Writ ten by Sherry Worel Unpacking the Book #8 The Neighbors I. The surrounding kingdoms: A. Egypt –An almost forgotten nation during this time. B. Aramaea – (Damascus) these states were to the north of Israel and were wiped out by Assyria. The language of Christ came from this part of the world. C. Assyria - See Isa. 10:5 The major assault on Palestine came at the hands of Tiglath-pileser III (744-727 BC). The credit for its fall goes to Sargon II (772-705). Shalmaneser V (726-722 BC) attacked Samaria. D. Babylon- An alliance with the Median Kingdom resulted in the New-Babylonian Empire. E. Persia (Medes) – A massive empire spread from Greece to India. Judah fell at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and Jerusalem was burnt down by his general, Nabuzaradan. I. Assyria (~1100–612 BC) A. Located along the banks of the Tigris River – north of the region of Babylon. Near the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. B. Its name comes from its capital city “Asshur” C. Other cities in Assyria also appear in the biblical record: See Gen. 10:11-12 for Calah and Ninevah. See Jonah for Ninevah. D. Its expansion: [Syria begins to expand and that’s when it become a problem for Israel] 1. Under Tiglath-Pileser I (1115-1077 BC) Assyria expanded to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. 2. This expansion was followed by 166 years of decline. 3. Ashurasirpal II (883-859 BC) and his son Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) continued the expansion through a series of campaigns in every direction. In ~841 BC Shalmaneser received tribute from the kings of Tyre, Sidon and King Jehu of Israel 4. After another period of decline, Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727 BC) caused both King Menahem of Israel and King Rezin of Aramea to give tribute and become vassals of Assyria (2 Kings 15). Ahaz (Judah) also became an Assyrian vassal. (2 Kings 16, 2 Chron. 28). Tiglath-Pileser III is considered to be one of the most successful military commanders in world history, conquering most of the world known to the ancient Assyrians before his death (according to Wikipedia). 5. Shalmaneser V (726-722 BC) besieged Samaria for three years after Hoshea refused to pay tribute (2 Kings 17). Samaria (capital city of Israel) finally fell in 722 BC. Sargon II (722- 705 BC) took credit for the victory and deported 27,290 inhabitants of Samaria. Some of the people (especially the “faithful”) fled to Judah, but most were deported and scattered in Assyria. Then Sargon imported people from Babylon and Syria to be resettled in Israel (2 Kings 17:24-41) among the remaining people of Israel. This is the origin of the Samaritan “mixed race” which we read about in the New Testament (John 4, Luke 10). Edited and taught by Cathy Ulrich www.cathy.tomulrichconsulting.com 2 6. Sennacherib (704-681 BC) after dealing with widespread revolt with Babylon, Phoenicia and Palestine. He invades Judah in 701 BC. (2 Kings 20, 2 Chron. 32, Isa. 22). Hezekiah resisted (with the encouragement of Isaiah). God delivered Judah (2 Kings 19) and the Assyrians withdrew. 7. Assyria had a series of wars with Egypt and Babylon until 614 BC when the Medes sacked the capital city of Asshur. In 612 BC the combined army of the Medes and Babylonians captured Ninevah. By 605 BC historians say, “Assyria was no more.” E. More about the culture: 1. the first people to understand/invent locks and keys 2. had the first paved roads 3. first postal system between their 70 provinces 4. first libraries 5. first flush toilets! F. Other historical events in this time frame: 1. Homer wrote Illiad and Odyssey 750 BC 2. Rome was founded in 753 BC 3. First Olympic games in 776 BC G. Spiritually: nebulous pieces of history suggest that Thomas, Bartholomew and Thaddeus established the Christian church in Assyria. II. Babylon (the Neo-Babylonian Period) (~612-593 BC) A. Located along the river Euphrates B. Its name is the same Hebrew word for “Babel” (Gen. 10:10, 11:9) C. Its expansion: 1. Assyrian domination of the region ended with Ashurbanipal in 627 BC. 2. Egypt challenged Babylon for the right to inherit Assyria’s vast empire. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish (Jer. 46:2-12). 3. The Babylonians then turned their attention to Judah. “In 604 and 603 Nebuchadnezzar, campaigned along the Palestinian coast. At this time Jehoiakim, king of Judah, became an unwilling vassal of Babylon. For two years Judah was harassed by Babylonian vassals (2 Kings 24:1-2). Then, in December of 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar marched on Jerusalem. Jehoiakim died that same month, and his son Jehoiachin surrendered the city to the Babylonians on March 16, 597 BC. Many Judeans, including the royal family [and Daniel], were deported to Babylon (2 Kings 24:6-12).” (Holman Bible Atlas, p.222) Johoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, and he reigned 11 years. From 588-586BC Nebuchadnezzar’s army besieged Jerusalem and ultimately destroyed it. Sidebar 4. Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king in this period. Exile: 597-538 BC His successors were “insignificant.” In 539 BC the 1st deportation: 597 BC Persian king, Cyrus II (the great) took Babylon 2nd deportation: 586 BC without a fight. (fall of Jerusalem) 3rd deportation: 582-581 BC D. Other historical events in this time frame: 1. Lives of Buddha (563-483 BC) and Confucius (551- 479 BC) 3 2. Hanging gardens of Babylon – one of the Seven Wonders of the World (600 BC) E. Other cultural things: 1. Ancient Babylon (after Abraham’s time), the Code of Hammurabi 2. Strong mathematicians. First to divide the circle in 360 degrees of 60 arc minutes. Still reflected in our modern clock. 3. Significant medical strides, especially related to surgeries. III. Persia – (~590-330BC) A. The Persian Empire extended from Greece to India and from Southern Russia to the Gulf of Oman. B. Its name comes from its southern most region called Parsis. C. Its expansion: 1. Cyrus II [aka Cyrus the Great] (539-530 BC) ruled a combined kingdom of Medes (located to the Northeast and east of Babylonians) and Persians. He allowed the Jews to return to Judah (Ezra 1:1-4) 2. Once Darius I (522-486 BC) came to the throne, the empire extended well into India. He organized this vast empire into satrapies and then into smaller groups of provinces. Extensive roads were built and conquered people were given a measure of self rule. A distinctive thing about the Persians is they allowed the people they conquered Sidebar to have a significant degree of self-rule. Cyrus the Great 539-530 BC Daniel, Ezra This meant “official support for keeping 1-3, Isaiah 45 Jewish Law in the land of the Jews.” Cambyses 530-522 BC Ezra 4-6 Darius I 522-486 BC Ezra 4:7-23 Darius supported the rebuilding of the Xerxes I 486-465 BC Esther temple (Ezra 6:15) (Ahasuerues) Artaxerexes 464-423 BC Ezra 7-10 D. The books of Daniel and Esther occur Nehemiah during the Persian Rule. Artaxerxes II 404-359 BC E. The prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Darius III 336-331 BC Malachi helped the Jews to hope for restoration of their land. Rebuilding of 537-516 BC Jerusalem F. Other historical events in this time frame: 1. Foundation of Roman Republic (510) 1st return of exiles 583 BC 2. Caste system in India established (500) 2nd return of exiles 525 BC IV.So what? Ezra returns 458 BC Consider that all things (personal, biblical, Nehemiah rebuilds 445-433 BC walls national and international) are under the sovereign control of God. He “turns” them as He sees fit. See Prov. 21:1 and 2 Chron. 20:6. He controls the flow of history and He sometimes uses “not nice” people to accomplish His task (see 1 Kings 12:15, Exodus 7:3, 2 Kings 24:2-4, Daniel 9:14). I can have peace because He is in charge. 4 Main Stages of Israelite & Jewish History 4000 Years of Development (Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Religion) http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/History-Israelite&Jewish.htm 1. Pre- Historic Period o Creation of the World; Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Noah & the Flood; Tower of Babel I. Hebrew /Israelite Period (Second Millennium to ca. 586 BC) o Abraham & the Israelite Patriarchs; Moses & the Exodus; Joshua & the Conquest; Era of Judges (Confederation of 12 Tribes) o United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon); Divided Monarchies (N: Israel; S: Judah); Destruction of 1st Temple; Babylonian Exile II. Second Temple Period (ca. 586 BC - 70 AD) o Persian Era (Jews return from exile, rebuild Jerusalem & Temple); Hellenistic/Greek Era (Alexander the Great; Ptolemies & Seleucids) o Maccabean/Hasmonean Era (desecration & rededication of Temple); Roman Era (Herod the Great; Jesus; Destruction of 2nd Temple) III. Rab binic Period (ca. 70 AD - 6th Century) o Leading rabbis adapt Judaism for the post-Temple era; focus on reinterpreting & applying the Torah (both written & oral) o Canonization of the Hebrew Bible; Codification of the Mishnah; Compilation of the Talmuds; other rabbinic literature IV. Medieval Period (6th - 16th Centuries) o Solidification of Jewish life & culture & literature; Persecution/Expulsion of Jews from various countries at various times o Division of Jews into various cultural/geographical groups: Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardic Jews, Yemeni Jews, etc. V. Earl y Modern & Modern Period (17th - 21st Centuries) o Division of Judaism into more branches: Hasidic, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Restorationist, Humanist, Non-Religious, etc. o Rise of Zionist Movements (late 1800's); Nazi-era Holocaust / Shoah (1933-1945); modern State of Israel established (1948) Domination & Independence 1.