We started lecture with the topic of the Jerusalem Revolt. Three main sources for the Revolt were Flavius Josephus, Tacitus, and Archaelogical excavations. We looked at the division of Herod's Kingdom after he passed away. Herod's kingdom was divided among three of his sons, whose powers were much more limited. Herod the Great had numerous wills; they were all different. Three sons ended up inheriting the realm. The son Archelaus became the ethnarch of Judea (He recieved Jerusalem, Samaria, the main lands). Archelaus was not a good ruler by any means, and he was recalled to Rome and send into exile in 6 CE.
The second son is named Herod Antipas, he ruled from 4 BCE until he was also exiled in 39 CE. He became the tetrarch of Perea and Galilee. The Bible records much of Jesus' life as taking place in Galilee. Much of the references to Herod are to Herod Antipas (Mark 6:14-29; Matt. 14:1-12; Luke 3:1; 9:7-9). He also was able to rule over the Transjordan.
The third and final son was Herod Philip, who recieved the worst land. Land way up in the northwest of the Sea of Galilee. He ruled from 4 BCE until his death in 34 CE. I found it interesting how Herod got away with putting his own picture on a coin.
The area that was controlled by the sons were replaced by Roman procurators. The direct Roman rulers took over, one who was named Pontius Pilate. He was the only Roman governor of Judea mentioned in the Gospels (Governor from 26 to 36/7 CE). Pontius Pilate provoked the Jews. As we were heading for a Revolt, there were ineffective rulers.
We looked at the inscription by Pontius Pilate. This was very good evidence that Pontius did actually exist. During 6-66 CE, Jewish nationalism was on the rise, there was growing internal Jewish conflict, a steady decline of law and order (each leader worse than the one before), and provocations from all sides. As Apolcalyptism develops, groups want a Messiah to come out of the sky to wipe out the Romans and re-establish the kingdom. By 66 CE, Jewish militants eventually open the Revolt against Rome.
We looked at one way to assert authority was to make your own money. It is also a way to declare your own independence.
When the Revolt breaks out in 66 CE, Mucianus (the Roman governor of Syria) is defeated. 67 CE rolls around, and Rome appoints the Vespasian to conquer Galilee. In 68 CE, Nero commits suicide on June 9th. There was a year of the 4 emperors that takes place in 69 CE; Vespasian is convinced to ride back into Rome and become the emperor. He leaves his son, Titus, to finish the revolt. On the 9th of Ab, the Northern city falls and the temple is destroyed.
The destruction of the Temple remaind in Ruins until Hadrian built a Temple to Jupiter in 135 CE. The idea of Cognitive Dissonance reappears; and specific questions are asked. Where will God go? What is a Jew? Vespasia had an answer; he said "You will continue to pay tax on temple if your Jewish." So now, the Temple is destroy, and on top of it there is still a half Shekel Tax.
We looked at a few fascinating images of Masada; created by Herod the Great. I found the location very interesting as that it was at sea level, with a trail leading to it from the bottom of the Dead Sea. The Palace that he built was very intricate as well. We moved on to images of Judea Capta Coins, one of a Vespasian and one named IVDAEA CAPTA (Judea captured). Jews had to buy things with coins that reminded them that Judea had been captured. I found it very bizarre how insensitive the image of the coins were and how disrespectful they were toward the Jewish people. We fast forwarded 60 years to look at the "Bar-Kokhba" Revolt. It took place from 132-135. Br-Kokhba's name was actually Simon ben Kosiba. The center of Judaism migrates to the west to Yavneh, then to Tiberias. The center of Jewish intellectual pursuits moves. Jerusalem is rebuilt by Hadrian as Aelia Capitolia. The province is then renamed Syria-Palestina.
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