Matthew-John

Herod the Great was around 70 years old when Jesus was born, and at the height of his power.  After a few murders and bribes, Herod succeeded in getting the Roman senate to appoint him king of the Jews.  But when he arrived, Jerusalem had closed their gates and refused to let him in.  He forced his way in and took control.

MATTHEW 2:2, 7 ~ After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. The wise men [magi] asked people, “Where is the child that has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw the star rise in the sky in the east. We came to worship him”…. Then Herod had a private meeting with the wise men [magi] from the east. Herod learned from the wise men [magi] the exact time they first saw the star. = متى الفصل 2

2  قَائِلِينَ: «أَيْنَ هُوَ الْمَوْلُودُ مَلِكُ الْيَهُودِ؟ فَإِنَّنَا رَأَيْنَا نَجْمَهُ فِي الْمَشْرِقِ وَأَتَيْنَا لِنَسْجُدَ لَهُ».

7  حِينَئِذٍ دَعَا هِيرُودُسُ الْمَجُوسَ سِرّاً وَتَحَقَّقَ مِنْهُمْ زَمَانَ النَّجْمِ الَّذِي ظَهَرَ.

At this time there was a Magi Tribe in western India according to Bhavishya Purana and it was considered the priestly tribe.  There was a Magi Tribe in Media according to Herodotus i. 101, but they were not as influential after Media united with Persia.  When Babylon eventually merged with Persia, the Chaldeans were considered to be magi.  The term “magi” eventually came to mean mystic incantations, astrology, etc. Although the religious writings of India and Medio-Persia do not include significance of a single star as associated with kingship, the writings of ancient Daniel who lived in Babylon and Persia do.

MATTHEW 2:16 ~ Herod gave an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole area around Bethlehem. Herod had learned from the wise men the time {the baby was born}. It was now two years from that time. So Herod said to kill all the boys that were two years old and younger. = متى الفصل 2

16  حِينَئِذٍ لَمَّا رَأَى هِيرُودُسُ أَنَّ الْمَجُوسَ سَخِرُوا بِهِ غَضِبَ جِدّاً فَأَرْسَلَ وَقَتَلَ جَمِيعَ الصِّبْيَانِ الَّذِينَ فِي بَيْتِ لَحْمٍ وَفِي كُلِّ تُخُومِهَا مِنِ ابْنِ سَنَتَيْنِ فَمَا دُونُ بِحَسَبِ الزَّمَانِ الَّذِي تَحَقَّقَهُ مِنَ الْمَجُوسِ.

Historian Flavius Josephus, who lived during the time of Herod and Jesus, tells in his “Antiquities of the Jews” of Herod killing his favorite wife Mariam, his brother-in-law, his father-in-law, two of his sons and others ~ all out of jealousy and fear they would take his throne from him and kill him.  He even killed another son while on his deathbed because that son thought his father was dead and declared himself king of the Jews.

MATTHEW 2:19  ~ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. This happened while Joseph was in Egypt. = متى الفصل 2

In 2007, a Hebrew University archaeologist uncovered Herod’s tomb at Herodium, a massive white-stone complex near Jerusalem, Herod‘s desert retreat.  It housed a fortified palace, administrative buildings, gardens, and ritual baths.  It was surprisingly found halfway up the mound.  There they found a slab of high-quality, highly ornamented pink limestone. They also found Herod‘s regally ornate sarcophagus.

MATTHEW 2:22a ~But Joseph heard that Archelaus was now king in Judea. Archelaus became king when his father Herod died. So Joseph was afraid to go there. Joseph was warned in a dream. = متى الفصل 2

22 وَلَكِنْ لَمَّا سَمِعَ أَنَّ أَرْخِيلاَوُسَ يَمْلِكُ عَلَى الْيَهُودِيَّةِ عِوَضاً عَنْ هِيرُودُسَ أَبِيهِ خَافَ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ إِلَى هُنَاكَ. وَإِذْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ فِي حُلْمٍ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى نَوَاحِي الْجَلِيلِ.

According to Roman records and contemporary historian, Josephus, Herod the Great’s son, Herod Archelaeus was to become the next king of the Jews upon his father’s death. He was even more cruel than his father.  Two years after the beginning of his reign, he put down a riot of the Jews against him by killing 3000 of them there in Jerusalem. Therefore, Augustus Caesar named him ethnarc and parts of the kingdom to his brothers, Herod Philip and Herod Antipas.  But Archelaeus‘ cruelty continued.  After further complaints to Caesar by the Jewish leaders, in 6 AD he was banished to Gaul.  Then Augusta made Samaria, Idumea and Judea a Roman province to be ruled by a Roman governor.

In 63 BC, Roman Proconsul Pompeius Magnus (“Pompey the Great”)  secured Judea for Rome. When Queen Alexandra Salome died around 63 BC and a civil war broke out between her sons, Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II, Proconsul Pompey laid siege to Jerusalem to get it under control and make the high priest, Hyrcanus, the leader of Judea.  It took three months to break through the gates of the city and put Hyrcanus in power.

