The Inter-Testimal Periods, by Lane Rogers

Alexander theGreat                                Lesson One

The Four Inter-Testimal Periods are:

1. Persian rule; 539-331 B.C.

2. Hellenistic kingdoms - 331-167 B.C.

A. Egyptian - (Ptolemies)

B. Syrian - Seleucids

3. Independence - (Maccabees) 167-63 B.C.

4. Herodian and Roman - 63 B.C. - A.D. 70

Cyrus and the Dispersion. This is one of the most obscure periods we will discuss. However, this period was very important since the foundations of post-biblical Judaism developed during this time. Josephus says that the government was "aristocratic and oligarchic" since the High Priest was the head of all affairs (Ant. 4.8 [111]. The High Priest was subject to, but not appointed by, the local governors, since the governors were 'satraps' for the larger state. The High Priest remained the leader of the Jewish community all through the Ptolemaic times.

Samaritan Schism. The exiles who returned from Babylon thought that they were socially superior to the people who remained in the land (Jer. 24:2; 2 Kings 24:14; 2512). Authorities in Samaria opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and the city walls (Ezra 4:1ff; Neh. 6: 1ff.) Nehemiah tells us how the grandson of the High Priest married the daughter of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria and that he drove out this Samaritan sympathizer (Neh. 13:28). During the time of Alexander the Great, the most important issue between the Samaritans and the returning Jews was where to worship. A Temple was built on Mt. Gerizim, (in Samaria) but later destroyed.

THE GREEK PERIOD ( 332-167 B.C.)

The Coming of Alexander.

Josephus Ant. 11.8. 4-5 is a must read. It is this story that relates to the contacts between Alexander The Great and the High Priest of Jerusalem. It was under Alexander the Great that the Jews of Jerusalem received permission to live "according to the traditions of their ancestors."

It was under and after Alexander the Great that a process called 'Hellenization' accelerated. The Greek culture took over the entire world including the Jews. There were several reactions to this 'Hellenization' process by different groups of the Jews which will be discussed later.

The Rule of the Ptolemies (301-198 B.C.)

After the death of Alexander his conquests were divided up between his generals. They all struggled for control of Palestine which changed hands between Antigonus (who controlled Asia Minor) and the Ptolemies (who ruled Egypt). Before the Battle of Ipsus (301. B.C.) the other Generals plotted against Antigonus and and agreed that Palestine was to go to the Ptolemies. However, Seleucus, who held Syria, claimed the agreement was void. Seleucus owed the Ptolemies favors and did not press his claim at the time.

Later, when Ptolemy I deported many Jews to Egypt, Alexandria became the intellectual center of Jewish life but in general, life under the Ptolemy empire was peaceful for the Jews.

The Rule of the Seleucids (198-167 B.C.)

Antiochus III the Great (223-187 B.C.), brought the end to peace in 219. He wanted Palestine and finally the Jews of Palestine changed sides. This was a giant mistake. Antiochus was defeated by the Romans in 190 B.C. (the Punic wars and Hannibal the Great) and imposed a heavy tribute on him. During this time a rivalry between two leading Jewish Families who were related by marriage began to boil over. The House of Onias held the High Priesthood since they claimed to be descendants of Zadok. The House of Tobias collected taxes for the government.

While the High Priest Onias III was in Antioch to answer charges made against him by the Tobias when in 174 B.C. his brother Jason appeared with the payment of a large bribe and secured the appointment as High Priest from Antiochus IV (175-163). Onias III was murdered while in Antioch (II Macc. 4:33 ff) and his son Onias IV fled to Egypt and built a new Temple while there. The Temple in Egypt was destroyed by the Romans in 74 A.D.

In the meantime, the Seleucids needed money and rich Jews wanted power in Jerusalem. One of those 'rich Jews' was a man by the name of Menahem. Menelaus was an extreme Hellenizer. Menahem was not happy with Onaid Jason and offered more money to Antiochus IV for the High Priesthood. Antiochus said of this event, "Such piety could not go unrewarded." Antiochus IV escorted by Menelaus plundered the temple at Jerusalem in 169 B.C. to help finance the Egyptian expedition. The Jews saw this as Antiochus' first steps toward outlawing their religion. Antiochus did attack Egypt and was on the verge of winning but the Romans once again intervened. Rumor came back to Palestine that Antiochus had been killed and Jason ran Menelaus out of town. The problem was that Antiochus had not been killed and when he returned he saw the removing of Menelaus as a direct rebellion against him. It was then that he outlawed the Jewish Religion and set up the Semitic "Lord Of Heaven" (Baal Shamayim) otherwise known as Zeus.

