Daniel 11:1-2 – At tungkol sa akin, nang unang taon ni Dario na taga Media, ako’y tumayo upang patibayin at palakasin siya. At ngayo’y aking ipatatalastas sa iyo ang katotohanan. Narito, tatayo pa ang tatlong hari sa Persia; at ang ikaapat ay magiging totoong mayaman kay sa kanilang lahat: at pagka siya’y lumakas sa kaniyang mga yaman, ay kaniyang kikilusin ang lahat laban sa kaharian ng Grecia.
Daniel 8:3 -Nang magkagayo’y itiningin ko ang aking mga mata, at ako’y may nakita, at narito, tumayo sa harap ng ilog ang isang lalaking tupa na may dalawang sungay: at ang dalawang sungay ay mataas; nguni’t ang isa’y lalong mataas kay sa isa, at ang lalong mataas ay tumaas na huli.
Daniel 8:20 -Ang lalaking tupa na iyong nakita, na may dalawang sungay, ang mga yaon ang mga hari sa Media at Persia.
Daniel 8:4 -Aking nakita ang lalaking tupa na nanunudlong sa dakong kalunuran, at sa dakong hilagaan, at sa dakong timugan; at walang hayop na makatayo sa harap niya, ni wala sinoman na makapagligtas mula sa kaniyang kamay; kundi kaniyang ginawa ang ayon sa kaniyang kalooban, at nagmalaking mainam.
Daniel 8:5 -At habang aking ginugunita, narito, isang kambing na lalake ay nagmula sa kalunuran sa ibabaw ng buong lupa, at hindi sumayad sa lupa: at ang lalaking kambing ay may nakagitaw na sungay sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga mata.
Daniel 8:21- At ang may magaspang na balahibo na lalaking kambing ay siyang hari sa Grecia: at ang malaking sungay na nasa pagitan ng kaniyang mga mata ay siyang unang hari.
Daniel 8:7 -At aking nakitang siya’y lumapit sa lalaking tupa, at siya’y nakilos ng pagkagalit laban sa kaniya, at sinaktan ang tupa, at binali ang kaniyang dalawang sungay: at ang lalaking tupa ay walang kapangyarihang makatayo sa harap niya; kundi kaniyang ibinuwal sa lupa, at kaniyang niyapakan siya; at walang makapagligtas sa lalaking tupa mula sa kaniyang kamay.
In 334 B.C.E., Alexander crossed into Asia and defeated the Persians at the river Granicus. This gave him control of the Ionian coast, and he made a triumphal procession through the liberated Greek cities. After settling affairs in Anatolia, he advanced south through Cilicia into Syria, where he defeated Darius III at Issus (333 B.C.E.). He then advanced through Phoenicia to Egypt, which he captured with little resistance, the Egyptians welcoming him as a liberator from Persian oppression, and the prophesized son of Amun. Darius was now ready to make peace and Alexander could have returned home in triumph, but Alexander was determined to conquer Persia and make himself the ruler of the world. He advanced northeast through Syria and Mesopotamia, and defeated Darius again at Gaugamela (331 B.C.E.). Darius fled and was killed by his own followers. Alexander found himself the master of the Persian Empire, occupying Susa and Persepolis without resistance. Meanwhile, the Greek cities were making renewed efforts to escape from Macedonian control. At Megalopolis in 331 B.C.E., Alexander’s regent Antipater defeated the Spartans, who had refused to join the Corinthian League or recognize Macedonian supremacy. Alexander pressed on, advancing through what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indus River valley and by 326 B.C.E. he had reached Punjab. He might well have advanced down the Ganges to Bengal had not his army, convinced they were at the end of the world, refused to go any further. Alexander reluctantly turned back, and died of a fever in Babylon in 323 B.C.E. Alexander’s empire broke up soon after his death, but his conquests permanently changed the Greek world. Thousands of Greeks traveled with him or after him to settle in the new Greek cities he had founded as he advanced, the most important being Alexandria in Egypt. Greek-speaking kingdoms in Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Bactria were established. The knowledge and cultures of east and west began to permeate and interact. The Hellenistic age had begun.
Daniel 8:8 -At ang lalaking kambing ay nagmalaking mainam: at nang siya’y lumakas, ang malaking sungay ay nabali; at kahalili niyao’y lumitaw ang apat na marangal na sungay, sa dako ng apat na hangin ng langit.
Daniel 8:22 -At tungkol sa nabali, sa dakong tinayuan ng apat, ay apat na kaharian ang magsisibangon mula sa bansa, nguni’t hindi sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang kapangyarihan.
Daniel 11:3-4 – At isang makapangyarihang hari ay tatayo, na magpupuno na may malaking kapangyarihan, at gagawa ng ayon sa kaniyang kalooban. At pagka tatayo siya ay magigiba ang kaniyang kaharian, at mababahagi sa apat na hangin ng langit, nguni’t hindi sa kaniyang anak, ni ayon man sa kaniyang kapangyarihan na kaniyang ipinagpuno; sapagka’t ang kaniyang kaharian ay mabubunot para sa mga iba bukod sa mga ito.
SI ALEXANDER THE GREAT ANG KATUPARAN NG LALAKING KAMBING NA MAY MALAKING SUNGAY NA NABALI AT MULA DOON AY LUMITAW ANG APAT NA MARANGAL NA SUNGAY NA ANG KAHULUGAN AY PAGKAHATI NG KANYANG KAHARIAN SA APAT
What is certain is that Alexander died of a high fever in early June of 323 B.C.E. On his death bed, his marshals asked him who he bequeathed his kingdom toβas Alexander had only one heir, it was a question of vital importance. He answered famously, “The strongest.” Before dying, his final words were “I foresee a great funeral contest over me.” Alexander’s βfuneral games,β where his marshals fought it out over control of his empire, lasted for nearly 40 years.
Alexander the Great (356β323 BC) died suddenly at the age of 32, leaving no apparent heir or appointed successor. Some 40 years of internecine conflict followed his death, as leading generals and members of Alexanderβs family vied to control different parts of the vast empire he had built. The Battle of Ipsus, fought in Phrygia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) in 301 BC between rival successors, resulted in the empireβs irrevocable dissolution. This late-19th century map in Latin shows the four main kingdoms that emerged after the battle. The kingdom of Cassander (circa 358β297 BC), consisted of Macedonia, most of Greece, and parts of Thrace. The kingdom of Lysimachus (circa 361β281 BC), included Lydia, Ionia, Phrygia, and other parts of present-day Turkey. The kingdom of Seleucus (died 281 BC; later the Seleucid Empire), comprised present-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, and parts of Central Asia. The kingdom of Ptolemy I (died 283 BC) included Egypt and neighboring regions.
Daniel 7:2-3 – Si Daniel ay nagsalita, at nagsabi, May nakita ako sa aking pangitain sa kinagabihan, at, narito, ang apat na hangin ng langit ay nagsisihihip sa malaking dagat. At apat na malaking hayop na magkakaiba ay nagsiahon mula sa dagat,
Daniel 7:4 -Ang una’y gaya ng leon, at may mga pakpak ng aguila: aking minasdan hanggang sa ang mga pakpak niyao’y nahugot, at ito’y nataas mula sa lupa, at pinatayo sa dalawang paa na gaya ng isang tao; at puso ng tao ang nabigay sa kaniya.
Daniel 7:5 -At, narito, ang ibang hayop, na ikalawa, na gaya ng isang oso; at lumitaw sa isang tagiliran, at tatlong tadyang ang nasa kaniyang bibig sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga ngipin: at sinabi ng mga ito ang ganito sa kaniya, Bumangon ka, manakmal ka ng maraming laman.
Daniel 7:6 -Pagkatapos nito’y tumingin ako, at narito ang iba, gaya ng isang leopardo, na mayroon sa likod niyaon na apat na pakpak ng ibon; ang hayop ay mayroon din namang apat na ulo; at binigyan siya ng kapangyarihan.
Daniel 7:7-8 -Pagkatapos nito’y may nakita ako sa pangitain sa gabi, at, narito, ang ikaapat na hayop, kakilakilabot at makapangyarihan, at totoong malakas; at may malaking mga ngiping bakal; nananakmal at lumuluray, at niyuyurakan ng kaniyang mga paa ang nalabi: at kaiba sa lahat na hayop na una sa kaniya; at siya’y may sangpung sungay. Aking pinagdilidili ang mga sungay, at, narito, sumibol sa gitna ng mga yaon ang ibang sungay, isang munti, na sa harap niyao’y tatlo sa mga unang sungay ay nabunot sa mga ugat: at, narito, sa sungay na ito ay may mga mata na parang mga mata ng tao, at isang bibig na nagsasalita ng mga dakilang bagay.
Pahayag 13:1 -At siya’y tumayo sa buhanginan ng dagat. At nakita ko ang isang hayop na umaahon sa dagat, na may sangpung sungay at pitong ulo, at sa kanilang mga sungay ay may sangpung diadema, at sa kaniyang mga ulo ay mga pangalan ng kapusungan.
Daniel 11:5 -At ang hari sa timugan ay magiging malakas, at ang isa sa kaniyang mga prinsipe; at siya’y magiging malakas kay sa kaniya, at magtataglay ng kapangyarihan; ang kaniyang kapangyarihan ay magiging dakilang kapangyarihan.
ANG SELECIUD EMPIRE NA ISA SA APAT SA NAHATING KAHARIAN NI ALEXANDER THE GREAT ANG KATUPARAN NG IKAAPAT NA HAYOP NA ISA SA APAT NA SUNGAY NG KAMBING NA NAGING MALAKAS AT MAKAPANGYARIHAN
SELEUCID EMPIRE, founded in 312/311 BCE by Seleucus I Nicator (Figure 1), formerly a general in the army of Alexander the Great. Adopting the titles βKing of Asiaβ and βGreat King,β the Macedonian rulers of the Seleucid dynasty laid claim to the territory of the former Achaemenid empire during the Hellenistic period. The empire initially stretched from Bactria and Sogdia to the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, comprising Iran for about 150 years.The Seleucid state grew from the Babylonian satrapy given to Seleucus after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. Babylonia, where Seleucus founded Seleucia on the Tigris as one of his capitals, remained a core region of the empire until the Parthians (see ARSACIDS) finally drove out the Seleucids around 141. By means of conquest and diplomacy, Seleucus first established his rule in the eastern satrapies of the former Achaemenid empire; he then turned towards the west, until finally he had gained for himself the entire empire of Alexander, save India, Palestine, Phoenicia, Egypt, and Macedonia, and earned the title of Nicator (Conqueror). His death in 281, followed by uprisings in the west, prevented the annexation of Thrace and Macedonia.
Alexander’s generals (the Diadochi) jostled for supremacy over parts of his empire, and Ptolemy I Soter, one of his generals and satrap of Egypt, was the first to challenge the new rule, leading to the demise of Perdiccas. His revolt led to a new partition of the empire in 320 B.C.E. Seleucus I Nicator, who had been “Commander-in-Chief of the camp” under Perdiccas since 323 B.C.E. but helped to assassinate the latter, received Babylonia, and from that point continued to expand his dominions ruthlessly. Seleucus established himself in Babylon in 312 B.C.E., used as the foundation date of the Seleucid Empire. He ruled over not only Babylonia, but the entire enormous eastern part of Alexander’s empire:
Daniel 11:6 -At sa katapusan ng mga taon, sila’y magpipipisan; at ang anak na babae ng hari sa timugan ay paroroon sa hari sa hilagaan upang gumawa ng pakikipagkasundo: nguni’t hindi niya mapananatili ang lakas ng kaniyang bisig; o siya ma’y tatayo, o ang bisig man niya; kundi siya’y mabibigay, at yaong mga nangagdala sa kaniya, at ang nanganak sa kaniya, at ang nagpalakas sa kaniya sa mga panahong yaon.
