Ben Wilson

Eventually, the Jews revolt under the leadership of Mattathias Maccabee and his five sons, and they win independence from this Greek kingdom. but it's not very long-lasting independence because they are soon once again conquered, this time by the Romans. The Romans are not as repressive as the Babylonians, but neither are they hands-off as the Persians.

Most offensively, the person who did this conquest was Pompey the Great. So he came to the eastern Mediterranean, he cleared out all the pirates, and he was a contemporary of Julius Caesar's. And when he conquers Judea and Jerusalem, he goes into the temple. He goes into the Holy of Holies, which was kind of the very back, the very middle.

Most offensively, the person who did this conquest was Pompey the Great. So he came to the eastern Mediterranean, he cleared out all the pirates, and he was a contemporary of Julius Caesar's. And when he conquers Judea and Jerusalem, he goes into the temple. He goes into the Holy of Holies, which was kind of the very back, the very middle.

It's the most sacred part of the temple, the most sacred place in the world, according to Jewish worship. He leaves the temple intact, but entering the Holy of Holies was an act of defilement, according to the Jews. And so the temple is kind of no longer holy and whole. Now, the Romans often like to rule places via client kings.

It's the most sacred part of the temple, the most sacred place in the world, according to Jewish worship. He leaves the temple intact, but entering the Holy of Holies was an act of defilement, according to the Jews. And so the temple is kind of no longer holy and whole. Now, the Romans often like to rule places via client kings.

So in other words, you guys can keep your king, we don't want to deal with your little squabbles, but that king reports to us. So they had a client king named Herod, who came to be known as Herod the Great. And he had a good relationship with the Romans. Culturally, he was pretty well Hellenized.

So in other words, you guys can keep your king, we don't want to deal with your little squabbles, but that king reports to us. So they had a client king named Herod, who came to be known as Herod the Great. And he had a good relationship with the Romans. Culturally, he was pretty well Hellenized.

I don't think you would call him a sincere Jewish believer by any stretch of the imagination, but he had a lot of Jewish support because he renovated the second temple and greatly expanded it. So the Jews have their temple. They are allowed to worship in it, but they still resent Roman dominance over them. They want their independence.

I don't think you would call him a sincere Jewish believer by any stretch of the imagination, but he had a lot of Jewish support because he renovated the second temple and greatly expanded it. So the Jews have their temple. They are allowed to worship in it, but they still resent Roman dominance over them. They want their independence.

There were a thousand little ways in which Roman rule bothered them. Some were big things. For example, a Roman eagle stood at the entrance to the temple, letting the Jews know who was really in charge here. And some in small ways. N.T. Wright in the New Testament and its world highlights a story that I find hilarious about one religious riot in Jerusalem shortly after the life of Jesus.

There were a thousand little ways in which Roman rule bothered them. Some were big things. For example, a Roman eagle stood at the entrance to the temple, letting the Jews know who was really in charge here. And some in small ways. N.T. Wright in the New Testament and its world highlights a story that I find hilarious about one religious riot in Jerusalem shortly after the life of Jesus.

Listen to this. This is from an ancient historian, Josephus. Here's what Josephus says. The usual crowd had assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Roman cohort had taken up its position on the roof of the portico of the temple, for a body of men in arms invariably mounts guard at the feasts to prevent disorders arising from such a concourse of people.

Listen to this. This is from an ancient historian, Josephus. Here's what Josephus says. The usual crowd had assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Roman cohort had taken up its position on the roof of the portico of the temple, for a body of men in arms invariably mounts guard at the feasts to prevent disorders arising from such a concourse of people.

Thereupon, one of the soldiers, raising his robe, stooped in an indecent manner so as to turn his backside to the Jews, and made a noise in keeping with his posture. Enraged at the insult, the whole multitude with loud cries called upon the governor to punish the soldier.

Thereupon, one of the soldiers, raising his robe, stooped in an indecent manner so as to turn his backside to the Jews, and made a noise in keeping with his posture. Enraged at the insult, the whole multitude with loud cries called upon the governor to punish the soldier.

Some of the more hot-headed young men and seditious persons in the crowd started to fight, and picking up stones hurled them at the troops. The governor, fearing a general attack upon himself, sent for reinforcements. These troops pouring into the porticos, the Jews were seized with irresistible panic and turned to fly from the temple and make their escape into the town.

Some of the more hot-headed young men and seditious persons in the crowd started to fight, and picking up stones hurled them at the troops. The governor, fearing a general attack upon himself, sent for reinforcements. These troops pouring into the porticos, the Jews were seized with irresistible panic and turned to fly from the temple and make their escape into the town.

But such violence was used as they pressed round the exits that they were trodden underfoot and crushed to death by one another. Upwards of 30,000 perished, and the feast was turned into mourning for the whole nation and for every household into lamentation. Okay, so a riot that ends up leading to 30,000 dead starts because a Roman soldier moons the crowd and farts at them.

But such violence was used as they pressed round the exits that they were trodden underfoot and crushed to death by one another. Upwards of 30,000 perished, and the feast was turned into mourning for the whole nation and for every household into lamentation. Okay, so a riot that ends up leading to 30,000 dead starts because a Roman soldier moons the crowd and farts at them.

So it's a little funny, but obviously it's just a little way in which the Romans are showing, yeah, like we can do what we want. We're superior to you. We're in charge here. You're subservient to us. And so that is the kind of stuff that upset the Jews and made them yearn for a time when they would be free of Roman rule. I think there's also just a feeling of complete disruption.