According to Jewish sources, Antiochus IV in 168 or 167 B.C. issued decrees prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion: the Scriptures were to be destroyed, the Sabbath abolished, and circumcision was no longer to be practiced (I Macc. 1:41-64). At the end of 168-167, a smaller altar was erected on top of the great altar (for burnt offerings) and a pig was sacrificed on it. The historical records indicate that Antiochus' contemporaries made fun of him. The word Epiphanes means "God Manifest" but his contemporaries called him Epimanes, or the mad man.

The Maccabean or Hasmonean Period (167-63 B.C.)

Though many of the Jews followed the laws of the Syrians, there was also violent resistance to them. Like any conquered nation, the Jews after the Babylonian captivity(587-538) were subject to the cultural influences of their captors. They lived under the Persians, the Greeks, and the Egyptians for almost four centuries and enjoyed somewhat limited autonomy when it came to their religious practices. But things took a drastic change in 175 B.C. under the the rule of the Syrians and Antiochus Epiphanes IV(the last few chapters of the book of Daniel). In 167 or 166 B.C., King Antiochus ordered all inhabitants of Israel to offer a sacrifice on an altar that had been set up in the market place. This was no shock to the Jews from the village of Modein since they were well aware of what had happened in Jerusalem only a few months before. The King set up an idol in the Temple itself and even offered pigs (Dan.11:31ff.) The temple was profaned and people were tortured. Those who were found to have in their possession any scrolls of the Torah were killed (1 Macc. 1: 44-64). In 1 Macc. 2:15, the author of the book tells us that many of the Israelites went over to the King's service.

Watching all of these events that day in the city of Modein were the elderly priest, Mattathias, and his sons, Johanan, Simon, Judas (called the Maccabee), Eliezer, and Jonathan. While watching these events they came to the attention of the kings men. “You are a leader, honored and great in this town, and supported by sons and brothers. Now be the first to come and do what the King commands, as all the Gentiles and people of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts. But Matthias answered and said in a loud voice: 'Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to obey his commandments, every one of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors, I and my sons will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors. Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.'

When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer a sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king's command. When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to his righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the

altar. Thus he burned with zeal for the law, Just as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu.

Then Matthias cried out in the town with a loud voice, saying: 'Let everyone who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come with me.' Then he and his sons fled to the hills and left all they had in town” (I Macc. 2:17-28). We have just read the beginnings of the Maccabean revolt. This revolt lead to the re-dedication of the Temple in 164 B.C. later celebrated by the Jews as Hanukkah. The Maccabean revolt eventually lead to the partially autonomous Judean sate that lasted until the conquest by the Romans.

Judas (d. 160 B.C.) Before his death, Matthias in 166 or 165 gave the leadership to Judas, one of his five sons. Judas bore the nickname "Maccabee" or 'the hammer.' This was a fitting title since it was Judas who organized and lead the the resistance. However, the family of Judas ought to be called more properly the Hasmonean from their ancestor Hashmon. That is where the period receives its name of the Hasmonean period. From their stronghold in the wilderness they carried out guerrilla warfare. They killed Jews who were Hellenist sympathizers and circumcised children by force.

Finally in 165 B.C. Antiochus withdrew his ban on the Jewish religion but left Menelaus in the High Priesthood. Judas' troops moved into Jerusalem and kept the Syrians busy while the Temple was being rededicated. Antiochus died the following year and Judas laid siege to the garrison of Syrians at Jerusalem and evicted them. Then he deposed Menelaus as High Priest and appointed Alcimus in his place. The Hasmoneans were not content with their accomplishment and rejected Alcimus as being a Hellenizer. Eventually, Judas tried to evict Alcimus. The Hellenizers in Judea once again appealed to the Syrians and a battle came about where Judas lost his life.

Jonathan (160-143).