Seleucus I had married the daughter of a Bactrian nobleman; later Seleucids, moreover, concluded marriage alliances with the dynasties of Pontus, Commagene, and Armenia. At least three Seleucid kings had Iranian mothers. The Iranian nobility appears to have been rather loyal; with the exception of Media Atropatene, there was conspicuously little indigenous resistance to Seleucid rule in Iran (Wolski, 1947; WiesehΓΆfer, 1997).
The Seleucid Empire began when Seleucos I, one of Alexander the Great’s former favorite companions, was given the satrapy of Babylon in the second division of the empire in 321 BCE. He first ruled it briefly until 315 BCE, when he was forced to flee to Egypt under pressure of Antigonos. There he prepared his revenge with the help of Ptolemy, and succeeded to retake Babylon after the battle of Gaza in 305 BCE. He also inherited the Asian part of Antigonos’ vast empire after its final fall at the battle of Ipsos in 301 BCE. Having secured Antigonos’ kingdom’s eastern part, Seleucos managed to reconquer most of Alexander’s empire, defeating Lysimachos and Demetrios. He was, however, murdered in 281 BCE on the eve of his success by the man he supported on the Egyptian throne, Ptolemy Keraunos.
Nevertheless, even before Seleucus’ death, the vast eastern domains of the Seleucids were proving difficult to assert control over. Seleucus invaded India (modern Punjab, Pakistan) in 305 B.C.E., confronting Chandragupta Maurya (Sandrokottos), founder of the Maurya Empire. It is said that Chandragupta fielded an army of 600,000 men and 9,000 war elephants. The two monarchs ultimately sealed a treaty, by which Seleucus ceded vast territories from the Indus to present-day Afghanistan. In exchange Chandragupta gave him no less than 500 elephants, an addition to his army that was to play a prominent part in his victory at Ipsus. The peace was complemented by a “marriage alliance” (Epigamia in ancient sources), implying either a dynastic alliance (in which a Seleucid princess may have been betrothed to the Maurya dynasty) or the recognition of marriage between Greeks and Indians.
Daniel 11:7 -Nguni’t sa suwi ng kaniyang mga ugat ay tatayo ang isa na kahalili niya na paroroon sa hukbo, at papasok sa katibayan ng hari sa hilagaan, at gagawa ng laban sa kanila, at mananaig.
Seleucusβs son and successor, Antiochus I, who reigned until 261, restored Seleucid rule in the west, where he was hailed as Soter (Savior). In the east, Antiochus, like his father, maintained strong (family) bonds with the Iranian nobility. The son of an Iranian noblewoman, Antiochus had governed the eastern provinces, the Upper Satrapies, as co-ruler since 292, rebuilding Bactra (Balkh) as the easternmost Seleucid capital.
From the reign of Antiochus I onwards, the history of the Seleucid dynasty was dominated by a relentless enmity with the Ptolemies, the family who controlled Egypt and maintained a naval empire in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This conflict led to at least six so-called Syrian Wars fought over the control of the coastal cities of the eastern Mediterranean. After the reign of Antiochus II Theos (The God; 261-246) the empire suffered a temporary setback when war broke out between the reigning king, Seleucus II (246-226), and his brother, Antiochus Hierax (The Hawk), who had established himself as rival king in Asia Minor. The War of the Brothers, which lasted with short intervals from 239 to 228, and in which also other Hellenistic states became involved, offered Diodotus (I), satrap of Bactria, the opportunity to proclaim himself king.
Daniel 11:8-9 – At gayon din ang kanilang mga dios sangpu ng kanilang mga larawang binubo, at ng kanilang mga mainam na sisidlan na pilak at ginto ay dadalhing samsam sa Egipto; at siya’y magluluwat na ilang taon kay sa hari sa hilagaan. At siya’y paroroon sa kaharian ng hari sa timugan, nguni’t siya’y babalik sa kaniyang sariling lupain.
After the short reign of Seleucus III (226-223), Seleucid hegemony over Iran and Bactria was reasserted by Antiochus III (223-187), under whose reign the empire reached its greatest extent. After successful campaigns against rebels in Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, and a failed war with the Ptolemies in Palestine (Battle of Raphia, 217), Antiochus embarked on a long tour along the northern, eastern, and southern borders of the alleged inhabited world (oikoumenΔ). This so-called Anabasis (Inland Journey), which was a ritual as much as a military event, led from Ecbatana through Hyrcania, Bactria, and India to Arabia, with the king subduing unruly vassals where he went and then re-installing them as monarchs under Seleucid suzerainty. On his return to Babylonia, Antiochus took the epithet of Megas (The Great, presumably a Greek derivation of the Mesopotamian and Iranian title of Great King). He subsequently inflicted a crushing defeat on the Ptolemies at the Battle of Panion (200), which allowed him to occupy Palestine and the Ptolemaic possessions in Asia Minor.
When he returned to the west in 205 B.C.E., Antiochus found that with the death of Ptolemy IV, the situation now looked propitious for another western campaign. Antiochus and Philip V of Macedon then made a compact to divide the Ptolemaic possessions outside of Egypt, and in the Fifth Syrian War, the Seleucids ousted Ptolemy V from control of Coele-Syria. The Battle of Panium (198 B.C.E.) definitively transferred these holdings from the Ptolemies to the Seleucids. Antiochus appeared, at the least, to have restored the Seleucid Kingdom to glory.
Daniel 11:10-11 – At ang kaniyang mga anak ay makikipagdigma, at mapipisan ng isang karamihang malaking hukbo, na magpapatuloy, at aabot, at lalagpas; at sila’y magsisibalik at makikipagdigma, hanggang sa kaniyang katibayan. At ang hari sa timugan ay makikilos ng pagkagalit, at lalabas at makikipaglaban sa kaniya, sa makatuwid baga’y sa hari sa hilagaan; at siya’y maglalabas ng malaking karamihan, at ang karamiha’y mabibigay sa kaniyang kamay.
It is this disorganized and problematic empire that the eighteen year-old Antiochos III inherited in 223 BCE. Over the next 25 years he subdued most of the rebellious states in a great tour de force: He made his anabasis (difficult retreat) in the east successfully fighting Parthians and Bactrians, made a profitable treaty with the Indian ruler Sophagasenos and confirmed his superiority on rebellious subjects. He also made an expedition against the Gerrhaeans of the East Arabian coast in 204 BCE and defeated the Ptolemies twice which allowed him to take control of the highly valued Koile Syria near 198 BCE.
At the Battle of Magnesia in 190, Antiochus III fielded no fewer than 6,000, presumably Iranian, cataphracts and more than 10,000 Elamite and Persian light infantry (Livy, 37.40.1-14); in 166/5 Antiochus IV paraded 1,500 cataphracts and 1,000 Parthian or Saka horse archers during a festival in Syria (Polybius 30.25.6), and as late as 140 vassal rulers of Persis, Elam, and even Bactria sent auxiliary troops to support Demetrius II in his war against the Parthians (Justin, 38.9.4).
Daniel 11:12-14 -At ang karamihan ay madadala, at ang kaniyang puso ay magpapalalo; at siya’y magbubuwal ng libo-libo, nguni’t hindi mananaig. At ang hari sa hilagaan ay babalik, at maglalabas ng isang karamihan na lalong malaki kay sa una; at siya’y magpapatuloy hanggang sa wakas ng mga panahon, ng mga taon, na ma’y malaking hukbo, at maraming kayamanan. At sa mga panahong yaon ay maraming magsisitayo laban sa hari sa timugan: gayon din ang mga anak na mangdadahas sa gitna ng iyong bayan ay magsisibangon upang itatag ang pangitain; nguni’t sila’y mangabubuwal.
Antiochus was now free to conduct what has been called the Fourth Syrian War (219β216), during which he gained control of the important eastern Mediterranean sea ports of Seleucia-in-Pieria, Tyre, and Ptolemais. In 218 he held Coele Syria (Lebanon), Palestine, and Phoenicia. In 217 he engaged an army (numbering 75,000) of Ptolemy IV Philopator, a pharaoh of the Hellenistic dynasty ruling Egypt, at Raphia, the southernmost city in Syria. His own troops numbered 68,000. Though he succeeded in routing the left wing of the Egyptian army, his phalanx (heavily armed infantry in close ranks) in the centre was defeated by a newly formed Egyptian phalanx. In the subsequent peace settlement, Antiochus gave up all his conquests except the city of Seleucia-in-Pieria.
Daniel 11:16-17 – Nguni’t ang dumarating laban sa kaniya, ay gagawa ng ayon sa sariling kalooban, at walang tatayo sa harap niya; at siya’y tatayo sa maluwalhating lupain, at sasa kaniyang kamay ang paglipol. At kaniyang itatanaw ang kaniyang mukha upang pumaroon na kasama ng lakas ng kaniyang buong kaharian, at ng mga tapat na kasama niya; at siya’y gagawa ng mga yaon: at ibibigay niya sa kaniya ang anak na babae ng mga babae, upang hamakin; nguni’t siya’y hindi tatayo, ni siya’y mapapasa kaniya man.
After the Syrian war, he proceeded against the rebel Achaeus. In alliance with Attalus I of Pergamum, Antiochus captured Achaeus in 213 in his capital, Sardis, and had him executed in a barbaric manner. After the pacification of Asia Minor he entered upon his later to be famous eastward campaign (212β205), pressing forward as far as India. In 212 he gave his sister Antiochis in marriage to King Xerxes of Armenia, who acknowledged his suzerainty and paid him tribute. He occupied Hecatompylos (southeast of the Caspian Sea), the capital of the Parthian king Arsaces III, and forced him to enter into an alliance in 209 and the following year defeated Euthydemus of Bactria, though he allowed him to continue to rule and retain his royal title. In 206 he marched across the Hindu Kush into the KΔbul Valley and renewed a friendship with the Indian king Sophagasenos.
Antiochus III the Great, byname Antiochus the Great, Greek Antiochus Megas, (born 242 BCEβdied 187, near Susa, Iran), Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian Empire from 223 BCE to 187, who rebuilt the empire in the East but failed in his attempt to challenge Roman ascendancy in Europe and Asia Minor. He reformed the empire administratively by reducing the provinces in size, established a ruler cult (with himself and his consort Laodice as divine), and improved relations with neighbouring countries by giving his daughters in marriage to their princes.
Daniel 11:18 -Pagkatapos nito’y kaniyang ipipihit ang kaniyang mukha sa mga pulo, at sasakop ng marami: nguni’t isang prinsipe ay magpapatigil ng pagkutya niya; oo, bukod dito’y kaniyang pababalikin ang kaniyang kakutyaan sa kaniya.
But Antiochus’ glory was not to last for long. Following his erstwhile ally Philip’s defeat at the hands of Rome in 197 B.C.E., Antiochus now saw the opportunity for expansion into Greece. Encouraged by the exiled Carthaginian general Hannibal, and making an alliance with the disgruntled Aetolian League, Antiochus invaded Greece. Unfortunately, this decision led to his downfall: he was defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Thermopylae and Magnesia (190 B.C.E.), and was forced to make peace with the Romans by the embarrassing Treaty of Apamea (188 B.C.E.)βwhich forced him to abandon all European territories, ceded all of Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains to Pergamum, and set a large indemnity to be paid. Antiochus died in 187 B.C.E. on another expedition to the east, where he sought to extract money to pay the indemnity.
Daniel 11:19 -Kung magkagayo’y kaniyang ipipihit ang kaniyang mukha sa dako ng mga kuta ng kaniyang sariling lupain; nguni’t siya’y matitisod at mabubuwal, at hindi masusumpungan.
