Untitled Quiz

Inter Testament History

• The history of incarnation is in the gospels, but more materials are needed
• A large period of history between the Old and New Testaments
• Learn this history to understand the Bible comprehensively
• "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1)
• Learning aids include the Holy Bible, Deutro-Canonical Books, Apocryphal books, Malayalam translations of the Peshitha Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, etc.

Introduction

• Old Testament books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah) describe Jews returning from Babylonian exile
• These accounts end around 400 BC
• The Book of Daniel (2nd century BC) isn't a complete historical account
• The first book of the New Testament was written in AD 52; the first gospels after AD 65.
• The chapter aims to give an overview of history from 400 BC to AD 60

The Lesson

• In BC 538, Cyrus, the Persian King, issued a decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem
• The Second Temple was reconstructed in stages
• Leaders like Ezra, Nehemiah, Joshua, and Zerubbabel were involved
• Reconstruction was completed in BC 515 during Darius' reign
• Powers succeeding Israel in ancient West Asia included Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome
• Jewish history continued under the Persian kings (BC 538-332), before the Greek period

The Greek Period (BC 333-63)

• Alexander the Great of Macedonia defeated Persia and created a vast empire (BC 333)
• The period following Alexander's reign is known as the Greek period.
• The Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (the Septuagint) during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (305-198 BC)
• Seleucids rose to power (BC 198-63 BC) and Antiochus III initially allowed Jews to follow their scriptures, but Antiochus IV (BC 175-164) persecuted them religiously.
• Antiochus IV desecrated the Temple

Persecution in the Temple

• Onias III was the High Priest of Israel, but the king Antiochus IV sought his wealth
• High Priest Jason, Onias III's brother, bribed the king and became priest of the Temple
• Menelaus sought to kill Onias III and became high priest after Jason
• Antiochus IV desecrated the Temple; and later converted it into a temple of Zeus

The Maccabean Revolt

• Jews under Priest Mattathias and his sons revolted against Antiochus IV in BC 164.
• Judas Maccabee led the Hasmonean revolt, reclaiming and rededicating the Temple
• A feast called 'Hanukkah' commemorates this rededication
• Hasmonean dynasty ruled until BC 63, facing foreign powers

The Roman Period

• Following the Hasmonean dynasty, Herod the Great became king of Judea (a client kingdom of Rome) in BC 40.
• Herod rebuilt and expanded the Temple
• He eliminated the Hasmonean family and the Roman Empire administered Israel
• Various periods of Roman rule were characterized by changes in leadership and religious practices.
• The Jewish community was governed by the Roman Empire with some autonomy

Further Reading

• Continue reading the Bible, as scheduled.