Eventually political rule passed to the Herod the Great’s father as a Roman prelate and later to Herod the Great as a client king appointed by Rome. A couple years after Herod the Great’s death, Judea came under direct Roman rule as a province of Rome. It was common to see Roman soldiers on patrol in all cities.

In 1838, the American achaeologist, Edward Robinson discovered the ruins of the ancient Capernaum.  Excavations began in 1905.  They uncovered two public buildings and a Jewish synagogue.  More building foundations have been uncovered since then.  Artifacts and building foundations reveal that the town was build in the second century BC.

MATTHEW 9:9 ~ When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew. Matthew was sitting at his place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Then Matthew stood up and followed Jesus. = متى الفصل 9

MATTHEW 11:20-21 ~ Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. Jesus criticized those cities because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning. Jesus said, “It will be bad for you …Bethsaida.” = متى الفصل 11

20 حِينَئِذٍ ابْتَدَأَ يُوَبِّخُ الْمُدُنَ الَّتِي صُنِعَتْ فِيهَا أَكْثَرُ قُوَّاتِهِ لأَنَّهَا لَمْ تَتُبْ:
21 «وَيْلٌ لَكِ يَا كُورَزِينُ! وَيْلٌ لَكِ يَا بَيْتَ صَيْدَا! لأَنَّهُ لَوْ صُنِعَتْ فِي صُورَ وَصَيْدَاءَ الْقُوَّاتُ الْمَصْنُوعَةُ فِيكُمَا لَتَابَتَا قَدِيماً فِي الْمُسُوحِ وَالرَّمَادِ.

Herod Antipas was brother of Herod Archelaeus and Herod Philip.  Their father, Herod the Great, divided his kingdom among his three sons.  Herod Antipas was given Galilee, a province in the north, and Perea, a province east of the Jordan River, and given the title “tetrarch” (ruler of one fourth).  His brother, Herod Philip, was given all the provinces east of the Jordan River except Perea (southern Jordan today).  Although Herod the Great’s will was contested before Tiberius Caesar, Caesar decided to honor it as written.

MATTHEW 14:1 ~ At that time Herod [Antipas], the ruler {of Galilee}, heard the things people said about Jesus. = متى الفصل 14

1  فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ سَمِعَ هِيرُودُسُ رَئِيسُ الرُّبْعِ خَبَرَ يَسُوعَ

(LUKE 23:6-7 ~ Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee. Pilate learned that Jesus was under [Governor]  Herod’s authority. Herod [Antipas] was in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate sent Jesus to him.) = لوقا الفصل 23

6  فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ بِيلاَطُسُ ذِكْرَ الْجَلِيلِ سَأَلَ: «هَلِ الرَّجُلُ جَلِيلِيٌّ؟»
7  وَحِينَ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ سَلْطَنَةِ هِيرُودُسَ أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى هِيرُودُسَ إِذْ كَانَ هُوَ أَيْضاً تِلْكَ الأَيَّامَ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ.

Herod Antipas built the city of Tiberius in Galilee on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and named it after the emperor.  He built it over an old Jewish cemetery. He had the bodies removed, but the Jews refused to live there. He had to resort to bribery to get any inhabitants, many of which were Gentiles.  (SEE ABOVE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HEROD ANTIPAS.)

 

Sidon has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC.  It was one of the most important Phoenician/Canaanite cities,  Being on the Mediterranean Sea, it developed into a city with many skills in creating glass, embroidery, etc., and a world-wide trade.  Homer praised Sidon.  It is said that Sidon later had a hand in founding the city of Tyre south of it.  It has been fought over and controlled by Egypt starting in 1450 BCE, then Assyria 900 BCE and Persia around 539 BC.  It is part of Lebanon which used to be called Phoenecia.

 

MATTHEW 16:13 ~ Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus said to his followers, “I am the Son of Man. = متى الفصل 16

13  وَلَمَّا جَاءَ يَسُوعُ إِلَى نَوَاحِي قَيْصَرِيَّةِ فِيلُبُّسَ سَأَلَ تَلاَمِيذَهُ: «مَنْ يَقُولُ النَّاسُ إِنِّي أَنَا ابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ؟»

Caesarea Philippi was built in a region called Panion/Banias after the Greek god Pan.  It included shrines close to the spring called “Paneas”. Also it had a temple, courtyards, a grotto and niches for rituals, all dedicated to Pan. It was constructed on a cliff which towered over the city.  In the past, a giant spring gushed from a cave set in the limestone bedrock and flowed in a waterfall down to the valley.  Caesarea Philippi was at the foot of Mount Hermon.

n 1988 Pepperdine University, in association with the Israeli Antiquities Authority, began excavations in the center of Caesarea Philippi, a few hundred miles south of the cave. Here they discovered what they believe to be the palace of Herod Agrippa II built with fine Roman architectural design.

