The Staff of Moses
CHAPTER NINE

DEUTERONOMY AND DIVINE COMMANDMENTS

Deuteronomy chapters 26 to 28


THE ALTAR AND TRIBAL UNIQUENESS

“A wandering Arami was my forefather”
Moses told the Israelites that when they came into the land they were to take the firstfruits every year, bring them to the Tabernacle or Temple, and offer them up (26:2). The Priest would accept the offering from their hands and they would make an announcement:

[Deuteronomy 26:5] AND THOU SHALT SPEAK AND SAY BEFORE THE L-RD THY G-D, A SYRIAN READY TO PERISH WAS MY FATHER, AND HE WENTDOWN INTO EGYPT, AND SOJOURNED THERE WITH A FEW, AND BECAME THERE A NATION, GREAT, MIGHTY, AND POPULOUS:
<<A SYRIAN READY TO PERISH>>: This translation is based on later commentary. The verse in Hebrew is: “Arami Oveyd Avi”. This could be correctly be understood as saying, “A wandering Arami [Syrian] was my forefather”. “Oveyed” can mean either “lost” or “wander”. “ Aram” meant Syria but the term “Arami” could also be used to encompass Israelites! The Israelites and Judaeans were also known as “Arami” to foreigners. Jewish mercenaries stationed in Egypt, for instance, were referred to as “Arami” by the Persians. We identify the Lost Ten Tribes with a portion of the Scythians who were also known as Sacae. Pliny, the Roman geographer, reported that the Scythian Sacae had originally been known as “Arami”.

Pliny (77 CE) b: VI. XIX. states :
"Beyond [the Syr Darya, which the Scythians call the Silis] are some tribes of Scythians. To these the Persians have given the general name of Sacae, from the tribe nearest to Persia, but old writers call them the Aramii".

This is one of numerous indications linking the Scythians with Israel . From the Scythian Sacae emerged the Anglo-Saxons and related peoples. It is interesting that the term “Scot” is a form of “Scyth” and the Scots interpreted their name to mean “Wanderer” which is also one of the connotations of the word "Hebrew".

[Deuteronomy 26:6] AND THE EGYPTIANS EVIL ENTREATED US, AND AFFLICTED US, AND LAID UPON US HARD BONDAGE:
The Egyptians oppressed the Israelites. The Israelites should always remember this. This experience was a formative factor in the national character.

[Deuteronomy 26:7] AND WHEN WE CRIED UNTO THE L-RD G-D OF OUR FATHERS, THE L-RD HEARD OUR VOICE, AND LOOKED ON OUR AFFLICTION, AND OUR LABOUR, AND OUR OPPRESSION:
We prayed and we were saved. If anybody is in any trouble and he prays, G-d hears.

[Deuteronomy 26:8] AND THE L-RD BROUGHT US FORTH OUT OF EGYPT WITH A MIGHTY HAND, AND WITH AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, AND WITH GREAT TERRIBLENESS, AND WITH SIGNS, AND WITH WONDERS:

[Deuteronomy 26:9] AND HE HATH BROUGHT US INTO THIS PLACE, AND HATH GIVEN US THIS LAND, EVEN A LAND THAT FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY.

[Deuteronomy 26:10] AND NOW, BEHOLD, I HAVE BROUGHT THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE LAND, WHICH THOU, O L-RD, HAST GIVEN ME. AND THOU SHALT SET IT BEFORE THE L-RD THY G-D, AND WORSHIP BEFORE THE L-RD THY G-D:

[Deuteronomy 26:11] AND THOU SHALT REJOICE IN EVERY GOOD THING WHICH THE L-RD THY G-D HATH GIVEN UNTO THEE, AND UNTO THINE HOUSE, THOU, AND THE LEVITE, AND THE STRANGER THAT IS AMONG YOU.

[Deuteronomy 26:12] WHEN THOU HAST MADE AN END OF TITHING ALL THE TITHES OF THINE INCREASE THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF TITHING,AND HAST GIVEN IT UNTO THE LEVITE, THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, AND THE WIDOW, THAT THEY MAY EAT WITHIN THY GATES, AND BE FILLED;
The Israelites were to be, and are, a chosen people. Being a chosen people ULTIMATELY means keeping the commandments.

