Biblical History (Madrich Copy)

2000 BCE - Abraham receives the promise from God to give his descendants a new home in the land of Canaan

Avraham was the first jew that had a connection to the land. 3000 years ago. God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inhabit Canaan, often referred to as the Promised Land, is a key covenant in Judaism. Also mentioned in the prophecy was that the children of Jacob will leave Israel to Egypt and return after 400 years, which of course came true. This event essentially outlines the start of the Jewish people as a distinctive group. This covenant, or agreement, meant that Abraham's descendants would be blessed with prosperity and numerous offspring, forming a nation of their own.

בראשית ט״ו:י״ב-י״ח

(יב) וַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ לָב֔וֹא וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה נָפְלָ֣ה עַל־אַבְרָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה נֹפֶ֥לֶת עָלָֽיו׃ (יג) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאַבְרָ֗ם יָדֹ֨עַ תֵּדַ֜ע כִּי־גֵ֣ר ׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם וַעֲבָד֖וּם וְעִנּ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה׃ (יד) וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַגּ֛וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ דָּ֣ן אָנֹ֑כִי וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן יֵצְא֖וּ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ גָּדֽוֹל׃ (טו) וְאַתָּ֛ה תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם תִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָֽה׃ (טז) וְד֥וֹר רְבִיעִ֖י יָשׁ֣וּבוּ הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֧י לֹא־שָׁלֵ֛ם עֲוֺ֥ן הָאֱמֹרִ֖י עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃ (יז) וַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ בָּ֔אָה וַעֲלָטָ֖ה הָיָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה תַנּ֤וּר עָשָׁן֙ וְלַפִּ֣יד אֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָבַ֔ר בֵּ֖ין הַגְּזָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (יח) בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כָּרַ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־אַבְרָ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ נָתַ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִנְּהַ֣ר מִצְרַ֔יִם עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת׃

Genesis 15:12-18

(12) As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great dark dread descended upon him. (13) And [God] said to Abram, “Know well that your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years; (14) but I will execute judgment on the nation they shall serve, and in the end they shall go free with great wealth. (15) As for you,
You shall go to your ancestors in peace;
You shall be buried at a ripe old age. (16) And they shall return here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (17) When the sun set and it was very dark, there appeared a smoking oven, and a flaming torch which passed between those pieces. (18) On that day יהוה made a covenant with Abram: “To your offspring I assign this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates—

1650 BCE - Jacob/Israel encounters the site on Mount Moriah where the Temple would stand centuries later

Yaakov, also known as Israel, was one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people and grandson to Avraham. On his journey, he came across a significant site on Mount Moriah, the location where the Jewish Beit Hamikdash (BHM”K) would eventually stand. It is said that this is the same site where Avraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.

בראשית כ״ח:י״ג-ט״ו

(יג) וְהִנֵּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב עָלָיו֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔יךָ וֵאלֹהֵ֖י יִצְחָ֑ק הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ לְךָ֥ אֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ (יד) וְהָיָ֤ה זַרְעֲךָ֙ כַּעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וּפָרַצְתָּ֛ יָ֥מָּה וָקֵ֖דְמָה וְצָפֹ֣נָה וָנֶ֑גְבָּה וְנִבְרְכ֥וּ בְךָ֛ כׇּל־מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָ֖ה וּבְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ (טו) וְהִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י עִמָּ֗ךְ וּשְׁמַרְתִּ֙יךָ֙ בְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וַהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ אֶל־הָאֲדָמָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את כִּ֚י לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱזׇבְךָ֔ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִם־עָשִׂ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי לָֽךְ׃

Genesis 28:13-15

(13) And standing beside him was יהוה, who said, “I am יהוה, the God of your father Abraham’s [house] and the God of Isaac’s [house]: the ground on which you are lying I will assign to you and to your offspring. (14) Your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants. (15) Remember, I am with you: I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

1272 BCE – Joshua enters the land of Israel, leading the Jewish people in to the promised land. He then divides the land (and עבר הירדן) in to 12 territories, one for each tribe.

Yehoshua succeeded Moshe as the leader of the Israelites after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. He was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, now known as Israel. This event marked the first time the Israelites were united as both a people and a nation in that territory.

