Body: | The Judean Kings, Governors, Satraps, Procurators, Prefects: 587 BC - 66 AD
Babylonian appointed governors of Judea: Gedaliah (and more)
Persian appointed governors of Judea: Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel,
Nehemiah (and more)
Roman appointed governors of Judea: Herod the Great, Agrippa,
Pilate, Felix, Festus (and more)
First Jewish War: 66-70 AD
Second Jewish war: 132-135 AD (Simon bar Kokhba)
Introduction:
From the time of the Babylonian Captivity that began in 605 BC down
to 70 AD when the theocratic nation of Israel finally destroyed forever,
they were under the control and domination of four foreign nations as
predicted by Daniel. Of course, the whole point of Daniel's prophecy was
that He would set up his eternal kingdom after the 4th kingdom of Rome came
into existence.
Babylon: 623 - 539 BC
Persia: 539 - 333 BC
Greece: 333 - 31 BC
Rome: 31 BC - 476 AD
Church (Pentecost 33 AD)
2. The Greek kingdom existed from 333 - 31 BC
a. Alexander the Great lived only ten years and ruled the world
as a sole monarch from 333-323 BC
b. The early Greek/Macedonian period is 333 - 302 BC as far as
classifying coins is concerned.
3. After Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was split into
four Kingdoms: (Four "horns" empires after Alexander the Great)
Ptolemy Empire (323-31 BC)
Seleucid Empire (321-64 BC)
Cassander (319-168 BC) We do not discuss this kingdom at all because
it is far removed from land of Judah.
Lysimachus (323-133 BC) We do not discuss this kingdom at all
because it is far removed from land of Judah.
For a short time during the Greek Empire period, the Jews gained
true independence under the Maccabees (Hasmonean Era): 166-37 BC
Rome conquered all by 31 BC and the fourth and final kingdom of
Daniel's prophecy (Dan 2) came into existence.
5. The Maccabees provided a brief period of about 60 years of
true independence from under the control of the Greek/Seleucid empire came
to an end with the Romans and Herod the Great.
6. Herod the Great brought about huge changes in Jewish culture
and worship:
a. Herod would build the Jews a temple in 18 months completed in
18 BC.
b. In 18 BC, Herod transferred the manufacturing of the Tyrian
Shekel (official temple tax coin) from Tyre to a new mint in Jerusalem.
See outline on the Shekel of Tyre.
7. Jesus would be born in 2-1 BC and Herod would die in 1 BC.
8. The Roman empire would control the Jews up until the first
Jewish war of 66 AD.
a. This rebellion resulted in the Romans coming down with a heavy
hand and they easily crushed the rebellion and forever destroyed the temple
in 70 AD.
b. A new temple had been raised from the dust, just as Jesus
said: His body, THE CHURCH.
c. Jesus said the kingdom of God and the temple is not physical
but within each of us!
On Pentecost 33 AD, God set up his divine Kingdom which we know
today as the Church of Christ which will never come to an end:
"For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person
or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and God." (Ephesians 5:5)
"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us
to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)
Why not attend a local church that follows the pure Bible Blueprint
in your own home town! Click here to find one
I. Babylonian appointed Governors of Judea:
After the period of the kings came to an end, Israel was under
foreign control right down to 70 AD with the exception of the brief
Hasmonean/Maccabean rule (166-37 AD).
First Judean Governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar: Gedaliah
Gedaliah was the first post 597 BC Governor in a long line of
governors of Judah that date down to 70 AD.
Full outline on Gedaliah: Gedaliah
Gedaliah is the only governor of Judea we know about until the
Persian age that began in 333 BC.
Gedaliah 1st Governor of Judea in 587 BC
"Archaeologists are digging up bible stories!!!"
1. Glyptic artifact: Clay Bulla
2. Inscription: "Belonging to Gedaliah who is over the house"
3. Provenance: Lachish official archeological dig 1935 AD season
4. Current location: Israel Museum
5. Date: 587 BC
6. Bible verses: Jer 39-44: 2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 40:13-41:4
7. Events: Gedaliah, 1st Judean governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC, assassinated by Ishmael and Baalis.
Full outline: Gedaliah
II. Persian appointed governors and Satraps of Judea after Jerusalem was
destroyed in 587 BC:
During the Persian era we know the names of 8 governors of Judah including
their several bullae, pottery handle stamps and coins!
Sheshbazzar: The first governor: 533-520 BC
The decree of Cyrus in Ezra 1:1 happened in 539 BC. Five years later
Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel leave for Jerusalem
"Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord,
which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house
of his gods; and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of
Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the
prince of Judah." (Ezra 1:7-8)
"'Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to
the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and
they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed
governor." (Ezra 5:14)
Zerubbabel: The second governor: 520-510 BC
Both Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel are said to lay the foundations of
the Temple:
"Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of
God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction
and it is not yet completed.'" (Ezra 5:16)
"Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at
Jerusalem in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua
the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the
Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work
and appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work
of the house of the Lord. Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood
united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad
with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the
temple of God. Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple
of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the
Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to
the directions of King David of Israel." (Ezra 3:8-10)
The solution is simple: When Sheshbazzar was the Governor,
Zerubbabel was a high ranking official. Think of Moses and Joshua, Elijah
and Elisha etc. Both were present at the laying of the foundation. When
Sheshbazzar died, Zerubbabel succeeded him as Governor of Judah.
