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THY 1 Notes/ History of Israel For Private Use Only

Teacher: Susan Ong

Date Oral and Written

History of Israel1
B.C.E./C.E. Traditions
ca. 1800 Abraham, first true believer; migrates from Ur (in modern day Oral tradition
Iraq) to Canaan (modern day Israel & Palestine) begins
ca. 1700 Family of Jacob goes into Egypt. Egypt under the control of a
Semitic group, the Hyksos, who usurped power from the
Egyptians. Jacob’s family being Semites well treated. They
prosper.
ca. 1300- Egyptian revival. Hyksos lose power. Descendants of Jacob
1100 (Semites) fall into disfavor – oppression and slavery. Source
of cheap labor.
ca. 1290- The advent of Moses. Brought up in the court of Pharaoh’s
1250 daughter after he had been abandoned. He experiences God
at the burning bush. After the plagues, leads a group of
Israelites out of Egypt. The Exodus experience of crossing
the Sea of Reeds – God the Savior. Wanderings in the
desert, a nomadic people. Covenant with God – The Ten
Commandments. God’s demands – The Law (Torah). Israel
a people.
ca. 1250- Moses dies on Mt. Nebo east of the Dead Sea (Dt. 34:1-8).
1200 Israelites enter the land of Canaan led by Joshua, from the
east of the Jordan River, through Jericho. Begin conquest
and infiltration of Canaan (Joshua 1-12)
ca. 11200- Israelites solidify their conquest of Canaan. Israel not yet a The story of Israel
1000 united nation but a loose confederation of tribes (extended fairly well shaped
families descended from the 12 sons of Jacob). Period of and put together
Judges. Chief judge Samuel anoints the first king of Israel,
Saul (ca. 1000) (1Samuel 1-11). Saul’s downfall and the rise
of David (1 Sam 12-31)
ca. 1000- King David (100-965) and his son Solomon (961-922). Traditions begin to
922 Greatest extent of Israelite hegemony. Israel rich and strong. be written down.
Building of the first temple in Jerusalem by Solomon. Oral tradition
Solomon imposes taxes and forced labor to maintain powerful continues together
infrastructure. People’s freedom curtailed by oppressive with written.
government – the beginnings of government bureaucracy.
922 Upon his death, Solomon’s sons fight over the kingdom.
Country divided into a Northern Kingdom (Israel – by far a
larger portion) and a Southern Kingdom (Judah – land around
Jerusalem). Succession of kings in each kingdom. ( Books of
Kings and Chronicles)
721 Northern Kingdom overthrown by the Assyrians from the
north.
587 Southern Kingdom overthrown by the Babylonians from the Pentateuchal
1
Knox, Ian. 1994. Theology for Teachers. Ottawa, Canada, Novalis.pp. 108-109. Duling, Dennis C. 2003. The New
Testament: History, Literature and Social Context. Ontario, Canada, Thomson Wadsworth. pp. 8-12
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east (Iraq) traditions
completed and
written
587-538 Exile in Babylon. Most of the important people of Judah
taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. Jerusalem sacked
and burned, Temple, center of Jewish worship, destroyed.
Many precious artifacts such as the books of the law, lost.
538-400 Rise of the Persians. Persians gain control of Babylon. King
Cyrus of Persia allows the captured Israelites to return home.
They begin to restore their shattered lives. Slow rebuilding of
Jerusalem. Israel under Persia Control. Ancient book of the
Law discovered in the ruins. Restoration of Jewish worship
(Books of Ezra and Nehemiah)
538 – Edict of Toleration; some Jews return
515 - Second temple dedicated
437 – Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem
428 - Ezra publicizes the Law
332 Greeks under Alexander the Great march through Palestine
301 Ptolomies (Greek-Egyptians) control Palestine
198 Seleucids (Greek-Syrians) control Palestine Collection of
Psalms and
Wisdom writings
167 Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucids
142 Independent Maccabean (Hasmonean) Kingdom
63 Romans assume control of Palestine under Pompey; end of
Israelite independence

The Romans
753 – The Roman Monarchy
509 – The Roman Republic
509-203 – Rome controls Italy and western
Mediterranean lands
203-27 – Rome gains control of the Hellenistic
empires in eastern Mediterranean
63 – Roman control of Palestine
27 – The Roman Empire is born with Octavian or
Augustus Caesar

37 Herod the Great begins to rule Palestine

6/4 Jesus of Nazareth is born
4 Herod Archelaus (ethnarch) in Judea/Samaria
4 Herod Antipas (tetrarch) in Galilee/Perea
4 Herod Philip (tetrarch) in region northeast of Sea of Galilee
6 Prefects/procurators (governors) replace Archelaus in
Judea/Samaria
26 -36 CE Pontius Pilate rules
37 Herod Agrippa I rules Philip’s lands
39 Herod Agrippa I rules Galilee/Perea
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41 Herod Agrippa rules Judea/Samaria
44 Prefects/procurators again rule the whole land
66 Israelite rebellion against Rome
70 Destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Titus
73 The Masada fortress taken by the Romans commanded by
Eleazar ben Ja’ir and the Sicarii.
90 Academy of Jamnia (Council of Jamnia)

The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was a tragic in

Israelite history. What survived was an Israelite religion and
culture reorganized by the Pharisees who were allowed by
the Romans to meet not far from the Mediterranean coast of
Jamnia.

In the Roman Empire, there were mainly two types of provinces: Senatorial provinces
were administered by the Roman Senate. Imperial provinces, considered politically volatile,
were governed directly by a Roman military governor from the higher senatorial ranks. Called a
“legate” he was directly responsible to the emperor.

There were also smaller imperial provinces known as “districts”. They were also
governed by a Roman governor, a prefect (later called “procurators”), usually from the next
higher or “equestrian” rank. Like the legate, he was directly responsible to the emperor. The
most famous of these (today) is Pontius Pilate.

In some regions, the Romans permitted native loyal rulers to rule. These “client” rulers
were of various ranks in descending order: “king”, “ethnarch”, and “tetrarch”. And especially
favored king was granted the title “friend of Caesar” by the emperor.