[Deuteronomy 26:18] AND THE L-RD HATH AVOUCHED THEE THIS DAY TO BE HIS PECULIAR PEOPLE, AS HE HATH PROMISED THEE, AND THAT THOU SHOULDEST KEEP ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS;

[Deuteronomy 26:19] AND TO MAKE THEE HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS WHICH HE HATH MADE, IN PRAISE, AND IN NAME, AND IN HONOUR; AND THAT THOU MAYEST BE AN HOLY PEOPLE UNTO THE L-RD THY G-D, AS HE HATH SPOKEN.

The Great Convocation on the Mountain Sides

[Deuteronomy 27:1] AND MOSES WITH THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL COMMANDED THE PEOPLE, SAYING, KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY.

[Deuteronomy 27:2] AND IT SHALL BE ON THE DAY WHEN YE SHALL PASS OVER JORDAN UNTO THE LAND WHICH THE L-RD THY G-D GIVETH THEE, THATTHOU SHALT SET THEE UP GREAT STONES, AND PLAISTER THEM WITH PLAISTER:

[Deuteronomy 27:3] AND THOU SHALT WRITE UPON THEM ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW, WHEN THOU ART PASSED OVER, THAT THOU MAYEST GO IN UNTO THE LAND WHICH THE L-RD THY G-D GIVETH THEE, A LAND THAT FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY; AS THE L-RD G-D OF THY FATHERS HATH PROMISED THEE.

[Deuteronomy 27:4] THEREFORE IT SHALL BE WHEN YE BE GONE OVER JORDAN , THAT YE SHALL SET UP THESE STONES, WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY, IN MOUNT EBAL, AND THOU SHALT PLAISTER THEM WITH PLAISTER.

[Deuteronomy 27:5] AND THERE SHALT THOU BUILD AN ALTAR UNTO THE L-RD THY G-D, AN ALTAR OF STONES: THOU SHALT NOT LIFT UP ANY IRON TOOL UPON THEM.

[Deuteronomy 27:6] THOU SHALT BUILD THE ALTAR OF THE L-RD THY G-D OF WHOLE STONES: AND THOU SHALT OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS THEREON UNTO THE L-RD THY G-D:
This was carried out in the time of Joshua who succeeded Moses as the leader of Israel (Joshua 8:30-35). This altar has been found near Schechem (Nablus) in the territory of Samaria . It is a very large edifice consisting of a framework of unhewn blocks filled with earth and the ashes of clean animals. The dimensions are the same as that of the altar that was in the Temple at Jerusalem. Around the altar near Schechem, were found traces of the plaster upon which the Torah had been written by Joshua. The altar was excavated by the Israel archaeologist Adam Zertal. The altar is situated in the former territory of Manasseh. Adam Zertal considers Manasseh to have been the most important tribe, in many ways, in ancient Israel ì . Zertal found that within the territory of Manasseh a type of building prevailed that was later used at Stonehenge in Britain and Carnac in Brittany, France. Within the territory of Biblical Manasseh west of the Jordan, were non-Israelite elements as well as groups from Ephraim, Issachar, Levi, Simeon, Asher and Judah. Similarly, within the other half of the territories of Manasseh, east of the Jordan, were segments from the tribes of Ephraim, Judah, and Benjamin. Asher and Dan were also present within this region or immediately adjoining it. The pattern of Manasseh is that of a large non-Israelite population together with many groups from other Israelite tribes. This same pattern was to be repeated in the history of the USA and Canada. The Israelites were commanded that after setting up the stones with the Torah written upon them, they should hold a public ceremony upon the neighboring mountains of Ebal and Gerizim near the city of Schechem (Nablus).