Regrettably, he also led a war against Rome in the wake of his expansion in Anatolia, and despite the wise advice of the Carthaginian Hannibal Barca, which he decided not to follow, he was defeated at the Battle of Magnesia ad Sipylum in 190 BCE. The consequences of the disastrous peace treaty which followed led the kingdom into ruin, and Antiochos III died in 187 BCE during a campaign in the East.
Antiochos III’s death marked the end of the Seleucid Empire as a great power. The kingdom fell once more into dynastic struggles, and the eastern provinces were gradually lost due to rebellions and Parthian expansion. Much worse was the Roman interference in the Empire, largely influencing the dynastic quarrels and foreign policy, such as in 168 BCE when the Romans forced Antiochos IV to withdraw from the only successful Seleucid campaign in Egypt. The wild intrigues which characterized the last decades of the Seleucid Empire were ended by the invasion of the Armenian king Tigranes II in 83 BCE. Even if after Tigranes some rulers of Syria claimed to be Seleucid kings, they were no more than Roman vassals.
Daniel 11:20 -Kung magkagayo’y tatayo na kahalili niya ang isa na magpaparaan ng maniningil sa kaluwalhatian ng kaharian; nguni’t sa loob ng kaunting araw ay mapapahamak, na hindi sa kagalitan, o sa pagbabaka man.
Contrary to a once widespread belief, the loss of Asia Minor was not catastrophic (Kuhrt and Sherwin-White, 1993; Grainger, 2002), although news of the Roman victory presumably incited uprisings elsewhere in the empire, as Antiochus the Great, soon after, died fighting in southern Iran. His son Antiochus IV Theos Epiphanes (God Manifest; 170-164) started his short but remarkable reign with a successful campaign against the Ptolemies, laying siege to Alexandria and being crowned pharaoh in Memphis. Parthian expansion in Iran forced him to accept a Roman ultimatum to abandon Egypt. His efforts to restore Seleucid authority in the east and prepare for a new war against Rome (Strootman, 2007, p. 311), ended with his premature death in FΔrs.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
AntΓochos ho EpiphanαΈs, “God Manifest“;[1] c. 215 BC β November/December 164 BC)[2] was a Hellenistic king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC.[3][4][5] He was a son of King Antiochus III the Great. His original name was Mithradates (alternative form Mithridates); he assumed the name Antiochus after he ascended the throne.[citation needed] Notable events during the reign of Antiochus IV include his near-conquest of Egypt, his persecution of the Jews of Judea and Samaria, and the rebellion of the Jewish Maccabees.
ANTIOCHUS IV CLAIMED HIMSELF TO BE ZEUS THE LEADER OF GREEK GOD
The process of apotheosising the kings usually took place after the kings deaths. Their successors made statues for the dead kings so that the people could worship them.
Worshipping the kings could enhance the authority of the ruling dynasty and strengthen peoples patriotism.
Kings who were worshipped by the Greeks included Alexander the Great of Greece, Gaius Julius Caesar of the Roman Empire, and Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire.
Antiochus IV claimed himself to be Zeus, the leader of the Greek god. He required the Greeks to worship him as if he were the incarnation of Zeus. He also required his apotheosised face to be stamped onto the coins. In 40 AD, the Roman king Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) even commanded his statue to be placed in the Temple of Jerusalem.
During the times of Greek and Roman rule, the Jews could not accept worshipping the kings because they only believed in one God.
Antiochus IV seized the valuables of the Temple and forced the Jews to worship foreign gods, triggering the Mattathias family to start the Independent War of Maccabees.
Suppressive policies of Antiochus IV
1. Implemented complete Hellenization to promote Greek culture and religion
To unify the dynasty, strengthen the nations power and weaken the foreign races, Antiochus IV decided to implement complete Hellenization at all costs to eliminate the Jewish culture.
Antiochus IV was a lot more cruel and violent than the previous kings in pushing Hellenization.
2. Established altars for pagan religions
Antiochus IV established altars for the Greek gods all over the nation and forced the monotheistic Jews to worship gods like Zeus.
3. Robbed the Temple
After Antiochus IV ascended to the throne, he still needed to pay large amount of tributes to Rome. Thus, he took away the valuables of the Temple to save the nation from financial crisis.
There was no banking system at that time. People usually put their valuables in synagogues and the Temple. They thought that those places were safe as they were protected by God. Since Palestine was quite rich, the Temple in Jerusalem became a target for robbery.
Antiochus IV led the army to rob the Temple, massacred the Jews and kept women and children as slaves.
4. Levied heavy tax
To improve the treasury, Antiochus IV levied heavy taxes and even confiscated lands from the people, adversely affecting the livelihood of the Jews.
5. Built gymnasiums
To hasten Hellenization, the Greeks built Greek-styled gymnasiums in Jerusalem to attract Jewish youths, disregarding the Jewish faith and customs.
Greeks conducted athletics naked. Although the Jewish youths did not mind about that, some did not want the Greeks to find out that they were circumcised. Some underwent surgeries to hide the signs of circumcision.
6. Abolished Jewish religious rituals
Antiochus IV knew clearly that if he wanted to eliminate the Jewish culture, it would be the most important to eradicate the Jewish religion.
Therefore, Antiochus IV forbade the Jews to obey Jewish laws, including:
The Jews were forbidden to offer sacrifices according to the Jewish laws;
The Jews were forbidden to observe the Sabbath;
The Jews were forbidden to celebrate any traditional Jewish festivals;
The Jews were forbidden to carry out circumcision for their children; (Circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.)
The Jews were forbidden to follow the strict Jewish rules regarding food;
Jewish law books were destroyed and burnt.
Anyone who obeyed the Mosaic Law or kept Jewish law books would be executed.
Daniel 11:21-22 – At kahalili niya na tatayo ang isang hamak na tao, na hindi nila pinagbigyan ng karangalan ng kaharian: nguni’t siya’y darating sa panahong katiwasayan, at magtatamo ng kaharian sa pamamagitan ng mga daya. At sa pamamagitan ng pulutong na huhugos ay mapapalis sila sa harap niya, at mabubuwal; oo, pati ng prinsipe ng tipan.
ALEXANDER BALAS
The pretended son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, he won the Seleucid throne with the help of mercenaries, challenging and slaying Demetrius I Soter, the direct Seleucid heir. With the support of the Roman Senate and the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty, he ruled the remains of the Seleucid Empire until he was killed in battle against Demetrius II Nicator, son of Demetrius I Soter. During his reign, Alexander pacified Palestine by naming Jonathan Maccabeus as Jewish governor but alienated the population by his revelry while feigning interest in politics and Stoic philosophy.
Daniel 11:23-24 – At pagkatapos ng pakikipagkasundo sa kaniya, siya’y gagawang may karayaan; sapagka’t siya’y sasampa, at magiging matibay, na kasama ng isang munting bayan. Sa panahon ng katiwasayan darating siya hanggang sa mga pinakamainam na dako ng lalawigan; at kaniyang gagawin ang hindi ginawa ng kaniyang mga magulang, o ng mga magulang ng kaniyang mga magulang; siya’y magbabahagi sa kanila ng huli, at samsam, at kayamanan: oo, siya’y hahaka ng kaniyang mga haka laban sa mga kuta, hanggang sa takdang panahon.
SI ALEXANDER BALAS ANG KATUPARAN NG HULA NA SINASABING HAMAK NA TAO NA NAGTAMO NG KAHARIAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG DAYA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG TULONG NG MGA ROMANO AT PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY SA EGIPTO
ALEXANDER BALAS, King of Syria:
By: Louis Ginzberg
Date of birth unknown; died 145 B.C. A youth of lowly origin, he was set up as a pretender to the throne of Syria as being the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, in 153 B.C., in opposition to the Seleucid Demetrius Soter. The imposition was aided by his remarkable likeness to the Syrian king Antiochus V., Eupator, son of Antiochus IV., Epiphanes, which resemblance induced many to believe him a son of the last-named. His first official act, on being crowned in Ptolemais as king, was to send an embassy to the ruler of the Jews, Jonathan the Hasmonean, which ran as follows: “King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting! We have heard of thee, that thou art a mighty man of valor, and meet to be our friend. And now we have appointed thee this day to be high priest of thy nation and to be called ‘the King’s Friend’β[and he sent unto him a purple robe and a crown of gold]βand to take our part and to keep friendship with us” (I Macc. x. 18-21). Jonathan did not hesitate to declare at once for Alexander Balas and rejected all overtures made to him by Demetrius, which overtures in truth conveyed no such prospects of reward as those of Alexander. In addition, the political probabilities of the time were altogether in Alexander’s favor. Alexander’s embassy was especially significant to the Jews, inasmuch as in accordance with it, on the Feast of Tabernacles, 152 B.C., Jonathan assumed the holy garb of the high-priesthood, and therewith became the spiritual head of the Jewish people. Indirectly, Alexander thus became the actual cause of the final displacement of the pro-Hellenic party in Judea. Jonathan on his side showed himself an able and faithful ally, being the only one who stood firmly by Alexander, when, a little later, he was hard pressed by the partizans of Demetrius II., son of Demetrius Soter. When one of them, Apollonius, governor of CΕle-syria, openly took up arms against Alexander, it was Jonathan who, in 147 B.C., successfully brought him to terms. He drove out a garrison which Apollonius had thrown into Joppa, and defeated the army led against him at Ashdod. In recognition of these services Alexander presented him with the town of Ekron and its adjoining district. In addition to this he loaded Jonathan with many personal marks of his esteem. On the occasion of his marriage with the daughter of Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt, 150 B.C., he invited Jonathan to the festivities, and placed him, arrayed in the royal purple, at his side, conferring upon him at the same time the titles of strategos and meridarchos (general and provincial-governor). When delegates from the Greek party came from Judea and laid complaint against Jonathan, he dismissed them unheard. Alexander Balas thus contributed to the advancement of the Jews, both in their internal and external affairs; and this attitude of his accounts satisfactorily for the love and devotion shown by them toward him; as the chronicler says, “he was the first that spake words of peace unto them” (I Macc. x. 47).
NAKIPAGKASUNDO SI ALEXANDER BALAS SA HARI NG MGA JUDIO SA JUDEA NA SI JONATHAN AT GINAWA NYA ITONG PUNONG SASERDOTE AT BINIGYAN NIYA SIYA NG MARAMING PAKINABANG
Daniel 11:25 – 27 -At kaniyang kikilusin ang kaniyang kapangyarihan at ang kaniyang tapang laban sa hari sa timugan na may malaking hukbo; at ang hari sa timugan ay makikipagdigma sa pakikipagbaka na may totoong malaki at makapangyarihang hukbo; nguni’t hindi siya tatayo, sapagka’t sila’y magsisihaka ng mga panukala laban sa kaniya. Oo, silang nagsisikain ng kaniyang masarap na pagkain ay siyang magpapahamak sa kaniya, at ang kaniyang hukbo ay mapapalis; at marami ay mabubuwal na patay. At tungkol sa dalawang haring ito, ang kanilang mga puso ay magtataglay ng kasamaan, at sila’y mangagsasalita ng mga kabulaanan sa isang dulang: nguni’t hindi giginhawa; sapagka’t ang wakas ay magiging sa panahong takda pa.
