New Testament 1: Lecture 6
•	The Hellenistic Period
I. A New Era for the Near East
A. A Power Shift From East to West
•	Greece became the major power in the West under _________________of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great.
•	Trade expanded
•	Military campaigns brought the Greeks and the Persians into closer contact.  
•	Greek culture unified the city-states and the territory, but it did not create a _________________unity.
B. The Influx & Influence of Greek Culture
•	_________________Greek became the language of politics, economics, and culture.
•	Building programs were massive
•	Leisure spread across the area: gymnasiums, _________________and temples
•	Coins were standardized
•	Yet, Hellenism does not solve all the problems.
C. The Challenge of Hellenism
•	Was that it brought vast insecurity and economic hardships to older, established communities. _________________clashed. 
•	New Tensions arise between the Israelites and the Seleucids.
•	_________________spread and more people found themselves slaves in a foreign land.
2. The Campaigns of Alexander the Great
•	336 BC Alexander is King of Macedonia at _________________years old
•	He seeks to send an army against Persia.
•	The Battle of _________________Granicus occurs in 334 BC.
•	40,000 men against a larger Persian army.  Alexander wins.

•	The Battle of Issus in 333 BC
Alexander engages _________________III directly and wins the battle.  
Darius III escapes and the Persian army is in retreat.
Alexander travels across Macedonia and Galatia and makes his way into_________________.

B. The Egyptian Phase
He wants to capture_________________. Why?
On his way he captures cities of Tyre (resisted 7 months) 
Gaza (resisted 2 months) and yet most other cities surrender without resistance
Jerusalem has no problems giving up to Alexander.
Egypt is taken in _________________BC
C. The Mesopotamian Phase
Alexander moves toward Mesopotamia in _________________BC
He again pursues Darius III and defeats the Persians at Gaugamela.  Darius escapes a 2nd time and is later slain by his own men.
_________________, Susa, and Persepolis is taken. 
Alexander ends Persian rule and pushes to the border of Afghanistan.
3. The Division of Alexander’s Empire
Alexander died in 323 BC at the age of _________________years old.
His death created a political vacuum and four generals, called _________________divided the spoils:
•	The Four Generals:
•	Ptolemy = _________________
•	Seleucid = Babylon
•	Antigonus & son, Demetius=_________________ Minor
•	Soter = Macedonia
War is inevitable between these four generals
B. The Wars Between Generals
Major battles begin in 315 BC. 
Asia Minor and _________________are involved.  
312 BC Ptolemy in Egypt took some folks from Jerusalem to Alexandria, Eygpt.  
306 BC there was a combined sea and land battle between Antigonus and the Seluecids, who had teamed with the Ptolemies.
_________________lost and two dynasties are born:
C. Dynasty 1: Ptolemy
It was begun by Ptolemy I who initially controlled_________________, Phoencia, and Palestine.  
They rule Egypt for the next 100 years. (301-200 BC).
This dynasty was very stable and wealthy. It had well defined borders that were easy to defend. They allowed the Israelites to move freely and keep their customs as long as taxes were paid.
They began the _________________ (Septuagint) translation of OT into Greek.
D. Dynasty 2: Seluecids
Began in 312 BC when Seluecus became the local satrap of Babylonia.
He gained the title “_________________” in 305 BC.
Their territory covered northern Syria, Mesopotamia, portions of Asia Minor, and the Iranian Peninsula.
Their policies were less tolerant and a virtue showcase for _________________culture. 
They dominated trade routes on the Tigris, but had borders that were hard to defend. So they pushed the Hellenistic lifestyle.
•	Antiochus III
Came to power in 223 BC and the Seluecid decline was reversed.
He began a policy of consolidation and expansion which earned him the title “The_________________”
The Fourth Syrian War (219-217 BC) he tried to gain control of Palestine and Phoenicia. He was stopped by Egyptian forces in the _________________area.
2. The 5th Syrian War of 200 BC
Ended with Antiochus defeating the Ptolemies for control of_________________. It became the possession of Syria and heavy taxes were extracted from these new territories.
Yet, the Jews were rewarded by Antiochus by keeping their ancient traditions and exception from _________________taxes. He assisted in repair their temple damaged in the war. 
E. Seleucid War with Rome
In 190’s Antiochus expanded into Greece and in doing so, he captured the attention of the_________________.
Rome and Carthage had just finished the 2nd Punic War.
Rome defeated Antiochus at Magnesia and demanded tribute monies. Antiochus was near financial ruin. He died in _________________BC looting a pagan temple.
F. Seleucus IV
Was Antiochus’ son and ruled from 187 BC to _________________BC when he was assassinated.
He sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple but 2 Macc says that _________________beings prevented this.