The Israelites lived as a confederation of tribes but were also unified as a single nation, particularly in matters of religious and military importance. Shilo was the location of the Mishkan, serving as the spiritual center for the Israelites during this period.
The Israelites were governed by a system of Shoftim (singular: Shofet), who acted as both legal authorities and military leaders. These Shoftim were vital in maintaining law and order and providing practical leadership, especially in times of conflict.

יהושע כ״א:מ״ג-מ״ה

(מג) וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֨ת־כׇּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לָתֵ֣ת לַאֲבוֹתָ֑ם וַיִּרָשׁ֖וּהָ וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ בָֽהּ׃ (מד) וַיָּ֨נַח יְהֹוָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־עָ֨מַד אִ֤ישׁ בִּפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִכׇּל־אֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם נָתַ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיָדָֽם׃ (מה) לֹא־נָפַ֣ל דָּבָ֔ר מִכֹּל֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַטּ֔וֹב אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הַכֹּ֖ל בָּֽא׃ {פ}

Joshua 21:43-45

(43) Israel was given the whole country that GOD had sworn to their fatherso assign them; they took possession of it and settled in it. (44) GOD gave them rest on all sides, just as had been promised to their fathers on oath. Not one of all their enemies withstood them; GOD delivered all their enemies into their hands. (45) Not one of the good things that GOD had promised to the House of Israel was lacking. Everything was fulfilled.

1000 BCE - King David conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital. He conceived the idea of building a Temple there as a permanent house of God, a plan fulfilled by his son Solomon.

King David conquered Jerusalem from the יבוסים, a Canaanite group that originally inhabited the city, and established it as his capital. Thereby centralizing political and religious power. He planned to build a BHM”K as a permanent place for the tabernacle. However, it was his son Solomon who eventually constructed the First BHM”K on Mount Moriah (yep yep, the same Mount Moriah from Avraham and Yitzchak). After king Solomon, the kingdom is split into two- the kingdom of Yehuda and the kingdom of Israel (the other 10 tribes, excluding Levi), each lead by a different king and unfortunately not leading a loving brotherhood relationship.

שמואל ב ה׳:ו׳-י׳

(ו) וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אֶל־הַיְבֻסִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לְדָוִ֤ד לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־תָב֣וֹא הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֣י אִם־הֱסִֽירְךָ֗ הַעִוְרִ֤ים וְהַפִּסְחִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹא־יָב֥וֹא דָוִ֖ד הֵֽנָּה׃ (ז) וַיִּלְכֹּ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֖ת מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃ (ח) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כׇּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבֻסִי֙ וְיִגַּ֣ע בַּצִּנּ֔וֹר וְאֶת־הַפִּסְחִים֙ וְאֶת־הַ֣עִוְרִ֔ים (שנאו) [שְׂנוּאֵ֖י] נֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד עַל־כֵּן֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ עִוֵּ֣ר וּפִסֵּ֔חַ לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא אֶל־הַבָּֽיִת׃ (ט) וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּמְּצֻדָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָא־לָ֖הּ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּ֤בֶן דָּוִד֙ סָבִ֔יב מִן־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וָבָֽיְתָה׃ (י) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֑וֹל וַיהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃ {פ}

II Samuel 5:6-10

(6) The king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, “You will never get in here! .Even the blind and the lame will turn you back.” (7) But David captured the stronghold of Zion; it is now the City of David. (8) On that occasion David said, “Those who attack the Jebusites shall reach the water channel and [strike down] the lame and the blind, who are hateful to David.” That is why they say: “No one who is blind or lame may enter the House.”-c (9) David occupied the stronghold and renamed it the City of David; David also fortified the surrounding area, from the Millod. inward. (10) David kept growing stronger, for the LORD, the God of Hosts, was with him.

586 BCE - The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and partially destroy the Temple. The Jews go into exile.

720 BCE the kingdom of Israel rebels against the Assyrian empire and as a consequence the 10 tribes are exiled out of the land. In 586 BCE, the Babylonians led by King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, leading to the city's destruction and the partial destruction of the First BHM”K. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian Exile, where the majority of the Jewish population were deported to Babylon. The exile profoundly affected the Jewish people, disrupting their societal and religious practices and leading to significant cultural and religious adaptations.

