Herodian Jerusalem

Week 7 Lecture 1 (2/15/11):

The Hasmoneans were defeated by Pompey in 63 BCE, leading Jerusalem into another period known today as Herodian Jerusalem. King Herod was an Idumean, who was forcibly converted to Judaism by the Hasmoneans. The Romans decided to put Herod's family in charge of the provinces, believing that they will be more favorable toward the Romans, who stopped the forced conversion imposed by the Hasmoneans. Throughout his reign, Herod remained true to the Romans by collecting taxes and erecting buildings in their name. However, he was also sensitive to the Jews. He minted coins without any graven images, allowed the people to select their own High Priest, was very generous during times of famine, and ordered many construction projects that employed Jews. Some people continue to regard him as a horrible king because of his cynical and impulsive mentality, but he unquestionably did help Jerusalem expand and flourish.

Toward the end of Herod's reign, Jesus Christ was born. There is no archaeological evidence that Jesus did exist; however, it is a general consensus among scholars today that there was a Jesus Christ. The debatable question is whether or not he was the son of God. Without archaeological proof, there can be no answer to this question. There have been some discoveries that might support the stories in the Bible. A boat was found in Ginosaur on the Sea of Galilae, which could have been the boat that Jesus and his disciples rode in. However, this can never be proven as well. Until concrete evidence can be found, the existence and divinity of Jesus Christ is up to one's faith.