Elnathan The third governor: 510-490 BC
Archeology has found two bullas and seals with "phwʾ" with the name
of Elnathan on them.
The first has an inscription with "Belonging to Elnathan the
governor" on it.
The second is called the Shelomith seal with this inscription on it:
"Belonging to Shelomith, maidservant of Elnathan the governor."
He is not mentioned in the Bible.
This is an excellent example of where archeology can fill in gaps of
information the Bible lacks. This of course, does not take away from the
inspiration of the bible, since there are many facts of history the Bible
does not contain. However, any time the Bible does touch upon history it is
always right 100% of the time!
Yehoʿezer: The forth governor: 490-470 BC
Archeology has found a jar handle stamp impression with "phwʾ" on
it and his name: "Yeho'ezer the Governor"
He is not mentioned in the Bible
However, excavations at Ramat Rachel in 1930 AD uncovered: "Another
130 seal impressions on jar handles found this season bring the total to
400. About 50 belong to the Iron Age and the rest to the Persian period"
(Excavations at Ramat Racḥel, Yohanan Aharoni, Biblical Archaeologist,
Vol 24, 1961 AD)
Ahzai: The fifth governor: 470-460 BC
Archeology has found a jar impression with "phwʾ" on it.
Nehemiah: The Seventh governor: First term: 445-433 BC (20th -32nd
year of Artaxerxes I who reigned 464-424BC) Second term: 429-? BC
Ezra: Arrives in Jerusalem in 458 BC in the 7th year of Artaxerxes
I, which is 13 years before Nehemiah arrives in 445 BC
"Moreover, from the day that I [Nehemiah who is writing the book]
was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth
year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years,
neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance. But
the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took
from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their
servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of
God." (Nehemiah 5:14-15)
"Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and
scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all
the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law." (Nehemiah
8:9)
Sanballat and Tobiah opposed Nehemiah in 445 BC in Neh 2:10
"Aramaic dedication inscription of Qaynu son of Gashmu, king of
Qedar, on a silver bowl from Tell el-Mashkhuta, Egypt. Four of the silver
bowls bear Aramaic dedicatory inscriptions to the goddess Han-Ilat. One of
the inscriptions reads: "That which Qaynu, son of Gashmu, king of Qedar,
brought in offering to Han-Ilat." An analysis of the bowls and their
inscriptions has led scholars to conclude that the Gashmu mentioned in the
inscription is the very same Gashmu (or Geshem) mentioned in Nehemiah 2:19,
6:1,2,6." (Gashmu, Nehemiah's Adversary , Bible and Spade, Vol 1, No 3,
p82, 1972 AD)
Bagohi: The sixth governor: 409 BC
Archeology has found the Persian Elephantine Papyus with "Bagohi the
satrap of Judah" and "Sanballat satrap of Samaria" in the text of the same
"Temple Papyri" letter.
This is the only reference to Bagohi we have and we would not know
about him if we did not have the 28 Elephantine Papyrus discovered in 1904
BC
More on the Elephantine Papyrus.
"Hezekiah": Governor of Judea: 350-302 BC
Hezekiah was the last governor of the Persian Empire and governed
after Alexander the Great started the Greek empire in 333BC.
Hezekiah, therefore, is unique in that he governed Judea through the
transitional period between the Persian and Greek empires.
Archeology has found two coins with his name as governor.
We know about him only through coins he minted
Some coins contained the full inscription naming Hezekiah as the
governor: "YHZQKYH HPHH" (Yehezqiyah the Satrap) (Meshorer: Coins 22-23);
Others, like this one, "YHZQYH" (Yehezqiyah) (Meshorer: Coins 24-26)
only mention Hezekiah without the PHH (Hebrew: Peheh)
See the page on Yehezqiyah "Hezekiah" for more details on his coin!
III. Hasmonean Governors and kings: a period of short Judean independence
Hasmonean rulers and kings click here.
For full details on the Hasmonean rulers and Kings click here.
