4. Judaism in the First Century

Introduction to New Testament (RLST 152)

Of the four kingdoms that arose after Alexander's death, those of the Seleucids and the Ptolemies are most pertinent to an understanding of the New Testament. Especially important is the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who forced the issue of Hellenism in Jerusalem by profaning the temple. Jews were not alike in their reaction to Hellenization, but a revolt arose under the leadership of the Mattathias and his sons, who would rule in the Hasmonean Dynasty. After the spread of Roman rule, the Judea was under client kings and procurators until the Jewish War and the destruction of the temple in 70 CE. Revolt was only one Jewish response to foreign rule; another was apocalypticism, as we see in Daniel and also in the Jesus' teaching and the early Christian movement.

00:00 - Chapter 1. After Alexander: The Seleucids and the Ptolemies
07:02 - Chapter 2. The Jews, Hellenization, and the Maccabean Revolt
21:46 - Chapter 3. The "Prophecy" of Daniel
36:40 - Chapter 4. The Jewish War and the Destruction of the Temple

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2009.