In the summer of 145 BC, with enough forces raised in the north of the kingdom, which Josephus called a βnumerous and great armyβ, Alexander felt confident enough to march south to confront Demetrius and Ptolemy. Crossing the Amanus into the plain of Syria, Alexander began to plunder the countryside surrounding Antioch. The armies of the three kings finally came to battle near Antioch at the River Oenoparos. Demetrius and Ptolemy routed Alexander who escaped, but Ptolemy was thrown from his horse, fracturing his skull. Alexander meanwhile had fled with five hundred picked men to Abae, in what Diodorus calls, Arabia to seek refuge with an allied Arab prince. However two of Alexanderβs officers, Heliades and Casius, negotiated their own safety and volunteered to assassinate Alexander, which they did. Alexanderβs head was brought to Ptolemy, who had briefly regained consciousness following his fracture. Some days later he died at the hands of his surgeons who were operating on him. With Alexander murdered and Ptolemy dead, Demetrius was undisputed ruler of the Seleucid kingdom.
“Natalo sa giyera si Alexander Balas sa anak ni Demetrius I na si Demetrius III na gumanti sa kanya dahil sa pagpatay nya at pag-agaw ng trono sa ama nito dahil ang biyenan nya na si Ptolemy na dati nyang kakampi ay kumampi na kay Demetrius III. Nang tumakas sya habang sugatan at humingi ng tulong sa Arabia ay ipinagkanulo sya ng dalawa nyang kasama para mailigtas ang kanilang mga buhay. Sila mismo ang pumatay kay Alexander Balas, pinugot ang ulo nya at dinala kay Ptolemy na kanyang biyenan na naging kaaway nya na namatay din dahil sa tinamong sugat kaya si Demetrius III na ang naging hari ng mga Seleciuds.
Daniel 11:28 –Kung magkagayo’y babalik siya sa kaniyang lupain na may malaking kayamanan; at ang kaniyang puso ay magiging laban sa banal na tipan; at siya’y gagawa ng kaniyang maibigan, at babalik sa kaniyang sariling lupain.
After Jannaeus succeeded early in the war, the rebels asked for Seleucid assistance. Judean insurgents joined forces with Demetrius III Eucaerus to fight against Jannaeus. Alexander had gathered six thousand, two hundred mercenaries and twenty thousand Jews for battle as Demetrius had forty thousand soldiers and three thousand horses. There were attempts from both sides to persuade each other to abandon positions but were unsuccessful. The Seleucid forces defeated Jannaeus at Shechem, and all of Alexander’s mercenaries were killed in battle. This defeat forced Alexander to take refuge in the mountains. In sympathy towards Jannaeus, six thousand Judean rebels ultimately returned to him. In fear of this news, Demetrius withdrew. Nevertheless, war between Jannaeus and the rebels who returned to him continued. They fought until Alexander achieved victory. Most of the rebels died in battle, while the remaining rebels fled to the city of Bethoma until they were defeated.
Jannaeus had brought the surviving rebels back to Jerusalem where he had eight hundred Jews, primarily Pharisees, crucified. Before their deaths, Alexander had the rebels’ wives and children executed before their eyes as Jannaeus ate with his concubines. Alexander later returned the land he had seized from the Nabateans in order to have them end their support for the Jewish rebels. The remaining rebels, who numbered eight thousand, fled by night in fear of Alexander. Afterward, all rebel hostility ceased and Alexander’s reign continued undisturbed.
“Nang mamatay na si Alexander Balas, ang mga rebeldeng Judio ay humingi ng tulong kay Demetrius III upang labanan ang kanilang malupit na hari na si Jonathan o Alexander Jannaeus na nakaipagkaisa noon kay Alexander Balas at hinayaan silang alipinin at pagmalupitan ng mga Seleciuds kapalit ng maraming pakinabang. Matatalo na sana si Jonathan sa laban at tumakas na ito papuntang bundok pero naawa sa kanya ang maraming rebeldeng Judio at bumalik sa kanya. Dahil dito ay umurong na si Demetrius III sa laban. Pero talagang masama ang hari ng Judea na si Jonathan dahil nilabanan parin nya ang mga rebelde na naawa sa kanya kaya nagbalik palibhasa ay umatras na ang kakampi nila na si Demetrius III at marami sa kanila ang napatay sa labanan, ang ibang mga buhay pa ay dinala nya pabalik sa Jerusalem at doon pinagpapatay kasama ang kanilang mga asawa at anak.”
Jonathan the Hasmonean
Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai), king of Judea from (103 BCE to 76 BCE)
His likely full Hebrew name was Jonathan; he may have been the High Priest Jonathan, rather than his great-uncle of the same name, who established the Masada fortress. Under the name King Yannai, he appears as a wicked tyrant in the Talmud, reflecting his conflict with the Pharisee party. He is among the more colorful historical figures little known, however, outside specialized history, although the impact of him and his widow on the subsequent development of Judaism and Christianity is substantial. The excution of the Pharisees by Alexander Jannaeus, showing the King and his Court feasting during the executions. Engraving by Willem Swidde, 17th century. An avid supporter of the aristocratic Hellenist faction known as the Sadducees, his reign was constantly challenged by opponents, among them a brother with a rival claim to the throne, and the populist urban-based Pharisee party. At the beginning of his reign Alexander Jannaeus halted the suppression of the Pharisees and the Sages for a while, under the influence of his wife Salome Alexandra (said to be the sister of the great Jewish sage Shimon ben Shetach). This gave him time and resources to increase his power and prestige by extending the territory under his rule through war and conquest. As his power grew, however, he enlisted foreign soldiers to suppress his own people and eliminate the Pharisees. One year during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, Alexander Jannaeus, while officiating as the High Priest (Kohen Gadol) at the Temple in Jerusalem, demonstrated his support of the Sadducees by denying the law of the water libation. The crowd responded with shock at his mockery and showed their displeasure by pelting Alexander with the etrogim (citrons) that they were holding in their hands. Unwittingly, the crowd had played right into Alexander’s hands. He had intended to incite the people to riot and his soldiers fell upon the crowd at his command. The soldiers slew more than 6,000 people in the Temple courtyard. A civil war started, in which the Pharisees allied with the Seleucids king Demetrius III against Alexander Jannaeus. He first retreated, but then managed to oust his rivals thanks to popular support against the Seleucid invasion of Judea. During the civil war, Alexander Jannaeus suppressed his rivals brutally, killing his brother and many leading Pharisees. The New Century Book of Facts writes: “It is said that 50,000 perished in this civil strife. He quelled a revolt at Jerusalem by slaughtering 6,000. On his return from a short exile into which he had been driven by the Pharisees, he caused 800 rebels to be crucified before him and their wives and children slaughtered (86 B.C.
Daniel 11:29-30 -Sa takdang panahon ay babalik siya, at papasok sa timugan; nguni’t hindi magiging gaya ng una ang huli. Sapagka’t mga sasakyan sa Chittim ay magsisiparoon laban sa kaniya; kaya’t siya’y mahahapis, at babalik, at magtataglay ng galit laban sa banal na tipan, at gagawa ng kaniyang maibigan: siya nga’y babalik, at lilingapin yaong nangagpabaya ng banal na tipan.
By 87 BC, Demetrius III had most of Syria under his authority. He attempted to appease the public by promoting the importance of the local Semitic gods, and he might have given Damascus the dynastic name Demetrias. By late 87 BC, Demetrius III attacked Philip I in the city of Beroea, where Philip I’s allies called on the Parthians for help. The allied forces routed Demetrius III and besieged him in his camp; he was forced to surrender and spent the rest of his life in exile in Parthia. Philip I took Antioch, while Antiochus XII, another brother of Demetrius III, took Damascus.
ANG HULING HARI NG SELECIUD KINGDOM NA SI PHILIP II PHILOROMAEUS AY KAIBIGAN NG MGA ROMANO
Philip II Philoromaeus (Greek: ΦίλιΟΟΞΏΟ α½ Ξ¦ΞΉΞ»ΞΏΟΟΞΌΞ±αΏΞΏΟ, “Friend of the Romans”) or Barypous (ΞΞ±ΟΟΟΞΏΟ
Ο, “Heavy-foot”), a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom, was the son of the Seleucid king Philip I Philadelphus.
Philip II himself briefly ruled parts of Syria in the 60s BC, as a client king under Pompey. He competed with his second cousin Antiochus XIII Asiaticus for the favours of the great Roman general, but Pompey would have none of them and had Antiochus murdered. No coins of Philip II are known, which is unusual for Seleucid rulers (the ephemeral Seleucus V Philometor is the only other king for whom this is the case). This may indicate that Philip did not rule in any of the mint cities.
Philip may have survived his depositin: a Seleucid prince Philip is mentioned as a prospective bridegroom to queen Berenice IV of Egypt, sister of Cleopatra VII in 56 BC. The union was, however, checked by the Roman governor of Syria Aulus Gabinius who probably had Philip II killed.
Philip himself was indeed an insignificant pawn, but with him ended eleven generations of Seleucid kings, arguably some of the most influential rulers of the Hellenistic world.
ANG MGA PARISEONG MAGKAPATID NA NAG-AAGAWAN SA PAGKAHARI NA MGA ANAK NG MASAMANG HARI NG MGA JUDIO NA SI JONATHAN NA NAKIPAGKASUNDO NOON SA IMPOSTOR NA HARI NA SELECIUD NA SI ALEXANDER BALAS AT TUMALIKOD SA LAYUNIN NG MGA SASERDOTE NA LABANAN ANG MGA SELECIUDS NA MALULUPIT SA MGA JUDIO ANG NAGBUKAS NG TEMPLO NG JERUSALEM SA MGA ROMANO AT PUMATAY SA MGA SASERDOTE NA NAGHAHANDOG DOON
Originally, the Hasmonaeans were a Jewish priestly family from Mode’in, who claimed descent from a man named HaΕ‘mΓ΄n, who was the father or great-grandfather of the first known member of the family, Mattathias.
Since 167 BCE, Mattathias organized the armed resistance against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164), who had started a persecution of the Jews.
In 165, his son Judas the Maccabaean (perhaps “battle hammer”) was able to reconquer the Temple of Jerusalem and restore the cult, an event that is still celebrated by the Jews at the annual Hanuka festival. Antiochus’ successor Antiochus V Eupator (164-162) appointed a new high priest, Alcimus. Judas and – after his death in 161 – his brother Jonathan went on to conquer neighboring territories.
In 152, the Seleucid pretender Alexander Balas appointed Jonathan as high priest. Actually, this was not allowed, because the new official did not belong to the Zadokite family, but neither had Alcimus been, so the appointment was accepted. (It has been argued, however, that this was the incident that caused the ‘teacher of righteousness’ to leave Jerusalem and organize the sect of Qumran.) The struggle against the Seleucid kings continued in these years, and it lasted until 142 before the war aims -end of the garrison at Jerusalem and end of the tribute- were reached.
Numismatic evidence shows that the royal title was first accepted by Alexander Jannaeus, who conquered Galilee. The royal title, however, traditionally belonged to the family of David, whose descendants were still alive. There was an open conflict between the Hasmonaean dynasty and the Pharisees, which lasted from 94-86. When Alexander was succeeded by his wife Alexandra, Pharisees were accepted in official functions, which meant the end of this quarrel.
After Alexandra’s death, two brothers started a civil war: Hyrcanus, the oldest, and Aristobulus, the most energetical. At first, Aristobulus became king, but the Roman general Pompey was convinced by the arguments of Hyrcanus’ servant Antipater that Hyrcanus was the rightful king. He took Jerusalem in 63, which was the beginning of the Roman period in the Jewish history.
According to Josephus, the Pharisees appeared before Pompey asking him to interfere and restore the old priesthood while abolishing the royalty of the Hasmoneans altogether (“Ant.” xiv. 3, Β§ 2). Pharisees also opened Jerusalem’s gates to the Romans, and actively supported them against the Sadducean faction.[25] When the Romans finally broke the entrance to the Jerusalem’s Temple, the Pharisees killed the priests who were officiating the Temple services on Saturday.[26] They regarded Pompey’s defilement of the Temple in Jerusalem as a divine punishment of Sadducean misrule.