[Deuteronomy 27:11] AND MOSES CHARGED THE PEOPLE THE SAME DAY, SAYING,

[Deuteronomy 27:12] THESE SHALL STAND UPON MOUNT GERIZIM TO BLESS THE PEOPLE, WHEN YE ARE COME OVER JORDAN ; SIMEON, AND LEVI , AND JUDAH, AND ISSACHAR, AND JOSEPH, AND BENJAMIN:
Half the tribes stood on the side of one mountain and half of the tribes stood on the side of another mountain, facing the others. The ark of the Covenant with the priests and some of the Levites, stood in a valley between them.

[Deuteronomy 27:13] AND THESE SHALL STAND UPON MOUNT EBAL TO CURSE; REUBEN, GAD, AND ASHER, AND ZEBULUN, DAN, AND NAPHTALI.
Most of those who stood on Mount Ebal (of the curse) were thoroughly lost when the northern ten tribes were exiled. Zebulon was the exception. A relatively small number of religiously aroused individuals from Zebulon did move to Judah. Of those who stood on Mount Gerizim (of the blessing), Simeon, Levi, Judah, and Benjamin mostly belonged to the kingdom of Judah. In addition a not insignificant minority of refugees from Joseph and Issachar had also been assimilated amongst Judah: Concerning Asa the king of Judah, it says that many from the north came to him for religious reasons: They came from Ephraim and Manasseh (i.e. Joseph) and joined those from Judah, Benjamin, and Simeon who were with King Asa.

"AND WHEN ASA HEARD THESE WORDS, AND THE PROPHECY OF ODED THE PROPHET, HE TOOK COURAGE, AND PUT AWAY THE ABOMINABLE IDOLS OUT OF ALL THE LAND OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN, AND OUT OF THE CITIES WHICH HE HAD TAKEN FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM, AND RENEWED THE ALTAR OF THE L-RD, THAT WAS BEFORE THE PORCH OF THE L-RD.
"AND HE GATHERED ALL JUDAH AND BENJAMIN, AND THE STRANGERS WITH THEM OUT OF EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH, AND OUT OF SIMEON: FOR THEY FELL TO HIM OUT OF ISRAEL IN ABUNDANCE, WHEN THEY SAW THAT THE L-RD HIS G-D WAS WITH HIM [2-Chronicles 15:8-9].
The above says that many refugees for religious reasons fled to King Asa of Judah from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. Simeon was in some way considered part of the northern tribes even though Simeon was in the south. This is what Biblical passages indicate. It receives support from recent archaeological findings from the area of Simeon that show allegiance to the Northern Kingdom and cultural practices from the north.
Regarding refugees from the northern tribes who remained with Judah (=the Jews), Scripture says that in the time of Hezekiah people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulon came up to Jerusalem to sacrifice.
"FOR A MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE, EVEN MANY OF EPHRAIM, AND MANASSEH, ISSACHAR, AND ZEBULUN, HAD NOT CLEANSED THEMSELVES, YET DID THEY EAT THE PASSOVER OTHERWISE THAN IT WAS WRITTEN. BUT HEZEKIAH PRAYED FOR THEM, SAYING, THE GOOD L-RD PARDON EVERY ONE
"THAT PREPARETH HIS HEART TO SEEK G-D, THE L-RD G-D OF HIS FATHERS, THOUGH HE BE NOT CLEANSED ACCORDING TO THE PURIFICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
"AND THE L-RD HEARKENED TO HEZEKIAH, AND HEALED THE PEOPLE [2-Chronicles 30:18-20].
Previous to this, Hezekiah had sent posts throughout the land asking remnants of the Northern Tribes to come up to Jerusalem:
"SO THE POSTS PASSED FROM CITY TO CITY THROUGH THE COUNTRY OF EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH EVEN UNTO ZEBULUN: BUT THEY LAUGHED THEM TO SCORN, AND MOCKED THEM.
"NEVERTHELESS DIVERS OF ASHER AND MANASSEH AND OF ZEBULUN HUMBLED THEMSELVES, AND CAME TO JERUSALEM [2-Chronicles 30:10-11].
This happened at the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah [2-Chronicles 29:1]. Most of the northern tribes had already been exiled by the Assyrians. A remnant remained. Most of this remnant was destined, about five years later (2-Kings 18:10) to also be taken into exile. We know, however, from archaeology that some escaped to Jerusalem. It may be that many out of the few that escaped belonged to those who feared G-d. Nachmanides (in “The Book of Redemption”) points out that where in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah it lists the exiles who returned from Babylon, only people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi are mentioned. Comparing the numbers given of those returning with the number of names given we find a disparity of about twenty per cent whose names are not mentioned. These according to tradition were people from the Lost Ten Tribes who had joined up with the tribes associated with “Judah”. Their names were not mentioned, says Nachmanides, since they formerly belonged to “Joseph” though they had attached themselves to “Judah” and Biblically henceforth were to be included as part of Judah.
We have written a separate article proving
The Completeness of the Exile of the Northern Ten Tribes by Assyria.