מלכים ב כ״ד:י׳-ט״ז

(י) בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא (עלה) [עָל֗וּ] עַבְדֵ֛י נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַתָּבֹ֥א הָעִ֖יר בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ (יא) וַיָּבֹ֛א נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל עַל־הָעִ֑יר וַעֲבָדָ֖יו צָרִ֥ים עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (יב) וַיֵּצֵ֞א יְהוֹיָכִ֤ין מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ עַל־מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל ה֣וּא וְאִמּ֔וֹ וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וְשָׂרָ֣יו וְסָרִיסָ֑יו וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁמֹנֶ֖ה לְמׇלְכֽוֹ׃ (יג) וַיּוֹצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֗ם אֶת־כׇּל־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאוֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְקַצֵּ֞ץ אֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יד) וְהִגְלָ֣ה אֶת־כׇּל־יְ֠רוּשָׁלַ֠͏ִם וְֽאֶת־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִ֞ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל (עשרה) [עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת] אֲלָפִים֙ גּוֹלֶ֔ה וְכׇל־הֶחָרָ֖שׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּ֑ר לֹ֣א נִשְׁאַ֔ר זוּלַ֖ת דַּלַּ֥ת עַם־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (טו) וַיֶּ֥גֶל אֶת־יְהוֹיָכִ֖ין בָּבֶ֑לָה וְאֶת־אֵ֣ם הַ֠מֶּ֠לֶךְ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְאֶת־סָרִיסָ֗יו וְאֵת֙ (אולי) [אֵילֵ֣י] הָאָ֔רֶץ הוֹלִ֛יךְ גּוֹלָ֥ה מִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (טז) וְאֵת֩ כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַחַ֜יִל שִׁבְעַ֣ת אֲלָפִ֗ים וְהֶחָרָ֤שׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּר֙ אֶ֔לֶף הַכֹּ֕ל גִּבּוֹרִ֖ים עֹשֵׂ֣י מִלְחָמָ֑ה וַיְבִיאֵ֧ם מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל גּוֹלָ֖ה בָּבֶֽלָה׃

II Kings 24:10-16

(10) At that time, the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. (11) King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against the city while his troops were besieging it. (12) Thereupon King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, and his courtiers, commanders, and officers, surrendered to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. (13) He carried off from from Jerusalem all the treasures of the House of GOD and the treasures of the royal palace; he stripped off all the golden decorations in the Temple of GOD —which King Solomon of Israel had made—as GOD had warned. (14) He exiled all of Jerusalem: all the commanders and all the warriors—ten thousand exiles—as well as all the artisans and smiths; only the poorest people in the land were left. (15) He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king’s mother and wives and officers and the notables of the land were brought as exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon. (16) All the able men, to the number of seven thousand—all of them warriors, trained for battle—and a thousand artisans and smiths were brought to Babylon as exiles by the king of Babylon.

מלכים ב כ״ה:ח׳-י״ב

(ח) וּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי֙ בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ הִ֗יא שְׁנַת֙ תְּשַֽׁע־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֑ל בָּ֞א נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֧ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים עֶ֥בֶד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (ט) וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף אֶת־בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵ֨ת כׇּל־בָּתֵּ֧י יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם וְאֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֥ית גָּד֖וֹל שָׂרַ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

II Kings 25:8-12

(8) On the seventh day of the fifth month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, an officer of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. (9) He burned the House of GOD, the king’s palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; he burned down the house of every notable person.

538 BCE – The return to Zion. What was thought to be a huge game changer turned out to be a disappointment. Some Jews return to the land of Israel and build the second temple

50 years after the destruction of the BHM”K, Koresh, the king of the Persian empire, gives the Jews a permit to go back to the land of Israel and rebuild a Jewish autonomy and worship their God in their homeland. Unfortunately the vast majority decide to stay in Bavel with their comfortable lives and silence their conscious by donating money to rebuilding the BHM”K. Later on, king Herod will renovate the Beit Hamikdash and turn it in to a glorious BHM”K.

