• FOCUS ON THE FIRST CENTURY
  • HISTORY, SOCIETY, RELIGION
  • OVERVIEW
    • External Influences from History
      • Persians and Greeks and Romans, Oh No!
      • Ptolomeans, Seleucids, and Idumaeans, Too!
    • Maccabean Revolt
      • Hasmonean Dynasty
      • High Priesthood and the Temple(s)
      • Herodian Dynasty
    • FIRST CENTURY FOCUS
    • Jewish Society
      • Politics
      • Religious Sects, Beliefs, and Worship
      • Views of the Messiah
      • Role of Women
      • The Diaspora
    • Some Examples of Cultural Understanding
      • Samaritans
      • Tax Collectors
      • Women
      • Gentiles
      • Religious Sects
      • Many Etceteras
    • WHY?
      • Appreciation
      • Understanding
      • Impact
    • EXTERNAL INFLUENCES FROM HISTORY
      • Main External Influences
        • Persian Influence
        • Greek Influence
        • Roman Influence
      • Timeline From Captivity to Greek Conquest
    • A NOTE ABOUT ZOROASTRIANISM
    • Nature of Zoroastrianism
      • Dating Zarathustra
        • Authenticating Zarathustra
        • Chicken or Egg Problem for Anthropologists
        • Swings on Dates
      • Similarities Die with Most “Ancient” Manuscripts
      • Manuscripts Differ Widely and According to Tradition
      • Conclusion
    • PERSIAN STRENGTH
      • Cyrus Defeats Babylon – 539 BC
      • Sends Jews to Rebuild Temple – 538 BC
      • More Return With Ezra – 457 BC
      • Judea Enjoys Peace Under Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes
      • Artaxerxes III Heavy Handedness
    • FINAL PROPHETIC WRITINGS ABOUT 415 BC
      • Malachi is Last Written Prophet
      • Greek Culture and Influence on the Rise
    • SPARTA AND PERSIA (386 BC)
      • Peace Between Sparta and Persia
      • Sparta Forces Other Greek States to Follow
      • Sparta and the Athenian League
      • Make Peace Among the Greek City States (371 BC)
      • Now Free to Spread Stronger Influence
    • PHILLIP OF MACEDONIA
      • Takes the Throne (359-336 BC)
      • Makes War Against the Greek City States
    • ALEXANDER THE GREAT
      • Phillip’s Son Takes the Throne (336-323 BC)
      • Continues His Father’s Quest
      • Conquers as Far as India
      • Conquered Persia (Incl Palestine) 331 BC
    • ALEXANDER AND JUDEA
      • Josephus Antiquities, XI
      • Daniel 8:20-22
      • Friendliness to Jews as Result
    • DEATH OF ALEXANDER 323 BC
      • Kingdom Splits
      • Period of Peace
    • THE INHERITANTS RULE
      • Four Horns of Daniel 8:20-22
      • Ptolemy Soter, Lysimachus, Cassander, and Selenus
    • PTOLEMEAN RULE – 323 to 204 BC
      • Empire Centered in Egypt
      • Soter Goes Harsh to Kind
      • Philadelphus Follows Suit
        • Extensive Public Works
        • Many Jews Work in his Administrative Offices and Armies
        • OT Translated into Greek - Septuagint
      • Philopater’s Approach to the Temple
      • Persecution of the Jews
      • Succession of Epiphanes, subsequent defeat
    • NEXT WEEK
      • Rule of the Seleucids
      • Maccabean Revolt
      • Effect on Priesthood
      • Effect on Governance
      • Hasmonean Dynasty
      • Roman Annexation
      • Herodian Dynasty
    • Homework - Edom
      • Genesis 32-33
      • Numbers 20:14-21
      • Deuteronomy 2
      • 1 Samuel 14:47
      • 2 Samuel 8:1-14
      • 1 Kings 9:26
      • 2 Kings 14:1-7
      • 2 Chronicles 20:1-23; 25:14-28
      • Isaiah 34:5-8; 63:1-6
      • Jeremiah 49:7-22