Lecture Notes: Jodi Magness — Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus

Jodi Magness

Otago University, May 2026

1. Time Period and Historical Frame

“I’m covering a period that archaeologists… call the Herodian period.”

• Herodian Period: 40 BC (Herod appointed) to AD 70 (Temple destroyed).
• Herod the Great → his sons → Roman prefects (e.g., Pontius Pilate).
• Ends with the First Jewish Revolt and Roman destruction of Jerusalem.

2. Background Before Herod

“The country was under Jewish rule… until the year 63 BC, when it was annexed by Rome.”

• Alexander the Great conquers region (332 BC).
• Maccabean Revolt → Hasmonean Kingdom (independent Jewish rule).
• Rome annexes Judea in 63 BC.
• Romans choose Herod as client king because he is not Hasmonean.

Herod’s Identity Problem

“He wasn’t even fully Jewish, technically speaking.”

• Father: Idumean (forcibly converted under Hasmoneans).
• Mother: Nabatean (Arab).
• Many Jews viewed him as illegitimate.
• His building program aimed at winning Jewish loyalty.

3. Jerusalem Before Herod

“This is basically the Hasmonean city of Jerusalem.”

• City enclosed by the First Wall.
• Core areas: City of David (SE hill) and Southwestern Hill.
• Temple Mount existed but was smaller.

4. Herod’s Palace and the Three Towers

“He built a palace and he tucks it in to the northwest corner of the first wall.”

Herod’s Palace

• Built because the Hasmonean palace was not his lineage.
• Located at highest point of the Southwestern Hill.
• Josephus describes gardens, fountains, and two wings.

The Three Towers

“Only one of them has survived.”

• Phasael (brother), Hippicus (friend), Mariamne (wife).
• Only one survives, inside the Citadel (“Tower of David”).
• Lower courses = Herodian; upper = medieval/Ottoman.

5. Herod’s Reconstruction of the Temple and Temple Mount

“This… is really the big thing that Herod did in Jerusalem.”

The Second Temple

• Originally rebuilt 516 BC.
• Herod completely rebuilt the Temple building.
• Massively expanded the Temple Mount platform.

Engineering the Platform

“As you go south… the bedrock drops off.”

• North: bedrock cut back.
• South: supported by underground vaults (cryptoporticus).
• Later called “Solomon’s Stables” by Crusaders.

Temple Mount Layout

• Enclosure wall (Western Wall is part of this).
• Colonnades on three sides.
• Royal Stoa/Basilica on the south.
• Temple building likely where the Dome of the Rock stands today.

Commercial Activity

“The idea that the Temple Mount was a purely religious space is completely anachronistic.”

• Functioned like a Roman forum.
• Commerce, money changing, public gatherings, judicial activity.

6. Jesus and the Money Changers

“It would be completely anachronistic to think Jesus opposed commercial activity.”

• Gospels use hieron (precinct), not naos (Temple building).
• Issue was likely exploitation around the Temple tax.
• Tax required Tyrian silver coins.
• Doves sold for poor people’s sacrifices.

7. The Soreg and Gentile Access

“A low stone fence… prohibiting Gentiles… on pain of death.”

• Soreg separated inner courts from Gentiles.
• Two Greek inscriptions survive (one complete in Istanbul).
• Explains the riot in Acts when Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile inside.

8. Antonia Fortress

“He named it in honor of Mark Antony.”

• Overlooked the Temple Mount for surveillance.
• Garrisoned with non-Jewish troops.
• Lithostratos pavement and Ecce Homo arch are not Herodian.
• They are 2nd-century AD (Hadrian’s forum), not the place of Jesus’ trial.

9. Rethinking the Via Dolorosa

“The Antonia Fortress was not the praetorium.”

• Roman governors stayed in Herod’s Palace.
• Therefore the traditional Via Dolorosa route is historically incorrect.
• The real route would begin near Jaffa Gate.

10. City Walls and the Holy Sepulchre

“In order for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to be authentic, it has to be outside the wall.”

