Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

From Pompey to Hadrian

The period from the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey the Great in 63

b.c.e.to the violent repression of the revolt under the emperor Hadrian in

135 c.e.was one of both tremendous accomplishments and incredible set-

backs for the Jews as a people and Judea as a kingdom (see map 6). This pe-

riod began with the violation of the Jerusalem Temple and ended with the

expulsion of the Jews from Jerusalem, during which the city morphed

from the Jewish city of Jerusalem to the RomanpolisAelia Capitolina. At

the same time, Hadrian changed the name of the province from Judea to

Syria Palestina.

This is not to say that life for Jews in Judea during this period was a

perpetual nightmare. Indeed, for the majority of the 200 years from

Pompey’s conquest to Bar Kokhba’s revolt, Jews in Judea lived in peaceful

coexistence within the Roman Empire. Moreover, during this period, Jews

were spreading all over the Diaspora and settling in or expanding within

the major cities of the empire. Significant populations of Jews could be

found in Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria, the Greek islands, and even Rome itself.

Thus, although many of the major events in this period were ruinous for

the Jews, there were prolonged periods of peace and prosperity.

The End of Hasmonean Rule and the Rise of the Antipatrids

The twenty-year period from Pompey’s siege of Jerusalem to the accession

of Herod the Great was one of almost constant civil war between two fac-

tions of the Hasmonean family led by John Hyrcanus II and Judah

Aristobulus II, the sons of Alexander Jannaeus and Salome Alexandra.

Both sides appealed to Rome for support. Pompey sided with Hyrcanus,

and in response Aristobulus and his supporters barricaded themselves

within fortresses and the Temple itself. Pompey and his army besieged Je-

rusalem and the Temple, and in the ensuing siege, the city was badly dam-

aged. Aristobulus’s faction was massacred inside the Temple precinct itself,

and Pompey himself violated the sanctity of the Temple by entering the

Holy of Holies. After establishing order in the city, Pompey restored

Hyrcanus to the high priesthood but stripped him of his royal title and po-

litical authority.

During the next nine years, an Idumean family, the Antipatrids, rose

to preeminence in the Hasmonean court. They first achieved prominence

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Jewish History from Alexander to Hadrian

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:03:51 PM