Beginner’s Bible Study Blog-Session 7
Intertestamental Period
Break Time! Did you know that there is a period of approximately 400 years that is not accounted for in the Bible? The Old Testament ends with the minor prophets and the exiled Israelites returning to Judea under the ministries of Ezra & Nehemiah. What was happening in Jerusalem and Judea as the power shifted between the Persians, Greeks, and then Romans? We won’t find it in the Bible. What we find in the New Testament is the results of what happened during this 400+ year period.
Key New Developments between the Old Testament and New Testament
Life Under the Persians: Although Israel had been physically allowed to return to Judea they were still really in exile. The Persians had a firm hold of their daily walk. Many Israelites began to think that God still had a final deliverance in mind for Israel. They believed if they more faithfully followed the law, the covenant life as the chosen people of God would return.
Good example of this: Ezra, a scribe, had been given governmental authority directly from the King of Persia. His job was to enforce the law of Moses on the inhabitants of Judea. Scribes were given the authority along with the priest to enforce matters of law. By the 2nd century BC the scribes were a recognized institution of interpretation and application of the law. Many, many new laws were written applying the Torah to the new situations the people now found themselves in.
Synagogues (local places of worship) were established to teach all the old laws and the new interpretation of these laws to the people. Although the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and still was central to the Israelites, the synagogues represent a major new player in the Israel.
Greek Empire Under Alexander the Great: Alexander’s major goal was to unite all of his empire under one cultural umbrella. He imposed Greek culture and the Greek language on the entire empire. Greek ideas and influences invaded Israel. Hebrew scholars even translated the sacred scriptures into Greek (the Septuagint). All of these shifts contributed to major religious practices in Israel along with a deluge of pagan practices.
After Alexander’s Early Death: There was no immediate successor to Alexander so the Ptolomies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Persia wrestled for control of this former empire. The Ptolomies gained control of Israel first and then the Seleucids took over later.
During the later period King Antiochus Epiphanies(Seleucids) was nasty. Israel was beginning to push back at this alien culture invading their religion and life. Antiochus pushed back in an attempt to force compliance on the Greek way of life. He put up a temple to Zeus in the temple in Jerusalem and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Pigs were the most unclean animal according to Jewish law. Turn to Daniel 11:31 in your Bible and you’ll find this act referred to as “the abomination that causes desolation.” This single act so infuriated the Israelites that they overthrew the Seleucids and were free for a brief time.
The Macaabean Revolt: This began when and elderly priest, Mattathias ben Johanan, refused to offer an unclean sacrifice to one of the pagan gods. He killed the priest who did offer it and the attending Greek soldier. He then fled with his five sons to the desert. They became and organized band of rebels. When Mattathias died, his 3rd son, Judah, whose nickname was Maccabee , meaning ‘the hammer’, took over. On December 25, 164 BC (not the December date), 3 years to the date when Antiochus had desecrated the temple, Judah Maccabee rode into Jerusalem to shouts of ‘hosanna’ and the waving of palm branches. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?The Macaabees ruled Israel independently for about 80 years.
Why is all of this important? It is part of the story of Israel, like the exodus, that is a moment in time that is critical for their thinking, remembering, and futuring. Since God had delivered them again under the Maccabee rulers God would surely deliver them again in an act of redemption. What was on the immediate horizon was the growing Roman power.
Israel Under Rome: In 63 BC Pompey the Great conquered Jerusalem. Rome chose to rule Israel with puppet kings and governors. The Herods were a family of kings that ruled. Pontius Pilate was one of the appointed governors.
Rome ruled Israel with a show of military force, heavy taxes, and a trampling down of their religious practices. The Israelites were infuriated, but there was little they could do except take their anger out on Gentiles (people who were not Jewish). The hatred also targeted anyone who cooperated with Rome. This included priests, tax collectors, and appointed governmental leaders. The people yearned for redemption and occasionally small rebellions would spring up. Rome would instantly crush them and crucify large numbers of rebels. Crucifixion was done because it was very violent and visual way to show the public what happens when you disobey Rome. Despite the Roman presence, the longing for a new messianic leader intensified and the Israelites were willing and ready to usher it in.
Kingdom of God: Kingdom of God is messianic language developed during this intertestamental time. Israel believe a messiah would deliver them and a new age of God’s rule would be ushered in. God’s Spirit would pour out on people and those that had died previously and were faithful would be raised from the dead and join them. (Daniel 12:2)
Israel continued to pray, study the Scriptures, remain faithful to the Torah (God’s laws), and be ready for an armed rebellion. Although united on the above hope, how all this would be accomplished created great division among the Israelites.
Pharisees: The Pharisees believed the Kingdom of God could not come about until the corruption of the pagan influence in their culture and radical obedience to the Torah took place. Circumcision, food, and Sabbath laws were of prime importance to them. They would side with violence if needed.
Essenes: They chose to operate outside the bounds of the religious institution of the day because they believed Israel religious community had been corrupted by culture. They withdrew to the wilderness and set-up alternative communities in which to pray, study, and live out the Torah.
Sadducees & Priest: Official teachers of the law and recognized reps of the mainline Judaism. They were members of the ruling council called the Sanhedrin. They were dependent on the Romans rulers and were in heavy collaboration with them.
Zealots: Intense revolutionaries who were loosely organized. This group’s rallied under the Maccabean revolution and particularly the cry of Mattathias the father who said in I Maccabees 2:27, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me.” Occasionally a self proclaimed ‘messiah’ would spring up and challenge the Romans. One of Jesus’ own disciples was known as Simon the Zealot (Luke 6:15)
Conclusion: A showdown is coming. Persian, Greek, and Roman rule has influenced culture and Judaism. Some Israelites have chosen to strike back, others live with it, still others have chosen an alternative community of faith dedicated to the Kingdom of God. The Old Testament has come to a conclusion and the Kingdom of God is about to unfold
The Beginner’s Bible Study Blog would like to acknowledge the following two sources for much of the material in session 7: The True Story of the Whole World (2009) by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen and Bridge Between the Testaments (1986)by Donald E. Gowan.
