Romans and Jews in the century before Christ

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

The only time that the Romans are mentioned in the Old Testament - other than maybe a passing acknowledgment of their existence - is in the Books of Maccabees. In the First Book of Maccabees, The Jews and the Romans become allies and good friends. They renew this friendship at least twice. The Book ends approximately 130 B.C… So, what happened in that time from 130 B.C. - 1 A.D. to make the Romans no longer the friends and allies of the Jews but their oppressive conquerors?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Hello,

The only time that the Romans are mentioned in the Old Testament - other than maybe a passing acknowledgment of their existence - is in the Books of Maccabees. In the First Book of Maccabees, The Jews and the Romans become allies and good friends. They renew this friendship at least twice. The Book ends approximately 130 B.C… So, what happened in that time from 130 B.C. - 1 A.D. to make the Romans no longer the friends and allies of the Jews but their oppressive conquerors?

The term “Friend and ally of the Roman People” was a sham. The Romans used this “alliance” as a foothold to slowly (or sometimes rapidly) take over many peoples – you can read Caesar’s Gallic Wars to see how the Gallic friends and allys of the Roman people fared.

 

[NotWorthy]

The Romans would lend out soldiers to help their “allies” defend themselves, especially against other enemies of Rome.

Then the Romans would suddenly “discover” that they could run their “allies’” country better than anyone else.

I heard a phrase the other day, “When you make a deal with the devil, you don’t”. Rome is a prime example of this maxim.

 

[zagjames]

During this time also was the transition from Republic to Empire which reflected a growing militancy in the Roman people. (As if they weren’t already militant enough). After they Romans stoped fighting themselves and they had one ruler their thrist could only be conquered by turning outward. Expand or stagnate.