7. The Times Between the Testaments
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According to the prophet Amos, there would be a time of "famine of hearing
the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11), and in Micah we read "the sun will set
for the prophets . . . night will come over you, without visions." (Mic
3:6).
This is the 400 years of silence from Malachi to Christ. It was a turbulent
time in Jewish history, a time that shaped the world of the New Testament.
Persian period (539-332 B.C.)
After Nehemiah, there was about 100 years where Persia continued to control
Judah. However, they did not interfere with the Jews and allowed them to
carry on their worship and ritual. The high priest was the ruler of Judah
during this time and was responsible to the Jewish government.
Hellenistic period (332-166 B.C.)
As prophesied by Daniel (Dan 8:1-8,21-22; 11:3-4), the Persians were
overthrown by the great king of Greece, Alexander. In 334-333 B.C. the
Persian armies were defeated at Granicus and Issus, and Alexander quickly
established his empire. He too was considerate of Jewish religion to the
point of granting them exemption from taxes during a sabbath year. At
Alexander's death (323 B.C.), his empire was divided among his four generals.
Two of them founded dynasties the Ptolemies in Egypt (the king of the south in
Dan 11) and the Seleucids in Syria (the king of the north in Dan 11).
The Ptolemies ruled Judah from 320 to 198 B.C.. Again, the Jews had the
privilege of religious freedom. But in 198 B.C., the Seleucids took control.
When Antiochus IV Epiphanes became ruler, he attempted to eradicate Jewish
religion. He sought to destroy all copies of the Torah and killed anyone
discovered in possession of such copies; he suppressed all observances of
Jewish law; he made circumcision an offence punishable by death; he tortured
Jews to force them to renounce their religion; he required offerings to the
Greek god Zeus and he erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig in the
Jewish temple. This was the first "abomination that causes desolation" (Dan
11:31).
Naturally, the Jews were outraged. In 167 B.C. they revolted, led by Judas
the Maccabee (Dan 11:32). He re-conquered Jerusalem in 165 B.C. and purified
and re-dedicated the temple. This was the origin of the Feast of Dedication
(Jn 10:22).
Hasmonean period (166-63 B.C.)
The Hasmonean dynasty founded by Judas Maccabaeus followed the path all
revolutions seem to take and soon became an aristocratic regime. Even
orthodox Jews were out of favour and Pharisees were persecuted.
The Hasmonean period ended in 63 B.C when Pompey, the Roman general, took
Jerusalem. The temple area was besieged for three months and priests were
massacred as they performed their duties. The Jews would hate their Roman
oppressors from this time forward.
Roman period (63 B.C. . . . )
Rome appointed princes and procurators to govern the provinces of Palestine.
At the time of Christ's birth, Herod the Great was ruler of all Palestine.