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3rd
Century BCE
Jewish population, Jerusalem: -120,000
300
290
279
278
275
272
270
261
260
3rd Century BCE 250
246
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Simon the Just. (300-270)
One of the last Men of the Great Assembly.
Repaired Temple and fortified Jerusalem.
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New arrivals in Egypt settled in garrison towns,
Alexandria. Given freedom by Ptolemy Philadelphus. Became thoroughly
Hellenized.
Seleucis induces Jews to settle new cities, e.g.
Antioch, he founded in Asia and Syria. Antioch Jews form a special political
body.
Ptolemy II (re)builds cities such as Acco, Beth
Shean, Rabbat Amman (Philadelphia)
Greeks attracted to cities on Mediterranean coast,
Transjordan; Jerusalem, Judean villages relatively un- Hellenized.
Jews autonomous; pay taxes to Greek overlord.
Poor farmers driven to slavery due to heavy land
tax organized by Jerusalem priesthood.
Egypt's Jews live largely in W. Delta, bear Greek
names, and pray in Synagogues.
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Greek historian Hecataeus, recalls Exodus and
Israelite receiving divine laws, according to Greek interpretations.
Group of Aramaic texts, Enoch I, describes
astronomical structure of sky- anticipates lunar calendar, to become major
source of contention among Jewish sects. [a]
Hellenistic norm of Pledging property for personal
credit entrenched in Jewish law.
Ptolemy II commissions 72 scholars to translate
the Torah (5 books of Moses) into Greek, known as Septuagint, served Greek-
speaking Jews for centuries.
10 commandments and Shema identifies as Jewish
prayer forms in 2nd century BCE Egyptian papyrus.
Prayer becomes increasingly the major form of
Jewish worship- even in land of Israel.
Hellenistic Jews engage in pagan practices even as
they observe Jewish worship.
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Chinese Tao teaches about relationships between
good and evil, life and death.
Manetho, Egyptian priest, writes history of Egypt
in Greek. 2nd millenium Hyksos identified as Hebrews.
Gauls invade Asia Minor after repulsion by Greeks
at Delphi
Archimedes (287-212)
Ptolemy II defends rule against Seleucids
(1st Syrian War 274-272)
Mauryan king Asoka, adopts Buddhism; attempts to
supercede cast hierarchy in India.
264-First Punic War- Rome against Cartage
2nd Syrian War- against Seleucids and
Macedonians.
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