The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To
The Birth Of Christ
Review
Intertestamental PeriodIntertestamental PeriodWeek Date Topic
1 05 Mar 14 Overview
2 12 Mar 14 Babylonian Period (605-539 BC)
3 19 Mar 14 Persian Period (539-332 BC)
4 26 Mar 14 Greek Period (332-323 BC)
5 02 Apr 14 Ptolemaic (323-198 BC)
6 09 Apr 14 Syrian (198-168 BC)
7 16 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 1 (168-153 BC)
8 23 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 2 (153-139 BC)
9 30 Apr 14 Independence (139-63 BC)
10 07 May 14 Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC)
11 14 May 14 Herod (37 BC – 4 BC)
12 21 May 14 The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD)
13 28 May 14 Review
Today’s ObjectivesReview overall study objectivesReview the Intertestamental TimelineReview key nations that impact upon
the history of early ChristianityReview key figures in the
Intertestamental Period and their impact upon early Christianity
Review Jewish religious and political alliances and their impact upon early Christianity
Reference Material
KJV (w/ Apocrypha)– 1st and 2nd Maccabbees
Josephus – The Complete Works Herodotus – The History Intertestamental History – Mark Moore Ancient Rome – Simon Baker Harding University – BNEW 112
Course Notes – Dr. Thompson
Babylonian 612 BC – Babylon captures the Assyrian
capital of Nineveh 605 BC – Nebuchadnezzar reigns over the
Babylonian empire and begins Jewish deportation to Babylon
604 BC – Nebuchadnezzar’s dream – Daniel 2– Inferior kingdom will replace Babylon– A third kingdom will rise, of bronze– A fourth kingdom will rise, of iron
Prophets are Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Daniel 539 BC - Persia, under Cyrus, captures
Babylon
Persian 538-537 BC – Cyrus decrees return of the
Jews from captivity (Ezra 1:1-4) 536 BC – 70 year captivity ends (Ezra 1:5-
11), temple construction begins 516 BC – 2nd temple completed in
Jerusalem Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Malachi, Esther 480 BC - Greek victories over Persia (Dan
11:2) 331 BC – Alexander gains complete control
of the Persian empire
Greek 331-324 BC – Extension of Greek territory Extends into Asia including the land of israel 323 BC – Alexander dies 316 BC – Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties
(Dan 11:4) 300 BC – Greek empire divided between
four Generals (Dan 8:5-8, 11:3-4)– Ptolomy took Egypt– Cassander took Greece– Seleucus took Babylon/Persia– Antigonus took Asia Minor
He was killed in battle in 301 BC and succeded by Lysimachus
Ptolemaic and Seleucid 280 BC (prophecy in Dan 11) Seleucids
– Babylonia– Asia Minor– Northern Syria
Ptolemaic– Southern Syria– Egypt
260 BC – Rome controls all of Italy 250 BC – Greek translation of OT
begins
Maccabean/Independence 198 BC – Ptolemies lose control of Palestine
to the Seleucids 175 BC - Antiochus IV Epiphanies seizes the
Seleucid throne Antiochus IV punishes Jerusalem for their
rebellion 167-143 BC - Maccabean revolt 164 BC – Temple retaken and cleansed 150 BC – Rome destroys Carthage 142 BC – Judea gains political independence 130 BC – Dead Sea Scrolls 66 BC – Rome occupies Jerusalem
Historical Background
It was during the time of the Maccabees that it is believed that the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes developed their ideology.
