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The Jewish Legacy

How did Judaism fit into the religious context of the ancient world?

  • the call of Abram / Abraham (Gen. 12)
  • Isaac, Jacob = Israel, 12 tribes (Gen. 35)
  • Moses, liberation of Israelites, desert journey to Promised Land = Canaan; Passover
  • Covenant relationship, Ten Commandments (Ex. 20), Ark of the Covenant.
  • Israel (north) and Judah (south)
  • First kings: Saul (ca. 1020-1000), David (1000-962), Solomon (961-922)
  • Solomon’s construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Holy of Holies
  • Division into two kingdoms: Israel until 721 vs. Assyria, Samaria; Judah until 539 vs. Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar
  • King Cyrus of Persia in 538 BCE authorizes the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
  • the beginnings of Judaism in the post-exilic period; Torah, Law of Moses, Pentateuch
  • synagogue, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6: 4)
  • King Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246BCE), Septuagint (LXX)
  • Tanakh: Law, prophets, writings

    What was the religious situation in Judaism at the time of Jesus?

  • Roman Palestine from 63 BCE
  • Herod the Great = rex socius (40/37 - 4 BCE)
  • Herod’s sons: Archelaus, ethnarch (4 BCE - 6 CE); Herod Antipas, tetrarch, (4 BCE - 39 CE), Galilee, Perea; Philip (4 BCE - 34 CE)
  • province of Judea, established 6 CE; prefects, procurators; Pontius Pilate (26-36)
    Josephus
    Pharisees, Mishnah, Talmud; Sadducees; Essenes: Qumran, Dead Sea Scrolls

    What did Judaism bequeath to Christianity?

  • The first Christians were Jews. Antioch
  • The Scriptures: the New Testament's relationship to the Old Testament
  • Beliefs: God as one, holy, the only God; God acted in history: Acts 7; the Messiah (Christ)
  • Worship: Temple worship (Acts 2: 46); Passover, sabbath

    NB Key terms are underlined.