עזרא א׳:ב׳-ה׳

(ב) כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֗ר כֹּ֚רֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס כֹּ֚ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ נָ֣תַן לִ֔י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־פָקַ֤ד עָלַי֙ לִבְנֽוֹת־ל֣וֹ בַ֔יִת בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽיהוּדָֽה׃ (ג) מִֽי־בָכֶ֣ם מִכׇּל־עַמּ֗וֹ יְהִ֤י אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וְיַ֕עַל לִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּיהוּדָ֑ה וְיִ֗בֶן אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ה֥וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (ד) וְכׇל־הַנִּשְׁאָ֗ר מִֽכׇּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ה֣וּא גָֽר־שָׁם֒ יְנַשְּׂא֙וּהוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מְקֹמ֔וֹ בְּכֶ֥סֶף וּבְזָהָ֖ב וּבִרְכ֣וּשׁ וּבִבְהֵמָ֑ה עִ֨ם־הַנְּדָבָ֔ה לְבֵ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (ה) וַיָּק֜וּמוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֗וֹת לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְכֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּח֔וֹ לַעֲל֣וֹת לִבְנ֔וֹת אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

Ezra 1:2-5

(2) “Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me with building Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (3) Anyone of you of all His people—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judah and build the House of the LORD God of Israel, the God that is in Jerusalem; (4) and all who stay behind, wherever he may be living, let the people of his place assist him with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, besides the freewill offering to the House of God that is in Jerusalem.” (5) So the chiefs of the clans of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all whose spirit had been roused by God, got ready to go up to build the House of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.

70 CE - The Romans destroy the Second Beit Hamikdash (BHM”K) and erect the Arch of Titus to commemorate their victory. The Kotel is the remains of the western retaining wall of the BHM”K

In 70 CE, the Romans sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second BHM”K, marking a critical event in Jewish history. The Jewish people have never been more divided, and they hated each other more than their enemy. The BHM”K's destruction led to significant changes in Jewish religious practices, transitioning from BHM”K-focused worship to synagogue and home-based practices.

מכות כ״ד א:ל״ג

וְהִתְחִילוּ בּוֹכִין, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מְשַׂחֵק. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתָּה מְשַׂחֵק? אָמַר לָהֶם: וְאַתֶּם מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתֶּם בּוֹכִים? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: הַלָּלוּ גּוֹיִם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים לַעֲצַבִּים וּמְקַטְּרִים לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה יוֹשְׁבִין בֶּטַח וְהַשְׁקֵט, וְאָנוּ, בֵּית הֲדוֹם רַגְלֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ שָׂרוּף בָּאֵשׁ, וְלֹא נִבְכֶּה?! אָמַר לָהֶן: לְכָךְ אֲנִי מְצַחֵק, וּמָה לְעוֹבְרֵי רְצוֹנוֹ כָּךְ, לְעוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנוֹ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.

Makkot 24a:33

Upon seeing the destruction of the temple...

And the other Sages began weeping and Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: For what reason are you laughing? Rabbi Akiva said to them: And you, for what reason are you weeping? They said to him: These gentiles, who bow to false gods and burn incense to idols, dwell securely and tranquilly in this colossal city, and for us, the House of the footstool of our God, the Temple, is burnt by fire, and shall we not weep? Rabbi Akiva said to them: That is why I am laughing. If for those who violate His will, the wicked, it is so and they are rewarded for the few good deeds they performed, for those who perform His will, all the more so will they be rewarded.

135 CE - The Bar Kochba Rebellion breaks out and is followed by another revolt. The Emperor Hadrian decrees that "Syria Palestina" should replace the name "Judea"

In 135 CE, the Bar Kochba Rebellion, the third and final Jewish revolt against Roman rule, was brutally suppressed. For the first time since the days of Joshua, the Jewish people are a minority in the land of Israel. In the aftermath, the Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed the province of Judea as Syria Palestina in an attempt to erase Jewish ties to the land. The name has ever since stuck. This marked a significant loss for Jewish identity and territorial connection, further dispersifying the Jewish diaspora throughout the Roman Empire. The bar Kochba rebellion was the last time, till modern Zionism, that the Jewish people lead an independent sovereignty rule in their homeland.

