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We focus on the geography and history of Israel. We also cover Mark 2:1-3:6.
GEOGRAPHY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
To understand the world of Jesus we need to come to understand the history of Israel. To understand the history of Israel we need to understand the geography of the Ancient Near East. The Ancient Near East is the area surrounding Israel, including Greece, Egypt and Persia (modern day Iraq). On a map of the Ancient World locate the following nations: Israel, Egypt, Greece, Babylonia, Assyria, Persia and the Romans.
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This map is reconstructed from Hecataeus's Map. An early Greek Cartographer. You should be able to easily place the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Perians and Israel. Babylon is where the Babylonians are from. The Assyrians are around where the Taurus mountains meet the Euphrates river. That covers all the major ANE (Ancient Near East) empires. Hekateaus7m.jpg (author Dariusz Ciach {cc-by-sa-2.5|Dariusz Ciach, 2003}http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hekateaus7m.jpg) |
Each of these powers had a time when they were great. Each either made treaties with each other, or battled it out. There were many smaller powers. There were city-states. A single city had it's own king! Some grouped together and formed alliances. At times a particular nation grew in power, which meant it took over surrounding nations. Some had better success than others. When they took over, some were nicer than others. At all times larger powers sought to make treaties with smaller powers. Another name for treaty was covenant. In those days the covenant made between a larger power such as Egypt and a smaller power meant that the smaller power had to pay the large power money, produce etc.. If they did not pay up, the larger power came along with it's army and destroyed the smaller power. If they did pay up, then if someone attacked them, the larger power would send it's army to defend them. There was give and take, but overall there was take.
This was always risky since if you gave your alliegence to the wrong power, than the dominant power would destroy you. This indeed happended to Israel in 587 when a set of bad political mistakes led to Israel being crushed and Jerusalem and it's temple being destroyed and it's people being exiled to Babylon by the Babylonians.
If you ever play a game like civilisation or risk, you will get a good idea about how different nations have their hay-day.
Usually Egypt was the great power in the south, and there was a great power in the north. Israel was stuck in between. When these great powers fought each other, it was often on Israelite soil and particularly in the valley of Megiddo. Today nations 'fight' it out in soccer. Back then, there was only the battle field. It was normal for armies to go out to war every year during the 'battle' season. Since Israel was in between, it had to be very careful who it made treaties with. Generally the battles were over border regions. But there were times when particular powers were strong enough to dominate most of the Ancient Near East.
Israel's history is shaped by these powers.
HISTORY OF ISRAEL
The first point to make is that the history up to David as a line of kings is considered reliable. After that the history as archealogically confirmed is scant and conjecture. This does not mean the events didn't happen. What is important to realise is that the Bible as we have it, is guided by God as true author to teach us about Him, his plan and his love for us.
| Date (BC) | Events | Dominant Power over Israel |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | Abraham | self rule |
| 1250 | Moses and Exodus | Egyptians leading to self rule |
| 1210-1000 | Period of the Judges | self rule |
| 1000 | David and the United Kingdom | self rule |
| 950 | Soloman. 1st Temple Built | self rule |
| 920 | Northern and Southern Kingdom splits | self rule 2 kingdoms |
| 721 | Northern Kingdom falls to the Assyrians. Intermarriage leads to the Samaritans. | Assyrians rule the North. |
| 587 | Babylonians exile the Israelites. 1st Temple destroyed. | Babylonians |
| 537 | Persians free Israelites. Most return and build 2nd Temple | Persians |
| 333 | Greeks control Israel | Greeks |
| 167 | Maccabees rule Israel | self rule |
| 64 | Romans control Israel | Romans |
The fundamental beginning of Israel is God's call to Abraham around 1850BC. Abraham moved from his country to eventually settle in what we know today as Israel. He was the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob who had 12 sons. These sons bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. One of them is Joseph (of technicolor dream coat renown). Joseph settled with his brothers in Egypt. Eventually the Egyptians turned them into slaves.
When Israel was freed from Egypt, and was in the desert, God made a covenant with Israel in much the same way as a world power made a covenant with a lesser power. God would protect Israel and care for it, provided Israel lived as God wanted them to, ie according to the 10 commandments. Israel agreed. This was during the exodus in 1250BC. The Israelites entered the promised land and gradually took over it. Israel was led by a number of 'judges'. Eventually King David took control and united the nation and captured Jerusalem and made it it's capital in 1000BC.
Israel did live up to the covenant for sometime. Israel became a great nation under king David and king Soloman. But after Soloman, the nation was split into two, the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. But over time Israel did not live up to the covenant with God. Eventually the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 721. This was a great blow to the people. The people of the North began to marry Assyrians and their children were of mixed blood. These were eventually known as the Samaritans and were looked down upon by the people of the south who considered themselves pure blooded Israelites, and thus better.
Eventually the southern kingdom fell to the Babylonians who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 587 and exiled the Israelites to Babylonia.
Fifty years later the Persians came to power and defeated the Babylonians and allowed the Isrealites to return to Israel in 537. They returned and built the second temple - this is the temple that Jesus knew. It was also at this time that most of the Old Testament took it's final shape. From this experience of exile the Israelites realised what really caused the exile was their lack of faithfulness to God.
In 333 Alexander the great leader of the Greeks took over most of the Ancient Near East and brought Greek culture with him. This had a lasting effect with Greek being the major common language from then on.
There was a lull in the strength of the major powers which allowed the Israelites to have autonomy under the Maccabees in 167BC.
In 63BC the Romans came to dominate and took over Israel. They occupied Israel, but allowed the Israelites to have their own religion, provided it did not interfere with Roman control. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor while Jesus was active in ministry. The Jewish king was king Herod who was interested in power and not religious practice.
As we explore Mark's gospel, it is important to be aware of Israel's history.
How easy is it for Jesus to forgive sin?
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If Jesus can just forgive sin, this breaks down the whole simplified system. There is no need for ritual cleansing or sacrifices. Jesus just forgives sin.
What does the Pharisees think about Jesus forgiving sin?
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Day 2 The Call and Feast of Levi Mk:2:13-17
Which group does Jesus identify himself with, the righteous or sinners?
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Jesus goes out of his way to be with the 'unclean'. These people are the ones Jesus seeks to be with the most.
Day 3 The Controversy concerning Fasting Mk:2:18-22
Jesus clearly identifies himself as the bridegroom. Who is the bride?
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Day 4 The Sabbath Mk:2:23-28
How does Jesus counter the Pharisee's concern about what is lawful on the Sabbath?
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Day 5 The Withered Hand Mk 3:1-4
Why do you think they were silent?
How did Jesus feel? Why did he feel this way?
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Here we have the crux of the controversy. Jesus wants to do good. The law is ultimately about doing good and helping others.
Day 6 Pharisees and Herodians seek to destroy Jesus Mk 3:5-6
Why did they want to destroy Jesus?
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Day 7 The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12
The Beatitudes are a kind of new Law which gets to heart. They are about the way of the heart. Which one do you like the most?
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