Intertestamental History

The first module includes an Introduction and an introduction to the sources from which we learn about the Intertestamental Period. Readings are from both primary and secondary sources. What kinds of documents do we use to learn about the Intertestamental Period? Would the people of Israel assimilate with other people groups and religions or would they continue to remain Jewish and not assimilate with those groups? What do we mean by Second Temple Judaism? Consider that exile and redemption are important to Israel’s identity. In 539 BC, Ezra and Nehemiah begin to rebuild the temple. In 516 BC, the temple is finished and people start to worship there. 516 BC to 70 AD is called the Second Temple Period. In 20 BC to 9 BC, Herod rebuilt the Jerusalem temple as the greatest temple in the world. In 70 AD, the temple was totally and completely destroyed. Would the Jewish people keep their boundary markers or assimilate into the Greek culture? The New Testament quotes often from the Septuagint which is the Greek version of the Old Testament. What happened between the ending of the writing of the Hebrew Bible and the beginning of events in the New Testament? Consider that a primary source is a document written at that time. Josephus lived during the period Jesus was alive. 1 & 2 Maccabees and Apocrypha are also primary sources. Was Josephus a great historian or Jerusalem’s traitor? He was born about 35-37 AD and died in 95 AD. He wrote The Life of Flavius Josephus, Anitquities of the Jews, The War of the Jews, and Against Apion. Consider that Josephus was a good historian but we can not take what he says as absolute truth if he was not involved in the event. Consider that 1 Maccabees is a history in detail from about 175-135 BC and 2 Maccabees interprets events to bolster the Jewish idea of being the greatest nation.

Explore the Intertestamental Period and consider a timeline of the Intertestamental Period. In 539 BC, the Jews were finally back home from the exile. John the Baptist in Matthew 11:3 asks, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5) The Elephantine Papyri speaks of a colony in which an alternate temple was built and other gods were worshipped along with YHWH. The Samaritans had an idea of a different kind of temple. The great historical debate was which temple was really the temple of God. Consider that when Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, control of his empire was fought over by the Diadochi (successors). To the north of Israel, the Seleucids gained control. To the south of Israel, the Ptolemies gained control. Many battles between the Seleucids and Ptolemies took place on Israel’s soil. Consider that Hellenization was seen in linguistic terms – everyone was to learn common Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek because it was the language of that day. Hellenism was also a Greek worldview and went against some of the basic elements of Judaism – circumcision, the food laws, and the Sabbath. Non-assimilation by some led to the controversy in the New Testament.

Consider the Maccabean Period. King Antiochus Epiphanes was tired of the Jews who would not assimilate so he had his men sacrifice a pig in the temple. The Maccabees revolted. Consider that the Feast of Lights is celebrated due to a miracle that during this time one night of oil lasted for eight nights. Consider that palm branches were a sign that the time of the Maccabees had come back.

Explore the Roman Period and consider Josephus’ Story as evidence that problems existed between the Romans and Jews and included lack of respect and insane Leaders such as Herod. Matthew 2:1-3 tells us, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him.” Consider that at the time of the New Testament, a crucified messiah was a failed messiah. Ultimately redemption came not through the overthrow of the Roman government but through the overthrow of sin. Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses, the better Moses. Jesus leads his people away form exile and into redemption.