MATTHEW 20:29 ~ When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, many, many people followed Jesus. = متى الفصل 20

29 وَفِيمَا هُمْ خَارِجُونَ مِنْ أَرِيحَا تَبِعَهُ جَمْعٌ كَثِيرٌ

Tell es-Sultan is ancient Jericho.  It was first excavated in the very early 1900s and periodically since then.  The city is many thousands of years old, but was destroyed around 1550.  It remained uninhabited until the 9th century BC. In the 8th century BC, the Assyrians invaded it.  Later the Babylonians did.  Around 550 BC, the city was emptied of people, which was during the period that the Jews were exiled to
Babylon.  Cyrus the Great of Persia repopulated the city when he allowed the Jews to return to their former homeland.

However, they settled a mile southeast of the former site of Jericho (Tel es-Samrat). Between 336 and 323 BC, Alexander the Great made it his personal estate.  Around 30 BC, Rome gave Jericho to Herod the Great.  He built there a hippodrome-theatre and new aqueducts to irrigate the area below the cliffs and reach his winter palace built at the site of Tulul al-Alaiq.  Remains of both still survive.

MATTHEW 21:1 ~ Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. But first they stopped at Bethphage at the hill called the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of his followers into the town. = متى الفصل 21

1  وَلَمَّا قَرُبُوا مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ وَجَاءُوا إِلَى بَيْتِ فَاجِي عِنْدَ جَبَلِ الزَّيْتُونِ حِينَئِذٍ أَرْسَلَ يَسُوعُ تِلْمِيذَيْنِ

The more important citizens of Jerusalem were traditionally buried on the Mount of Olives.  Near the modern village of Silwan, is where important citizens during the times of the Judean kings were buried, including some of the prophets of the Bible.  There are an estimated 150,000 graves on the Mount.  Roman soldiers camped on the Mount during the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The religious ceremony marking the start of a new month was held on the Mount of Olives after the Second Temple was built by the Jews who returned from Babylonian captivity.  The mountain is 80 meters higher than the Temple Mount and offers a panoramic view of the Temple site.

 

An early form of the silver denarius was first minted in 269 BC with an average weight of 6.8 grams or 1⁄48 th  of a Roman pound.   Rome standardized its coinage around 211 BC.  It began to experience slow deflation of value toward the end of the rule of Augustus Caesar,  At that time, its silver content fell to 3.9 grams, 1⁄84 th  of a Roman pound.

MATTHEW 22:20-21 ~Then Jesus asked, “Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on the coin?” The men answered, “It is Caesar’s picture and Caesar’s name.” Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. And give to God the things that are God’s.” = متى الفصل 22

20 فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «لِمَنْ هَذِهِ الصُّورَةُ وَالْكِتَابَةُ؟»
21 قَالُوا لَهُ: «لِقَيْصَرَ». فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «أَعْطُوا إِذاً مَا لِقَيْصَرَ لِقَيْصَرَ وَمَا لِلَّهِ لِلَّهِ».

Tiberius Caesar was one of Rome’s most famous and successful generals, conquering much of Europe, but never really wanted to be emperor.  In BC 4, Augustus Caesar adopted him, and made him co-regent in AD 13.  Augustus Caesar died the following year at age 75.  Tiberius Caesar sometimes put himself in exile to brood, or was suspicious and jealous.  There was much confusion during his reign.  He was the Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD.  Upon his death, Caligula became Caesar.

 

MATTHEW 24:1-2 ~ Jesus left the temple area [in Jerusalem] and was walking away. But his followers came to him to show him the temple’s buildings. Jesus asked the followers, “Are you looking at these buildings? I tell you the truth. They will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another.” = متى الفصل 24

1  ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَسُوعُ وَمَضَى مِنَ الْهَيْكَلِ فَتَقَدَّمَ تَلاَمِيذُهُ لِكَيْ يُرُوهُ أَبْنِيَةَ الْهَيْكَلِ.
2  فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ: «أَمَا تَنْظُرُونَ جَمِيعَ هَذِهِ؟ اَلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُتْرَكُ هَهُنَا حَجَرٌ عَلَى حَجَرٍ لاَ يُنْقَضُ!».

The triumphal Arch of Titus in Rome was built soon after the death of Titus at the order of his brother, Roman Emperor Domitian.  It commemorated the triumph of Titus, especially the destruction of Jerusalem including the temple in AD 70, nearly 40 years after Jesus’ prediction.   In AD 66 Jewish Zealots began an outright war against the Romans who had controlled their country for decades.  Titus went to Jerusalem to quell the rebellion.  Finally in the early autumn of AD 70, a fire was begun in the temple and spread to the rest of Jerusalem.  Titus took advantage of the situation and broke through the walls.  One significance of the Arch of Titus is that it depicts the seven-branched menorah and trumpets used in Jewish temple worship.