Pompey ended the monarchy in 63 BCE and named Hyrcanus II high priest and ethnarch (a lesser title than “king”). Six years later Hyrcanus was deprived of the remainder of political authority and ultimate jurisdiction was given to the Proconsul of Syria, who ruled through Hyrcanus’s Idumaean associate Antipater, and later Antipater’s two sons Phasael (military governor of Judea) and Herod (military governor of Galilee). In 40 BCE Aristobulus’s son Antigonus overthrew Hyrcanus and named himself king and high priest, and Herod fled to Rome.
The Siege of Jerusalem (63 BC) occurred during Pompey the Great’s campaigns in the east, shortly after his successful conclusion of the Third Mithridatic War. Pompey had been asked to intervene in a dispute over inheritance to the throne which turned into a war between Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II for the throne of the Hasmonean Kingdom. His conquest of Jerusalem, however, spelled the end of Jewish independence and the incorporation of Judea as a client kingdom of the Roman Republic.
Hyrcanus II still had supporters in the city. They opened a gate, probably situated in the northwestern part of the city wall, and let the Romans in. This allowed Pompey to take hold of Jerusalem’s upper city, including the Royal Palace, while Aristobulus’ party held the eastern portions of the cityβthe Temple Mount and the City of David. The Jews consolidated their hold by breaking down the bridge over the Tyropoeon Valley connecting the upper city with the Temple Mount. Pompey offered them the chance to surrender, but when they refused, he began prosecuting the siege with vigour. Pompey had his forces construct a wall of circumvallation around the areas held by the Jews and then pitched his camp within the wall, to the north of the Temple. Here stood a saddle allowing access to Temple, and it was therefore guarded by the citadel known as the Baris, augmented by a ditch. A second camp was erected south-east of the Temple.
The troops then set about filling the ditch protecting the northern part of the Temple enclosure and building two ramparts, one next to the Baris and the other on the west, while the defenders, from their superior position, sought to hinder Roman efforts. When the banks were complete, Pompey erected siege towers and brought up siege engines and battering rams from Tyre. Under the protection of slingers driving the defenders from the walls, these began to batter the walls surrounding the Temple. After three months, Pompey’s troops finally managed to overthrow one of the Baris’ towers and were able to enter the Temple precinct, both from the citadel and from the west. First over the wall was Faustus Cornelius Sulla, son of the former dictator and a senior officer in Pompey’s army. He was followed by two centurions, Furius and Fabius, each leading a cohort, and the Romans soon overcame the defending Jews. 12,000 were slaughtered, while only a few Romans troops were killed.
Pompey himself entered the Temple’s Holy of Holies which only the High Priest was allowed to enter, thereby desecrating it. He did not remove anything, neither its treasures nor any funds, and the next day ordered the Temple cleansed and its rituals resumed. Pompey then headed back to Rome, taking Aristobulus with him for his triumphal procession.
ROMANS AND SELECIUDS
Antiochus III the Great attempted to project Seleucid power and authority into Hellenistic Greece, but his attempts were thwarted by the Roman Republic and by Greek allies such as the Kingdom of Pergamon, culminating in a Seleucid defeat at the 190 BC Battle of Magnesia. In the subsequent Treaty of Apamea in 188 BC, the Seleucids were compelled to pay costly war reparations and relinquished claims to territories west of the Taurus Mountains.
The Parthians under Mithridates I of Parthia conquered much of the remaining eastern part of the Seleucid Empire in the mid-2nd century BC, while the independent Greco-Bactrian Kingdom continued to flourish in the northeast. However, the Seleucid kings continued to rule a rump state from Syria until the invasion by Armenian king Tigranes the Great in 83 BC and their ultimate overthrow by the Roman general Pompey in 63 BC.
After a brief occupation by the Armenian king Tigranes, the Roman general Pompey abolished the monarchy without a blow in 64 BCE, turning Syria into a Roman province. Rome initially preserved the imperial vassal state system as it had existed under the later Seleucids, taking over the Seleucidsβ role as protectors of cities. In Mesopotamia and Iran the Parthians, too, appropriated the role of the Seleucids as imperial suzerains rather than creating an entirely new state, just as Alexander and the Seleucids had done when they took over from the Achaemenids.
Since the late 1970s, the increasing availability of cuneiform documents from Hellenistic Babylonia and a broadening focus in archeology, has evidenced the continuity of Mesopotamian culture in the Seleucid period, including the perpetuation of monarchic traditions (Oelsner, 1978 and 1986; Downey, 1988; Briant, 1990; Kuhrt and Sherwin-White, 1994; Linssen, 2004); cultural and political continuity presumably was even stronger in Iran. In Babylon, the Seleucids presented themselves as traditional kings, taking care of the maintenance of ziggurats and occasionally partaking in the Akitu ritual.
Seleucid satraps were entrusted with collecting tribute, levying troops, and keeping the peace. At the center of the empire were the so-called Friends of the King (philoi tou basileΕs), to whom the king distributed offices, commands, landed estates, and favors on an ad hoc basis. The philoi were predominantly Greeks and Macedonians from civic elite families, associated with the royal family by means of (actual or fictive) kinship and ritualized guest-friendship. Because the philoi maintained bonds with their families and cities of origin, they were at the center of a complex network of patronage relations, through which the monarchy exercised influence in cities; conversely, the philoi acted as intermediaries promoting the interests of cities at court. There also was much discord at court, between rival factions of philoi but especially between factions formed around the queens: because the Seleucid kings practiced polygamy, concluding various diplomatic marriages without creating a strict hierarchy between the respective wives and their sons, succession could easily become brutal conflict.
The Seleucid state was basically a military oration extracting tribute. The king was a warrior before all else (Gehrke, 1982). The single most important legitimization of kingship was military victory. The empireβs territory was the kingβs personal doriktΔtos chΕra βspear-won land.β The ruler posed as an invincible βspear-fighter,β capable of changing the outcome of battle almost single-handedly, and thus qualified to protect his people and warrant peace. The heroic prestige of the king was a legacy from pre-Hellenistic Macedonia, associated with the superhuman heroism of Homeric epic; it appealed, too, to the Iranian nobility ruling the rural and mountainous areas in Bactria, Iran, Armenia, and Anatolia (Gropp, 1984; see Brosius, 2003 for an opposite view). The heroic ethos compelled kings to personally lead the army into battle. Seleucid kings campaigned virtually each year, and the history of the kingdom is a history of continuous warfare.
The Seleucid legacy in Asia was strong, because Hellenism was established in Asia during two centuries of Seleucid rule. The method of dating years in Asia, for example, was called the Seleucid Era, beginning at the return of Seleucos I to Babylon in 311 BCE, which was continued to be used as late as the 6th century CE. In fact, the Seleucid legacy lasted throughout Roman, Parthian and Sassanid dominion until the Arabian invasions of the 7th century CE introduced Islam.
As with many of the Hellenistic states that formed after the death of Alexander the Great, the Seleucid armies were based on the Macedonian model and its troops were primarily of Greco-Macedonian origin. Since the Seleucid realm covered much of the eastern portions of the former Persian Empire, its kings had to rely on Eastern people to man its army. They relied on troops that used the Macedonian phalanx, archers from the Eastern peoples and cavalry. Also, the Seleucids had a supply of Indian war elephants which was used to cause fear amongst their enemies. Like the Ptolemies with their wealth, the Seleucid kings had managed to recruit all kinds of people as mercenaries from the Indians living on the Indus to the people of Crete and Galatia. With their wars against Rome, the Seleucids attempted to create units of troops that copied the Roman legions. By 63 B.C.E., the Seleucid Empire along with its army had disbanded. Many of the heavy cavalry was rumored to join the Roman armies in Asia.
SINASABING ANG MGA SUNDALONG SELECIUDS AY HINDI TALAGANG NAWALA KUNDI SUMANIB SA MGA SUNDALONG ROMANO
Daniel 11:31 -At mga pulutong ay magsisitayo sa kaniyang bahagi, at kanilang lalapastanganin ang santuario, sa makatuwid baga’y ang kuta, at aalisin ang palaging handog na susunugin, at kanilang ilalagay ang kasuklamsuklam na naninira.
Daniel 11:32 –At ang gayon na gumagawa na may kasamaan laban sa tipan, ay mahihikayat niya sa pamamagitan ng mga daya; nguni’t ang bayan na nakakakilala ng kanilang dios ay magiging matibay, at gagawa ng kabayanihan.
Daniel 11:33-35 – At silang marunong sa bayan ay magtuturo sa marami; gayon ma’y mangabubuwal sila sa pamamagitan ng tabak at ng liyab, ng pagkabihag at ng samsam, na maraming araw. Pagka nga sila’y mangabubuwal, sila’y tutulungan ng kaunting tulong; nguni’t marami ay magsisipisan sa kanila na may mga daya. At ang ilan sa kanila na pantas ay mangabubuwal, upang dalisayin sila, at linisin, at paputiin, hanggang sa panahon ng kawakasan; sapagka’t ukol sa panahon pang takda.
SINIRA NG MGA ROMANO ANG TEMPLO SA JERUSALEM AT PINAGPAPATAY ANG MGA JUDIO NA NAROROON
Romans Destroy the Temple at Jerusalem, 70 AD
In the year 66 AD the Jews of Judea rebelled against their Roman masters. In response, the Emperor Nero dispatched an army under the generalship of Vespasian to restore order. By the year 68, resistance in the northern part of the province had been eradicated and the Romans turned their full attention to the subjugation of Jerusalem. That same year, the Emperor Nero died by his own hand, creating a power vacuum in Rome. In the resultant chaos, Vespasian was declared Emperor and returned to the Imperial City. It fell to his son, Titus, to lead the remaining army in the assault on Jerusalem.
Roman CenturianThe Roman legions surrounded the city and began to slowly squeeze the life out of the Jewish stronghold. By the year 70, the attackers had breached Jerusalem’s outer walls and began a systematic ransacking of the city. The assault culminated in the burning and destruction of the Temple that served as the center of Judaism.
In victory, the Romans slaughtered thousands. Of those sparred from death: thousands more were enslaved and sent to toil in the mines of Egypt, others were dispersed to arenas throughout the Empire to be butchered for the amusement of the public. The Temple’s sacred relics were taken to Rome where they were displayed in celebration of the victory.
The rebellion sputtered on for another three years and was finally extinguished in 73 AD with the fall of the various pockets of resistance including the stronghold at Masada.
“…the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy.”
Our only first-hand account of the Roman assault on the Temple comes from the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. Josephus was a former leader of the Jewish Revolt who had surrendered to the Romans and had won favor from Vespasian. In gratitude, Josephus took on Vespasian’s family name – Flavius – as his own. We join his account as the Romans fight their way into the inner sanctum of the Temple:
“…the rebels shortly after attacked the Romans again, and a clash followed between the guards of the sanctuary and the troops who were putting out the fire inside the inner court; the latter routed the Jews and followed in hot pursuit right up to the Temple itself. Then one of the soldiers, without awaiting any orders and with no dread of so momentous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and, climbing on another soldier’s back, hurled the flaming brand through a low golden window that gave access, on the north side, to the rooms that surrounded the sanctuary. As the flames shot up, the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy; they flocked to the rescue, with no thought of sparing their lives or husbanding their strength; for the sacred structure that they had constantly guarded with such devotion was vanishing before their very eyes.
…No exhortation or threat could now restrain the impetuosity of the legions; for passion was in supreme command. Crowded together around the entrances, many were trampled down by their companions; others, stumbling on the smoldering and smoked-filled ruins of the porticoes, died as miserably as the defeated. As they drew closer to the Temple, they pretended not even to hear Caesar’s orders, but urged the men in front to throw in more firebrands. The rebels were powerless to help; carnage and flight spread throughout.
