Dates are approximated.

Transcription

1 Until A Prophet Should Arise: The Return from Exile, Messianic Hopes, and the New Testament Michael Barber, Ph.D. / Augustine Institute / Biblical Narrative Timeline B. C. David & Solomon reign: unite 12 tribes & nations 930 B. C. 10 northern tribes form their own kingdom ( House of Israel / Ephraim ) vs. southern kingdom of David ( House of Judah )(cf. 1 Kgs 11) 722 B. C. Assyria conquers Samaria / takes northern tribes into exile ( Lost 10 Tribes ) 586 B. C. Babylon conquers Jerusalem; Jews go into exile 538 B.C. Persian King Cyrus decrees that Jews should return (cf. Ezra 1:1 4) 520 B.C. Zechariah and Haggai begin prophesying (Ezra 5:1; Hag 1:1 11; Zech 1:1 6) 516 B. C. Jews complete rebuilt temple under Persians (Ezra 6:15) 486 B.C. Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) of Persia becomes king (e.g., Esth 1) 478 B.C. Esther becomes Queen (Esth 2:17) 473 B.C. Purim is established (Esth 9:20 32) 458 B.C. Ezra leads exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:1 8:36) 444 B.C. Nehemiah sent by Artaxerxes and begins rebuilding wall (Neh 2:1 8) 331 B.C. Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire 323 B.C. Alexander the Great dies, generals divide into four kingdoms 198 B.C. Palestine comes under control of Seleucids B.C. Maccabean revolt B.C. Hasmonean dynasty 31 B.C. Rome defeats Egypt, ending Greek dynasty! Initial Return and the Prophetic Hope 1. Condemnation for not building temple and promise of rebuilt/purified temple my house that lies in ruins, while you busy yourselves each with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce (Hag 1:9 10) The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts. (Hag 2:9) Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. (Zech 8:2 3, 22 23) 1 Dates are approximated. 1

2 For he is like a refiner s fire and like fullers soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. (Mal 3:2 3) 2. Victory over enemies (e.g., Hag 2:7, 21 22) 3. Guidance of Royal Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts (Hag 2:4) On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of She-alti-el, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts. 4. Elijah Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse. (Mal 3:5 6) you who are ready b at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. (Sir 48:10) 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead. 10 And the disciples asked him, Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? 11 He replied, Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Matt 17:9 13) Second Zechariah (Zech 9 14) 1. Different in tone (seems to reflects disillusionment witnessed by Nehemiah) 2. Coming King like Solomon 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass. (Zech 9:9) 1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If any one says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and he will send them immediately. 4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass. (Matt 21:1 5) 3. Deliverance through Blood of the Covenant As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your captives free from the waterless pit. (Zech 9:11) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the g covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26) 4. Lamenting the Pierced One And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. (Zech 12:10) 36 For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken. 37 And again another scripture says, They shall look on him whom they have pierced. (John 19:36 37) 5. Eschatological Purification of Temple and Jerusalem 2

3 16 Then every one that survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of booths 20 And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, Holy to the Lord. And the pots in the house of the Lord shall be as the bowls before the altar; 21 and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the Lord of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the flesh of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day. (Zech 14:16 21) And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. (Mark 11:15) Nehemiah and the Imperfect Restoration 1. High priest Eliashbib lent rooms in the temple to the non-israelite Tobiah (13:4-9) 2. City officials fail to provide for Levites (13:10-13) 3. Men breaking the Sabbath (13:14-22) 4. Recurrence of intermarriage (13:26-27; note the reference to Solomon) 5. Hypocrisy: returnees forced to sell themselves into slavery; the rich buy and sell neighbors while still offering in temple; worthless offerings made 6. Nehemiah 13: an unfit ending for MT Hellenization and the Rise of the Greeks 1. Philip of Macedon ( B.C.) brings most of Greece under his rule 2. Conquest of the Greeks ( Hellenes ) under Alexander the Great ( B.C.) 3. End of Persian Empire a. 334 B.C.: Alexander crosses into Asia Minor to attack Persian King Darius III b. 331 B.C.: Alexander defeats Darius III and Persian Empire ends 4. Alexander dies at age of 33, empire divided between generals a. Ptolemy controls Egypt b. Seleucus controls Babylon 5. Palestine in between two powers, changed hands 6. Seleucid Antiochus III wins control in 199 B.C. 7. Succeeded by a. Seleucus IV Philopator ( B.C.) b. Antiochus IV Epiphanes ( B.C.) Antiochus IV ( B.C.) 1. Ephiphanes ( God Manifest ) 2. Known as Epimanes ( Out of His Mind ) 3. Insisted on implementing Greek culture (including religion) everywhere, supplant others 4. a sinful root (1 Macc 1:10) 5. In Palestine a. Jewish high priesthood sold to the highest bidder (regardless of qualifications) b. Jewish ways neglected forgoing temple to watch wrestling (2 Macc 4:12 15) c. High priest used temple revenue to buy sacrifices to Hercules (2 Macc 4:19) Judas Maccabeus and Hanukkah 1. Mattathias defends altar; leads rebellion (cf. 1 Macc 2:23 48) 2. Judas Maccabeus ( Hammer ) succeeds father 3. Leads Jews to victory over Antiochus 3