MATTHEW 26:3, 57 ~ Then the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had a meeting at the palace  where the high priest lived. The high priest’s name was Caiaphas…. The men that arrested Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The teachers of the law and the older Jewish leaders [Sanhedrin] were gathered there.  = متى الفصل 26

3  حِينَئِذٍ اجْتَمَعَ رُؤَسَاءُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَالْكَتَبَةُ وَشُيُوخُ الشَّعْبِ إِلَى دَارِ رَئِيسِ الْكَهَنَةِ الَّذِي يُدْعَى قَيَافَا

57 وَالَّذِينَ أَمْسَكُوا يَسُوعَ مَضَوْا بِهِ إِلَى قَيَافَا رَئِيسِ الْكَهَنَةِ حَيْثُ اجْتَمَعَ الْكَتَبَةُ وَالشُّيُوخُ.

Joseph, son of Caiaphas, was a Roman-appointed high priest of the Jews AD 18-36 ~ 18 years, and went by the name of Caiaphas.  He was the highest Jewish leader of the Jews since, at that time, Rome appointed Romans governors to rule the Jews.  He was leader of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews.  His power among the Jews was ultimate.  In AD 36, Vitellius, the Syrian governor, removed him from office, partly because of his cruelty.

In 1990, an ornate limestone casket (“bone box”) was found while paving a road in the Peace Forest south of the Abu Tor neighborhood two miles south of the Old City of Jerusalem.  It was in a family tomb and contained the bones of an elderly man.  On the side of the box, written in Aramaic was this:  “Yehosef bar Kayafa” (Joseph son of Caiaphas).  It is on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The Sanhedrin burial cave is also called “the tomb of the judges” in Arabic and has 71 burial niches.  The caves are surrounded by a forest planted by the Jerusalem municipality.

MATTHEW 27:1-2, 11-13, 19, 24 ~ Early the next morning, all the leading priests and older leaders of the people decided to kill Jesus.  They tied Jesus with chains. Then they led him to Pilate the governor. They gave Jesus to Pilate.  Jesus stood before Pilate the governor. Pilate asked him questions. He said, “Are you the king of the Jews?”Jesus answered, “Yes, I am.” When the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders accused Jesus, he said nothing. So Pilate said to Jesus, “You hear these people accusing you of all these things. Why don’t you answer?”… Pilate said these things while he was sitting in
the place for judging. While he was sitting there, his wife sent a message to him. The message said, “Don’t do anything with that man (Jesus). He is not guilty. And today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”… Pilate saw that he could do nothing to make the people change. And he saw that the people were becoming upset. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands so that all the people could see. Then Pilate said, “I am not guilty of this man’s death. You are the ones that are doing it!” = متى الفصل 27

1  وَلَمَّا كَانَ الصَّبَاحُ تَشَاوَرَ جَمِيعُ رُؤَسَاءِ الْكَهَنَةِ وَشُيُوخُ الشَّعْبِ عَلَى يَسُوعَ حَتَّى يَقْتُلُوهُ
2  فَأَوْثَقُوهُ وَمَضَوْا بِهِ وَدَفَعُوهُ إِلَى بِيلاَطُسَ الْبُنْطِيِّ الْوَالِي.

11  فَوَقَفَ يَسُوعُ أَمَامَ الْوَالِي. فَسَأَلَهُ الْوَالِي: «أَأَنْتَ مَلِكُ الْيَهُودِ؟» فَقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: «أَنْتَ تَقُولُ».
12  وَبَيْنَمَا كَانَ رُؤَسَاءُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَالشُّيُوخُ يَشْتَكُونَ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يُجِبْ بِشَيْءٍ.
13  فَقَالَ لَهُ بِيلاَطُسُ: «أَمَا تَسْمَعُ كَمْ يَشْهَدُونَ عَلَيْكَ؟»

19 وَإِذْ كَانَ جَالِساً عَلَى كُرْسِيِّ الْوِلاَيَةِ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ امْرَأَتُهُ قَائِلَةً: «إِيَّاكَ وَذَلِكَ الْبَارَّ لأَنِّي تَأَلَّمْتُ الْيَوْمَ كَثِيراً فِي حُلْمٍ مِنْ أَجْلِهِ».

24 فَلَمَّا رَأَى بِيلاَطُسُ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَنْفَعُ شَيْئاً بَلْ بِالْحَرِيِّ يَحْدُثُ شَغَبٌ أَخَذَ مَاءً وَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ قُدَّامَ الْجَمْعِ قَائِلاً: «إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْ دَمِ هَذَا الْبَارِّ. أَبْصِرُوا أَنْتُمْ».

Pilate was prelate (governor) of Judea from AD 26 to AD 36, the fifth Roman prelate, or procurator, of Judea. Historians of his time described him as cruel.  He even used Temple treasury funds to build an aqueduct for Jerusalem, and then mercilessly suppressed the protest that erupted in response. In AD 36, he massacred a large number of Samaritans, so was removed from office. 