175-163 Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Seleucid king)
167 Antiochus IV desecrates Temple
166 Revolt of Mattathias. dies 166: 1 Macc. 1,2; 2 Macc. 6; Jos Ant.
7:265-272
166-160 Judas Maccabeus (1 Macc. 3-4; Jos Ant. 7:287-292)
164 Temple liberated. Hanukkah started: Jn 10:22
160-143 Jonathan (1 Macc. 9-10; Jos. Ant. 8:46-212)
143-135 Simeon, 1 Macc 13-14; Jos Ant. 8:218-228; Wars 1:50-60
135-104 John Hyrcanus I, Jos Ant. 8:228-299; Wars 1:61-69
125 Tyre liberated from Seleucids. Tyrian Shekel Year 1
110 Full Judean independence from Seleucids
104-103 Aristobulus I: Jos Ant. 8:301-319; Wars 1:70-84
103-76 Alexander Janneus, Jos Ant. 8:320-406; Wars 1:85-106
76-67 Hyrcanus II (Salome Alexandra) Jos Ant. 8:399-432; Wars
1:107-119,270
67-63 Aristobulus II, Jos Ant. 14:4-28; Wars 1:120-126
64 Roman general Pompey the Great Annexes Syria
63 Roman General Pompey captures Jerusalem and reappoints Hyrcranus
II as high priest. Jos Ant. 14:4-28; Wars 1:120-126
63 Hyrcanus II repointed high priest. Jos Ant. 14:4-28; Wars
1:120-126
49 Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon river, becomes dictator
44 Julius Caesar murdered
40-37 Antigonus II, Jos Ant. 14:335-480; Wars 1:250-357
37 Aristobulus III briefly appointed High Priest
40-36 Hycranus II exiled to Parthia
35 Hycranus II lives with Babylonian Jews
36 Mark Antony kills Antigonus, ending Hasomean rule
31Octavian (Augustus) defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra in Battle of
Actium
30 Herod executes Hycranus II after inviting him home to Jerusalem
30 BC Judah's independent rule ends under Roman control when Herod
ends Hasmonean dynasty by killing Hycranus II, the last living Hasmonean
Judean Governor.
IV. Roman appointed Governors of Judea:
A. List of Judean governors appointed by the Romans:
Judean Governor Archelaus 1 BC-6AD
Joseph moves from Egypt to Nazareth
under Governor Antipas: Mt 2:22
Judean Governor Coponius 6-9 AD
Judean Governor Marcus Ambibulus 9-12 AD
Judean Governor Annius Rufus 12-15 AD
Judean Governor Valerius Gratus 15-26 AD
Judean Governor Pontius Pilate 26-36 AD
Jesus begins to proclaim gospel (Luke 3:23) 30AD
Jesus Died 3 April 33 AD
Judean Governor Marcellus 36-37 AD
Judean Governor Marullus 37-41 AD
Ababus predicts famine: 40 AD (Acts 11:28; Jos. Ant. 20.100-101)
Judean Governor Cuspius Fadus 44-46 AD
Governor Tiberius Alexander 46-48 AD
Governor Cumanus 48-52 AD
Governor Antonius Felix 52-57 AD
Paul before Felix, imprisoned 2 years (Acts 24) 55-57 AD
Judean Governor Porcius Festus 57-62 AD
Judean Governor Albinus 62-64 AD
Judean Governor Gessius Florus 64-66 AD
1st Jewish War: The Great Revolt 66-70 AD
Jerusalem and Temple destroyed: 70 AD Lk 21:20; Mt 24:1:14
Jewish Rebellion in diaspora in Egypt
Alexandria, Cyrene Cyrenaica, Cyprus
(under Trajan )116-117 AD
2rd Jewish War, Bar-Kokhba Revolt 132-135AD
135 Hadrian expels Jews, renames Jerusalem Aelia Capitolina and
renames Judah "Palestine" (after the Philistines), builds temple of
Jupiter on Temple Mount.
B. Emperors of the Roman Empire: for details click here
49-44 Julius Caesar (Emperor 1) crosses the Rubicon river, becomes
dictator
31 Octavian (Augustus) defeats Antony in Battle of Actium becomes
emperor 31 BC - 14 AD
14-37 Caesar Tiberius
37-41 Caesar Caligula
41-54 Caesar Claudius
54-68 Caesar Nero (Nron Qsr = "666", Greek transliterated into
Hebrew)
