Key Historical Events

 Abraham had the son with his wife Sarah and that son was Isaac.
 Isaac married Rebecca and they had twins. Esau who is the elder and Jacob the youngest. But
because of the circumstances, the birth right (blessing from God) was given to Jacob instead of
Esau. God allow Jacob to change. He became the prince of God and his change was name to
Israel.
 From Jacob comes the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 sons of Jacob. Judah, Benjamin, Joseph, God,
Asher and many.
 The 12 tribes married and their tribe grew bigger and they soon became the nation of Israel.
They were conquered by the Babylonian but towards the end of the Old Testament, they were
conquered by the Greeks and this was headed by the emperor of the Greek Empire, Alexander
the Great.
 The empire of Alexander the Great was divided by his two generals Ptolomy and Seleucid.
 Maccabean Revolt (The Israelites won against the Greek)
 The Hasmonean Line
- The descendants of the Maccabees who initiated the Maccabean revolt.
- Joined the civil power of the kingship with the religious authority of the high priest.
- They have mixed kingship or government and the authority of the high priest.
 John Hyrcanus (one of the high priest)
- He gave everyone a choice: be circumcised (sign of the covenant/ people of God) or leave
- The country was Judaized – made Jewish
- Destroyed the temple of the Samaritans (half-blooded) on Mount Gerizim
- He died and the successor, Aristobulus proclaimed himself as King
 Israel became deeply divided between two powerful parties:
- Pharisees (experts of the law)
- Sadducees (priest)
 Roman Occupation
 The role of Pontius Pilate is to keep peace that is why he agreed for Jesus to be killed. Pontius
Pilate saw Jesus as a threat to peace. He knew that Jesus has a lot of followers and if Jesus
would call for another revolution against the Romans, then that would be the end of Pontius
Pilate.
 Herod the Great
- Manage to ask the Romans to make him the King of Judea
- Murdered three of his own sons because he look at them as threat to his thrown
- Not Jewish
- After his death, the Roman split his kingdom into four
- Herod Antipas (one of the 4 sons) ruled over Galilee and he would judge Jesus soon
 Groups in Jerusalem
1. Pharisees
- They are the forerunners of the rabies. They advocated strict observance of the law and
separation of the gentiles.
- Best friends of Jesus because they are always in argument with Jesus.
- They were the ones who tried to trick Jesus
 2. Sadducees
- These wealthy and politically connected Jews cooperated with foreign pagan rulers.
- Some of them are priest
- Accepted on the Pentateuch as inspired; and rejected beliefs in angels and life after death.
3. Essenes
- This pure and righteous group withdrew into the wilderness to practice the Jewish religion
untainted by the corruption of the Sadducees.
- They cannot tolerate the Pharisees and Sadducees
- Responsible for copying the old testament
- They live near the dead sea
4. Zealots
- These revolutionaries wanted to overthrow Roman rule in Judea
- Two of the apostles of Jesus were believed to be zealots
- They are rebels or the freedom fighters
 Jesus promoted love
 Language
- Hebrew was the language of their ancestors
- Aramaic is the everyday language
- Greek
- Latin (became the language of cammers)