I.Israel and Judah in the Post-Exilic era A.Exile and Occupation 1.Many Judeans remain in Judea after its fall to Babylon in 586 a.They continue the cult of Yahweh in Judah and Israel b.Israelite and Judean leaders struggle against syncretism with Canaanite religions 2.Many Judeans, upper class & priestly families, carried to Babylon a.Some syncretism with Babylonian religions occurs b.Many Judeans remain in Babylon after exile is ended (1)They adopt many Babylonian magical practices (2)These ultimately reemerge in Kabbalism & Zohar B.Gradual return of Exiles in Persian Era 1.Second Temple begun during first year of Cyrus, 538 a. New Judean Temple founded by Shesh-bazzar, Persian governor of Judea b. Some Judean exiles *may* have returned to Palestine at this time 2.Some Babylonian exiles migrate to Palestine in Darius I's reign a.Zerubabel & Joshua organize rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple b.Conflict between Babylonian exiles and native Judeans & Israelites c.Babylonian exiles collaborate w/ Persians, suppress native Judeans & Israelites d.Babylonian exiles rebuild a small temple in Jerusalem e.Native Judeans & Israelites, led by Sanballat & Tobiah, excluded from temple f.Native Judeans & Israelites continue separate Yahweh cult in Samaria on Mt. Gerizim 3.All sides claim to possess the true inheritance a.Native Judeans accuse Babylonian exiles of syncretism & apostasy b.Babylonian exiles accuse Native Judeans of syncretism & apostasy c.Each group claims Davidic/Priestly ancestry d.Many Judean family records destroyed in Babylonian conquest e.Babylonian exiles claim to have preserved family records in Babylon f.Both groups seem to have possessed versions of the Pentateuch g.Each side denies the validity of the other's Temple/Scriptures h.Palestinian/Babylonian split becomes Samaritan/Judean split C.Judaism after Babylonian Exile 1.Much syncretism with Zoroastrian & Babylonian religions a.Angelology b.Eschatology c.Messianic Expectations d.Apocalyptic Expectations (the last battle) (1)Earth as a Battleground between Good & Evil 2.Ezra & Nehemiah (c. 458-445) a.Attempt to recover the ancient scriptures b.Generally hold to Babylonian traditions, denounce native Judeans & Israelites c.Efforts ultimately produce a version of the Scriptures (now lost) (1)Emphasizes & champions Judah & the Davidic heritage (2)Emphasizes & champions the position of the exiles d.This version translated into Greek: SEPTUAGINT (second century B.C.) e.Ezra & Nehemiah began the "scribal" tradition f.Post-exilic Judean religion gradually focuses on law & cultic worship D.Judea and Samaria in the Hellenistic Era 1.Judea and Samaria alternately ruled by Seleucids & Ptolemies 2.Seleucids & Ptolemies try to Hellenize Samaria & Judea 3.Many Samaritans and Judeans adopt Greek culture 4.Antiochus Epiphanes (175 - 163) forcefully imposes Hellenism a.Corrupts the Jerusalem Temple Priesthood b.Erects an altar of Zeus in the Temple (December, 167) c.Judean rituals and festivals forbidden d.Book of Daniel written during reign of Antiochus Epiphanes II.The Hasmonean (Maccabean) and Idumean (Herodian) Period A.Maccabees restore Israelite independence 1.Maccabean revolt led by Judas Maccabeus in 168 B.C. 2.Jerusalem Temple recovered in 165 B.C. 3.A revived Kingdom of Judah established under Hasmonean rule 4.Religious & Civil domination by Sanhedrin, a Council of Elders 5.Arabs of Idumea forcibly converted to Judaism in 134 - 104 B.C. 6.Samaritan temple destroyed, Samaritans forcibly converted to Judaism, 108 B.C. 7.Later Hasmonian rulers were Hellenizers and secularists 8.Last Hasmonean ruler was Antigonus II a.Installed by the Parthians as a client b.Executed by Rome, at Herod's request, 37 B.C. B.Idumean Period: Judea ruled by an Arab dynasty, 40 B.C. to A.D. 39 1.Herod the Great, 40 to 4 B.C. a.Appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate, 40 B.C. b.Completes and refurbishes Second Temple c.Fortifies Jerusalem, Masada & other sites, builds Caesarea d.Visited by the Magi, he then slaughters Judean children e.Rome divides the kingdom among his 3 sons in 4 B.C. 2.Herod Antipas in Galilee, 4 B.C. to A.D. 39 a.Appointed ruler of Galilee by Augustus b.Capital at Tiberias, on western coast of the Sea of Galilee c.Beheads John the Baptist d.Interrogates Jesus of Nazareth, then returns him to Pilate e.Exiled to Gaul by Caligula in A.D. 39 3.Herod Archelaus and Pontius Pilate in Judea, 4 B.C. to A.D. 36 a.Herod Archelaus ruled Judea, Samaria & Idumea until A.D. 6 b.Archelaus was so brutal that Augustus exiled him to Gaul c.His territories then ruled by Roman governors d.PONTIUS PILATE the 5th Roman governor of Judea, A.D. 26-36 e.Judeans thought him brutal and insensitive f.Pontius Pilate ordered crucifixion of Jesus at behest of Jerusalem Sanhedrin g.Pilate's final fate is unknown, later Christian tradition has him recalled to Rome 4.Roman Governors of Judea, A.D. 44-66 a.44, Cuspius Fadus b.47, Tiberius Alexander c.48-52, Ventidius Cumanus d.52-60, Antonius Felix (rise of Sicarii & Zealots) e.60-62, Porcius Festus f.62-64, Albinus g.64-66, Gessius Florus C.Judean sects in the late Second Temple period 1.PHARISEESs (non-priestly legalists) a.Heirs of scribal tradition begun by Ezra/Nehemiah b.Emphasize "Oral Law" as interpreted by Scribes and Rabbis c.Described in the Gospels as arrogant opponents of Jesus 2.SADDUCEES (priestly aristocrats) a.Heirs of the priestly or non-separatist "Zadokite" tradition b.Reject the Oral Law of Scribes and Pharisees, hold to Torah c.Described in the Gospels as wealthy opponents of Jesus 3.ESSENES (Messianic separatists) a.Apocalyptic pietists and/or "Zadokite" priestly separatists b.Probable authors of Dead Sea Scrolls & Damascus Rule 4.ZEALOTS (revolutionaries) a.Resist Greco-Roman presence, resist accomodationist Judeans b.Hostile towards moderate Judeans, often murderously so 5.Multitude of other groups - Hasidim, Sicarii, etc.