69 Caesars (3) Galba, Otho, Vitellius
69-79 Caesar Vespasian
79-81 Caesar Titus
81-96 Caesar Domitian
138-161 Caesar Antoninus Pius
C. Chronological account of New Testament and Roman events
49 Julius Caesar (Emperor 1) crosses the Rubicon river, becomes dictator
44 Julius Caesar murdered. Octavian is Julius' only heir
36 Mark Antony kills Antigonus, ending Hasmonean rule
31 Octavian (Augustus) defeats Antony in Battle of Actium becomes emperor
31 BC - 14 AD
30 Antony & Cleopatra commit suicide ending Ptolemaic rule
23 Caesar Octavian (Augustus) given tribunician powers (Second Settlement)
20 Herod begins building temple: Jos. Ant. 15.380
12 Augustus given title "pontifex maximus" (Highest religious position)
12 Temple precincts completed: Jos. Ant. 15.420
7 Aristobulus dies
4 Antipater poisons Pheroas, Antipater executed.
4 Archelaus, Antipas and Philip begin as administrators, co-regents.
1 BC Lunar Eclipse 10 January; Herod Slaughters Babies
1 BC Herod the Great dies: Antiquities 17.167-181
1 BC Archelaus, Antipas, Philip II succeed Herod as Tetrarchs: Lk 3:1
1 BC Archelaus 1BC-6AD Judea
1 BC Antipas 1BC-39AD Galilee Perea
1 BC Philip II 1BC-34AD Panea, Ituraea, Trachonitis, Lysanias
Jesus in Jerusalem temple age 12: Lk 2:42
14-37 Caesar Tiberius
29 John the Baptist begins preaching: Lk 3:1
32 Herod Antipas, Galilean Governor, beheads John: Mt 14:3
37-41 Caesar Caligula
37-43 King Herod Agrippa I, given territory of Philip II by Caligula
39 King Herod Agrippa I, given territory of Antipas by Caligula
41-54 Caesar Claudius, gives Agrippa I all lands Herod the Great ruled
43 King Herod Agrippa I, kills James, dies of worms: Acts 12 (Because his
son, Agrippa II is 17 year old, the territory given to Cuspius Fadus in 44
AD)
49-100 Herod Agrippa II becomes king, territory of Agrippa I
49 Jerusalem council, Paul's 2nd Journey: Acts 15
54-68 Caesar Nero (Nron Qsr = "666", Greek transliterated into Hebrew)
57 Paul before Festus & Agrippa, sent to Rome: Acts 25-26
60 Paul leaves Rome: Acts 28:30
69 Caesars (3) Galba, Otho, Vitellius
69-79 Caesar Vespasian
70 Titus destroys Temple on the same day Nebuchadnezzar did same in 587 BC
on 10th Ab. (Jer 52:12-13; Jos. Wars 6.250)
King Agrippa II buys a copy of Josephus' book "Wars": Apion 1.51
79-81 Caesar Titus
81-96 Caesar Domitian
138-161 Caesar Antoninus Pius
D. Coins of the Roman Period Judean Governors:
Herod the Great (39 BC - 1 BC)
Herodian Chronological notes on the birth of Jesus in 1 BC. Three
common mistakes are made in the Herodian timeline that we have fixed:
i. The date for the death of Herod the Great is 1BC not 4 BC.
According to Josephus, Herod reigned 37 years counting from his appointment
by the Mark Antony and the Roman Senate, or 34 years counting from his
conquest of Jerusalem. Josephus dates the first of these events in two
ways: by the Roman consular date and by the Greek 184th Olympiad. However,
Appian's history (Civil Wars 5.8.75) places Herod's appointment in the next
consular year, as does the history of Antony as recorded by Josephus
himself. Seeking to resolve these contradictory statements, we read that
Josephus says elsewhere that the government of the Hashmoneans, which
started in 162 BC, lasted 126 years until Antigonus was defeated by Herod
in the conquest of Jerusalem. Herod's victory was thus in (162 - 126) =
36 BC, in exact agreement with another passage in Josephus that places
Herod's taking of Jerusalem 27 years to the day after the city fell to
Pompey, which was on the Day of Atonement, 63 BC. The 34 years from the
capture of Jerusalem thus ended in 36 - 34 = 2, i.e. the regnal year that
began in the fall of 2 BC and extended to the fall of 1 BC. All of these
figures work out exactly if Herod was appointed by the Romans in 39 BC,
captured Jerusalem on the Day of Atonement in 36 BC, and died in early 1
BC, i.e. shortly after the total lunar eclipse of January 10, 1 BC. None of
these figures given by Josephus would be correct if Herod was appointed by
the Romans in 40 BC, captured Jerusalem in 37 BC, and died in 5 or 4 BC, as
maintained in the older, and now superseded, scholarship largely based on
Emil Schürer's work over a hundred years ago.
ii. In failing to realize that Herod's successors, Archelaus,
Antipas & Philip II were co-regent with Herod 3 years before he died which
was 4 BC. This explains why the first coins of Philip were dated "year
5". He started minting in the second year of his sole reign after Herod
died. In a strange co-incidence, the two errors have the effect of not
changing the traditional dates for the END of their 3 reigns. So they began
to function as administrative assistant governors in 4 BC and as "Caesar
certified" governors (Tetrarchs) in 1 BC after the death of Herod.
