Now, though the Maccabees (Hasmoneans) were not extinct and still held much
power in with the Jews, the Romans saw fit to help their confederates in their
efforts to retain the institution of slavery. And so, they, the Romans officially
installed and militarily backed King Herod as the King of Palestine (i.e., the
officially sanctioned representative and King of the Jews, even over the still
present Hasmoneans). Herod sails to Rome in about 40 BCE, and then in about
37 BCE he takes possession of Jerusalem on behalf of the Romans (and with their
assistance). It is at this time that the Hasmonean dynasty has all but collapsed.

They do retain a great amount of power and privilege, but it is owing only to the
fact that they have been so good to the Pharisees and the Pharisees, as we had said,
were the real power behind them by this time. Herod then, represented the power
and interest of Rome and so, was at the head of the leadership of the Sadducees.
When John Hyrcanus II had been put to death by King Herod in 31 BCE, the figure-
head of the Pharisees was in the form of the Queen of the Hasmoneans, that of course
being the daughter of John Hyrcanus II who was married to the son of Hyrcanus II's
brother Aristobulus II until his death in about 52 BCE. His name was Alexander (II)
and the daughter of John Hyrcanus II was named Alexandra II. She was very much
in league with the Pharisees and apparently appreciated and supported them in their
war efforts against Herod. The actual leaders of the Pharisees were of a branch that
was related to both of these families, as we will later show. The work was being
prepared in written form for the followers of the Pharisees, by such leaders as Hillel
the Pharisee. During which time, King Herod died (in 4 BCE).

SECTION 2 (Death of King Herod to Masada)

Upon the death of King Herod in 4 BCE, the government of Judea went to his sons. It
was Archelaus who had assumed control over Judea as well as Sumeria. The death of
King Herod inspired some of the leadership of the Pharisees towards an offensive action
in an attempt to gain control over Judea. Judas of Galilee together with Sadduc the
Pharisee lead a rebellion against Rome and slavery. Judas of Galilee was the head of the
Essenes and at this time. He changed the tenants of the Essenes to be much more like
those of the Pharisees. Together, they had the same goals and they knew that they would
have to work together in order to achieve those goals. At this time, the Essenes ceased to
exist as 'Essenes' and became referred to in history (by Josephus) as 'zealots'. He also
refers to them as the "Fourth Philosophic sect of the Jews" (and also 'sicarii').

Though history scarcely had openly recorded little more than those so-called 'high points'
of the war, this was nonetheless an ongoing war and no doubt as so much of it has been
hidden in history in so many ways, more details are sure to be discovered and revealed
as well. For our purposes here, we are keeping our information short in that we have so
much time and events to cover. When Herod's son Archelaus was done, the Romans
installed their own representatives in Judea called Procurators. During all of the time
from 6 CE up until the Diaspora in 135 CE (and afterwards), the Romans kept military
representatives in Judea. This too, should indicate the seriousness of the war and show
it to have been ongoing during all of this time.

Hillel the Pharisee, was still alive and busy writing and teaching during this time. It is
said that he lived at least until the year 10 CE. After which, his son Simon is suppose
to have assumed the leadership over the Pharisees, and continued until about the year
25 CE. Now, there are things that happened during this time that we still need to look
into further and investigate to be sure, but it bears stating that in 19 CE Tiberius Caesar
ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Rome. Now when Claudius was Caesar, it was
recognized that he was a rather weak leader from the start and that may be why some
chose that time for making haste in their various plans for advancement. The Pisos were
having a difficult time under Claudius, several of them being executed. And, it was in
44 CE that Theudas the Pharisee had organized an uprising of the Jews in another
attempt to regain control of Judea for the Pharisees. Please know that the details of the
war are most grim and horrific, and the loss of life throughout it is almost beyond
belief. The offensive launched by Theudas was defeated and he was crucified along with
two sons of Judas of Galilee (Jacob and Simon). This action was done by the Roman
governor of Judea at that time who was Tiberius Julius Alexander, one of the cruelest
persons that history has ever heard of. He was a direct descendant of King Herod.

Now, after these things were done and the war progressed, there were those who had
more peaceful ideas for accomplishing what they had hoped for. In the year 60, when
Nero was then Caesar, a person who seemed to be a more peaceful leader among those
who were allied with the Pharisees - Benjamin the Egyptian emerges on the scene. It is
said that he lead a 'revolt', but he seems to have been a very educated person who must
have been well read having been from Egypt (Alexandria is inferred). It is from the more
peaceful acts of this Benjamin that Arrius Piso built some of the character of 'Jesus' from.

The Sermon on the Mount, was from what this Benjamin did. He apparently had a peaceful
assembly there where he spoke to the populace on the evils of slavery and oppressive
government. But that was changed around in the character of Jesus to be something totally
different. Well, whatever Benjamin had attempted to do, he did what he could and then
must have been run out of Judea by the authorities or fled before they could capture him
there. In any case, it is recorded that that 'revolt' was put down. Which brings us to the
year 65, when Nero was conspired against by the Piso family and their relatives. He was
busy trying to retain his position of authority in Rome and that is when Arrius Piso took
advantage of the position which Nero had allowed him and instigated a war within a war
with the Jews. The Jews were not yet prepared for war in 66 CE, however, they were in
the process of making preparations for the war... but Arrius Piso, knowing that the true
preparations were not yet ready and that the strategies had not yet been planned by the
Jews, took advantage to start actions while they were off guard and unready. That long
battle that started in 66 was done because Arrius Piso had instigated the premature
offensive (now turned more to defensive) action of the Jews on purpose to defuse the
escalation of the strength of the Jewish forces before they could build to be a truly
formidable enemy against Rome. They were at all instances kept at a disadvantageous
position by the Romans by whatever means.

The war raged, and Nero was busy himself trying to maintain his own power at Rome. By
68 CE, the end of Nero's reign had come. Galba was installed, with one of the Piso's
named as his successor. But Otho came in against Galba and was then emperor until
Vitellius came to vanquish him and claim the emperorship for himself. All of this
turmoil during the year 68. In 69, Vespasian's successes in Judea made him popular
with the ignorant Roman masses and of course, the wealthy aristocrats and rulers who
knew the true meaning of his success. And so, with the destruction of the Temple in 70
CE, Vespasian became emperor. But the battles were not done, because for 3 more years
beyond 70 CE, the Jews maintained their positions throughout the Judean territory. The
last three Jewish outposts did not fall until 73 CE, and those were Machaerus, Herodion,
and of course, the well-known Masada. The Jewish commander that fell at Masada was,
to remind persons.... Eliezer ben Yair.

================================================================

( =)=

(tm)

================================================================

You may: Copy this article in whole and/or you may quote directly from it expressly for
educational purposes ONLY.

You may NOT: Copy this article either in whole or part in any way for profit or any other
means of monetary gain.
================================================================