
– Move to the desert
– Some become Essenes
– Believed to have written the Dead Sea Scrolls
– Describe a wicked priest who kills a teacher of
righteousness
• Jannaeus dies, leaving his wife Salome in
power
Salome Alexandra
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Wife of Jannaeus
Rules 76-67 BC, 70 years old
Makes peace with the Pharisee
Appoints her eldest son Hyrcanus II as high
priest
– Favored the Pharisee
• Younger son Aristobulus II leads the army
– Favored the Sadducee
• Israel was in peace during her reign
• Instituted universal elementary education in
the synagogues, teaching Hebrew scripture
Hasmonean
Kingdom in 63
BC
Civil War – Rome Intervenes
• Alexandra died in 67 BC, war breaks out
• Hyrcanus II is the rightful heir, but retires
from office when Aristobulus II arrives with
the army
• Hyrcanus II flees to Nabateans, Idumeans
• Idumeans, Nabateans support Hyrcanus II
• Aristobulus II’s son marries Hyrcanus’
daughter, Alexandra
• Hyrcanus seizes most of Judea with the
help of the Idumeans and Nabateans
Roman Intervention
• Civil war continues for several months
• News of fighting reaches the Roman general
Pompey, who is campaigning in the East
• Pompey had become a very popular field
commander
– Very successful campaign against pirates in the
Mediterranean Sea in 67 BC
– Caesar supports Pompey’s actions
• Pompey moves south to “arbitrate” in Judah
– Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
• 106-48 BC, called Pompey the Great
• Fought with the Optimates, a conservative and
aristocratic faction of the Roman Senate
• Initially a friend, he is later defeated by Caesar
• Sought refuge in Egypt, where he was
assassinated in 48 BC
• Defeated Spartacus in 71 BC
• Took command of the Third Mithridatic War in
modern day Turkey
• Travels to Judea in 63 BC and seizes the
opportunity to control the region
Review
• Reviewed last week’s lesson
• Learned about Simon’s leadership and the
alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome
• Learn how John Hyrcanus’ increased the
Israel’s lands
• The Pharisees and Sadducees become
further divided
• Learn about Aristobulus and Jannaeus take
over, in succession
• Jannaeus’ cruelty leads to further civil war
• Roman intervenes in 63 BC