The Pharisees were fighting against the Hellenization of the Jews
The Sadducees had accepted some of the Greek influence. They had also been closely connected to the Hasmonians
Pharisees Chief rival sect was the Sadducees Tended to be middle class and open to religious
innovation Use of oral legal tradition to supplement the
Torah Their interpretations, once given, were
scrupulously adhered to Emphasis on divine providence (like the
Essene) Eventually adopted a belief in existence of
spirits and angels, the resurrection, and the coming of a Messiah
However, Pharisees appear as Jesus' most vocal critics
Sadducees Originated mainly from the conservative
and aristocratic priestly class Main rival to the Pharisee Acceptance only of the Law and rejection
of oral tradition Denial of bodily resurrection; immortality
of the soul; existence of a spirit world (Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8)
They opposed the early church (Acts 4:1-4)
Cease to exist after the temple is destroyed in 70 AD
Essenes Strict discipline, isolation from others Bible never mentions the Essenes Credited with writing the Dead Sea Scrolls Characteristics
– Did not own any private property; shared possessions – They avoided any show of luxury, very simple meals– They wore simple clothes until they hung in shreds– Careful observance of the laws of Moses – Established membership rituals – lasted several years
Believed that the souls of men were immortal Avoided taking part in the services of the Temple
Similar to early Christians
Zealots Fanatical Jewish sect militantly opposed the Roman
occupation Most fervent Jewish nationalists called themselves
"Zealots" Devoted supporters of the Lord and His laws and
who were ready to fight for them Like the Pharisees, devoted to the Jewish law and
religion Unlike most Pharisees, they thought it was treason
against God to pay tribute to the Roman emperor, since God alone was Israel's king
Zealots eventually degenerated into a group of assassins known as Sicarii (Latin, daggermen)
Their increasing fanaticism was one factor that provoked the Roman-Jewish war
The Zealots took control of Jerusalem in 66 AD, led to the siege of Jerusalem and its fall in 70 AD. The last stronghold of the Zealots, the fortress of Masada, fell to the Romans in 73 AD
Maccabean Period
Mattathias was the patriarch of the Maccabean period
He had five sons– John– Simon– Judas– Eleazar– Jonathan
These are the Hasmonians, or Maccabees All five were killed in violent
confrontations
Maccabean Period
They waged a guerilla style war on Syria
Mattathias died in 166 BC and Judas took over
Judas led the men to defeat several large enemies of the Syrians and eventually freed Jerusalem in 165 BC
They rededicated the temple on December 25, 165 BC
Maccabean Period
160 BC-Some of the Hellenized Jews convince the Seleucids to attack Judas—Judas and his 800 men were killed
Jonathan then takes up the leadership Jonathan watched as a civil war
erupted in Syria, by aligning himself with the winner he was appointed High Priest of Israel and Governor of Judea
Maccabean Period
143 BC-Jonathan is captured by the Seleucids
When the Seleucids were moving in to attack Jerusalem, a storm made their movement impossible
They killed Jonathan and went back to Syria
Maccabean Period
142 BC-Simon takes over With another civil war in Syria, Simon
negotiates Jewish support for freedom When the war was over, Israel was
granted their freedom for the first time in over 400 years
135 BC-Simon’s son-in-law, governor over Jericho, made a move to overthrow Simon and have him killed
Maccabean Period
The Jews made Simon both King and High Priest and made it a hereditary position—this became the Hasmonian Dynasty
Hasidim gave Simon the title “Leader and High Priest Forever”– “Until there should arise a faithful prophet”
They then asked Rome to mediate the dispute
He is murdered in 135 BC by a son-in-law
John Hyrcanus Simon and two of his sons are killed in 135
BC, his third son John Hyrcanus, escapes Hyrcanus rules from 135-104 BC Antiochus VII is the last strong king of the
Seleucid empire, dies in 129 BC Hyrcanus is free to expand Judah Takes territory in Perea, then Idumea and
Edom Conquers the Samaritans and defeats
several strong Greek cities in the region Opens up for future expansion into Galilee
Developments under Hyrcanus Seleucid/Syrian interference eroded Jewish Hellenizers
– Lose support of Seleucid/Greek power– Become supporters of the king– Became known as Sadducees
Hasidim– Had been more popular, equate to the Roman
plebes– Associated with the common people– Began opposing the Hasmonean power– Oppose those holding secular ruler and high priest– Called Pharisees
Hyrcanus finally allies with the Sadducees
Civil War Civil war between Sadducees and
Pharisees– Jannaeus pours water libation at his feet
rather than on the alter– Enrages Pharisee, throw citrons at Jannaeus– Many Pharisees killed in retaliation
Pharisee appeal to Syria (ironically)– Syrian troops intervene and then depart