The only physical, archaeological evidence that confirms the existence of Pilate is the Latin inscription found on a limestone block relating Pilate’s tribute to Tiberius. The artifact, sometimes known as the Pilate Stone, was discovered in 1961 by an archaeological team led by Antonio Frova. It is on display at the Israel Museum.  It reads:

…]S TIBERIVM

…PON]TIVS PILATVS
…PRAEF]ECTVS IVDA[EA]

MATTHEW 27:27 ~ Pilate’s soldiers brought Jesus into the governor’s palace. All the soldiers gathered around Jesus. = متى الفصل 27

27 فَأَخَذَ عَسْكَرُ الْوَالِي يَسُوعَ إِلَى دَارِ الْوِلاَيَةِ وَجَمَعُوا عَلَيْهِ كُلَّ الْكَتِيبَةِ

Ancient historian, Josephus, reported that Herod the Great’s palace was on the western hill of Jerusalem.  In 2001 parts of it was found under a corner of the Jaffa Gate citadel. Archaeologists state that in the 1st century, the Praetorium – the palace of the governor (prelate) – was on the western hill of Jerusalem.  Procurators/governors of Judea resided in Herod’s palace.

MATTHEW 27:32 ~ The soldiers were going out of the city with Jesus. The soldiers forced another man there to carry the cross for Jesus. This man’s name was Simon from Cyrene. = متى الفصل 27

32 وَفِيمَا هُمْ خَارِجُونَ وَجَدُوا إِنْسَاناً قَيْرَوَانِيّاً اسْمُهُ سِمْعَانُ فَسَخَّرُوهُ لِيَحْمِلَ صَلِيبَهُ.

Cyrene was founded in the 4th century BC by Greeks in today’s Libya.  The city spontaneously submitted itself to the rule of Alexander the Great and, at his death.  Ptolemy III Euergetes bequeathed it to the Roman people in 96 BC.  Cyrene became a Roman province in 74 BC, and was given by Mark Anthony to Cleopatra.  Temples, monuments, an agora and a forum still survive today.

MATTHEW 27:33-34 ~They came to the place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means “The Place of the Skull.”) = متى الفصل 27

33 وَلَمَّا أَتَوْا إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ جُلْجُثَةُ وَهُوَ الْمُسَمَّى «مَوْضِعَ الْجُمْجُمَةِ»
34 أَعْطَوْهُ خَلاًّ مَمْزُوجاً بِمَرَارَةٍ لِيَشْرَبَ. وَلَمَّا ذَاقَ لَمْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يَشْرَبَ.

There is a hill at the northeast side of old Jerusalem, just outside its walls, that has the shape of a skull on it. A cemetery is nearby.   It is just outside the Jaffa gate and opposite the temple and fortress of Antonio.

MATTHEW 27:35a ~ The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. = متى الفصل 27

35 وَلَمَّا صَلَبُوهُ اقْتَسَمُوا ثِيَابَهُ مُقْتَرِعِينَ عَلَيْهَا لِكَيْ يَتِمَّ مَا قِيلَ بِالنَّبِيِّ: «اقْتَسَمُوا ثِيَابِي بَيْنَهُمْ وَعَلَى لِبَاسِي أَلْقَوْا قُرْعَةً».

An Ossuary (small casket only for the bones] was found in Northern Jerusalem in an area called Giv’at ha-Mivtar.  The tombs were part of a huge Jewish cemetery of the Second Temple period (second century BC to 70 AD), from Mt. Scopus in the east to the Sanhedran tombs in the northwest.  It dated to around 10 AD and contained the remains of a young man by the name of Yehohanan [Jonathan] son of Hagkol. Among his bones was an ankle bone with a 7 inch nail through it.

It is on display at the Israel Museum.  Details of the archaeologist who explored the tomb are here: http://cojs.org/cojswiki/Crucifixion_Bone_Fragment,_21_CE

MATTHEW 27:35b-36 ~ Then the soldiers gambled with dice to decide who would get Jesus’ clothes.  The soldiers sat there and continued watching Jesus. = متى الفصل 27

35 وَلَمَّا صَلَبُوهُ اقْتَسَمُوا ثِيَابَهُ مُقْتَرِعِينَ عَلَيْهَا لِكَيْ يَتِمَّ مَا قِيلَ بِالنَّبِيِّ: «اقْتَسَمُوا ثِيَابِي بَيْنَهُمْ وَعَلَى لِبَاسِي أَلْقَوْا قُرْعَةً».
36 ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا يَحْرُسُونَهُ هُنَاكَ.

The Alexamenos graffito is the earliest known image of the crucifixion and is dated around 85 AD. It was discovered when a building called the domus Gelotiana was unearthed on the Palatine Hill in Rome. It had been the emperor Caligula’s personal house, his palace.

The rough drawing  shows a man looking at the person on the cross with one arm raised, and with this caption in Greek:  “Alexamenos worships [his] God”.  It is on display at the Paletine Museum, Rome.

