When I was growing up, my dad was a huge wrestling fan. He kept a calendar of when wrestling was on TV and didn't miss a match. I enjoyed watching the programs, not because of the battles, but from the entertainment my dad provided. You could hear him giving his suggestions far beyond the living room. The big bad guy was the Sheik, hated by all. As expected, the Sheik did whatever it took to win, often using a pencil that was hidden in his trunks. If the Sheik were alive shortly before the birth of Christ, he and the rulers of Palestine would have been best buddies, each trying to outdo the other in evil.

A New Ruler in Israel

While Egypt and Palestine thrived under the reign of the Ptolemy and his sons, the Seleucid empire cared less about the people and more about power. After the death of Alexander, the Great, general Seleucid and his sons became rules of the land surrounding Palestine. They wanted power to strengthen their worldly influence.

Less than one hundred years after Alexander’s death, Antiochus III became the ruler and attacked both Palestine and then Egypt. While he could not defeat Egypt, he added Palestine to the Seleucid empire. Early on, Jewish religious practices thrived. All of this changed, though, under the next Seleucid king, Antiochus IV.

Antiochus IV was a despot out for power regardless of the consequences. Although he ruled for only nine years, the impact of his decrees affected every aspect of Jewish life long after his death. Antiochus IV or sometimes called Antiochus IV, Epiphones, sought the complete Hellenization of the controlled land, including Palestine. In his brief period ruling Palestine, he outlawed major Jewish practices and traditions. Possession of the Pentateuch, observance of the Sabbath, or the circumcision of a Jewish male resulted in death.

Hanukkah

A guerrilla warfare movement developed, led by the Maccabee family. It quickly became an army fighting for the nation’s freedom. About three years after starting the movement, the Maccabees took control of Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple. The cleansing of the Temple, Hanukkah, was celebrated every year to recognize this event. For twenty years, the Maccabees and their movement battled the Seleucid rulers for total control. When the Seleucid empire started to fall apart internally, Israel saw an opportunity and formed an alliance with the Romans, the new world power.

New Ruler...Same Domination

Believing the Roman ruler Pompey would allow religious freedom, the nation sought their military help. Instead in 63BC, Pompey invaded Jerusalem and took personal control of the Temple area. Pompey ruled with a heavy hand over Palestine until he lost power to Caesar. Caesar appointed Herod the Great as the ruler of Palestine.

Herod the Great believed in only one set of rules—that which kept him in power. Rebellions arose against Roman rule but were quickly put down. Anti-Roman sentiment filled Israel, but Herod prevailed. In his sick mind, any perceived threat led to death. He used the military, for example, to kill every Jewish male under the age of two in the vicinity of Bethlehem when the visiting Magi spoke about the birth of a Jewish king. (Matthew chapter 2).

To try and silence the Jewish population, Herod invested tax money in the renovation of the Temple and the Temple Mount, the acreage surrounding the Temple. Because of his family’s gifts, the Temple Mount area grew from a small temple to one of grandeur. It grew to over thirty-five acres and could hold over one million people for its yearly festivals.

While Herod financially supported the Temple’s construction, he also defied Jewish authorities by building heathen pagan temples and building a large amphitheater that housed games honoring the Roman rulers. Finally, in the final year of his life, in defiance of all that the Jewish nation believed in, he placed a golden eagle at the gate of the Temple to honor the Roman ruler, Augustus.

What finally showed his barbaric mind? Using the military to kill every Jewish male under the age of two in the vicinity of Bethlehem when the visiting Magi spoke about the birth of a Jewish king. (Matthew chapter 2). Within a few years after that event, vengeance was Jehovah’s, as his life ended in excruciating pain. The historian Josephus recorded that the pain was so unbearable that Herod tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide. His punishment and death shortly after trying to kill the baby Jesus in Bethlehem was a fitting end to this despotic rule. After the death of Herod, the Great, his children took control of Palestine.

Remember that guy, the Shiek? Archelaus in his nine years of rule over Judea tried to make him look human. In revenge for the religious leader's defiance of Rome, Archelaus had a large group of religious leaders arrested and burned to death as a sacrifice to Caesar.

Yet the Jewish hatred of Roman rule only grew. Archelaus tried to make amends by lowering the taxes and freeing the remaining political prisoners, but the Jewish faithful were not to be appeased. When the Jewish leaders demanded those responsible for the burnings be punished, Archelaus refused. The Jewish nation revolted. In fury, Archelaus killed over three thousand Jews. He was not to be messed with. He expected for you to follow his order or risk death.

After nine years of Herod Archelaus' reign of terror, Rome took direct control of Judea and appointed a governor as overseer but with limited power. Pontius Pilate was appointed as governor over Judea.

Scribes...Those that Fought to Maintain Hebrew Religious Purity

Regardless of who ruled the Hebrew people, it was essential that their own monotheistic religious beliefs be practiced in their daily lives. The guides in this process were the Scribes. Scribes, from the Hebrew word, Soferim, people who write, had existed for thousands of years. They originally served as the officials for recording the ruler’s messages and kept records of the Israelite people’s history. By the time of Herod, the Great, the Scribes were viewed as the learned and were highly respected within the community. Their decrees (and opinions) were accepted as from God.

It took years of study at a Rabbinical school to become a Scribe. Besides the ability to write fluently, they became fluent in understanding the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) and the teachings of the prophets. Their work as a student also immersed them in understanding the Halakah, the laws and ordinances developed through the years to govern Jewish observances and daily life.

The Scribes also had the responsibility of copying letter by letter Hebrew writings and Biblical texts. When finished, the entire work was examined. It had to be so exact that the number of words in a text needed to match, along with an exact match of letters. If there were an error, the entire text would be destroyed.

In the New Testament, Scribes are mentioned often, particularly in the Gospel of Mark, as one of the groups questioning the teachings of Jesus. Since there is no evidence that Jesus ever attended a Rabbinical school, the Scribes did not view Jesus as having the proper credentials for expositing the Word of God. Jesus, the Christ, often offered beliefs that ran counter to the teachings of the Scribes. (You have heard it said,….but I say). To the Scribes, Jesus was not only unlearned but also opposed for questioning their belief system.

They, along with the priests, came to see the teachings of Jesus Christ as their new enemy. The big bullies did not leave the scene. Only now the opposition developed within the Jewish community itself.