Alexandra dies in 67 BC, war breaks out again
Hyrcanus seizes most of Judea
Roman Intervention Civil war continues News of fighting reaches the Roman
general Pompey, who is campaigning in the East
Pompey had become a very popular field commander – Very successful campaign against pirates in the
Mediterranean Sea in 67 BC– Julius Caesar supports Pompey’s actions
Pompey moves south to “arbitrate” in Judah
Starts the Roman control of Judah
Roman 63-40 BC – High Priest is under Roman
Control 44 BC – Caesar assassinated 37-4 BC – Herod the Great is king over Judea
(Roman control) 19 BC – Construction of Herod’s temple 4 BC – Birth of Christ and death of Herod 6 AD – Judea becomes a Roman province 28 AD – Pontius Pilate appointed procurator
of Judea 30 AD – Christ is crucified, birth of the church 66-73 AD – Jewish revolt against Rome,
destruction of Jerusalem, end of Judaism
Antipater II, Phasael and Herod In gratitude, Caesar appointed Antipater
II as the administrator of Judea (47 BC)– Under Cassius
Adds territories to Judea taken from Pompey
Antipater II appoints his two sons to posts– Phasael is made governor of Jerusalem– Herod is made governor of Galilee
After Caesar is murdered (44 BC), Cassius seizes control of Judea
Antipater II is murdered (43 BC) Phasael and Harod become joint rulers of
Judea (42 BC)
Marc Antony and Octavian Octavian was Caesar’s nephew Antony and Octavian defeat Cassius and
Brutus in the battle of Philippi (42 BC) Philippi becomes a Roman colony, making
them Roman citizens (Acts 16:12) Phasael and Herod switch allegiance to
Antony, who confirms their position Parthians invade Palestine
– 40 BC– Capture and imprison Hyrcanus II and Phasael– Herod escapes, eventually to Rome
Octavian fights Antony Source of contention
– Antony’s neglect for his wives including Octavian’s sister
– Antony gave Cleopatra rule of conquered land
– Octavian had taken power and territory of Lepidus (part of the Triumvirate)
Herod the Great aligned with Antony Battle of Actium occurs
– 31 BC– Octavian defeat Antony (who later kills
himself)– Octavian awarded the title of Augustus– Recognized as the transition of the Roman
Republic into the Roman Empire
Caesar Augustus (Octavian) Herod promises his allegiance to
Augustus Augustus adds to Herod’s domain
– Nearly doubles in size Augustus reigns from 31 BC to 14 AD
– Grand nephew of Julius Caesar– Dies at the age of 76
Outlives Herod the Great by 10 years Under Augustus’ rule
– Orders a census of the Roman empire (Mic 5:2)
– Census caused the birth of Jesus Christ to be recorded in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7)
– John the Baptist’s ministry
King Herod The Sadducees were generally the wealthier,
more politically connected Jews while the Pharisees were more in line with the common people
Herod, in order to maintain his power, appointed a Sadducee as High Priest, but lowered his importance
He then appointed a Pharisee as his deputy that had control over all the temple’s functions
The Pharisees also controlled the Synagogues, which occurred after the return from Babylon
Historical Background All of this was leading up to the birth of
Jesus. The political maneuverings had created
the way for the Jews to have semi-autonomous control while opening up the whole world for communication
The religious world was ripe for “change” and reform, and His message would be accepted by many who saw the need to return to following God—the way God wanted to be followed
Procurators Roman citizens of wealth who were not
magistrates or members of the senate Roscian Law set the minimum wealth at
400K Sesterces (about $380K today) Highest class were called prefectures There were 14 procurators in Judaea from
6 AD to 66 AD – the time of the Great Revolt
Pontius Pilate is perhaps the most famous– Served from 26-35 AD– Fifth Procurator of Judea– The judge at Jesus' trial and the man who
authorized his crucifixion
Pontius Pilate Referred to as the "Prefect of Judea“ Described as inflexible, merciless, and
obstinate Responsible for imperial tax
collections in Judea John 18:28-40 describes the
interaction between Jesus and Pilate Rule was brought to an end through
trouble which arose in Samaria– Revolving around a sacred vessel thought
to belong to Moses and his attempts to secure
Rise of Christianity Jesus taught that inner transformation
was most important, humility, charity, and love for others
Judeans turned Jesus over to the Romans because they thought he might cause people to revolt against Romans
Pontius Pilate ordered his crucifixion Followers of Jesus believed that he
overcame death and was the Messiah Simon Peter and the disciples taught that
Jesus was the Savior and Son of God
The Great Revolt 66-73 AD, time of Nero, then
Vespasian First of three revolts by the Jews
against the Romans Initially started over religious tensions
between Jews and Greeks Grew with anti-taxation protests and
attacks upon Roman citizens Ended when Legions under Titus
destroyed rebel resistance in Jerusalem, and defeated the remaining Jewish strongholds (Masada)