The intertestamental period

Intertestamental Time period

Introduction

The Intertestamental Period is frequently referred to as the “ soundless old ages ” . During this clip there was no prophetic word from the God. This period was a clip when the political, spiritual and the regulating atmosphere in Palestine were greatly influenced by the Hellenic civilization that was governing the known universe. The coming of the long anticipated Messiah would take the silence and Ussher in a new dispensation. This survey will concentrate on the importance of the Hellenistic ‘s civilization, the importance of Alexander the Great ‘s military laterality and Herodian regulation and how it influenced the ambiance for the coming of the Lord.

The Alexandrian Time period

The Alexandrian period was highly brief period of clip it merely lasted from: 334-323 BC. It covered the reign of the great Asian swayer: Alexander the Great. The Iranian Empire was rapidly coming to an terminal as Philip II of Macedon was seeking to garner forces to wholly pass over out Iranian influence. Philip II wanted Greece to command the universe, but in 336 BC he was murdered by his escort. Philip ‘s boy Alexander III took over bid and was merely old ages old when he took over the throne. Alexander was tutored and influenced greatly by Aristotle who began go toing to him every bit early as 13 old ages old. [ 1 ]

In the 12 old ages of Alexander ‘s reign ( 335-323 BC ) he revolutionized the universe. Alexander conquered Greece and travel throughout Asia suppressing everything and everyone in his way. Within two old ages he set out to destruct Persia. In a series of conflicts over the following two old ages he gained control of the district from Asia Minor to Egypt.

Alexander moved southerly and conquered the seashore of the Mediterranean and Egypt. When he was about 33 old ages old he wholly subjugated Asia to Grecian regulation and at the pinnacle of his regulation he overtook Babylon. During the besieging on Syria he encountered the Jews and took clasp of Jerusalem until they surrendered. But the Jews learned from their Persia gaining control and tried to stay loyal to the Iranian regulation. When Alexander came near to the metropolis to catch it, the high priest at the clip was Jaddua along with other priest, apparels in their priestly dress came out to run into Alexander and inquire for clemency. It was said that Alexander had a dream beforehand that this would happen. Because of this act, Alexander did non pulverize the metropolis but spared the residents and made forfeits to Yahweh. From this brush frontward, Alexander the Great showed the Jews great favour. They became portion of his ground forces and gave them rights as if they were Grecian citizens. This helps understand why there became a pervasively strong Hellenistic spirit among the Jews. In subsequent periods of Judaic history we can see the importance of Alexander ‘s regulation and his promotion of the Hellenistic manner of life. [ 2 ]

After Alexander conquered ground forcess during his reign, he gave the defeated subsisters the chance to fall in his forces or dice. Many of the soldiers were soldier of fortunes and instantly went over to the higher bidder. This allowed his ground forces to increase in size by more than 400 per centum, despite casualties. The original military personnels from Macedonia and Greece became the officer corps, acquiring higher places as the ground forces grew. This helped enable Alexander ‘s Greek-speaking ground forces to go the new opinion category. This laterality helped usher in the Hellenistic motion. [ 3 ]

Hellenic Influence

The lone topographic point where Alexander did non set up his kingdom was to the West where other turning lands such as Rome and Carthage. Even after the decease of Alexander his influence was still distributing. When Alexander conquered a part, he encouraged Hellenization by conveying Grecian functionaries and colonists into the part. They were encouraged to intermarry and indoctrinate the conquered people with Grecian doctrine and political orientations. He was evidently influenced himself by his relationship with Aristotle. He tried to transfuse in all those under his imperium a sense of brotherhood. He was reasonably successful by set uping acquisition centres, exogamy, incorporate military, Grecian imposts, festivals, sports and frock. One of the major or important results of Alexander ‘s Hellenic influence was linguistic communication. After Alexander ‘s runaway through the know universe Greek became the common linguistic communication of the universe. This is a primary ground why the New Testament writers did non compose the text in Hebrew as they did the Old Testament. But wrote in the common linguistic communication of the ancient universe: Grecian. [ 4 ]

Grecian civilization was already interacting in of import ways with Judaic civilization centuries before Jesus was born, with the consequence that the church ‘s Judaic roots already drew much influence from the Grecian civilization into the cloth of Christian communities in Palestine and throughout Diaspora. Jews in the Intertestamental period, particularly in Palestine, conceived of their hope as being come-at-able by three basic schemes.

