History of Ancient Israel

  • Maccabean Rebellion
    164

    Maccabean Rebellion

    The Hasmon family of priests led a rebellion against Atiochus IV, winning a small amount of independence for Israel. The Hasmonean rule was established under the new kingdom created, also called Israel.
  • Antiochus IV
    175

    Antiochus IV

    Antiochus IV was a Hellenistic ruler of Syria, and attempted to create one religion across his kingdom. To do so, he abolished the Torah and worshipped Greek gods such as Zeus, to whom he sacrificed animals to inside the Temple of Solomon.
  • Ezra
    430

    Ezra

    As a priest and scribe, Ezra took it upon himself to rewrite many of the stories of his people. He also began the tradition of reading hours of the Torah at a time, and it is largely due to him that the Jewish accept the Torah as their scripture.
  • Cyrus and the Return
    510

    Cyrus and the Return

    Cyrus the Great, the king of Persia, conquered Babylon, and allowed the Jewish to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
  • Assyria
    Feb 17, 722

    Assyria

    The Assyrian Empire invaded Israel and scattered the Jews into Assyria. Those scattered throughout the Empire lost their culture and became known as "The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel".
  • King Solomon
    Feb 17, 1000

    King Solomon

    1000 - 931 BCE
    King Solomon was the son of David and made a great temple to house the Ark and to make sacrifices to it. He began worshipping other gods in his life and God divided the kingdom after Solomon's death into Israel and Judah.
  • King David
    Jan 1, 1040

    King David

    1040 - 970 BCE
    King David was the second, and greatest, king of Israel. He was chosen by the prophet Samuel and brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
  • The Greeks

    The Greeks

    Greek influence into Jewish society led to more Hellenistic beliefs among scribes and priests, who became more skeptical of the beliefs they had accepted unflinchingly before.
  • Babylonian Invasion

    Babylonian Invasion

    The king of Babylon, King Nebudchanezzer, captures Jerusalem and scatters the rest of the Jews, destroying the Temple of Solomon in the process. This scattering is known as the Diaspore.