ברכות ס״א ב:ט׳

בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ אֶת רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא לַהֲרִיגָה זְמַן קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע הָיָה, וְהָיוּ סוֹרְקִים אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ בְּמַסְרְקוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל, וְהָיָה מְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: רַבֵּינוּ, עַד כָּאן?! אָמַר לָהֶם: כׇּל יָמַי הָיִיתִי מִצְטַעֵר עַל פָּסוּק זֶה ״בְּכָל נַפְשְׁךָ״ אֲפִילּוּ נוֹטֵל אֶת נִשְׁמָתְךָ. אָמַרְתִּי: מָתַי יָבֹא לְיָדִי וַאֲקַיְּימֶנּוּ, וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁבָּא לְיָדִי, לֹא אֲקַיְּימֶנּוּ? הָיָה מַאֲרִיךְ בְּ״אֶחָד״, עַד שֶׁיָּצְתָה נִשְׁמָתוֹ בְּ״אֶחָד״. יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: ״אַשְׁרֶיךָ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שֶׁיָּצְאָה נִשְׁמָתְךָ בְּאֶחָד״.

Berakhot 61b:9

The Gemara relates: When they took Rabbi Akiva out to be executed, it was time for the recitation of Shema. And they were raking his flesh with iron combs, and he was reciting Shema, thereby accepting upon himself the yoke of Heaven. His students said to him: Our teacher, even now, as you suffer, you recite Shema? He said to them: All my days I have been troubled by the verse: With all your soul, meaning: Even if God takes your soul. I said to myself: When will the opportunity be afforded me to fulfill this verse? Now that it has been afforded me, shall I not fulfill it? He prolonged his uttering of the word: One, until his soul left his body as he uttered his final word: One. A voice descended from heaven and said: Happy are you, Rabbi Akiva, that your soul left your body as you uttered: One.

בראשית רבה ב׳:ה׳

רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ וְרַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה, רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם צָפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב (תהלים א, ו): כִּי יוֹדֵעַ ה' דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד. וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, אֵלּוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר, אֵלּוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, אֲבָל אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ בְּאֵיזֶה מֵהֶם חָפֵץ, אִם בְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֵלּוּ אִם בְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֵלּוּ, כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב, הֱוֵי בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים חָפֵץ, וְאֵינוֹ חָפֵץ בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה, מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם צָפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בָּנוּי וְחָרֵב וּבָנוּי, בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, הֲרֵי בָּנוּי, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה נא, טז): לִנְטֹעַ שָׁמַיִם וְלִיסֹד אָרֶץ וְלֵאמֹר לְצִיּוֹן עַמִּי אָתָּה. וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, הֲרֵי חָרֵב, הֵיךְ מָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (ירמיה ד, כג): רָאִיתִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר, הֲרֵי בָּנוּי וּמְשֻׁכְלָל לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה ס, א): קוּמִי אוֹרִי כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ, וּכְתִיב (ישעיה ס, כ): כִּי הִנֵּה הַחשֶׁךְ יְכַסֶּה אֶרֶץ וַעֲרָפֶל לְאֻמִּים וְעָלַיִךְ יִזְרַח ה' וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה.

Bereshit Rabbah 2:5

Rabbi Abahu and Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great, Rabbi Abahu said: Right from the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One blessed be He foresaw the actions of the righteous and the actions of the wicked. That is what is written: “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalms 1:6). “The earth was emptiness and disorder” – these are the actions of the wicked. “God said: Let there be light” – these are the actions of the righteous. But I do not know which He desires, whether it is the actions of these, or the actions of those. When it is written: “God saw the light, that it was good” (Genesis 1:4) – this shows that He desires the actions of the righteous, and does not desire the actions of the wicked.
Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said: Right from the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One blessed be He foresaw the Temple built, destroyed, and rebuilt. “In the beginning God created [the heavens and the earth]” – that indicates [the Temple] being built, as it says: “To plant the heavens and to lay the foundation of the earth and to say to Zion: You are My people” (Isaiah 51:16). “The earth was emptiness and disorder” – that indicates [the Temple] destroyed, just as it says: “I have seen the land, and behold, it is emptiness and disorder” (Jeremiah 4:23). “God said: Let there be light” – that indicates [the Temple] being built and perfected in the future, as it says: “Arise, shine, for your light has come” (Isaiah 60:1), and it is written: “For, behold, the darkness will cover the earth, and nations, a fog; but upon you the Lord will shine and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).