[Deuteronomy 27:14] AND THE LEVITES SHALL SPEAK, AND SAY UNTO ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL WITH A LOUD VOICE,

[Deuteronomy 27:15] CURSED BE THE MAN THAT MAKETH ANY GRAVEN OR MOLTEN IMAGE, AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE L-RD, THE WORK OF THE HANDS OF THE CRAFTSMAN, AND PUTTETH IT IN A SECRET PLACE. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL ANSWER AND SAY, AMEN.

[Deuteronomy 27:16] CURSED BE HE THAT SETTETH LIGHT BY HIS FATHER OR HIS MOTHER. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL SAY, AMEN.
Our fathers and mothers are the reason for our being. We are commanded to honor and fear (respect) them. Even so, we all have complexes that we blame our parents for. Sometimes this blame may be justified but usually it is exagerrated. These unnecessary and superfluous complexes of ours are often factors that psychologically cripple us. By not despising our parents we do not demean ourselves in our own subsconscious. Through honoring our father and mother we improve our own self-respect. Clarifying our Israelite inheritance and the search for our roots are also part of our obligation to respect and honor our forebears. This can help us go forward and succeed. Keeping the commandments fulfils the will of G-d and also very often helps us with psychological and physical health, social stability, and material wellbeing..
The Levites were to declare a list of blessings and curses. Do good and it will be good for you; do bad and evil will follow.

Your nation Will Not Borrow From Other Nations

[Deuteronomy 28:12] THE L-RD SHALL OPEN UNTO THEE HIS GOOD TREASURE, THE HEAVEN TO GIVE THE RAIN UNTO THY LAND IN HIS SEASON, AND TO BLESS ALL THE WORK OF THINE HAND: AND THOU SHALT LEND UNTO MANY NATIONS, AND THOU SHALT NOT BORROW.

[Deuteronomy 28:13] AND THE L-RD SHALL MAKE THEE THE HEAD, AND NOT THE TAIL; AND THOU SHALT BE ABOVE ONLY, AND THOU SHALT NOT BE BENEATH; IF THAT THOU HEARKEN UNTO THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE L-RD THY G-D, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO OBSERVE AND TO DO THEM:
The Lost Ten Tribes in their places of exile had their membership in the Religious Covenant of Israel suspended. From the point of view of religious obligation they were no longer considered “Jewish” even though in the future they will be. During the intermediate period we are still in the Lost Ten Tribes became “Gentiles” as far as their obligations were concerned. They were no longer obliged to keep the commandments though they are destined to do so as they were at the beginning.
It was prophesied that the northern Tribes would forget for a long period the formal Law and be effectually “divorced” (Jeremiah 3:8). In a religious sense for a time they would no longer be considered the people of G-d (Hosea 2:4). In the future the Lost Ten Tribes will return. At present their legal-religious status is that of non-Israelites (Yebamot 17). These legally “non-Jewish” descendants of Israel were to fulfill a predestined role of their own. The Separation of the Israelite Tribes had a Divine Purpose, “This thing is from me, says the LORD” (1-Kings 12:24). In so far as the overall Divine Will was abided by so too is that aspect of the “Law” fulfilled.
The Lost Ten Tribes will have to return and accept anew the Law of Moses and Israel. This is also mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin, 10) and in the Zohar (Genesis 48:8, VaYechi, 88m).
"REMEMBER YE THE LAW OF MOSES MY SERVANT, WHICH I COMMANDED UNTO HIM IN HOREB FOR ALL ISRAEL, WITH THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS [Malachi 4:4].