4 4. Judas recaptures and restores Jerusalem: Law is followed and temple is rededicated (Hanukkah) So they tore down the altar, 46 and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. (1 Macc 4:45 46) Heroes of 1 Maccabees (175 B.C. 134 B.C.) 1. Mattathias (2:1 70) 2. Judas Maccabeus (3:1 9:22) a. Death brought great distress b. Thus there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them (1 Macc 9:27) 3. Jonathan (9:23 12:53) 4. Simon (13:1 16:17) And the Jews and their priests decided that Simon should be their leader and high priest for ever, until a trustworthy prophet should arise (1 Macc 14:41) 5. The Reign of John Hyrcanus (16:18 24) 2 Maccabees covers period slightly before Antiochus IV, martyrs, and Judas Divine Pedagogy Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities, but to recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our people. 13 In fact, not to let the impious alone for long, but to punish them immediately, is a sign of great kindness. 14 For in the case of the other nations the Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have reached the full measure of their sins; but he does not deal in this way with us, 15 in order that he may not take vengeance on us afterward when our sins have reached their height. 16 Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us. Though he disciplines us with calamities, he does not forsake his own people. (2 Macc 6:12 16) The Atoning Death of the Martyrs For we are suffering because of our own sins. 33 And if our living Lord is angry for a little while, to rebuke and discipline us, he will again be reconciled with his own servants 37 I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation and by afflictions and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God, 38 and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty which has justly fallen on our whole nation. (2 Macc 7:32 38) Letter to Alexandrians: Keeping Hanukkah in Hope 16 Since, therefore, we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. Will you therefore please keep the days? 17 It is God who has saved all his people, and has returned the inheritance to all, and the kingship and priesthood and consecration, 18 as he promised through the law. For we have hope in God that he will soon have mercy upon us and will gather us from everywhere under heaven into his holy place, for he has rescued us from great evils and has purified the place. (2 Macc 2:4 18) 4

5 The Hasmonean Dynasty and Herod The Hasmonean Dynasty 1. John Hyrcanus I ( B.C.) a. Assumes kingly role b. Recruited native army & mercenaries like other kings 2 c. Requested to set aside the high priesthood Since thou desirest to know the truth, if thou wilt be righteous in earnest, lay down the high priesthood, and content thyself with the civil government of the people. (Josephus, Ant. 18:288-98) 2. Aristobolus I (c B.C.) declares himself king He was called a lover of the Grecians; and had conferred many benefits on his own country, and made war against Iturea, and added a great part of it to Judea, and compelled the inhabitants, if they would continue in that country, to be circumcised, and to live according to the Jewish laws. (Josephus, Ant , 318) 3. Alexander Jannaeus, B.C. 4. Salome Alexandra, B.C. (Queen of Judaea) 5. Hyrcanus II, B.C.: a. Deposed as king and high priest by brother Aristobulus II, B.C. b. Hyrcanus II with backing of Idumean, Antipater II, had the Pompey help deopose Aristobulus II c. Pompey defiles Holy of Holies d. Hyrcanus II reinstated by Pompey (63 40 B.C.) (cf. Josephus, Ant. 14:46-47, 69-73; B.J ; Tacitus, Hist. 5.9.; etc.) Rise of Herod 1. After defeat of Pompey, Julius Caesar appoints a. Antipater administrator b. Hyrcanus II high priest & Ethnarch of Judea B.C.: Herod, Antipater s second son, appointed governor of Galilee by Romans 4 3. Antigonus II, son of Hyrcanus II s brother Aristobulus II, joined with Parthians to get Hyrcanus II deposed (40 37 B.C.) 4. Herod flees 5. Hyrcanus II s ears are mutilated by brother Herod s Kinship 1. Herod goes to Rome with hopes to secure the land back; appointed king of the Jews 5 2. Herod marries Hasmonean princess, Mariamne (niece of Antigonus II) a. Was already married (Doris) b. Has wife and child banishes them 3. Seizes Jerusalem and beheads Antigonus ending Hasmonean dynasty 6 2 See Doron Mendels, The Rise and Fall of Jewish Nationalism: Jewish and Christian Ethnicity in Ancient Palestine (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), Josephus, Ant ; ; B.J Josephus, Ant ; B. J Josephus, B.J., Josephus, Ant ; B. J., ; Dio Cassius 49.22; Plutarch, Anton