iii. The 29 days between the partial lunar eclipse in 4 BC and
Passover that year was insufficient time to accommodate all the events that
Josephus describes related to the death of Herod, but there was sufficient
time for them (89 days) between the full lunar eclipse of 10 January 1 BC
and the Passover that year. (Rodger Young)
Herod's only silver coin: The shekel of Tyre minted in Jerusalem:
full outline
Herod the Great: Prutah 22-10 BC
Herod the Great: Prutah
Herod the Great: 2 Prutah
Herod the Great: 4 Prutah
Archelaus (1 BC - 6AD) COMING 2017
Coponius (6-9 AD)
Coins of Coponius: Prutah Year 36 of Augustus: 6 AD
Marcus Ambibulus (9-12 AD)
Coins of Marcus Ambibulus: Prutah Year 39 of Augustus: 9 AD
Marcus Ambibulus: Prutah Year 40 of Augustus: 10 AD
Annius Rufus (12-15 AD
Varerius Gratus (15-26 AD)
Coins of Valerius Gratus: Prutah Year 4 of Tiberius: 18 AD
Valerius Gratus: Prutah Year 5 of Tiberius: 19 AD
Valerius Gratus: Prutah Year 11 of Tiberius: 25 AD
Pontius Pilate (26-36 AD)
Coins of Pontius Pilate: Prutah Year 16 of Tiberius: 30 AD
The Pilate Inscription:
Marcellus (36-37 AD)
Marullus (37-41 AD)
King Agrippa I (37-43 AD)
Herod Agrippa I served two roles in Judean government under the
Romans as both "Governor" and "King":
Made king in 37-41 AD, then both king and governor for 2 years after
Marullus: 41-43 AD
Herod Agrippa I was eaten by worms in Acts 12.
Coins of King Agrippa I: Prutah Year 6 of Agrippa: 42 AD
Coin die of King Agrippa I: (Note: This is a fabrication, replica)
Cuspius Fadus (44-46 AD)
Tiberius Alexander (46-48 AD)
Cumanus (48-52 AD)
Antonius Felix (52-57 AD)
Coins of Antonius Felix: Prutah Year 14 of Claudius: 54 AD
Coins of Antonius Felix: Prutah Year 14 of Claudius: 54 AD
Porcius Festus (57-62 AD)
Coins of Porcius Festus: Prutah Year 5 of Nero: 59 AD
Albinus (62-64 AD)
Gessius Florus (64-66 AD)
V. The Two Jewish Wars: 66-60 AD and 132-135 AD
When the first Jewish revolt broke out and this ended the Governors of
Judea appointed by Rome.
A. First Jewish War: 66-70 AD (74 including Masada)
Gamla coin of the First Jewish war 66 AD
The Gamla coin was a crude bronze replica of the Silver Jerusalem Shekel.
It is difficult to read the inscription and it may be in either
Paleo-Hebrew or Aramaic. If the inscription is in Paleo-Hebrew, then the
inscription reads "for the redemption of Holy Jerusalem" or "for the
redemption of Gamla". If Aramaic it would read: "Year 1 to the freedom of
the Jewish people. The famous Josephus had joined the rebellion and was
living at Gamla. The Romans conquered Gamla, (Aramaic for Camel after the
shape of the hill the town was built upon) and Josephus surrendered.
First Jewish war Prutah: Year two of first Jewish independence war:
67 AD
First Jewish war Prutah: Year three of first Jewish independence
war: 68 AD
Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in 70 AD ending the Jewish nation.
B. Second Jewish war: 132-135 AD. Simon bar Kokhba
1. Hadrian triggers War by erecting Temple of Jupiter on Temple
mount in Jerusalem: 132 AD
a. Hadrian expels Jews from Judah builds temple of Jupiter
built on temple mount in Jerusalem which he renamed Aelia Capitolina and
Judah Hadrian renamed "Palestine" after the historic enemies of the Jews,
the Philistines
b. Roman historian Cassius Dio recorded the war in 229 AD:
"At Jerusalem he founded a city in place of the one which had been razed
to the ground, naming it Aelia Capitolina, and on the site of the temple of
the god he raised a new temple to Jupiter. This brought on a war of no
slight importance nor of brief duration, for the Jews deemed it intolerable
that foreign races should be settled in their city and foreign religious
rites planted there. ... At first the Romans took no account of them. Soon,
however, all Judaea had been stirred up, and the Jews everywhere were
showing signs of disturbance, were gathering together, and giving evidence
of great hostility to the Romans, partly by secret and partly by overt
acts; many outside nations, too, were joining them through eagerness for
gain, and the whole earth, one might almost say, was being stirred up over
the matter. Then, indeed, Hadrian sent against them his best generals.