Most of the slain were peaceful citizens, weak and unarmed, and they were butchered where they were caught. The heap of corpses mounted higher and higher about the altar; a stream of blood flowed down the Temple’s steps, and the bodies of those slain at the top slipped to the bottom.
When Caesar failed to restrain the fury of his frenzied soldiers, and the fire could not be checked, he entered the building with his generals and looked at the holy place of the sanctuary and all its furnishings, which exceeded by far the accounts current in foreign lands and fully justified their splendid repute in our own.
As the flames had not yet penetrated to the inner sanctum, but were consuming the chambers that surrounded the sanctuary, Titus assumed correctly that there was still time to save the structure; he ran out and by personal appeals he endeavored to persuade his men to put out the fire, instructing Liberalius, a centurion of his bodyguard of lancers, to club any of the men who disobeyed his orders. But their respect for Caesar and their fear of the centurion’s staff who was trying to check them were overpowered by their rage, their detestation of the Jews, and an utterly uncontrolled lust for battle.
TitusMost of them were spurred on, moreover, by the expectation of loot, convinced that the interior was full of money and dazzled by observing that everything around them was made of gold. But they were forestalled by one of those who had entered into the building, and who, when Caesar dashed out to restrain the troops, pushed a firebrand, in the darkness, into the hinges of the gate Then, when the flames suddenly shot up from the interior, Caesar and his generals withdrew, and no one was left to prevent those outside from kindling the blaze. Thus, in defiance of Caesar’s wishes, the Temple was set on fire.
While the Temple was ablaze, the attackers plundered it, and countless people who were caught by them were slaughtered. There was no pity for age and no regard was accorded rank; children and old men, laymen and priests, alike were butchered; every class was pursued and crushed in the grip of war, whether they cried out for mercy or offered resistance.
Through the roar of the flames streaming far and wide, the groans of the falling victims were heard; such was the height of the hill and the magnitude of the blazing pile that the entire city seemed to be ablaze; and the noise – nothing more deafening and frightening could be imagined.
There were the war cries of the Roman legions as they swept onwards en masse, the yells of the rebels encircled by fire and sword, the panic of the people who, cut off above, fled into the arms of the enemy, and their shrieks as they met their fate. The cries on the hill blended with those of the multitudes in the city below; and now many people who were exhausted and tongue-tied as a result of hunger, when they beheld the Temple on fire, found strength once more to lament and wail. Peraea and the surrounding hills, added their echoes to the deafening din. But more horrifying than the din were the sufferings.
The Temple Mount, everywhere enveloped in flames, seemed to be boiling over from its base; yet the blood seemed more abundant than the flames and the numbers of the slain greater than those of the slayers. The soldiers climbed over heaps of bodies as they chased the fugitives.”
Daniel 11:36-39 – At ang hari ay gagawa ng ayon sa kaniyang kalooban; at siya’y magmamalaki, at magpapakataas ng higit kay sa bawa’t dios, at magsasalita ng mga kagilagilalas na bagay laban sa Dios ng mga dios; at siya’y giginhawa hanggang sa ang galit ay maganap; sapagka’t ang ipinasiya ay gagawin. Wawaling bahala niya ang mga dios ng kaniyang mga magulang, o ang nasa man sa mga babae, o pakukundanganan man ang sinomang dios; sapagka’t siya’y magmamalaki sa lahat. Kundi bilang kahalili ay pararangalan niya ang dios ng mga katibayan; at isang dios na hindi nakilala ng kaniyang mga magulang ay kaniyang pararangalan ng ginto, at pilak, at ng mga mahalagang bato at ng mga maligayang bagay. At siya’y magbabagsak ng mga matibay na kuta sa tulong ng ibang dios; sinomang kumilala sa kaniya, mananagana sa kaluwalhatian; at pagpupunuin niya sila sa marami, at kaniyang babahagihin ang lupa sa halaga.
2 Tesalonica 2:2-4 -Upang huwag kayong madaling makilos sa inyong pagiisip, at huwag din naman kayong mabagabag maging sa pamamagitan man ng espiritu, o sa pamamagitan ng salita, o sa pamamagitan ng sulat na waring mula sa amin, na wari bagang nalalapit na ang kaarawan ng Panginoon; Huwag kayong padaya kanino man sa anomang paraan: sapagka’t ito’y hindi darating, maliban nang dumating mula ang pagtaliwakas, at mahayag ang taong makasalanan, ang anak ng kapahamakan. Na sumasalangsang at nagmamataas laban sa lahat na tinatawag na Dios o sinasamba; ano pa’t siya’y nauupo sa templo ng Dios, na siya’y nagtatanyag sa kaniyang sarili na tulad sa Dios.
Daniel 8:23 -At sa huling panahon ng kanilang kaharian, pagka ang mananalangsang ay nagsidating sa kapuspusan, isang hari ay babangon na may mabagsik na pagmumukha, at nakaunawa ng malabong salita.
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Daniel 8:24 – At ang kaniyang kapangyarihan ay magiging dakila, nguni’t hindi sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang sariling kapangyarihan; at siya’y lilipol na kamanghamangha, at giginhawa, at gagawa ng kaniyang maibigan; at kaniyang lilipulin ang mga makapangyarihan at ang banal na bayan.
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Daniel 8:10-12 – At lumaking mainam, hanggang sa hukbo sa langit; at ang ilan sa hukbo at sa mga bituin ay iniwaksi sa lupa, at mga niyapakan yaon. Oo, nagmalaki, hanggang sa prinsipe ng hukbo; at inalis niya sa kaniya ang palaging handog na susunugin, at ang dako ng kaniyang santuario ay ibinagsak. At ang hukbo ay nabigay sa kaniya na kasama ng palaging handog na susunugin dahil sa pagsalangsang; at kaniyang iniwaksi ang katotohanan sa lupa, at gumawa ng kaniyang maibigan at guminhawa.
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Pahayag 13:1-8 – At siya’y tumayo sa buhanginan ng dagat. At nakita ko ang isang hayop na umaahon sa dagat, na may sangpung sungay at pitong ulo, at sa kanilang mga sungay ay may sangpung diadema, at sa kaniyang mga ulo ay mga pangalan ng kapusungan. At ang hayop na aking nakita ay katulad ng isang leopardo, at ang kaniyang mga paa ay gaya ng sa oso, at ang kaniyang bibig ay gaya ng bibig ng leon: at ibinigay sa kaniya ng dragon ang kaniyang kapangyarihan, at ang kaniyang luklukan, at dakilang kapamahalaan. At nakita ko ang isa sa kaniyang mga ulo na waring sinugatan ng ikamamatay; at ang kaniyang sugat na ikamamatay ay gumaling: at ang buong lupa’y nanggilalas sa hayop; At sila’y nangagsisamba sa dragon, sapagka’t ibinigay niya ang kaniyang kapamahalaan sa hayop; at nangagsisamba sa hayop, na nangagsasabi, Sino ang kagaya ng hayop? at sinong makababaka sa kaniya? At binigyan siya ng isang bibig na nagsasalita ng malalaking bagay at mga kapusungan: at binigyan siya ng kapamahalaan, upang magpatuloy na apat na pu’t dalawang buwan. At binuka niya ang kaniyang bibig sa mga kapusungan laban sa Dios, upang pusungin ang kaniyang pangalan, at ang kaniyang tabernakulo, gayon din naman ang mga nananahan sa langit. At ipinagkaloob sa kaniya na makipagbaka sa mga banal, at pagtagumpayan sila; at binigyan siya ng kapamahalaan sa bawa’t angkan at bayan at wika at bansa. At ang lahat ng nangananahan sa lupa ay magsisisamba sa kaniya, na ang kanikaniyang pangalan ay hindi nasusulat sa aklat ng buhay ng Cordero na pinatay buhat nang itatag ang sanglibutan.
Pahayag 13:11-18 – At nakita ko ang ibang hayop na umaahon sa lupa; at may dalawang sungay na katulad ng sa isang kordero, at siya’y nagsasalitang gaya ng dragon. At kaniyang isinasagawa ang buong kapamahalaan ng unang hayop sa kaniyang paningin. At pinasasamba niya ang lupa at ang nangananahan dito sa unang hayop, na gumaling ang sugat na ikamamatay. At siya’y gumagawa ng mga dakilang tanda, na ano pa’t nakapagpapababa ng kahit apoy mula sa langit hanggang sa lupa sa paningin ng mga tao. At nadadaya niya ang mga nananahan sa lupa dahil sa mga tanda na sa kaniya’y ipinagkaloob na magawa sa paningin ng hayop; na sinasabi sa mga nananahan sa lupa, na dapat silang gumawa ng isang larawan ng hayop na mayroon ng sugat ng tabak at nabuhay. At siya’y pinagkaloobang makapagbigay ng hininga sa larawan ng hayop, upang ang larawan ng hayop ay makapangusap, at maipapatay naman ang lahat ng hindi sumasamba sa larawan ng hayop. At ang lahat, maliliit at malalaki, at mayayaman at mga dukha, at ang mga laya at ang mga alipin ay pinabigyan ng isang tanda sa kanilang kanang kamay, o sa noo; At nang huwag makabili o makapagbili ang sinoman, kundi siyang mayroong tanda, sa makatuwid ay ng pangalan ng hayop o bilang ng kaniyang pangalan. Dito’y may karunungan. Ang may pagkaunawa ay bilangin ang bilang ng hayop; sapagka’t siyang bilang ng isang tao: at ang kaniyang bilang ay Anim na raan at anim na pu’t anim.
MAGMUMULA SA KANLURAN ANG MASAMANG HARI NA ITO
Daniel 11:40-43 – At sa panahon ng kawakasan ay makikipagkaalit sa kaniya ang hari sa timugan; at ang hari sa hilagaan ay paroroon laban sa kaniya na gaya ng isang ipoipo, na may mga karo, at may mga mangangabayo, at may maraming sasakyan; at kaniyang papasukin ang mga lupain, at aabot at lalagpas. Siya’y papasok din naman sa maluwalhating lupain, at maraming lupain ay mababagsak; nguni’t ang mga ito ay mangaliligtas mula sa kaniyang kamay: ang Edom, at ang Moab, at ang puno ng mga anak ni Ammon. Kaniyang iuunat din naman ang kaniyang kamay sa mga lupain; at ang lupain ng Egipto ay hindi makatatakas. Nguni’t siya’y magtataglay ng kapangyarihan sa mga kayamanang ginto at pilak, at sa lahat na mahalagang bagay sa Egipto; at ang mga taga Libia at ang mga taga Etiopia ay susunod sa kaniyang mga hakbang.
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Daniel 8:25 -At sa kaniyang paraan ay kaniyang palulusugin ang pagdaraya sa kaniyang kamay; at siya’y magmamalaki ng kaniyang loob, at sa kanilang ikatitiwasay ay papatay ng marami: siya’y tatayo rin laban sa prinsipe ng mga prinsipe; nguni’t siya’y mabubuwal hindi ng kamay.
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Daniel 11:44-45 – Nguni’t mga balita na mula sa silanganan at mula sa hilagaan ay babagabag sa kaniya; at siya’y lalabas na may malaking kapusukan upang gumiba at lumipol sa marami. At kaniyang itatayo ang mga tolda ng kaniyang palasio sa pagitan ng dagat at ng maluwalhating banal na bundok; gayon ma’y darating siya sa kaniyang wakas, at walang tutulong sa kaniya.
