Page 12 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

The Intertestamental Period

Over 400 years separated the final events and final prophecy of Malachi from the beginning of the
narration in Matthew or Luke. There was no prophetic word from God during this period of time; God
was silent. And because of this, this period is often referred to as the “400 silent years.” But though the
voice of God was silent, the hand of God was actively involved in directing the course of history during
these years.

Much of what happened in the “400 silent years” was predicted by the prophet, Daniel (see Daniel
chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11). During this time, the land of Israel came to be controlled by the Medo-Persian
Empire. The Persians allowed the Jews to practice their faith with little interference. In fact, they were
even supported by Persia to rebuild and worship at the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). This span of
time included the last 100 years of the Old Testament and 100 years into the Intertestamental period.

Then came the Greeks with the defeat of Darius of Persia by Alexander the Great. During the
occupation of the Greeks, Alexander sought to “Hellenize” the land; to change the culture, language,
architecture, and practice of the Jews to become more Grecian. Greek became the spoken language,
and Greek gods and religious worship, while resisted, were promoted and practiced. Alexander sought
to create a world united by Greek language and thinking. This policy, carried on by Alexander’s
successors, was at first offensive to the Jews, but became attractive and humanly appealing and
eventually was adopted by many living in Israel.

During this time the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek, becoming the translation known
as the Septuagint. Most of the references to Old Testament passages use the Septuagint phrasing.
Alexander did allow religious freedom for the Jews, but strongly promoted Greek lifestyles.

Following the death of Alexander, control of Israel fell to one of Alexander’s generals, Seleucus I Nicator,
but a continuous battle was fought with Ptolemy I Satar, who controlled the land of Egypt. Eventually
Antiochus III defeated Ptolemy V Epiphanes who had desecrated and plundered the temple in Jerusalem
in 170 B.C. In 167 BC, Antiochus ordered the Hellenization in Palestine and forbade the Jews from
keeping their laws, observing Sabbath, keeping festivals, offering sacrifices, and circumcising their own
children. Copies of the Torah were ordered to be destroyed. The Jews were commanded by Antiochus
to eat swine’s flesh and Antiochus strongly persecuted the Jews for their faith.

An old priest, Mattathias, and his five sons led the Jewish revolt against Antiochus and his Seleucid
successors. This was known as the Maccabean Revolt or the Hasmonean Revolt. After a 24-year war,
the Jews were able to gain their independence from Syria because of the growing Roman pressure on
the Seleucids. The descendants of Mattathias eventually followed the Hellenistic ways - the very
practice that the revolt resisted. This Greek influence continued in Palestine from 142 BC to 63 BC.
Jewish freedom ended with the conquest of Pompey, a general of Rome in 63 BC. The entire land of
Palestine passed into Roman rule under the Caesars. Eventually, Herod was made king of Judea by the
Roman emperor and senate. The Romans heavily taxed the Jews who looked for a Messiah to come
who would give the nation victory over the heavy burden of the Romans. Roman, Greek and Hebrew
cultures were now thoroughly mixed together in Judea.

During the span of the Greek and Roman occupations of Israel, two important religious groups emerged.
The Pharisees held closely to obedience of the Laws of Moses as well as oral tradition passed down for

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