"HE WILL TURN AGAIN, HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION UPON US; HE WILL SUBDUE OUR INIQUITIES; AND THOU WILT CAST ALL THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.
"THOU WILT PERFORM THE TRUTH TO JACOB, AND THE MERCY TO ABRAHAM, WHICH THOU HAST SWORN UNTO OUR FATHERS FROM THE DAYS OF OLD [Micah 7:19-20].
In contrast to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, the Jews of Judah did remain obligated by the law. When the Jews failed to keep the law as they should have they were punished. Many of the following verses (of Deuteronomy 28) were fulfilled in the Jewish historical experience. A brief summary of some aspects of the History of Judah and the Jews helps to understand the present passage.

ASPECTS OF JEWISH HISTORY
Some Early Events

The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel (ca. 740-720 BCE) and exiled the Ten Tribes who became “lost”. Later, the Scythians, Medes, and Babylonians, destroyed the Assyrian Empire (ca. 614 BCE). The Scythians (who were of Israelite origin) were betrayed by their allies and driven to the north. The Babylonians and Medes then divided the Assyrian Empire between them. The Babylonians conquered Judah (597-582 BCE), destroyed the First Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylon. The Medes, meanwhile, ruled over the Persians who rebelled against them, took over Medea, and conquered Babylon (539 BCE). The Persians allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Judah. A minority of the Jews returned under Ezra and Nehemiah (ca. 440 BCE). They began to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. Later, more of the exiles joined them but the majority of Jews remained in Babylon and other parts of the Diaspora. Alexander the Great (355-323 BCE), using Greek and Macedonian soldiers, conquered the Persian Empire which at that time ruled over Judah. After Alexander, the Empire was split up amongst Macedonian military leaders. In Egypt the ruling Macedonian house was the Ptolemies. In Syria it was the Seleucids. The Ptolemies and Seleucids struggled for control over Judah which passed intermittently from the control of one side to the other. Eventually the Seleucids secured control.

The Maccabees

The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to force the Jews to worship Greek gods and adopt Greek ways. He was assisted by a pro-Greek Hellenizing party amongst the Jews. The Jews rebelled under the leadership of the Maccabees who are also referred to as the Hasmonaeans. The events are recorded in Josephus and in the Book of Maccabees:

1 Maccabees; Chapter 2:
1 In those days Mattathias the son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein. 2 He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, 3 Simon called Thassi, 4 Judas called Maccabeus, 5 Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 6 He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem, 7 and said, “Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to aliens? 8 Her temple has become like a man without honor; 9 her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity. Her babes have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe. 10 What nation has not inherited her palaces and has not seized her spoils? 11 All her adornment has been taken away; no longer free, she has become a slave. 12 And behold, our holy place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have profaned it. 13 Why should we live any longer?” 14 And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly. 15 Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein [about 18 miles north west of Jerusalem] to make them offer sacrifice. 16 Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. 17 Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers. 18 Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.” 19 But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, 20 yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. 21 Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. 22 We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.” 23 When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king's command. 24 When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. 25 At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. 26 Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu. 27 Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!” 28 And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.

Channukhah
Mattathais (Matatiyahu) initiated a general revolt. He was followed by his son Judah . On the 25 Kislev, 165 BCE Judah retook the Temple and purified it. The eight-day Feast of Chanukah celebrates this event. Judah became the High Priest and de facto ruler of the land. Judah made a treaty with Rome. Judah died in battle in 160 BCE. Jonathan, the brother of Judah, ruled after him and died a hostage in 142. Jonathan was followed by his brother Simon (Shimeon). Under Simon, the Jewish state greatly expanded its borders. Simon was assassinated in 134 BCE and succeeded by his son, John Hyrcanus, who reigned till 104 BCE. John Hyrcanus, destroyed the temple of the Samaritans at Mt. Gerezzim and forced the Idumeans to circumcize themselves.
Edom and Idumaeans

"Hyrcanus also captured the Idumaean cities of Adora and Marisa, and after subduing all the Idumaeans, permitted them to remain in their country so long as they had themselves circumcised and were willing to observe the laws of the Jews"
Josephus, Anitquities, 13.9.