The first scheme involves assimilation to the Gentile universe in changing grades. Prosperity and unafraid employment will come to the single Jew or even the state as a whole as a consequence of blending in with the dominant Grecian civilization. A 2nd scheme focused on political independency and liberty for the Judaic people. This included visions of the conquest Messiah, the boy of David who will reconstruct the land and the power to Israel, although the figure of a Messiah was non indispensable to this hope. A 3rd scheme centered on religious reclamation and purification. Under this heading fall the efforts to reconstruct or regenerate compact trueness through Torah, visions of priestly christs, promises of the breakage in of the Spirit of God to regenerate all things and revelatory outlooks. [ 5 ]

When Alexander died his captains and leaders vied for bid of the land which they had antecedently conquered. These commanding officers and military personnels fought among one another to derive control until the Romans came in 197 BC deriving control and rule. Antiochus IV gained control in 175 BC and his desire was to set up Hellenism as a manner of life. Antiochus refused to let the Jews pattern and worship God. He was n’t every bit sympathetic as Alexander was toward Judaic imposts and rites. He ordered the Jews to idolize Zeus. He erected a heathen alter in the Jerusalem temple in 167 BC. Jesus makes reference of this in Mark 13:14 mentioning to Daniel 12:11 “ the abomination of devastation ” , mentioning to a hereafter profanation which will go on during in-times. [ 6 ]

There were many Hebrews that merely refused to follow with Antiochus bids and suffered martyrdom instead than disobey the bid of God that they should idolize Yahweh entirely. Some Jews straight opposed Antiochus with leaders in the priesthood taking the charge. Mattathias portion of the Hasmonaean household and his five boies lead the assault. Finally taking the opposition was Judas Maccabaeus whose attempts were successful in leting the continuation of the Jewish spiritual patterns and temple observations. [ 7 ]

Maccabean Time period

The rebellion started in 166 BC in a small town outside of Jerusalem. The aforesaid communion table was erected in the center of the little town. A Judaic priest killed a pig – of all animate beings, why a hog? At any rate they killed the hog and offered it to Zeus as a forfeit. The villagers where to eat the forfeit, meaning they would accept the Greek God and set up the worship of Zeus. Mattathias would non eat the hog even when offered wealth and award. One of the common mans among the crowd was willing to partake of the forfeit. Mattathias full of ardor and indignation took the knife organize the priest and killed the adult male willing to accept the sacrificial hog. He besides killed the Seleucid functionary. The soldiers standing about where so caught off guard, before they had a opportunity to respond ; the five boies of Mattathias began an assault on the soldiers killing them every bit good. The town crystallized together with Mattathias and his boies taking the rebellion. Mattathias and his boies formed a little alliance group that attacked Seleucid soldiers by dark. As triumphs grew, so did the opposition motion into other small towns and towns. [ 8 ]

Mattathias died within a twelvemonth in the initial rebellion, but his 3rd boy Judas, was an unbeatable leader and tactician. His stealthy and sudden onslaughts routed the ground forcess of Antiochus that were far superior in figure. This revolution became caused Judas to go known as Maccabeus or “ the Hammer. ” In 164 BC, 3 old ages after the temple was desecrated, Judas and the Maccabeus defeated Antiochus ground forcess and instituted a province of independency. Judas led the Jews back to the temple to idolize God in a purified temple. Some modern Jews still commemorate the achievements of the Maccabeus with the one-year jubilation of the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah. [ 9 ]

Herodian Rule

After the decease of Antipater ( 43 B.C. ) who was poisoned by his pantryman, go forthing Phasael and Herod in charge of the land. The decease of Antipater left Hyrcanus in the place of authorization in Israel, but Phasael and Herod were the existent power behind the scenes. Herod at this clip was about 30 old ages old. When Cassius left Syria to take his ground forcess westward against Antony, he left Herod in charge of all of southern Syria. Herod had already shown his ability by capturing an put to deathing an ill-famed robber and his set out criminal. [ 10 ]

The old ages of Herod ‘s regulation were a clip of convulsion for the Judaic people. His ascendants had been forced to change over to Judaism, but the people ne’er accepted him. He was the representative of a foreign power. No affair how good he served Rome, he could ne’er fulfill the Jews. Even his matrimony to Mariamne, the granddaughter of Aristobulus II, gave no legitimacy to his regulation in their sight. The most dramatic of his edifice accomplishments, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, did non win the trueness of the Jews. [ 11 ]

Herod was non merely an Idumaean in race and a Jew in faith, but he was a pagan in pattern and a monster in character. He was highly covetous, barbarous and had an extremely vial revengeful nature. He used his place at every chance to expose his power and regulation. He showed his vial character frequently against his ain household, he had nine or ten married womans and was ever leery of them all. This lead to him slaying his favourite married woman, Mariamne and her boies: Aristobulus and Alexander. Days before his ain decease he had his ain boy Antipater killed. Herod was a syrupy and insanely insecure egomaniac. It was said that: “ It is better to be Herod ‘s pig than to be his boy! ”

Of class many of Herod ‘s jobs were due to his covetous furies and frights of being exposed as a non Judaic swayer. His ongoing relationship with the Romans was frequently bouldery because of the internal agitation in the imperium, even though Herod was a willing protagonist of Anthony. Herod could n’t stand Cleopatra even though Anthony was stricken by her. When Anthony lost in conflict to Octavian in 31 BC, Herod although an Anthony protagonist, turned his commitment wholly to Octavian. Octavian accepted Herod support and became and an effectual and barbarous decision maker on behalf of the Roman regulation. He was able to maintain Palestine in peace among people who hated him and were hard to regulate. To be certain people acquiesced to his regulation he remained a really barbarous and revengeful adult male. Herod did hold runs of generousness, utilizing his authorization and money to feed the people during times of dearth. One of his biggest errors that he ne’er was able to get the better of was the executing of his favourite married woman, Mariamne. This caused him much heartache and mental anguish and emotional instability. [ 12 ]