For a while the Syrians regained control over Palestine but Judah's brother Jonathan did not give up. Jonathan did not have the brains nor the wit of his brother Judas. He was finally killed by the Syrians.

Simon (143 - 134 B.C.). Simon was the last survivor of the five brothers. With strong support the Jewish people backed Simon when he was promoted to the commander of the army, ethnarch of the nation, and the High Priest. The last office was confirmed to his family "forever until a trustworthy prophet should arise" (I Macc. 14:41) to declare the will of God.

John Hyrcanus (134-104 B.C.)

Judas secured religious freedom (162 B.C.) to the restoring of the Priestly aristocracy under Jonathan (152 B.C.), to gaining political independence under Simon (142 B.C.), to the military conquest under John Hyrcanus.

(This is important for the interpretation of the Book of Obidiah). By the time John came to power the Syrian influence was weak. After the death of Antiochus IV, no strong Syrian ruler came to the throne again. John launched campaigns against the Edomites forcing them to be circumcised. To the North, he destroyed the Temple that had been built in Samaria and captured Samaria in 109 B.C.

Josephus mentions the Pharisees as an opposition group to the Hasmonean High Priesthood in connection with John Hyrcanus. However, John did receive support from another group (the Sadducces, the dominant party of the Sanhedrin). It was a time of peace for Judea but with the passing of John things changed.

Aristobulus (104-103 B.C.). Aristobulus was John's son and the first to take the title "King." This is further indication of the acceptance of Greek culture.

Alexander Janneus (103-76 B.C.) Aristobulus' widow, Salome Alexandra, designated Alexander Janneus as High Priest and then married him. Alexander Janneus was the older brother of Aristoblus. This man was terrible and had a terrible reputation. The people finally rebelled against him and he brought in mercenaries to put the rebellion down. Of all people, he brought in the Syrians. He then put 800 Jewish men to the cross while their wives and children were butchered at their feet.

Salome Alexandra (76-63 B.C.) Alexander bequeathed his kingdom to his wife Salome, the only woman to be Queen over Israel during the second Temple period. She actually had a better record than the OT Queens.

Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II (67-63 B.C.).

Aristobulus the II was ambitious and he aligned himself with the Sadducces. On his mother's death bed he defeated Hyrcanus and assumed kingship and high priesthood. The Edomites knew there was trouble between the two brothers, and Antipater, governor of Edom, took every occasion to spread rumor and gossip in hope of stirring up trouble.

Civil war broke out and the Roman Army moved in.

The Roman Period (from 63 B.C.)

When the Romans arrived in 63 B.C. they sided with Hyrcanus. Aristobulus's followers barricaded themselves in the Temple but could not withstand the siege. Pompey entered the Holy of Holies and was amazed to find only emptiness. His entering the Holy of Holies shocked the Jewish nation and that shock is expressed in the writings of the contemporary document of the Psalms of Solomon. This was the first Jewish writing to express complete contempt for Rome. Pompey confirmed Hyrcanus in the high priesthood but his rule was without the title of king, and his rule was restricted only to Judea and Syria. Aristobulus and his followers rebelled against Rome three times between 57 and 55 B.C. and finally the Romans deprived Hyrcanus of his rule and put Judea under the rule of a Syrian governor. From Pompey's rule on, the situation can best be described as a century of civil war. Antipater and his sons, Phasael and Herod successfully changed allegiance with each change in Rome---to Julius Caesar, to Mark Antony, and to Octavian. There was one incident that brought the Jews favor from Rome. After Pompey's assassination in 48 B.C. Caesar landed in Egypt; but the supporters of Ptolemy XII blockaded him in Alexandria. Timely aid from Antipater enabled Caesar to defeat his enemies and he responded to the Jews with favor.

Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.)

Caesar owed the Jewish nation for the above mentioned rescue and when later Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus II gained power in Judea (the last Hasmonean to do so), Herod the great fled to Rome and in 40 B.C. was declared king of the Jews by the Roman Senate. Herod the Great persuaded Antony to capture Antigonus and put him out of the way. Antigonus was bound to a cross and then flogged - a punishment no other king had ever suffered. Later, he was killed. But - this proved to end the Hasmonean rule and established the Herod rule for generations to come.

Sunday Morning                          Lane Rogers