MATTHEW 27:36-37 ~ The soldiers put a sign above Jesus’ head with the charge against him written on it. The sign said: “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”   Two robbers were nailed to crosses beside Jesus. One robber was put beside Jesus on the right and the other was put on the left. = متى الفصل 27

36 ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا يَحْرُسُونَهُ هُنَاكَ.
37 وَجَعَلُوا فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ عِلَّتَهُ مَكْتُوبَةً: «هَذَا هُوَ يَسُوعُ مَلِكُ الْيَهُودِ».

At first, crucifixion was a punishment for slaves.  Then it became common execution of criminals and enemies of the government.  Unless it was a mass crucifixion, the name of the condemned man’s crime was on a plaque attached to the cross.

Crucifixion was used to punish foreign captives, rebels and fugitives, especially during times of war and rebellion. Captured enemies and rebels were crucified en masse. Accounts of the suppression of the revolt of Spartacus in 71 B.C. lined the road from Capua to Rome with 6,000 crucified rebels and 6,000 crosses. After King Herod’s death, Quintilius Varus, the Roman Legate of Syria, crucified 2,000 Jews in Jerusalem. During Titus’s siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Roman troops crucified some 500 Jews.

MARK 1:21~ Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and taught the people. = مرقس الفصل 1

21 ثُمَّ دَخَلُوا كَفْرَنَاحُومَ وَلِلْوَقْتِ دَخَلَ الْمَجْمَعَ فِي السَّبْتِ وَصَارَ يُعَلِّمُ.

In 1838, the town of Capernaum was discovered by American archaeologists.  The pictured synagogue was discovered in 1866 by British archaeologists.  In 1894, Italian archaeologists purchased the land.  In 1905, German archaeologists began excavations.  In 1926, restoration work of the synagogue began, and was continued in 1976.  Although the synagogue was built around 395 AD with white blocks of calcareous stone, archaeologist Loffreda found an older foundation of basalt dating to the first century. He concluded this was the foundation of a first-century synagogue.

MARK 2:7-8 ~ Jesus went away with his followers to the lake. Many people from Galilee followed him. Many, many people also came from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from the area across the Jordan River, and from the area around Tyre and Sidon. These people came because they heard about all the things Jesus was doing. = مرقس الفصل 2

7  «لِمَاذَا يَتَكَلَّمُ هَذَا هَكَذَا بِتَجَادِيفَ؟ مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ خَطَايَا إلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ؟»
8  فَلِلْوَقْتِ شَعَرَ يَسُوعُ بِرُوحِهِ أَنَّهُمْ يُفَكِّرُونَ هَكَذَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «لِمَاذَا تُفَكِّرُونَ بِهَذَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ؟

Idumea is another name for Edom.  Edomites were descendants of Esau, grandson of Abraham and son of Isaac.  Even though who converted to Judaism were not always accepted fully by Jews who descended from Esau’s brother, Jacob (Israel).  

Assyrian inscriptions called Edomites Udumi” or “Udumu”.  Egyptian inscriptions called them “Aduma”.  After the Babylonian captivity of the Jews in the early 600s, the Greeks and Romans called them “Idumeans”.  After Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, mention of the Edomites disappeared from worldwide writings.  Pictured is an ostracon (written on pottery chard) of a receipt for flour dated to the 4th century BC in Idumea.  It is number MS 2060/1 in the Schoyen private collection in London.

MARK 5:1-2 ~ Jesus and his followers went across the lake to the area where the Gerasene people lived. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man came to him from the caves where dead people are buried. = مرقس الفصل 5

1  وَجَاءُوا إِلَى عَبْرِ الْبَحْرِ إِلَى كُورَةِ الْجَدَرِيِّينَ.
2  وَلَمَّا خَرَجَ مِنَ السَّفِينَةِ لِلْوَقْتِ اسْتَقْبَلَهُ مِنَ الْقُبُورِ إِنْسَانٌ بِهِ رُوحٌ نَجِسٌ

Gerash was one of the ten important cities of the Decapolis on the east side of the Jordan River (see below).  It was established 2000-3000 BC. Three decades after Jesus, this city was annexed by the Roman province of Syria.  It has been nicknamed the city of 1000 columns because so much of the ancient city has been preserved.

MARK 5:20; 7:31 ~ So the man left and told the people in the Ten Towns [Decapolis] about the great things Jesus did for him. All the people were amazed….Then Jesus left the area around Tyre and went through Sidon. Jesus went to Lake Galilee. Jesus went through the area of the Ten Towns [Decapolis]. = مرقس الفصل 5 – مرقس الفصل 7

20 فَمَضَى وَابْتَدَأَ يُنَادِي فِي الْعَشْرِ الْمُدُنِ كَمْ صَنَعَ بِهِ يَسُوعُ. فَتَعَجَّبَ الْجَمِيعُ.

31 ثُمَّ خَرَجَ أَيْضاً مِنْ تُخُومِ صُورَ وَصَيْدَاءَ وَجَاءَ إِلَى بَحْرِ الْجَلِيلِ فِي وَسْطِ حُدُودِ الْمُدُنِ الْعَشْرِ.