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Daniel 7:9-8 – Aking minasdanhanggang sa ang mga luklukan ay nangaglagay, at isa na matanda sa mga araw ay nakaupo: ang kaniyang suot, maputing parang niebe, at ang buhok ng kaniyang ulo ay parang taganas na lana; ang kaniyang luklukan ay mga liab na apoy, at ang mga gulong niyaon ay nagniningas na apoy. Isang mabangis na sigalbo ay lumabas at nagmula sa harap niya: mga libo libo ang naglilingkod sa kaniya, at makasangpung libo na sangpung libo ang nagsitayo sa harap niya: ang kahatulan ay nalagda, at ang mga aklat ay nangabuksan. Ako’y tumingin nang oras na yaon dahil sa tinig ng mga dakilang salita na sinalita ng sungay; ako’y tumingin hanggang sa ang hayop ay napatay, at ang kaniyang katawan ay nagiba, at siya’y nabigay upang sunugin sa apoy.
Papatayin ang hayop ng maghahari na may kasamang marami nyang mga lingkod na tumutukoy sa Panginoong Jesu-Cristo at sa kanyang mga lingkod na nakalakip sa unang pagkabuhay namaguli na magsisipaghari sa loob ng isang libong taon.
Pahayag 18:1-24 -Pagkatapos ng mga bagay na ito ay nakita ko ang ibang anghel na nananaog mula sa langit, na may dakilang kapamahalaan; at ang lupa ay naliwanagan ng kaniyang kaluwalhatian. At siya’y sumigaw ng malakas na tinig, na nagsasabi, Naguho, naguho ang dakilang Babilonia, at naging tahanan ng mga demonio, at kulungan ng bawa’t espiritung karumaldumal, at kulungan ng bawa’t karumaldumal at kasuklamsuklam na mga ibon. Sapagka’t dahil sa alak ng galit ng kaniyang pakikiapid ay nangaguho ang lahat ng mga bansa; at ang mga hari sa lupa ay nangakiapid sa kaniya, at ang mga mangangalakal sa lupa ay nagsiyaman dahil sa kapangyarihan ng kaniyang kalayawan. At narinig ko ang ibang tinig na mula sa langit, na nagsasabi, Mangagsilabas kayo sa kaniya, bayan ko, upang huwag kayong mangaramay sa kaniyang mga kasalanan, at huwag kayong magsitanggap ng kaniyang mga salot: Sapagka’t ang kaniyang mga kasalanan ay umabot hanggang sa langit at naalaala ng Dios ang kaniyang mga katampalasanan. Ibigay din ninyo ang ayon sa ibinigay niya sa inyo, at ibayuhin ninyo ng ibayo sa kaniyang mga gawa: sa sarong kaniyang pinaghaluan ay ipaghalo ninyo siya ng ibayo. Kung gaano ang pagkakapagmapuri, at pagkapamuhay na malayaw, ay gayon din naman ang ibigay ninyo sa kaniyang pahirap at pagluluksa: sapagka’t sinasabi niya sa kaniyang puso, Ako’y nakaupong reina, at hindi ako bao, at hindi ko makikita kailan man ang pagluluksa. Kaya’t darating sa isang araw ang mga salot sa kaniya, kamatayan at pagluluksa, at gutom; at siya’y lubos na susunugin sa apoy; sapagka’t malakas ang Panginoong Dios na humatol sa kaniya. At ang mga hari sa lupa, na nangakiapid at nangabuhay na malayaw na kasama niya, ay mangagsisiiyak at mangagsisitaghoy tungkol sa kaniya, pagkakita nila ng usok ng kaniyang pagkasunog, At nangakatayo sa malayo dahil sa takot sa pahirap sa kaniya, na nangagsasabi, Sa aba, sa aba ng dakilang bayang Babilonia, ng bayang matibay! sapagka’t sa isang oras ay dumating ang hatol sa iyo. At ang mga mangangalakal sa lupa ay mangagsisiiyak at mangagluluksa tungkol sa kaniya, sapagka’t wala nang bibili pa ng kaniyang kalakal; Ng kalakal na ginto at pilak, at mahalagang bato, at mga perlas, at mainam na lino, at kayong kulay ube, at sutla, at kayong pula; at sarisaring mababangong kahoy, at bawa’t kasangkapang garing, at bawa’t kasangkapang mahalagang kahoy, at tanso, at bakal, at marmol; At kanela, at especias, at incienso, at ungguento, at kamangyan, at alak, at langis, at mainam na harina, at trigo, at mga baka, at mga tupa; at kalakal na mga kabayo at mga karo, at mga alipin; at mga kaluluwa ng mga tao. At ang mga bungang pinipita mo ay nangapalayo sa iyo, at lahat ng mga bagay na maiinam at mariringal ay nangalipol sa iyo, at hindi na mangasusumpungan pa. Ang mga mangangalakal ng mga bagay na ito, na nangagsiyaman dahil sa kaniya, ay mangagsisitayo sa malayo dahil sa takot sa pahirap sa kaniya, na nagsisiiyak at nagsisipagluksa; Na nangagsasabi, Sa aba, sa aba, niyaong dakilang bayan, siya na nararamtan ng mahalagang lino at ng kayong kulay ube, at pula, at napapalamutihan ng ginto at ng mahalagang bato at ng perlas! Sapagka’t sa loob ng isang oras ay nalipol ang gayong malaking kayamanan. At bawa’t pinunong daong, at bawa’t naglalayag saan mang dako, at ang mga mangdaragat, at lahat ng nagsisipaghanap-buhay sa dagat, ay nangakatayo sa malayo, At nangagsisisigaw pagkakita sa usok ng kaniyang pagkasunog, na nangagsasabi, Anong bayan ang katulad ng dakilang bayan? At sila’y nangagbubuhos ng alabok sa kanilang mga ulo, at nagsisigawan, na nagiiyakan at nagtataghuyan, na nangagsasabi, Sa aba, sa aba, ang dakilang bayan, na siyang iniyaman ng lahat na may mga daong sa dagat dahil sa kaniyang mga kayamanan! sapagka’t sa loob ng isang oras ay nalipol. Magalak ka tungkol sa kaniya, Oh langit, at kayong mga banal, at kayong mga apostol, at kayong mga propeta; sapagka’t inihatol ng Dios ang inyong hatol sa kaniya. At dinampot ng isang anghel na malakas ang isang bato, na gaya ng isang malaking gilingang bato, at inihagis sa dagat, na sinasabi, Gayon sa isang kakilakilabot na pagkahulog, igigiba ang Babilonia, ang dakilang bayan, at hindi na masusumpungan pa. At ang tinig ng mga manunugtog ng alpa, at ng mga musiko at ng mga manunugtog ng plauta, at ng mga manunugtog ng pakakak ay hindi na maririnig pa sa iyo; at wala nang manggagawa ng anomang gawa ay masusumpungan pa sa iyo; at ang ugong ng gilingan ay hindi na maririnig pa sa iyo; At ang ilaw ng ilawan ay hindi na liliwanag pa sa iyo, at ang tinig ng kasintahang lalake at ng kasintahang babae ay hindi na maririnig pa sa iyo; sapagka’t ang mga mangangalakal mo ay naging mga pangulo sa lupa; sapagka’t dinaya ng iyong panggagaway ang lahat ng mga bansa. At nasumpungan sa kaniya ang dugo ng mga propeta, at ng mga banal, at ng lahat ng mga pinatay sa lupa.
ANG BABAE AT ANG HAYOP
Pahayag 17:3-18 – At ako’y kaniyang dinalang nasa Espiritu sa isang ilang: at nakita ko ang isang babae na nakasakay sa isang hayop na pula, na puno ng mga pangalang pamumusong, na may pitong ulo at sangpung sungay. At nararamtan ang babae ng kulay-ube at ng pula, at nahihiyasan ng ginto at ng mga mahalagang bato at mga perlas, na sa kaniyang kamay ay may isang sarong ginto na puno ng mga kasuklamsuklam, at ng mga bagay na marurumi ng kaniyang pakikiapid, At sa kaniyang noo ay nakasulat ang isang pangalan, HIWAGA, DAKILANG BABILONIA, INA NG MGA PATUTOT AT NG MGA KASUKLAMSUKLAM SA LUPA. At nakita ko ang babae na lasing sa dugo ng mga banal, at sa dugo ng mga martir ni Jesus. At nang aking makita siya ay nanggilalas ako ng malaking panggigilalas. At sinabi sa akin ng anghel, Bakit ka nanggilalas? Sasabihin ko sa iyo ang hiwaga ng babae, at ng hayop na sinasakyan niya, na may pitong ulo at sangpung sungay. At ang hayop na nakita mo ay naging siya, at wala na; at malapit ng umahon sa kalaliman, at patungo sa kapahamakan. At silang mga nananahan sa lupa ay manggigilalas na ang kanilang pangalan ay hindi nakasulat sa aklat ng buhay mula nang itatag ang sanglibutan, pagkakita nila sa hayop, kung paano naging siya at wala na, at darating. Narito ang pagiisip na may karunungan. Ang pitong ulo ay pitong bundok na kinauupuan ng babae: At sila’y pitong hari; ang lima ay nanga buwal, ang isa’y narito, ang isa ay hindi pa dumarating; at pagdating niya ay dapat magtagal na sangdaling panahon. At ang hayop na naging siya, at wala na, ay siya ring ikawalo at siya’y sa pito at siya’y patungo sa kapahamakan. At ang sangpung sungay na iyong nakita ay sangpung hari, na hindi pa nagsisitanggap ng kaharian; datapuwa’t magsisitanggap sila ng kapamahalaang paghahari na isang oras na kasama ng hayop. Ang mga ito ay may isang kaisipan, at ibinibigay nila ang kanilang kapangyarihan at kapamahalaan sa hayop. Makikipagbaka ang mga ito laban sa Cordero, at sila’y dadaigin ng Cordero, sapagka’t siya’y Panginoon ng mga panginoon at Hari ng mga Hari; at ng mga kasama niya, na mga tinawag at mga pili at mga tapat ay nananaig din. At sinabi niya sa akin, Ang tubig na iyong nakita, na kinauupuan ng patutot, ay mga bayan, at mga karamihan, at mga bansa, at mga wika. At ang sangpung sungay na iyong nakita, at ang hayop, ay siyang nangapopoot sa patutot, at siya’y pababayaan at huhubaran, at kakanin ang kaniyang laman, at siya’y lubos na susupukin ng apoy. Sapagka’t inilagay ng Dios sa kanilang mga puso na gawin ang kaniyang kaisipan, at mangagkaisa ng kaisipan, at ibigay ang kanilang kaharian sa hayop, hanggang sa maganap ang mga salita ng Dios. At ang babae na iyong nakita ay ang dakilang bayan, na naghahari sa mga hari sa lupa.
Ang Panaginip Ni Haring Nabucodonosor Na Hari Ng Babilonia Na Ipinaliwanag Ni Propeta Daniel
Daniel 2:27 -Si Daniel ay sumagot sa harap ng hari, at nagsabi, Ang lihim na itinatanong ng hari ay hindi maipaaaninaw sa hari kahit ng mga pantas na tao, ng mga enkantador, ng mga mahiko man, o ng mga manghuhula man.
Daniel 2:28- Nguni’t may isang Dios sa langit na naghahayag ng mga lihim, at siyang nagpapaaninaw sa haring Nabucodonosor kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga huling araw. Ang iyong panaginip, at ang pangitain ng iyong ulo sa iyong higaan ay ang mga ito:
Daniel 2:29 -Tungkol sa iyo, Oh hari, ang iyong mga pagiisip ay dumating sa iyo sa iyong higaan, kung ano ang mangyayari sa panahong darating; at siya na naghahayag ng mga lihim ay ipinaaninaw sa iyo kung ano ang mangyayari.
