Page 37 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

The interaction of Rome with the people of Israel began in 63 BC when the Roman general Pompey
conquered Jerusalem. Julius Caesar defeated Pompey in 45 BC and took control of Palestine and
recognized Judaism as a legal religion, which was also recognized by Augustus after Caesar’s
assassination in 44 BC. Augustus was ruling when Jesus was born (Luke 2:1).

Herod the Great

Herod came from a family that had been forced to convert to Judaism only a generation before he was
born. He was not religious, though he maintained the Jewish diet and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem.
Born of Arab parents (his father was an Idumean and his mother was a Nabatean), the vast majority of
Jewish citizens resented his appointment as their ruler. In the eyes of a Jewish community, he was
racially impure and a puppet of the hated Romans. He was also extremely immoral, violent and
paranoid. He was ruthless with his imagined enemies, murdering several members of his own family.
Among his victims were his favorite wife, her mother, her brother (who was serving as high priest) and
her grandfather. He killed three of his sons and an uncountable number of his actual enemies.
On the other hand, Herod built some of the most amazing structures in Israel’s ancient history,
singlehandedly fueling the country’s economy. Using resources from Rome and from his own immense
wealth, Herod directly employed thousands of workers.

God’s Perfect Timing
By God’s design, Israel had been placed in what is often

called the center of the world. As the empires of Egypt,

Babylon, Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome rose and fall, all

of them focused on Israel’s important highways. All of their

merchants and military troops knew of the tiny land and its

Jewish beliefs.

God had promised Abraham that the entire world would be

blessed through his descendants. Ultimately, the greatest

blessing would come through Jesus, Savior of the world.

Consider how world events helped set the stage for the

Gospels.

Under Egyptian rule, the Hebrew people suffered greatly. the entire world learned the Greek language, including the

Only by God’s saving grace were they able to escape Egypt people of the New Testament.

and find a new home in the land God had promised them.

Even in that escape, God gave His people the vivid imagery Under Roman rule, the world had good roads and an

of being saved by the blood of the lamb (Passover). environment for safe travel. Though Jesus was crucified by
Roman decree, Roman rule made it possible for the followers

Under Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian Rule, the concept of Jesus to scatter quickly around the world, even if they

of great empires was developed and perfected. In the scattered because of persecution. Because of the Greek
process, the northern kingdom of “Israel” was abolished. language, those first followers were understood by all who

When the people of “Judah” returned, Israel was a land of met them. And in the case of Paul’s great travels, safe roads

the “Jews.” and shipping lanes meant that the Gospel was spread as fast

as humanly possible in the ancient world.
The Greeks gave the world a common language. Though he

promoted Hellenism, Alexander the Great did not force the As one theologian put it, the world was like a dry wheat field

Jews to adopt his pagan religious beliefs. In fact, he showed and the Gospel was a match. God’s perfect timing kept Israel
great respect to Jerusalem and its Temple. Nevertheless, in the center of the world so the world could hear the most
36 important message of history!