Page 112 - Biblical Backgrounds

three billion cubic meters, the Jordan River serves as the principal reservoir of the National Water
Carrier. The Dead Sea is 1,020 square kilometers in size and, at 399 meters below sea level, is the lowest
point in the world. South of the Dead Sea, the Rift Valley continues with no permanent water flow for
170 kilometers to the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Negev Desert comprises approximately 12,000 square kilometers, more than half of Israel's total
land area. Geographically, it is an extension of the Sinai Desert, forming a rough triangle with its base in
the north near Beersheba (also seen as Beersheva), the Dead Sea, and the southern Judean Hills, and it
has its apex in the southern tip of the country at Eilat. 158

Although topographical features have remained the same for thousands of years, Israel’s political
boundaries have repeatedly changed. By the time of the Jews’ restoration from Babylon, they mostly
occupied an area around Jerusalem. Subsequently, the borders mainly depended on the politics of the
dominant forces surrounding them. In the first part of the Hellenization era, Palestine was under Egypt
(see the last chapter). Leading up to the Maccabean revolt, the Seleucids (Syria) were in control of
Palestine. When Israel gained independence through the Maccabean revolt, its borders changed greatly.

Under Simon in 142 BCE, the Maccabean or
Hasmonean state gained independence. At that
time, Simon controlled Judea from a little north of
Hebron to a point north of Bethel and from the
Jordan River to the modern airport at Lod. He also
ruled the southern part of Perea east of the Jordan.
Expansionistic, Simon later took Joppa and its
surroundings, gaining a seaport.

His successor, John Hyrcanus (135–104 BCE),
conquered east of the Dead Sea, then Samaria
(destroying the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim)
and the Idumeans (Edomites) south to Beersheba.
Aristobulus (104–103 BCE) conquered Galilee, and
Alexander Janneus (103–76 BCE) completed the
conquest of almost the whole of Palestine. Thus, by
the end of his reign, the Maccabean kingdom
included Galilee, Samaria, Judea, and Idumea west of
the Jordan River; and the Golan, Perea, Moab, and part of Edom east of the Jordan.” 159

Government

In 198 BCE, the Seleucids took control of Palestine from the arm of the Ptolemies. With their capital at
Antioch, Syria, Seleucid kings ruled as autocrats – their word passed as law. The Seleucids were
themselves strong proponents of Hellenism. Hence, it is expected that they governed with the help of a
ruling elite mostly consisting of Greek aristocrats. The appointment of these officials was rarely based on

158 http://countrystudies.us/israel/35.htm

159 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
367). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.

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