Geographical & Historical Context

Transcription

1 Topography of Israel/Palestine

2 Topography of Israel/Palestine Costal Zone Narrow in the north Plain of Acco Costal plain in the South Transverse valleys Valley of Jesreel Etc. Central Mountain Range Lebanon Galilean Mountains Central Mountains Jordan Valley Part of the great rift, from Turkey to Central Africa Transjordan Plateau Hauran in the north Central Highlands Southern Highlands

3 Herod the Great born 73 or 74 BCE, died 4 BCE, Edomite from Idumea. King of the Jews: First governor of the Galilee, then king of Judea from 37 BCE until his death in 4 BCE. Builder: Herod undertakes a monumental reconstruction of the temple. He also builds the Antonia Fortress, a theatre and an amphitheatre. Statesman: An ambitious, cruel and paranoid person. Has his son Aristobulus executed in 7 BCE. Politician: Very significant in terms of understanding this period of Roman domination; development of the country and social stability. During the battle at Actium, Herod first sides with Anthony, but switches allegiance at the last minute and backs Octavian. This earns him Augustus's confirmation as King of Israel.

4 The Land under Roman Rule - Procurators 14 Roman governors (procurator, also called praefectus) ruled Judea from 6 C.E. until the outbreak of the First Jewish War in 66 C.E., except for the brief rule of Agrippa I (41-44 CE). Coponius 6 9 C.E. Marcus Ambibulus 9 12 C.E. Rufus Tineus C.E. Valerius Gratus C.E. Pontius Pilate C.E. Marcellus C.E. Marullus C.E. Cuspius Fadus Tiberius Julius Alexander Ventidius Cumanus Antonius Felix Porcius Festus Albinus Gessius Florus C.E C.E C.E C.E C.E C.E C.E. Agrippa I C.E. The Roman governor has power of jurisdiction with regard to capital punishment (jus gladii= supreme jurisdiction). His official residence is at Caesarea, he is subject to the Roman legate in Syria. During Jewish festivals, the residence of the governor was temporarily transferred to Jerusalem in order to control the thousands who flocked to the Temple. The pilgrims sometimes used these occasions to give physical expression to their hatred of Rome. Roman citizens had the privilege of provocatio, i.e., the right to transfer the trial from the provincial governor to the emperor (cf. the case of Paul, Acts 25:10 12; cf. 22:25ff.).

5 The Land under Roman Rule, 4 BCE to 36 CE Procuratorship: Judea, Samaria and Idumea (territory of Herod Archelaus 4 BCE to 6 CE, cf. Matt 2:22. He was deposed by the Romans, because of his cruelty) Territory of Herod Antipas: Galilee, Perea (until 39 CE; beheaded John the Baptist, cf. Matt 14:3) Territory of Herod Philip II: Iturea, Gaulanitis, Trachonitis (cf. Luke 3:1; not Luke 6:17 = older half-brother Herod Philip I) Part of Roman prov. of Syria: Phoenicia, Abilene, Decapolis (cf. Luke 2:2, Matt 4:24; Acts 20:3; Gal 1:22)

6 The Land under Roman Rule, Agrippa I, last king of all the Jews Son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great. Herod had his son executed in 7 BCE, but spared his grandson Agrippa. From 37 CE - king of Galilee and Perea. From 41 to 44 king also of Judea and Samaria. From 44 Roman procurators in Judea again. Agrippa II Agrippa was only a boy when his father died. He gradually succeeded him in some of his territories. Bur Judaea was again put under a procurator. His sister Drusilla was married to Marcus Antonius Felix, the procurator of Judaea, His other sister Berenice was the mistress of the future emperor Titus. Paul was on trial before two Roman governors: Felix and Festus, who resided in Caesarea. Agrippa visited the trial (cf. Acts 24:25).

7 Jerusalem 1 st cent. CE

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11 Jerusalem today

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14 Temple West Wall South section

15 Dessert near Masada

16 Masada

17 South Dead Sea

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19 Judean Desert On the road from Jerusalem to Jericho

20 Judean Desert Looking north towards Galilee

21 Galilee Looking northwest from the sea of Galilee towards the Galilean Highland

22 Galilee Looking northwest from the sea of Galilee towards the Galilean Highland

23 Galilee Looking east from Capernaum across Lake Galilee towards the Golan Heights

24 Archeological site Capernaum

25 Synagogue at Kafarnaum

26 Galilee Looking northwest from Mount Tabor (Mt. of Transfiguration) across the Plain of Jezreel towards Nazareth. The southwestern portion of the plain was known as the Valley of Megiddo", after the ancient city of Megiddo, which was located there. Part of the city was a hill called Tel Megiddo or Armageddon.

27 Reconstruction of 1 st century synagogue in Nazareth - exterior

28 Reconstruction of 1 st century synagogue in Nazareth - interior The stone benches along the walls recall the synagogue's original function as a place of assembly, where the Torah was read and explained on Sabbaths and holidays. The fixed liturgy of today was a later development. Note the adaptation of the pagan basilica style.