Daniel 2:30 -Nguni’t tungkol sa akin ang lihim na ito ay hindi nahayag sa akin ng dahil sa anomang karunungan na tinamo kong higit kay sa sinomang may buhay, kundi upang maipaaninaw sa hari ang kahulugan at upang iyong maalaman ang mga pagiisip ng iyong puso.
Daniel 2:31 -Ikaw, Oh hari, nakakita, at narito, ang isang malaking larawan. Ang larawang ito na makapangyarihan, at ang kaniyang kakinangan ay mainam, ay tumayo sa harap mo; at ang anyo niyao’y kakilakilabot.
Daniel 2:32 -Tungkol sa larawang ito, ang kaniyang ulo ay dalisay na ginto, ang kaniyang dibdib at ang kaniyang mga bisig ay pilak, ang kaniyang tiyan at ang kaniyang mga hita ay tanso,
Daniel 2:33 -Ang kaniyang mga binti ay bakal, ang kaniyang mga paa’y isang bahagi ay bakal, at isang bahagi ay putik na luto.
Daniel 2:34 -Iyong tinitingnan hanggang sa may natibag na isang bato, hindi ng mga kamay, na tumama sa larawan sa kaniyang mga paang bakal at putik na luto, at mga yao’y binasag.
Daniel 2:35 -Nang magkagayo’y ang bakal, ang putik na luto, ang tanso, ang pilak, at ang ginto ay nagkaputolputol na magkakasama, at naging parang dayami sa mga giikan sa tagaraw; at tinangay ng hangin na walang dakong kasumpungan sa mga yaon: at ang bato na tumama sa larawan ay naging malaking bundok, at pinuno ang buong lupa.
Daniel 2:36 -Ito ang panaginip; at aming sasaysayin ang kahulugan niyaon sa harap ng hari.
Daniel 2:37 -Ikaw, Oh hari, ay hari ng mga hari, na pinagbigyan ng Dios sa langit ng kaharian, ng kapangyarihan, at ng kalakasan, at ng kaluwalhatian;
Daniel 2:38 -At alin mang tinatahanan ng mga anak ng mga tao, ng mga hayop sa parang at ng mga ibon sa himpapawid ay ibinigay sa iyong kamay, at pinapagpuno ka sa kanilang lahat: ikaw ang ulo na ginto.
Daniel 2:39 -At pagkatapos mo ay babangon ang ibang kaharian na mababa sa iyo; at ang ibang ikatlong kaharian na tanso na magpupuno sa buong lupa.
Daniel 2:40 -At ang ikaapat na kaharian ay magiging matibay na parang bakal, palibhasa’y ang bakal ay nakadudurog at nakapagpapasuko ng lahat na bagay; at kung paanong dinidikdik ng bakal ang lahat ng ito, siya’y magkakaputolputol at madidikdik.
Daniel 2:41 -At yamang iyong nakita na ang mga paa at mga daliri, ang isang bahagi ay putik na luto ng magpapalyok, at ang isang bahagi ay bakal, ay magiging kahariang hati; nguni’t magkakaroon yaon ng kalakasan ng bakal, yamang iyong nakita na ang bakal ay nahahalo sa putik na luto.
Daniel 2:42 -At kung paanong ang mga daliri ng paa ay bakal ang isang bahagi at ang isang bahagi ay putik, magkakagayon ang kaharian na ang isang bahagi ay matibay, at isang bahagi ay marupok.
Daniel 2:43 -At yamang iyong nakita na ang bakal ay nahahaluan ng putik na luto, sila’y magkakahalo ng lahi ng mga tao; nguni’t hindi sila magkakalakipan, gaya ng bakal na hindi lumalakip sa putik.
Daniel 2:44 –At sa mga kaarawan ng mga haring yaon ay maglalagay ang Dios sa langit ng isang kaharian, na hindi magigiba kailan man, o ang kapangyarihan man niyao’y iiwan sa ibang bayan; kundi pagpuputolputulin at lilipulin niya ang lahat na kahariang ito, at yao’y lalagi magpakailan man.
Daniel 2:45 -Yamang iyong nakita na ang isang bato ay natibag sa bundok, hindi ng mga kamay, at pumutol ng mga bakal, ng tanso, ng putik, ng pilak, at ng ginto; ipinaalam ng dakilang Dios sa hari kung ano ang mangyayari sa haharapin: at ang panaginip ay tunay at ang pagkapaaninaw niyao’y tapat.
Pahayag 20:6 -Mapalad at banal ang makalakip sa unang pagkabuhay na maguli: sa mga ito’y walang kapangyarihan ang ikalawang kamatayan; kundi sila’y magiging mga saserdote ng Dios at ni Cristo, at mangaghaharing kasama niya sa loob ng isang libong taon.
Pahayag 20:1-4 – At nakita ko ang isang anghel na nananaog mula sa langit, na may susi ng kalaliman at isang malaking tanikala sa kaniyang kamay. At sinunggaban niya ang dragon, ang matandang ahas, na siyang Diablo at Satanas, at ginapos na isang libong taon, At siya’y ibinulid sa kalaliman at sinarhan, at tinatakan ito sa ibabaw niya, upang huwag ng magdaya sa mga bansa, hanggang sa maganap ang isang libong taon: pagkatapos nito ay kailangang siya’y pawalang kaunting panahon. At nakakita ako ng mga luklukan, at may mga nagsisiluklok sa mga ito, sila’y pinagkalooban ng paghatol: at nakita ko ang mga kaluluwa ng mga pinugutan ng ulo dahil sa patotoo ni Jesus, at dahil sa salita ng Dios, at ang mga hindi sumamba sa hayop, o sa kaniyang larawan man, at hindi tumanggap ng tanda sa kanilang noo at sa kanilang kamay; at sila’y nangabuhay, at nagsipagharing kasama ni Cristo sa loob ng isang libong taon.
ANG NAIS NI ALEXANDER THE GREAT KAYA SYA NANANAKOP NOON AY MAKA-ESTABLISH NG ISANG “COMMON WORLD”
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
It can be argued that the world did become qualitatively betterβmore people could communicate with and trade with more people and many came to share a common world view that enabled ideas about the dignity of man, derived from Alexander’s teacher, Aristotle, to flourish.
If, however, his efforts at bridging cultural and racial barriers and the legacy of a more unified and inter-connected world is taken into consideration, he may qualify to keep his title.
Tripolitis (2001) comments that scholars have tended to argue that Alexander βwas not motivated solely by the desire for territoryβ¦but also by the goal of establishing a common worldβ (9). More recently, though, attempts have been made to prove otherwise and to argue that Alexander was motivated by the desire for personal glory (10).
Alexander integrated non-Greeks into his army and administration, leading some scholars to credit him with a βpolicy of fusion.β He encouraged marriage between Greeks and non-Greeks, and practiced it himself. This was extremely unusual for the ancient world. His conquests ushered in centuries of Greco-Macedonian settlement and rule over non-Greek areas, a period known as the Hellenistic Age. Alexander himself lived on in the history and myth of both Greek and non-Greek peoples. Already during his lifetime, and especially after his death, his exploits inspired a literary tradition in which he appears as a towering legendary hero in the tradition of Homer’s Achilles.
In an attempt to craft a lasting harmony between his Macedonian and Persian subjects, he held a mass marriage of his senior officers to Persian and other noblewomen at Opis. Not all of the intercultural marriages that Alexander arranged for his soldiers lasted. However, some did. For example, the marriage between Alexander’s General, Seleucus and the daughter of Spitamenes, the Sogdian chief, did. This helped to break down the old distinction between βbarbariansβ (non-Greeks) and Greeks in the territory surrounding modern-day Syria that Seleucus inherited on Alexander’s death.
ANG EMPERYO NG SELECIUD NA NAGMULA KAY ALEXANDER THE GREAT AY MAY PANUNTUNAN NG PAGKAKAROON NG MAGANDANG RELASYON SA MGA MAYAYAMAN, MAIMPLUWENSYA AT MAKAPANGYARIHANG MGA TAO
The many cities founded or refounded by Alexander, Seleucus I, and Antiochus I along the main arteries of the Near East, populated partly with Greek and Macedonian immigrants, partly with local peoples, formed the cornerstones of Seleucid rule, both military and economically. In addition, many military colonies, known as katoikia in Asia Minor, were founded and garrisoned by Macedonians who received land from the crown in exchange for military service. Since most cities, the Greek as well as the non-Greek, were formally autonomous, maintaining good relations with civic elites was an essential part of imperial rule. Kings therefore presented themselves as the benefactors and protectors of cities, particularly west of the Zagros mountains. In return, the Greeks honored the kings as divine βsaviorsβ (sΕtΔres), awarding them divine honors accordingly. From the reign of Antiochos III onward, a centralized state cult of the deified king and queen was institutionalized. The Seleucid family claimed descent from the savior god Apollo. For the sake of the non-Greek subjects, Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were equated with the various local Sun and Moon gods worshipped in the multi-polytheistic empire. Starting with the reign of Antiochus IV, the Seleucids associated their rule with the cosmic kingship of Zeus, who could likewise be identified with non-Greek sky gods.
ANG MGA MUSLIMS AY IMPLUWENSYADO NG TRADISYON AT KAUGALIAN NG MGA SELECIUDS
MUSLIMS AND SELECIUDS
After World War II, a revival of interest in the Seleucids tended to stress their eastern, rather than western “center of gravity;” “the Seleucids were presented as continuators of the Persian empire whose center of gravity lay in Babylonia, rather than in the west.”[4] Seleucid patronage of learning may have influenced the Muslim scholars who, following the conquest of Syria, began to translate Greek (or commissioned translations) of Greek texts into Arabic. Recognizing as did Aquinas, who cited Muslim sources, that there are two sources of knowledge, scripture and “reason” Muslims synthesized Greek and Islamic ideas. Later, some Muslim philosophers were even accused of substituting “the infallibility of the Quran with that of Plato.” Others claim that what emerged from this meeting of traditions was a “synthesis between Greek philosophy and Islam” which has been described as a major intellectual “achievement.”[8] Antioch, where Christian scholarship continued to flourish well into the Islamic period, where rhetoric and law were especially popular, may have impacted Islamic thinking, since “These two disciplines were also later to become fruitful areas of Muslim scholarship.” In this way, the world has been enriched by scholars from many traditions who have transmitted, corrected and added to “to a tradition that stretches back to Aristotle and beyond, each bound to his predecessor by a shared devotion to truth” irrespective of race, creed or ethnicity.[9] It was this type of cultural synthesis that led to the Enlightenment.[10] Were the Muslims also influenced by the tradition of Alexander and of the Seleucids that did not usually try to displace existing customs but to create a synthesis? Alexander himself is credited with creating “Hellenism,” which was “synthesis of Greek culture” with “the civilization of the ancient near east.”[11]
“ANG IMPLUWENSYA NG MGA SELECIUDS AY HINDI TALAGANG NAWALA KAHIT NATALO SILA NG MGA ROMANO KUNDI NAGPATULOY SA ILALIM NG MGA ROMANO AT NAGPAPATULOY PARIN HANGGANG SA NGAYON”
Sources:
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Alexander_the_Great
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Seleucid_Empire
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/seleucid-empire
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Balas
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/jewishtemple.htm
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/stamboom-homs/I6000000012136439392.php
https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alexander-balasdeg
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1136-alexander-balas-king-of-syria
https://www.livius.org/articles/dynasty/hasmonaeans/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrcanus_II
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(63_BC)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demetrius_III_Eucaerus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_Philoromaeus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Jannaeus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrcanus_II
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes
https://www.edb.gov.hk
References:
Josephus’ account appears in: Cornfield, Gaalya ed., Josephus, The Jewish War
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