 

Jesus traveled from Tyre and Sidon on the Mediterranean Sea to the Decapolis east of the Jordan River in today’s Jordan  The cities and “suburbs” had similar political structure and language, and were considered centers of Greek and Roman culture.  They were (1) Gerasa (Jerash) in Jordan; (2) Scythopolis (Beth-Shean) in Israel; (3) Hippos (Hippus or Sussita) in Israel; (4) Gadara (Umm Qais) in Jordan; (5) Pella (West of Irbid) in Jordan; (6) Philadelphia, modern day Amman, the capital of Jordan; (7) Al Husn in Jordan; (8) Capitolias (Beit Ras) in Jordan (Dion, Jordan); (9) Canatha (Qanawat) in SyriaArabella (Irbid), in Jordan; (9) Raphana in Jordan; (10) Damascus, the capital of modern Syria.

MARK 15:46; 16:2-4   ~ Joseph bought some linen cloth. Joseph took the body {from the cross}and wrapped the body in the linen. Then Joseph put the body in a tomb (grave) that was dug in a wall of rock. Then Joseph closed the tomb by rolling a large stone to cover the entrance….Very early on that day, the first day of the week, the women were going to the tomb. …The women said to each other, “There is a large stone covering the entrance of the tomb. Who will move the stone for us?”….Then the women looked and saw that the stone was moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance. = مرقس الفصل 15 – مرقس الفصل 16

46 فَاشْتَرَى كَتَّاناً فَأَنْزَلَهُ وَكَفَّنَهُ بِالْكَتَّانِ وَوَضَعَهُ فِي قَبْرٍ كَانَ مَنْحُوتاً فِي صَخْرَةٍ وَدَحْرَجَ حَجَراً عَلَى بَابِ الْقَبْرِ.

2  وَبَاكِراً جِدّاً فِي أَوَّلِ الأُسْبُوعِ أَتَيْنَ إِلَى الْقَبْرِ إِذْ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ.
3  وَكُنَّ يَقُلْنَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ: «مَنْ يُدَحْرِجُ لَنَا الْحَجَرَ عَنْ بَابِ الْقَبْرِ؟»
4  فَتَطَلَّعْنَ وَرَأَيْنَ أَنَّ الْحَجَرَ قَدْ دُحْرِجَ! لأَنَّهُ كَانَ عَظِيماً جِدّاً.

 

Archaeologist Hershel Shanks explains that typical tombs in that area and period were carved out of rock and had a stone at the entrance.  “Like most of the tombs of this period…a cave-like cutting into the soft limestone that abounds in Jerusalem….typical Jewish tomb….On the outside, in front of the entrance to the tomb, was a forecourt….the entrance itself  blocked by a stone slab and led to a
large, carved-out chamber.”

Hundreds of tombs in Jerusalem alone have been hewn in the slopes mostly of the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopas.  Typically they had a square stone covering a narrow opening.  Bodies were placed in niches or on benches cut into the walls of the burial chambers.

1  وَبَعْدَ هَذَا كَانَ عِيدٌ لِلْيَهُودِ فَصَعِدَ يَسُوعُ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ.
2  وَفِي أُورُشَلِيمَ عِنْدَ بَابِ الضَّأْنِ بِرْكَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا بِالْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ «بَيْتُ حِسْدَا» لَهَا خَمْسَةُ أَرْوِقَةٍ.
3  فِي هَذِهِ كَانَ مُضْطَجِعاً جُمْهُورٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ مَرْضَى وَعُمْيٍ وَعُرْجٍ وَعُسْمٍ يَتَوَقَّعُونَ تَحْرِيكَ الْمَاءِ.
4  لأَنَّ ملاَكاً كَانَ يَنْزِلُ أَحْيَاناً فِي الْبِرْكَةِ وَيُحَرِّكُ الْمَاءَ. فَمَنْ نَزَلَ أَوَّلاً بَعْدَ تَحْرِيكِ الْمَاءِ كَانَ يَبْرَأُ مِنْ أَيِّ مَرَضٍ اعْتَرَاهُ.
5  وَكَانَ هُنَاكَ إِنْسَانٌ بِهِ مَرَضٌ مُنْذُ ثَمَانٍ وَثلاَثِينَ سَنَةً.
6  هَذَا رَآهُ يَسُوعُ مُضْطَجِعاً وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ زَمَاناً كَثِيراً فَقَالَ لَهُ: «أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَبْرَأَ؟»
7  أَجَابَهُ الْمَرِيضُ: «يَا سَيِّدُ لَيْسَ لِي إِنْسَانٌ يُلْقِينِي فِي الْبِرْكَةِ مَتَى تَحَرَّكَ الْمَاءُ. بَلْ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا آتٍ يَنْزِلُ قُدَّامِي آخَرُ».