First of these was Julius Severus, who was dispatched from Britain, where
he was governor, against the Jews. Severus did not venture to attack his
opponents in the open at any one point, in view of their numbers and their
desperation, but by intercepting small groups, thanks to the number of his
soldiers and his under-officers, and by depriving them of food and shutting
them up, he was able, rather slowly, to be sure, but with comparatively
little danger, to crush, exhaust and exterminate them. Very few of them in
fact survived. Fifty of their most important outposts and nine hundred and
eighty-five of their most famous villages were razed to the ground. Five
hundred and eighty thousand men were slain in the various raids and
battles, and the number of those that perished by famine, disease and fire
was past finding out. Thus nearly the whole of Judaea was made desolate, a
result of which the people had had forewarning before the war. For the tomb
of Solomon, which the Jews regard as an object of veneration, fell to
pieces of itself and collapsed, and many wolves and hyenas rushed howling
into their cities." (Roman History, Cassius Dio, Book 69:12-14, 229 AD)
c. Eusebius 325 AD: When Constantine came upon the temple mount
in Jerusalem, he destroyed the temple of Jupiter that had been built in 135
AD by Hadrian. In building the "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" in 325 AD,
Eusebius records how Constantine even removed the soil on the site and
dumped it far away. Hadrian had built a temple to Venus on the site and
Constantine destroyed and removed every trace of this pagan idolatry. It
seems unlikely that Constantine would remove even the soil from the site of
the "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" where Hadrian had built a temple to
Venus, but leave Hadrian's statues on the temple mount. Yet in 400 AD,
Jerome says that the statue of Hadrian riding a horse was still standing on
the very place of the Jewish Temple. Eusebius wrote in 325 AD: "How
Constantine Commanded the Materials of the Idol Temple, and the Soil
Itself, to Be Removed at a Distance: Nor did the emperor's zeal stop here;
but he gave further orders that the materials of what was thus destroyed,
both stone and timber, should be removed and thrown as far from the spot as
possible; and this command also was speedily executed. The emperor,
however, was not satisfied with having proceeded thus far: once more, fired
with holy ardor, he directed that the ground itself should be dug up to a
considerable depth, and the soil which had been polluted by the foul
impurities of demon worship transported to a far distant place." (Eusebius
, The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine, book 3, ch 27)
d. Jerome wrote in 400 AD, "So when you see the standing in the
holy place the abomination that causes desolation... or to the statue of
the mounted Hadrian, which stands to this very day on the site of the Holy
of Holies." (Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 24.15, 400 AD)
e. Here we see the temple of Jupiter from Baalbek laid over top
of the temple mount. Notice the Holy of Holies is directly over top of the
equestrian horse statue of Hadrian as a symbol of his triumph over Judaism.
The temple was not located over top of the Dome of the rock but in the
hollow of the hill below, where a threshing floor would be located. This is
also directly east of the current wailing wall of the Jews. See detailed
outline of the Holy of Holies located over the Al Kas fountain where
Hadrian placed his Horse statue.
f.
2. See full outline on Messianic expectation seen in Dead Sea
Scrolls and Jewish coins
3. See also Messianic symbols used in Hasmonean coins
4. Summary of Messianic coins of "Simon Christ"
Messianic symbols used in Simon Bar Kokhba second Jewish war
See also Messianic symbols used in Hasmonean coins
Messianic symbol
Bar Kokhba coin
Comment
Star: Num 24:15
King/Priest
None. But used by Maccabees. See detailed outline on messianic symbols used in Hasmonean coins like the Messianic star coin (Prutah) also known as "Widow's Mite".
Dead Sea scroll 4QTestimonia specifically connects Num 24:17 with the star symbol which is used on many Hasmonean coins like the "Widows Mite". The most striking example is the "King/Priest + star" coin of Alexander Jannaeus in 78 BC and Antigonus II in 37 BC.
Prince: Isa 9:6
If the Hasmonean's hinted quietly they were the messiah, Simon Bar Kokhba removed all doubt he was the messiah as clearly seen in his coins. In year one Simon Christ applied the "prince" of Isa 9:6 messianic prophecy to himself and indeed he ran the government and defeated Israel's enemies (Rome) for three years.
Restored temple: Amos 9:11; 2 Sam 7:14
4QFlorilegium
With Simon's successes in year one, his "year two of freedom of Israel" coins with the messianic star above the restored Jerusalem temple represent the peak of his power. He was now boldly claiming to be the Messiah of prophecy and a large majority of the Jews believed his claim that the "Days of the Messiah" had begun!
Simon the Christ
"Son of the Star" became "son of the Lie" after his defeat.
This year three coin has "Simon" on the obverse and "for the freedom of Jerusalem" on the reverse. The substitution of freedom of "Israel" for "Jerusalem" focused the need to restore the Temple destroyed in 70 AD. Simon, known as "son of the Star" was called "son of the Lie" after a massive slaughter in 135 AD by Hadrian who erected a temple of Jupiter on the temple mount.
Messianic Harp of David
It is universally accepted that Simon Bar Kokhba claimed to be the messiah, branch of David. Hendin 1389, 1424, 1429 are very similar with Simon on obverse and three string harp/lyre of David on reverse.
Messianic Harp of David
This coin has Simon's name AROUND the Davidic harp is a bold announcement the messianic branch/son of David who fulfills prophecies. Hendin 1436
Dual Messiahs
John 1:20-22
4QFlorilegium
2 Sam 7:12-14; Amos 9:11
TWO MESSIAHS: Dead Sea scroll 4QFlorilegium documents they also thought the messiah was two different men:
"This refers to the branch of David, who will arise with the Interpreter of the law who will rise up in Zion in the last days" (4QFlorilegium, explaining 2 Sam 7 & Amos 9:11). This false idea of twin messiahs is also seen in John 1:20-22. The Jews at the time of Jesus Christ misunderstood much of what the Messianic prophecy was really predicting. They never dreamed the land promise was heaven, the restored temple was the body of Christ, the kingdom was the church and that the messiah was the liberator over the devil not Rome. They were looking for two messiahs when only Jesus was predicted.