• Three walls: First, Second, Third.
• Both minimalist and maximalist reconstructions place the Second Wall so the Holy Sepulchre lies outside.
• Matches Gospel accounts.

The Garden Tomb

“Absolutely not possible.”

• Dates to Iron Age or Byzantine period.
• Not a 1st-century tomb.

11. Aftermath: Roman Victory

“The Arch of Titus… depicting the spoils from the Jerusalem Temple.”

• Arch of Titus shows the menorah carried to Rome.
• Judaea Capta coins depict a mourning Jewish woman under a date palm.

Black Lives Matter and History

John Hamilton's statue is removed after threats of vandalism

In New Zealand, the Black Lives Matter movement has led to demands that the statue of John Hamilton should be removed as it is an offense to some Maori.  Statues of Captain James Cook have been defaced.

John Hamilton was a British naval officer who fought in the New Zealand Wars.  He fell in the Battle of Gate Pa in April 1864.

Members of the Tainui tribe claim that those who took part in the Battle were murderers, not soldiers.

Historian Vincent O'Malley has suggested that local historical Maori figures were more worthy of memorial statues such as [Pōtatau] Te Wherowhero, Tāwhiao, Wiremu Tamihana, or Rewi Maniapoto.  

Ironically, some of these figures also fought on the opposing side in the New Zealand Wars.  Who is to say which side of the conflict should be memorialized?  

If one looks hard enough, one will find a moral fault or crime amongst nearly all of a society's historical figures when judged on present-day standards and perspectives.

Slavery is also caught up in the Black Lives Matters controversy because of its influence on African American history.  Slavery is an anathema in modern society.  Yet slavery was a normal part of Maori society in the 1800s and had been for hundreds of years.  

Slaves were subservient and treated as property.  Maori hired out their slaves as labour to the early settlers.  There are other aspects of Maori society that are even more inflammatory.

Ultimately, no one is faultless.  

Jesus said, he who is without sin, should cast the first stone (John 8:7).

There are two elements to solving this issue:  The first is racism.  The second is to achieve repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.

False racist ideas between two people groups about each other can be dispelled through increased contact and leadership.  

Worldviews such as Social Darwinism can be countered through an understanding that God created all of humankind and He loves all of His creation (Genesis 1).  And all of humankind is called to follow His ways (Psalm 67).  

Dispelling false ideas is not enough.  Bringing healing through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation is also necessary.

Any science fiction aficionado will know that First Contact between two societies is a fraught and risky process.  The chance of misunderstanding with potentially lethal consequences is high.

Ngati Oneone experienced first contact fatalities and are still aggrieved.  Captain James Cook suffered lethal first contact violence himself in Hawaii. 

Without forgiveness and reconciliation, the issue will continue to be a source of offense and growing animosity that will have unfortunate consequences for future generations.  

And why should we forgive?  Because God our Creator commands us to.  It is part of His 13 attributes to forgive iniquity and we are commanded to follow His ways (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).  

We must therefore also forgive iniquity.  Unless we do, whether we be Maori or Pakeha (non-Maori), there will never be lasting peace.

Black Lives Matter and Statues of Historical Figures

Police guard Churchill's statue from Black Lives Matter Protesters

Over the last few days, the Black Lives Matters movement has shifted its attention to the destruction, damage, or defacing of statues commemorating historical figures who had racist views. 

Statues of Edward Colston, Winston Churchill, and even Captain James Cook have been pulled down or defaced.

Protesters will find that each of these figures will have mixed backgrounds.  Those commemorated will have done much societal good which is why they were remembered at all.  

At the same time, they will be "guilty" of moral failures based on today's values, even though what they may have done in their time was the prevailing wisdom at the time.

A good example is Winston Churchill.  He is rightly lauded for his efforts in leading the UK to victory over the Axis powers and helping to save the world from Fascism.  

On the other hand, he believed in a hierarchy of ethnic groups, with Caucasians at the top.  But like all of humanity, he was a product of his time.  Ideas of Social Darwinism were widely held in Western societies from the late 1800s through into the middle of the 20th Century.  