The pool of Bethesda was built during the time of the first temple and was a reservoir with a dam to control release of the waters when needed.  Since it was by the sheep gate, it may have been used to wash sacrificial sheep.  After the second temple was built, a second pool was created to increase the water supply for the temple.  The two pools were separated by a central dyke.  The water was very deep (15 M, c.45 feet).  The pools combined were 50 M (about 150 feet) by 120 M (about 360 feet).

Herod the Great, who died shortly after the birth of Jesus, built a new water system for the temple, so it no longer was needed for that. So gradually it was turned into a popular healing center with Roman baths; hence the name Beth (house of) Hesda (graceful waters).  Around the pools were columns.  Five porches have been excavated at the site.

JOHN 6:23 ~ But then some boats from Tiberias came. The boats landed near the place where the people had eaten {the day before}. This was where they had eaten the bread after the Lord (Jesus) gave thanks. = يوحنا الفصل 6

23 غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ جَاءَتْ سُفُنٌ مِنْ طَبَرِيَّةَ إِلَى قُرْبِ الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي أَكَلُوا فِيهِ الْخُبْزَ إِذْ شَكَرَ الرَّبُّ –

Herod Antipas, tetrarch of the province of Galilee and son of Herod the Great, built the city Tiberias around 20 AD.  It became the capital of Galilee, and he also built a palace there.  It was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee which then began to be called the Sea of Tiberias.  At first, Herod brought in many non-Jews to populate his new city.  Within a few decades it had became the largest city in Israel.  In 2009, an amphitheater was discovered in Tiberias that could seat 7000 people.  Even today it is a sprawling metroplex.

JOHN 9:7,11 ~ Jesus told the man, “Go and wash in the pool Siloam.” (Siloam means “Sent.”) So the man went to the pool. He washed and came back. Now he was able to see….The man answered, “The man that people call Jesus made some mud. He put the mud on my eyes. Then Jesus told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went to Siloam and washed. And then I could see.” = يوحنا الفصل 9

7  وَقَالَ لَهُ: «اذْهَبِ اغْتَسِلْ فِي بِرْكَةِ سِلْوَامَ». الَّذِي تَفْسِيرُهُ مُرْسَلٌ. فَمَضَى وَاغْتَسَلَ وَأَتَى بَصِيراً.

11  أَجَابَ: «إِنْسَانٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ يَسُوعُ صَنَعَ طِيناً وَطَلَى عَيْنَيَّ وَقَالَ لِي: اذْهَبْ إِلَى بِرْكَةِ سِلْوَامَ وَاغْتَسِلْ. فَمَضَيْتُ وَاغْتَسَلْتُ فَأَبْصَرْتُ».

An early description of the Pool of Siloam by a Major Conder reads, “There is nothing picturesque about it, certainly. The crumbling walls, and fallen columns in and around it, give it an air of neglect.” It is a parallelogram about fifty-three feet long and eighteen feet wide. . . . Dr. Thomson says he has seen this pool nearly full, but that now the water merely passes through it. “The intermittent flow is supposed to be due to a natural siphon, but the natives’ explanation is that a dragon lives below and swallows the water when he is awake, but that when he sleeps it wells up freely. ”  Much of its large surroundings with broad steps and columns had already been covered over through the centuries, and eventually the pool itself was; but it was rediscovered in 2004.

Read in our History section under Nehemiah 2 for an explanation of the Dragon Well and Gihon Spring connected to the Pool of Siloam with its intermittent flow,

JOHN 19:31-33  ~ This day was Preparation day. The next day was a special Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day. So they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken {to make them die sooner}. And they asked that the bodies of the men be taken down from the crosses. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man on the cross beside Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the other man on the cross beside Jesus.  But when the soldiers came close to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus’ side. Blood and water came out. = يوحنا الفصل 19

31 ثُمَّ إِذْ كَانَ اسْتِعْدَادٌ فَلِكَيْ لاَ تَبْقَى الأَجْسَادُ عَلَى الصَّلِيبِ فِي السَّبْتِ لأَنَّ يَوْمَ ذَلِكَ السَّبْتِ كَانَ عَظِيماً سَأَلَ الْيَهُودُ بِيلاَطُسَ أَنْ تُكْسَرَ سِيقَانُهُمْ وَيُرْفَعُوا.
32 فَأَتَى الْعَسْكَرُ وَكَسَرُوا سَاقَيِ الأَوَّلِ وَالآخَرِ الْمَصْلُوبَيْنِ مَعَهُ.
33 وَأَمَّا يَسُوعُ فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَكْسِرُوا سَاقَيْهِ لأَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْهُ قَدْ مَاتَ.

 

Hershel Shanks, prominent archaeologist who discovered in a tomb in Jerusalem a chest with bones of a crucified man inside, explained that the man’s legs had been broken. “We may conclude that the executioners broke his legs on purpose in order to accelerate his death and allow his family to bury him before nightfall in accordance with Jewish custom.”