Herod ‘s did hold singular edifice undertakings. Herod embarked on a antic series of edifice undertakings which were rivaled merely by those in the yearss of Solomon. He expanded the Temple in Jerusalem, built the Antonia Fortress, every bit good as other fortresses. [ 13 ]

Decision

When we open the New Testament about 400 old ages have passed between the Old Testament. Between these two pillars of history the wane and flow of wars, battles, hope and lickings have passed over Palestine. These events ushered in of import political, spiritual, lingual and societal orders that helped usher in a new dispensation. [ 14 ]

The Bible provinces:

But alternatively, those forfeits really reminded them of their wickednesss twelvemonth after twelvemonth. 4 For it is non possible for the blood of bulls and caprine animals to take away wickednesss. 5 That is why, when Jesus came into the universe, he said to God, “ You did non desire carnal forfeits or sin offerings. But you have given me a organic structure to offer. 6 You were non pleased with burned offerings or other offerings for wickedness. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to make your will, O God- as is written about me in the Scriptures. ‘ ” Hebrews 10:3-7 ( NLT )

The Intertestamental Period was non soundless. It was a clip of readying for so a new dispensation and a new King. We have looked at the importance of several cardinal facets: The reign of Alexander the Great and his laterality over the universe and subjection of the Grecian influence ; the Hellenistic motion and how it influenced authoritiess, policies and Judaic government patterns. Herod ‘s regulation capped our survey with his homicidal regulating feats, taking to a new swayer. We yet wait the hereafter regulating reign of the true King of Kings, the land without terminal. Until he comes we must busy our heads and Black Marias to larn why the Intertestamental Period was non merely of import but how it helped organize our current universe and how this dispensation will unveil greater apprehension and hope.

Intertestamental Period 10

Bibliography

Brand, Chad, Chares Draper, Archie England, erectile dysfunction. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.

David A. DeSilva. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & A ; Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Geoffrey W. Bromiley, ed. , The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 3: K-P, ( Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1995 )

John Stevenson. “ The Intertestamental Period. ” John Stevenson Bible Study Page. www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/15-400sy.html. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

Michael A. Harbin. The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan, 2005.

Thomas D. Lea ; David Alan Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. 2nd erectile dysfunction. Nashville: Broadman & A ; Holman Publishers, 2003.

Vincent McCann. “ In What Ways Does A Knowledge Of Intertestamental History And Literature Shed Light On The New Testament Gospels, Which Knowledge Of The Old Testament Books Alone Could Not? . ” Spotlight Ministries, 1998. www.spotlightministries.org.uk/inter.htm. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 1 ] Geoffrey W. Bromiley, ed. , The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 3: K-P, ( Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1995 ) , 197.

[ 2 ] Chad Brand, Chares Draper, Archie England, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, erectile dysfunction. ( Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003 ) .

[ 3 ] Michael A. Harbin, The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments ( Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan, 2005 ) , 361.

[ 4 ] John Stevenson, “ The Intertestamental Period, ” John Stevenson Bible Study Page, www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/15-400sy.html. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 5 ] David A. DeSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & A ; Ministry Formation ( Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004 ) , 37-38.

[ 6 ] Vincent McCann, “ In What Ways Does A Knowledge Of Intertestamental History And Literature Shed Light On The New Testament Gospels, Which Knowledge Of The Old Testament Books Alone Could Not? , ” Spotlight Ministries, 1998, www.spotlightministries.org.uk/inter.htm. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 7 ] Vincent McCann, “ In What Ways Does A Knowledge Of Intertestamental History And Literature Shed Light On The New Testament Gospels, Which Knowledge Of The Old Testament Books Alone Could Not? , ” Spotlight Ministries, 1998, www.spotlightministries.org.uk/inter.htm. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 8 ] John Stevenson, “ The Intertestamental Period, ” John Stevenson Bible Study Page, www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/15-400sy.html. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 9 ] Thomas D. Lea ; David Alan Black, The New Testament: Its Background and Message, 2nd erectile dysfunction. ( Nashville: Broadman & A ; Holman Publishers, 2003 ) , 18-19.

[ 10 ] John Stevenson, “ The Intertestamental Period, ” John Stevenson Bible Study Page, www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/15-400sy.html. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 11 ] Chad Brand, Chares Draper, Archie England, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, erectile dysfunction. ( Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003 ) .

[ 12 ] Chad Brand, Chares Draper, Archie England, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, erectile dysfunction. ( Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003 ) .

[ 13 ] John Stevenson, “ The Intertestamental Period, ” John Stevenson Bible Study Page, www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/15-400sy.html. ( accessed November 15, 2009 ) .

[ 14 ] Thomas D. Lea ; David Alan Black, The New Testament: Its Background and Message, 2nd erectile dysfunction. ( Nashville: Broadman & A ; Holman Publishers, 2003 ) , 8.