THE privilege of self-government in Jerusalem ended after Pompey brought the Romans in 63 BC. The Roman Senate elevated the governor of Galilee, Herod, to King of Judaea, and Herod ordered the most ambitious remodelling of Jerusalem and her Temple so far, indulging his admiration for all things Greco-Roman while trying to reassure doubters of his Jewish pride.
After his death in 4 BC, Herod’s squabbling heirs continued to blend Roman ways with Jewish and the discontent simmered on. Some, such as the Pharisees, rejected Rome’s creeping Hellenisation, and criticised Herod’s Temple as a tainted compromise.* Others renounced the Temple and its clergy altogether.
In AD 66 the Jews rebelled again, but this time Emperor Vespasian broke their resistance, and during the fighting Herod’s magnificent Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by fire.** It was never rebuilt, and in 692 Muslim invaders buried the ruins of Judaism’s holiest site under a mosque — to mark, they claimed, the place where their all-conquering general, Mohammed, had lately ascended into heaven.
For example, Herod initially put an eagle, a recognised Roman symbol, on top of the Temple gates; two enraged young scholars, Judas son of Saripheus and Matthias son of Margalothus, climbed up and tore it down. See ‘Antiquities of the Jews’ XVII.6.2, by Josephus.
** The First Jewish Revolt dragged on from 66 to 74. The Temple itself fell in 70, after soldiers defied the orders of their commander, Titus, and allowed a fire in the city to spread to the Temple.
Précis
After the Romans took control of Judaea in 63 BC, their client King, Herod, undertook a comprehensive rebuild that did not by any means meet with everyone’s approval. His Temple was ruined during the Jewish Revolt of AD 66, and never rebuilt; and following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the 7th century, a mosque was raised on the site. (60 / 60 words)
After the Romans took control of Judaea in 63 BC, their client King, Herod, undertook a comprehensive rebuild that did not by any means meet with everyone’s approval. His Temple was ruined during the Jewish Revolt of AD 66, and never rebuilt; and following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the 7th century, a mosque was raised on the site.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, if, ought, since, until, whereas, who.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Emperor. First. Remodel.
2 Consecrate. Destroy. Privilege.
3 Ambitious. Most. Try.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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