6 4. Opponents killed in the city 7 5. Aristocracy and wealthy killed, replaced with his own officers 8 6. Aristobulus III a. Herod s Mother-in-law forced Herod to appoint her son, Aristobulus III as high-priest b. Aristobulus III was 16 c. Herod has him drowned 9 7. Herod places Mariamne on trial for adultery and she is executed Mother-in-law and Costobarus (last of Hyrcanus descendants) killed Herod had married ten wives Put to death even his own sons he gave orders to have the principal men of the country shut up in the hippodrome at Jericho and slaughtered as soon as he had passed away, that his grave might not be without the tribute of tears, though not carried out. (Josephus, Ant ) Rival Hopes Psalms of Solomon: Hope for Warrior Davidic Messiah (Pharisaic) 21 * See, o Lord, and raise up for them their king, the son of David, to rule over your servant Israel in the time known to you, p O God. 30 And he will have gentile nations serving him under his yoke, and he will glorify the Lord in (a place) prominent (above) the whole earth. And he will purge Jerusalem (and make it) holy as it was even from the beginning, 31 * (for) nations to come from the ends of the earth to see his glory, to bring as gifts her children who had been driven out, and to see the glory of the Lord y with which God has glorified her. 32 * And he will be a righteous king over them, taught by God. There will be no unrighteousness among them in his days, for all shall be holy, and their king shall be the Lord Messiah. z 33 (for) he will not rely on horse and rider and bow, nor will he collect gold and silver for war. Nor will he build up hope in a multitude for a day of war. 34 The Lord himself is his king, the hope of the one who has a strong hope in God. He shall be compassionate to all the nations (who) reverently (stand) before him. 36 * And he himself (will be) free from sin, (in order) to rule a great people. He will expose officials and drive out sinners by the strength of his word. 7 Josephus, Ant Josephus, Ant Josephus, Ant ; B. J Josephus, Ant Josephus, Ant Josephus, B.J

7 1 Enoch: A Coming Heavenly Messiah and Heavenly Temple And in that hour, that son of man was named in the presence of the Lord of Spirits; and his name, before the Head of Days. Even before the sun and the constellations were created, before the stars of heaven were made, his name was named before the Lord of Spirits. He will be a staff for the righteous, that they may lean on him and not fall; He will be the light of the nations, and he will be a hope for those who grieve in their hearts. All who dwell on the earth will fall down and worship before him, and they will glorify and bless and sing hymns to the name of the Lord of Spirits. For this (reason) he was chosen and hidden in his presence, before the world was created and forever. And the wisdom of the Lord of Spirits has revealed him to the holy and the righteous (1 Enoch 48:2-7) And behold I [Enoch] saw the cloud... And I kept coming (into heaven)... And as I shook and trembled, I fell upon my face and saw a vision. And behold there was an opening before me (and) a second house which is greater than the former and everything was built with tongues of fire. And in every respect it excelled (the other) in glory and great honor to the extent that it is impossible for me to recount to you concerning its glory and greatness. As for its floor, it was of fire and above it was lightning and the path of the stars; and as for the ceiling, it was flaming fire. And I observed and saw inside it a lofty throne its appearance was like crystal and its wheels like the shining sun; and (I heard) the voice of the cherubim; and from beneath the throne were issuing streams of flaming fire. It was difficult to look at it. And the Great Glory was sitting up on it as for his gown, which was shining more brightly than the sun, it was whiter than any snow. (1 Enoch 14:8-25) Temple at Leontopolis 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border (Isa 19:19) Dead Sea Community: New Covenant Temple-Community until New Temple Building And this is the rule of the assembly of the cam[ps]. Those who walk in them, in the time of wickedness until there arises the Messiah of Aaron and Israel And this is the exact interpretation of the regulations by which [they shall be ruled] [until there arises the messia]h of Aaron and Israel. And he will atone for their iniquity (Damascus Document [=CD a ] XII, 22 XIII, 1; XIV, 18-19) 13 All the men who entered the new covenant in the land of Damascus Damascus Document 8:21 These are the men of renown, those summoned to the assembly [qāhāl], those gathered for the community council in Israel... (1Q28a II, 4; cf. also 1Q33 IV, 10; CD A VII, 17; XI, 22; XII, 6) They shall not enter the water to partake of the pure Meal of the saints, for they shall not be cleansed unless they turn from their wickedness; for all who transgress His word are unclean. Community Rule 5:13-14 When these things exist in Israel 5 the Community council shall be founded on truth, Blank to be an everlasting plantation, a holy house for Israel and the foundation of the holy of 6 holies for Aaron, true witness for the judgment and chosen by the will (of God) to atone for the land and to render 7 the wicked their retribution. Blank. This (the Community) is the tested rampart, the precious cornerstone that does not Blank 8 whose foundations shake or tremble from their place. Blank (It will be) the most holy dwelling 9 for Aaron with eternal knowledge of the covenant of justice and in order to offer a pleasant aroma; and it will be a house of 13 Translated by Brant Pitre in his Jesus, the Tribulation and the End of the Exile (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005). Pitre demonstrates that in other places in the DSS the suffering of the righteous in the eschatological period is understood as having redemptive value (cf. 1 QS, 4QPsalms Pesher a, Testament of Moses). 7

8 perfection and truth in Israel 10 in order to establish {/ /} a covenant in compliance with the everlasting decrees. And these will be accepted in order to atone for the land and to decide the judgment of the wickedness {in perfect behaviour} and there will be no iniquity. When these have been established in the foundation of the Community for two full years in perfect behaviour (1Q28 VIII, 4 10) 8