On the Road to Ruin
Judas son of Sepphoraeus and Matthias son of Margalus were two well-respected Rabbis "who consequently enjoyed the highest esteem of the whole nation."[1]
Once rumors spread of Herod's declining health, Judas and Matthias thought now would be the most opportune time to punish the Romans for defiling the Nation of God. The Rabbis instructed their disciples to tear down a golden eagle (a symbol of the Roman Empire) that hung above the Temple's main gate.
"They told them [the disciples] that if any danger should arise, it was a glorious thing to die for the Law of one's country; for the souls of those who came to such an end attained immortality and an eternal enjoyment of happiness."[2]
The Math After
King Herod the Great condemned Judas, Matthias, and several of their disciples to death by pyre. The other disciples were given to the executioner. Most likely for execution. I guess.
This act of defiance was one of few. Many more would occur after King Herod's death and be the stepping stones leading to the First Jewish-Roman War.
Year Six
Several important events occurred during 6 CE:
- Emperor Augustus removes Archelaus from kingship making Judea a province of the Roman Empire instead of its own separate kingdom.
- The capital is moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea (currently known as Caesarea Palaestina).
- Judah the Galilean and Zadok the Pharisee start the "Fourth Philosophy" of Judaism, Zealots. This was in direct response to the census of Quirinius, the legate governor of Syria. A census is explicitly forbidden in Jewish Law. Judah and Zadok saw the census as a form of enslavement by their pagan subjugators.
Up to this point, there were three main denominations of Judaism that originated from the Hasmonean Dynasty:
- Pharisees
- Saducees
- Essenes
"For Judas and Zadok started a fourth philosophic school among us ... This I will now describe, because the infection which spread from it among the younger sort, who became zealous for it, brought the public to destruction."
-- Flavius Josephus [3]
References:
[1] Flavius Josephus, Trans. William Whiston, The Complete Works Of Josephus, "The Jewish Wars," (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 1981)
[2] Flavius Josephus, Trans. William Whiston, The Complete Works Of Josephus, "The Jewish Wars," (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 1981)
[3] Flavius Josephus, Trans. William Whiston, The Complete Works Of Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 1981)
[2] Flavius Josephus, Trans. William Whiston, The Complete Works Of Josephus, "The Jewish Wars," (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 1981)
[3] Flavius Josephus, Trans. William Whiston, The Complete Works Of Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 1981)
Resources:
Banner Image Source: "Aqueduct of Caesarea," Bible Walks, Accessed 5 Mar 2012, http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/caesareaaqueduct.html