Social Darwinism led to ideas such as eugenics.  Josef Mengele's evil was not inspired in a vacuum.

Should we judge Churchill based on present-day ideas and perspectives?  Yes, but we can only do so fairly if we keep in mind that his ideas were widely held in his day.  

Historians call evaluating historical events based on present-day attitudes and perspectives as "Presentism."

Some believe it should be avoided as it is a form of cultural bias.  

Others think "presentism" is a fallacy.

In my view, Presentism is unavoidable.  It's impossible to evaluate history without being biased by present-day values and worldviews.

And the conclusions drawn are not necessarily erroneous.  

So should all memory of Churchill, Colston, or Cook be censored?

No.  

The Bible itself gives us guidance about how to treat history.  

Many of its figures are not purely good nor exclusively evil.  

David was a "man after God's own heart," (1 Samuel 13:14) yet he was also an adulterer and murderer who brought much suffering upon his people (1 Samuel 11).

Yet the bible confidently portrays its historical figures as they are:  Warts along with beauty spots.

Why?  Because their examples provide both positive and negative examples for us all to learn.  

The bible's example shows that historical statues should not be hidden away.  

Instead, they should be in full view for all to see and study, so that humanity may benefit from both the positive and negative lessons that each provides.

Christchurch Mosque Attacks

The massacre on Friday, has deeply affected New Zealand. 

On the killer’s guns and ammunition magazines, he had listed a number of conflicts dating back several hundred years before the crusades between Christian and Muslim societies.

Historically many Christians and Muslims have considered themselves enemies of the other. 

Hundreds of verses of the Koran incite its followers to violence against those who refuse to acknowledge Islam as the only one true religion.

Today the majority of terrorist attacks reported in the Western world are carried out by Muslim extremists.  

Consequently Muslims have often been stereotyped  as untrustworthy, vulnerable to being radicalised  and potentially dangerous.

On the other hand, few Islamic believers know what the Koran says because it is written in Arabic, most are unaware of its incitements to violence and genuinely believe that Islam is a religion of grace, kindness and compassion.  

Even amongst many that do know of them, there are efforts to spiritualize them as allegories and metaphors, to discard them as commandments meant to be literally obeyed.  

Let’s read from Matthew 5:39,

Do not resist the one who wrongs you.

But if anyone who slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

You have heard it said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.

So to summarize:

If the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matt. 5:44). 

If he persecutes you, you are to pray for him (v. 44). 

If she publicly humiliates you, you are not to retaliate (v. 39). 

If someone takes advantage of you, you are to give even more than he asks (v. 41). 

The world preaches “Assert yourself.” Jesus taught, “Deny yourself.” 

The world warns that you will be constantly exploited.

Jesus' concern was not that His disciples be treated fairly but that they show unconditional love to others regardless of how they were treated. 

Can you sense the crisis of belief as you consider the practicalities of following these commandments?

These words seem absurd even to our ears today.

Jesus says love those who wrong you.

Brenton Tarrant thought he was exacting revenge on those who had wronged Christians and Western Civilisation for centuries. 

Remember, few Islamic believers know what the Koran says because it is written in Arabic, most are unaware of its incitements to violence and genuinely believe that Islam is a religion of grace, kindness and compassion. 

Men spat upon Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. His response was our model: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

With that in mind, how then should we live?

In Matthew 5, Jesus re-affirms the commandment to love our neighbour without saying who that neighbour is, because our neighbour is all around us.

The bible is replete with examples of Jesus crossing lines of prejudice and intolerance to carry out the will of God.

Some prominent examples include the healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman, the healing of the centurion’s child, and the conversation with the Samaritan woman come to mind.

This theme is carried on by God as he reveals his, to the Jewish mind, radical, plans to bring salvation to us “dirty” Gentiles. 

Though we may be separated by language, culture, belief, worldview, ethics and history from our neighbours, we are still called to love as we would love ourselves.

Therefore what Tarrant has done is not just a crime against a mosque, nor a crime against the Islamic community, nor just a crime against Christchurch, nor a crime against the people of New Zealand, nor a crime against humanity but a crime against God.