The Idumeans were descendants of Esau also known as Edom. They were a minority and according to tradition most of them later left Judaism though some must have remained. The "Idumeans" had comprised only a remnant of Edom who had given rise to several nations of his own as well as social groups amongst other peoples. A preliminary discussion of the descendants of Esau and their possible present-day identity is to be found in our work "Ephraim".

Aristobolos, King of the Jews

After Hyrcanus came Aristobolus I, the son of Hyrcanus, who reigned for a year. He was the first of the Maccabean rulers to take the title, “King of the Jews.” He was succeeded by his brother, Alexander Jannai (103-76 BCE) who was followed by his wife Salome Alexandra (Shlomozion) who reigned as queen (76-67 BCE).
When Salome died, her son Hyrcanus II (Jonathan) was supposed to reign but his brother, Aristobulus, did not agree. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus struggled for control. A compromise was reached at first, in which Aristobulus became king and Hyrcanus was given honors (Josephus, The Jewish War, ch.1). An Idumean named Antipater (father of Herod) persuaded Hyrcanus to flee and obtain the help of Aretas, the Nabatean Arab King of Petra. Subsequently, Hyrcanus was restored to power but then the Romans intervened.

Roman Rule

Rome had become the ruling power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Leading Roman families were descended from Edom and this may partly explain the later Roman support of Herod. Appian says that Rome took control of all of the Seleucid (Syrian) and Ptolemaic (Egyptian) provinces without a fight. The Roman general Pompey had been campaigning in Turkey and then occupied Syria. Both Hyrcanus and Aristobolus appealed to Pompey to intervene in the dispute between them. Pompey entered Jerusalem and made Hyrcanus the High Priest ( Ant. 14.70ff.) Ptolemy took Aristobolus captive to Rome in 63 BCE. This ended Jewish independence.

Appian (Syrian Wars;50) says:
“The Jewish nation alone still resisted, and Pompey conquered them, sent their king Aristobulus to Rome, and destroyed their greatest, and to them, holiest city, Jerusalem…. It was afterwards rebuilt [by Herod] and Vespasian destroyed it again [by means of his son Titus in 70 C.E.], and Hadrian did the same in our time.”

Prior to that,
The Romans had made Antipater, the Idumean, Commissioner for Judea. Herod, the son of Antipater, was appointed over the Galilee and his brother, Phasael, over Jerusalem. Herod married Mariamne a granddaughter of Aristobolus. Antigonus, the son of Aristobolus, with the help of the Parthians attempted to seize the throne from Roman control. Antigonus killed Phasael (the brother of Herod) and disfigured his uncle, Hyrcanus, so that he could no longer qualify to serve as the High Priest. Antigonus however was defeated by Herod. Herod was then made king of the whole country by the Romans.
Herod the Great (39-4 BCE) rebuilt the Second Temple, making it the most impressive building in the world at that time.
Herod-I was succeeded by Herod Antipas (4BCE-39CE) who was his son, from a Samaritan woman. After that came Herod Aggripa I (Agrippus-I) who was the grandson of Herod the Great and his Hasmonean wife, Mariamne. Herod Agrippa I was king, off and on, from 37 CE to 41 CE and through 44 CE. For most of his life, Herod Agrippa I was forced to live in Rome . Herod Agrippa was imprisoned during the reign of the emperor Tiberius, but when Caligula became Emperor, he was freed. Herod Agrippa I was Jewish through his mother. He had been raised and educated at Rome. Herod Agrippa I was the first to receive the title of king since his grandfather, Herod the Great, had died almost forty years earlier. He was followed by his son, Herod Agrippa II (48-100 CE), who stayed in Rome until 53 CE. Herod Agrippa II added to renovations of the Temple. When the Jewish revolt against the Romans broke out, Herod Agrippa II sided with the Romans who were led by Vespasian and his son, Titus. The Romans conquered Judea and Jerusalem. They destroyed the Temple, sold many of the people as slaves, and caused most of the Jews to go into exile, in 70 CE. Total casualties were around thirty per cent of world Jewish population.