G. Antiochus IV 
Was living in Rome as prisoner and returned to rule as king when Seleucus was assassinated in 175 BC
He was pro-_________________ and dreamed of restoring the Seleucid Kingdom to its glory days.
He took the title of Epiphanes (god_________________).
H. In Jerusalem
A strong pro-Seleucid group emerged and Antiochus favored them with position.
The High Priesthood was put up for sale and _________________bought the office. Jason was thorough Hellenist. He introduced Greek festivals and sporting events into Jerusalem’s culture. In 172 BC he lost the priesthood to_________________, who bid higher.
Antiochus
Was attacking Egypt and was ready to defeat it when _________________intervened and he retreated.  Jason tried to reclaim the priesthood and Antiochus saw this as an act of rebellion.  Antiochus enforced new restrictions on Israel. They could only participate in certain religious activities and forced _________________ways on them.
Antiochus’ Worst Act
Was the erection of an altar dedicated to _________________in the Jerusalem Temple.
As a sign of loyalty, Jews in Jerusalem were to offer a sacrifice at the citadel, called_________________.  
Troops were placed to make sure the people did make the sacrifices. This led to a revolt.
 4. The Maccabean Revolt
Antiochus IV declared: 
•	_________________were to be destroyed
•	 Festivals no longer kept
•	 fool laws abolished
•	 _________________not practiced
•	 and offers made to Zeus
•	MATTATHIAS’ REFUSAL (ca 165 BC)
He was a priest from Jerusalem who fled to _________________to avoid Antiochus’ policies.  But Seleucid officers followed him to Modein to force him to make a sacrifice.  He wouldn’t, so another Jew was going to do it. Mattathias killed the _________________and the officer. The Revolt began.
2. The Causes of the Revolt:
•	Intensification of Hellenism
•	sacrifices to _________________
•	Elimination of Judaism
•	Hasidim (pious ones)joined Maccabees
•	Wealthy aristocracy, _________________, sided with Antiochus
•	Poor, rural Jews of Israel rejected the new Hellenism
3. The Maccabee Family
Begun under Mattathias and continued under the influence of his_________________.
They slowed the spread of Hellenism, spurred the development and refinement of _________________and apocalyptic literature flourished.
•	Judas Maccabeus (166-160 BC)
_________________son of Mattathias who took leadership when he died.  
164 BC took control of Temple from Seleucids
Rededicated the _________________December 25, 164 BC. (Hannakuh)
Religious freedom gained
B. Jonathon (160-142 BC)
5th son of Mattathias. 
Offered the High Priesthood in 153 by a descendent of Epiphanes and accepted according to 1 Macc 10.
Support of the _________________ended with him.
The _________________and Sadducees may have emerged during this period?
C. Simon
_________________son of Mattathias accepted high priesthood
Groups like _________________began to withdraw from Temple services
Gained _________________Independence by 142 BC.
Officially unites religious, military and political headship over Israel
Assassinated in 135 BC
D. John Hyrcanus (134-104 BC)
Son of _________________
Assumed kingship and roles of priest and king are again united in one man
First knowledge of Pharisees/Sadducees as fully developed _________________are during his reign.
He expands Israel’s territories and wealth
Destroys Samaritan Temple on Mount_________________.
E. Aristobulus I (104-103 BC)
Hyrcanus left his _________________as political leader and his eldest _________________to be High Priest.
Imprisoned his _________________and brothers. Starved his mother and died after one year of service
His most important event was taking Galilee and making it part of the kingdom.
He gained the home of Jesus and the first apostles for the OT faith
F. Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC)
Aristobulus’ wife, _________________, released her husband’s brothers from prison and married, Alexander Jannaeus. (leviratic marriage)
He breaks with the Pharisees
He ruled with heavy hand that lead to a rebellion by Pharisees where about 50,800 Jews died.
He was pelted with citrons and had 800 Jews _________________as their families watched.
G. Alexandria Salome (76067 BC)
Became _________________of Israel when her 2nd husband died. Ruled another 9 years
Made peace with _________________and they were admitted to Sanhedrin for the first time.
He rule is known as the “_________________Age” of the Pharisees.
H. Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II
Became involved in battle for leadership.  Hyrcanus II was to be king, but let Aristobulus II. But Antipater, governor of Idumea, didn’t want Hyrcanus to give up so easily. He enlisted the aid of Aretas III, King of Nabatea, to go to war with Aristobulus II. The only solution was an appeal to Pompey who was in Syria.
•	Pompey’s Solution
In 63 BC Pompey entered Jerusalem and settled the dispute. He put Hyrcanus as King and High Priest, since he was the _________________of the 2 brothers.
Aristobulus II ruled from _________________-63 BC
Hyrcanus II begins ruling in 63 BC.