God is still active, even in the silence
The Intertestamental Period
“Look among the nations!
Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days
—You would not believe if you were told.”
The Intertestamental Period
333 BC -----------------------------------70 AD
The rise of the Greek Empire
Under Alexander the Great
(following the return of the Jewish Exiles)
The destruction of
the Jerusalem Temple
(The end of the nation
of Israel until 1948)
Writings and the “Voice of God”
The Apocrypha
Documents of questionable authorship and origins
14 books regarding the events and history of Judaism
All these books lack evidence of the “prophetic voice.”
Appeared as part of the Septuagint (Greek OT) 132 BC
Not included in the Hebrew Bible since about 100AD
Pseudepigrapha
Writings falsely attributed to renown historical authors and figures (Writings excluded from OT and NT)
The History of Israel in thi era
Suzerainty – A dominant state controlling the foreign relations of a subservient state but allowing it to maintain authority in its internal affairs. Most often setting up puppet rulers, and exacting tributes and taxes from the region.
Medes & Persia (Iran)
Greece
Egypt
Syria
Asia Minor (Turkey)
Parthians (Iran)
Rome
Foreign Influence
Hellenism: The effort to establish Greek culture in every conquered region.
Common language (Greek the language of the empire)
Common culture (Governance through the city-state)
Making the existing cities “Greek cities”
Gymnasiums, Stadiums, Marketplace (agora), Hippodrome (races)
Sexual liberty and perversions, gross licentiousness
Religious Liberty
All gods accepted
All manner of ‘worship’ accepted
Jerusalem: A city of resistance and compromise
Corruption
Rulers, priests and authorities were changed under each new dominant nation.
Even the High Priest was determined by pagan conquerors.
Local rulers and priests were put in power based on their
promises of returning a greater tribute.
Collecting taxes was profitable, and permission to tax the
citizenry was awarded based on how much the
collector guaranteed to give to the alien ruler.
Jerusalem: A Divided City
Accommodation: The well-connected and politically astute: the forerunners of the Sadducees
Religious Resistance: Those determined to uphold the Law: The forerunners of the Pharisees and the Hasidim
Revolution: Those who sought national sovereignty, freedom: The Zealots, Essenes, and Qumram Community
The Maccabean Revolt 167-142 BC
Mattathias 167 BC
The influence of the belief in life after death
The grassroots populace had had enough
Judas the Maccabee and his offspring
Temple Rededication: December 25, 165 BC (Hanukkuh)
Religious and Political Independence 142 BC
Civil War and the Rise of Rome
Corrupt Jewish Leaders
Civil War under Alexander Jannaeus (95-88 BC)
Hyrcanus II & Aristobulus II (67-63 BC)
Both appealed to Rome to intervene
Pompey showed up in 63 BC
He settled the dispute, BUT now Rome was there to stay
Antipater the Idumean rises in power, beholden to Rome
Son: Herod the Great governor of Galilee (47 BC) later “king” of Judea (37 BC - 4 AD)
Herod’s son: Herod Archelaus (4 - 6 AD) Tetrarch of Judea
Herod’s Son: Herod Antipas (4 – 39 AD) Tetrarch in Galilee
God was active in the silence
The rise of belief in the resurrection and eternal life
The disillusionment with political kings and political priests
The spread of a common language throughout the known world
The writing of the Old Testament in Greek
The broad acceptance of differing religious views
The rising cry for a prophet—priest — and king: A MESSIAH
The spread of Jews throughout the Greek and Roman empires
When you cannot hear God, Know that He is still there When you cannot see God’s hand, Know that He is still working