See full outline on Messianic expectation seen in Dead Sea Scrolls and Jewish coins
See also Messianic symbols used in Hasmonean coins
4. Simon bar Kosiba/Koseba claimed to be the Messiah:
a. His actual name was "Simon bar Kosiba/Koseba" but Rabbi
Akiba/Akiva called him "bar Kokhba" meaning "son of the star" which
directly ties him as the messiah to "There shall step forth a star out of
Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel" (Num 24:17). The name Bar
Kokhba does not appear in the Talmud but in ecclesiastical sources.
However, after he was defeated, the Jews started calling him "bar Koziba"
meaning "son of the lie". Simon bar Kosiba/Kokhba was the first post-70 AD
"president" of Israel who all the Jews believed to be the Messiah of
prophecy who would liberate Israel from underneath Roman control. "Simon
bar Kosiba, President over Israel, to Yehonathan and Masabala, peace. [My
order is] that you search and seize the wheat which is in the possession of
Hanun (Bar Kokhba's Letters, The Wooden Letter) They were sadly mistaken in
rejecting Jesus Christ as their true Messiah whom they crucified and even
more mistaken in their false faith in Simon as the Messiah. Three ancient
authentic sources (7th century, one 8th) that show that the significant
portion of the Jewish community initially viewed Muhammad as the messiah,
just as they did Bar Kokhba in 135 AD. The Jews only realized Bar Kokhba
was false after he was defeated and Akiva's disciple, Yose ben Halaphta
changed his name from "son of the star" to "the son of lies". The Jews only
realized Muhammad was not their messiah when he ate non-kosher camel meat
and the attack on the Jewish oasis of Khaybar in 628 AD.
b. "Contrary to the widely held view that the Aramaic word Kazab
is "falsehood", and all examples cited from rabbinic literature have the
meaning of lie, deception, or falsehood. In modern Hebrew, the usual
meaning of kazab is "lie", although it can also take the meaning of
"disappointment." But any attempt to translate "bar Kozeba" as "son of the
disappointment" would be forcing a meaning from a modern language onto a
similar word in a different language and from a different millennium."
(Rodger Young).
"In rabbinic writings the s in the name [bar Kosiba] is usually
changed to a z (bar Koziba), implying in derogatory fashion that Simon was
regarded as "the son of a lie" (i.e., a liar)." (ABD, Bar Kokhba). The
Talmud always translates his name "Simon bar Koziba" (בר כוזיבא) or
"Simon Bar Kozevah" (בר כוזבה)." The Babyonian Talmud says: "Bar
Koziba ruled for two and a half years. He said to rabbis, "I am the
Messiah." They said to him, "In the case of the Messiah it is written
that he smells a man and judges. Let us see whether you can smell a man and
judge." When they saw that he could not smell a man and judge, they
killed him." (Babylonian Talmud, b. Sanh. 11:1, I.46.V-X)
Simon the Messiah misinterpreted Hadrian's building of a temple of
Jupiter on the former site of the Jewish temple, as the "abomination of
desolation" of Daniel's prophecy.
