• Suicide rates in the United States
• Psalm 51:12 – David’s prayer of repentance

• Matthew 13:20 – Even the “stony ground” received the word with joy.
• I Thessalonians 1:6
• Acts 8:39
• Have I lost the joy of my salvation?

• Philippians 3:3
• Romans 14:17

• Philippians 4:4
• Romans 12:12
• I Thessalonians 5:16
• Psalms 32:11
• Psalms 149:5

• I Thessalonians 4:13
• I John 1:4
• I Peter 1:8
• Psalms 35:9
• III John 1:4

• Philippians 4:1-3, 10
• II Corinthians 8:2
• Acts 13:50-52
• Acts 5:41
• Colossians 1:11
• I Peter 4:12-13

• Colossians 3:8-9
• Luke 3:12-13 – Jesus’ commands to tax collectors.
• Luke 19:8-10 – Zaccheus promises to work honestly.
• II Thessalonians 3:6-13

• Colossians 3:22-25 – If God expected this from slaves, surely he expects this or more from employees who are in a more privileged position.
• Ephesians 6:5-8 – When we work for our boss, we are working for God.
• I Peter 2:18-20 – Your boss might be unreasonable, but we must still obey God and patiently endure.

• Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1 – Masters must answer to God!
• James 5:1-6 – God is not pleased when masters mistreat their workers.
• Leviticus 19:13 – God cares about the worker!

• Titus 2:9-10
• I Timothy 6:1-2 – Work well so that God’s name will not be spoken against.

Last lesson

• Galilee
• Samaritans
• Temples
  • Gerizim
  • Elephantine
  • Heliopolis
• End of rule for John Hyrcanus
• Treacheries of Aristobulus

This lesson

• Results of Aristobulus’ rule
• Profane rule of Jannaeus
• Last of the Hasmoneans
• First of the Herodians

John Hyrcanus designates wife as heir

• As ruler, not as priest
• He dies in 104 BC
• Son (Aristobulus) imprisons her and 3 brothers

Aristobulus now rules

• Declares himself as both priest and king
• Conquers the rest of Galilee and Iturea
• Dies of illness after one year

Wife of Aristobulus nicer than husband

Jannaeus now high priest and king

• Marries brother’s widow, Alexandra
  • Deuteronomy 25:5
  • Matthew 22:23-33
• Spent younger years in Galilee
• Vigorous military campaigns
  • Gained much territory
  • Lost same within several years
• Persecuted Pharisees
• Mocked the feasts

Civil war

• Pharisees vs Sadducees, Hasmoneans
• 50,000 killed in six years
• Pharisees appeal to Seleucids for help
  • Eventually dump foreign tyrants for native tyrant
  • Jannaeus dies in 76 BC
  • Queen Salome Alexandra takes throne

Queen Alexandra

• Establishes Sanhedrin
  • Rabbinical council
  • Religious legislative powers
  • Judicial authority
• Strengthens Judean army
• Appoints son, John Hyrcanus II, as high priest
• She dies in 67 BC
• Son takes throne

John Hyrcanus II takes the throne

• Aristobulus II goes to war
  • “Fight” at Jericho
  • Siege at Jerusalem
  • Hyrcanus surrenders with terms
• Antipater the Idumean
  • Well-heeled noble from Idumea
  • Skilled politician and diplomat
• Veteran governor of Idumea under Hasmoneans
• Sees Hyrcanus as weak and pliable

Plots to replace Aristobulus

• Places Hyrcanus with Nabateans
• Makes promises for support

Siege of Jerusalem

• Nabateans take 50,000 troops
• They commit two serious offenses

Race for Roman support

• General Scaurus is completing conquest in Syria
• Both brothers try to bribe him
• Initial call is in favor of Aristobulus

Pompey comes to town

• More bribes
• Pompey ignores bribes
• Considers annexation of Judea instead

Caesar and Pompey contend for rule

• Caesar wins, Antipater supports him
• Antipater appointed governor of Judea
• Hyrcanus appointed high priest, tetrarch

Coming weeks

• Herodian Dynasty
• Role of women in Jewish society
• Social strata of Jerusalem
• Religious sects
• Purification
• Laws of the Sabbath

• Acts 7:58 – Paul at Stephen’s stoning
• Acts 9:3-6, 17-20 – Paul’s conversion
• Acts 22
• Acts 26:12-19
• Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 3:8; I Corinthians 15:9; I Timothy 1:13-15 – Paul always viewed himself as a sinner first.
• Romans 7:24

• Philippians 3:1-12 – Paul was fully converted to his new life as a Christian.

• Ephesians 6:19-20
• Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul’s teaching came straight from Christ.
• Galatians 2:3-11 – Paul’s past did not prevent him from teaching boldly.