Bar Cochba and the Lost Ten Tribes?

There was another rebellion of Judah in 135 CE. It was led by Bar Cochba who sent emissaries all over the world (including to Gaul) to request support against the Romans. A Jewish scholar, Zevi Chasdoi, in the 1920s claimed that the messengers of Bar Cochba actually went to the Lost Ten Tribes to get help but were disappointed. Rabbi Akiba was a supporter of Bar Cochba. Rabbi Akiba (Sanhedrin 110) later spoke negatively about the Lost Ten Tribes, saying that they would not return. Rabbi Akiba was overruled by the other rabbis. At all events the commentators (such as Rashi) say that Rabbi Akiba was referring to the Ten Tribes who were exiled or to those of his own generation and NOT to their descendants in the Last Days. Chasdoi suggests that the negative view of Rabbi Akiba about the Lost Ten Tribes was due to his own experiences in the service of Bar Cochba and that Rabbi Akiba himself had gone to areas of Lost Ten Tribes to request support and had been disappointed. One of the places rabbi Akiva is reported to have visited is Gaul. After three years Bar Cochba was defeated by Hadrian. Hadrian destroyed Jerusalem completely and then plowed the ground over. He later built a city named Aelia Capitolinus north of the former site. Jews were forbidden to live there.
Dio gives the number of Jews who died in Bar Cochbah's rebellion at 540,000, over 900 villages burned and 50 cities razed to the ground. Judea was made a literal desert, the slave markets were filled with Jews and prices fell to near nothing because of the glut. The final dispersion of Jews from Judea, thus, took place under Hadrian.

The number of Jews enslaved as a result of the crushing of the Jewish rebellion by Vespasian and Titus (AD 66-70) was put (reliably, it would seem) at 97,000 by Josephus (B.J. 6.9.3)…And after the Jewish revolt led by Bar-Cochba in AD 132-35 a large amount of Jews - well over 100,000, it is estimated - were sold as slaves in the East (Chronicon Paschale 1.474).
John Madden: Slavery in the Roman Empire, Numbers and Origins.

Hasmonean Family of Mattathias

Judah Maccabee
166-160 BCE
Eleazar d. 162 BCE under an elephant
John d.160

Simon
142-134




John Hyrcanus
134-104

Aristobulus
104-103 BCE
Alexander Jannaeus 103-76



Alexandra Salome (widow of Alexander Jannaeus) 76-67 BCE


John Hyrcanus II 67 BCE, 63-40 BCE
Aristobolus 67-37 BCE



Antigonus 40-37 BCE

Boethus father of Mariamne who married Herod the Great 39-4 BCE


House of Herod

Antipater ?-43 BCE married Cypros (Arabian)

Phasael d.40 BCE
Joseph d.38 BCE
Pheros d.5 BCE
Herod the Great 39-4 BCE

Herod the Great through his wife

Doris of Idumea begat
Mariamme granddaughter of the Hasmonean Aristobulus begat
Malthace of Samaria begat

Herod Antipater III d.4 BCE
Alexander
30 BCE- 7 CE
Aristobulus IV
31 BCE- 7 CE
Herod Antipas 4 BCE-39 CE



Herod Agrippa I (son of Aristobulus I) 39-44 CE



Herod Agrippa II, ruled 50-93 CE, died in Rome in 100 CE


ì Zertal’s findings are discussed in his work, “Am Nolad. Mizbeach Har Eival Vereishit Yisrael” (Hebrew): A People is Born. The Altar at Mount Eibal and the Beginnings of Israel by Adam Zertal, Tel Aviv, 2000.
ì Herod Agrippa I was the father of Herod Agrippas II. Herod Agrippa I is usually called Herod and Herod Agrippas II is called Agrippa.