Old Testament Chronology Lecture 8

SHEPHERDS COLLEGE SHORT COURSE: OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY 6 MAY 2025, LECTURE 8 1 THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD Not written but not silent either 2 THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD 1. The intertestamental period spans the time after the Old Testament canon (2 Chronicles, Malachi) to the time of Christ. It should be remembered that that Gospels were not written until after Christ’s ascension, so the total time of no new written Scripture is about 440 years. 2. When Christ came, He spoke. Thus, although not written in His lifetime God’s word was being spoken. Likewise, God’s Word was spoken when the angels announced the Birth of John the Baptist and Christ (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2) 3. The intertestamental period was not silent so far as God’s involvement and protection of His people are concerned, and much was written during that time. Part of what was written during the so-called silent years we now call The Apocrypha, “to hide away” (not to be confused with The Apocalypse or apocalyptic genre, “to reveal”). 4. Prophecies made by Daniel were fulfilled during this time. 3 The intertestamental period, spanning approximately 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, was a time of significant political and cultural changes for the Jewish people This era can be divided Into four main periods: 1. Persian (539-330 BC), 1. Return from captivity 2. Worship allowed 2. Greek or Hellenistic (330-166 BC), 1. Alexander the Great: introduced Hellenistic ideas 3. Maccabean or Hasmonean (166-63 BC), 1. Jewish rebellion against Hellenization and Antiochus IV Epiphanes 4. Roman (63 BC through the time of Christ). Rome conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC (Pompeii 4 DURING THE GREEK PERIOD 1. The Septuagint (LXX) was translated from the Hebrew into Greek, about 200 BC 2. Jewish sects grew, most notably 1. Pharisees 2. Sadducees 3. Essenes 4. Zealots. 3. Aramaic became the most common language in Judea. 5 BEFORE THE REBELLION AND BEFORE ROME 6 HELLENISTIC DYNASTY OF THE SELEUCIS 7 EMPIRES BEFORE THE MACCABEES Assyrian Babylonian Persian Greek Macedonian: Seleucid Dynasty 312-64 BC Aristophanes IV Epiphanes (215 BC-164, ruled 175 BC-164), son of Seleucus. persecuted the Jews through forced Hellenization Possibly the first recorded instance of religious persecution Ptolemaic Dynasty: 323-30 BC 8 THE MACCABEAN REVOLT AND THE ROMANS • 167-160 BC • Independence in 134 • Hannukah 165 BC. 1 Maccabees 1:59; 2 Maccabees 10 • Rome conquers Judea in 65 BC • Jesus celebrated Hannukah: John 10:22 9 DANIEL 8 AND FULFILLED PROPHECY BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS. 10 11