Year one of second Jewish independence war: Bar Kokhba: 132 AD
Year two of second Jewish independence war: Bar Kokhba: 133 AD
2nd Jewish war, year two Tetradrachm: The Messianic "temple
restorer Star/king"
"The sign above the Temple facade was improved and became a symbol that
is generally termed a "star." Some scholars even considered it to be an
allusion to the appellation of Shimon Bar Kokhba = "son of a star." (His
name Bar Kosiba is after the village from which he came.) Just as his
opponents changed his name to Bar Koziba ("the deceiver"), his supporters
called him Bar Kokhba (Son of Star)." (Treasury of Jewish coins, Yaakov
Meshorer, p 152, 2001 AD)
2nd Jewish war, year two silver Denarius (also called a "Zuz" by
the Jews)
This is the Messianic "Simon with Harp of David" Coin
2nd Jewish war, year two Denarius (also called a "Zuz" by the
Jews)
This is the "Dual Messiah" coin: Simon (branch of David) + Ezeazar high
priest (Interpreter of the Law)
Year three of second Jewish independence war: Bar Kokhba: 134-5 AD
2nd Jewish war, year three Prutah
2nd Jewish war, year three Messianic "Simon with Harp of David"
Coin
Hadrian 135 AD: Holocaust of the Jews:
Hadrian pictured on a statue killing a Jew:
Roman historian Cassius Dio recorded the war in 229 AD:
"At Jerusalem he founded a city in place of the one which had been
razed to the ground, naming it Aelia Capitolina, and on the site of the
temple of the god he raised a new temple to Jupiter. This brought on a war
of no slight importance nor of brief duration, for the Jews deemed it
intolerable that foreign races should be settled in their city and foreign
religious rites planted there. ... At first the Romans took no account of
them. Soon, however, all Judaea had been stirred up, and the Jews
everywhere were showing signs of disturbance, were gathering together, and
giving evidence of great hostility to the Romans, partly by secret and
partly by overt acts; many outside nations, too, were joining them
through eagerness for gain, and the whole earth, one might almost say, was
being stirred up over the matter. Then, indeed, Hadrian sent against them
his best generals. First of these was Julius Severus, who was dispatched
from Britain, where he was governor, against the Jews. Severus did not
venture to attack his opponents in the open at any one point, in view of
their numbers and their desperation, but by intercepting small groups,
thanks to the number of his soldiers and his under-officers, and by
depriving them of food and shutting them up, he was able, rather slowly, to
be sure, but with comparatively little danger, to crush, exhaust and
exterminate them. Very few of them in fact survived. Fifty of their most
important outposts and nine hundred and eighty-five of their most famous
villages were razed to the ground. Five hundred and eighty thousand men
were slain in the various raids and battles, and the number of those that
perished by famine, disease and fire was past finding out. Thus nearly the
whole of Judaea was made desolate, a result of which the people had had
forewarning before the war. For the tomb of Solomon, which the Jews regard
as an object of veneration, fell to pieces of itself and collapsed, and
many wolves and hyenas rushed howling into their cities." (Roman History,
Cassius Dio, Book 69:12-14, 229 AD)
Conclusion:
1. The brief period of about 60 years of true independence from
under the control of the Greek/Seleucid empire came to an end with the
Romans and Herod the Great.
a. Herod would build the Jews a temple in 18 months completed
in 18 AD.
b. Jesus would be born in 2-1 BC and Herod would die in 1 BC.
c. The Roman empire would control the Jews up until the first
Jewish war of 66 AD.
d. This rebellion resulted in the Romans coming down with a heavy
hand and they easily crushed the rebellion and forever destroyed the temple
in 70 AD.
e. A new temple had been raised from the dust, just as Jesus
said: His body, THE CHURCH.
f. Jesus said the kingdom of God and the temple is not
physical but within each of us!
2. The Greek kingdom existed from 333 - 31 BC
a. Alexander the Great lived only ten years and ruled the world
as a sole monarch from 333-323 BC
b. The early Greek/Macedonian period is 333 - 302 BC as far as
classifying coins is concerned.
c. After Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was split into
four Kingdoms: (Four "horns" empires after Alexander the Great)
d. Ptolemy Empire (323-31 BC)
e. Seleucid Empire (321-64 BC)
f. Cassander (319-168 BC) We do not discuss this kingdom at
all because it is far removed from land of Judah.
g. Lysimachus (323-133 BC) We do not discuss this kingdom at
all because it is far removed from land of Judah.
h. For a short time during the Greek Empire period, the Jews
gained true independence under the Maccabees (Hasmonean Era): 166-37 BC
3. Rome conquered all by 31 BC and the fourth and final kingdom
of Daniel's prophecy (Dan 2) came into existence.
4. The first Jewish war (66-70 AD) triggered the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD
5. The second Jewish war (132-135 AD) triggered a massive
holocaust and destruction of the Jewish people:
Simon the Messiah misinterpreted Hadrian's building of a temple of
Jupiter on the former site of the Jewish temple, as the "abomination of
desolation" of Daniel's prophecy.
Simon was widely viewed by all the surviving Jews to be the Son of
the Star prophecy of Num 24:17 and therefor the messiah.
When Simon was killed he was renamed by the Jews as the "son of
the Lie".
6. On Pentecost 33 AD, God set up his divine Kingdom which we
know today as the Church of Christ which will never come to an end:
a. "For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure
person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God." (Ephesians 5:5)
b. "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and
transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)
Messianic symbols were used by Simon Bar Kokhba because he actually
claimed to be the messiah.
Simon's nickname before defeat by Hadrian in 135 AD was "Son of
the Star".
After Simon's defeat, the Jews felt the same feeling as the
followers of date setters like Jehovah's Witnesses or Harold Camping
after the world did not end, and renamed him "son of the Lie".
Simon's coin demonstrates the widely believed misconception that
the messianic prophecies indicated TWO messiah's would arise: 1. The Star
warrior king branch of David. 2. The interpreter of the Law. (High priest).
This misconception is witnessed in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the
interrogation of John the Baptist. In fact, Jesus Christ summed up ALL
messianic prophecy in himself in the church, His kingdom and Christians his
new Israel.
See full outline on Messianic expectation seen in Dead Sea Scrolls
and Jewish coins
See also Messianic symbols in Bar Kokhba coins
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