The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

Ptolemaic Period

Announcements

Intertestamental PeriodWeek Date Topic

1 05 Mar 14 Overview

2 12 Mar 14 Babylonian Period (605-539 BC)

3 19 Mar 14 Persian Period (539-332 BC)

4 26 Mar 14 Greek Period (332-323 BC)

5 02 Apr 14 Ptolemaic (323-198 BC)

6 09 Apr 14 Syrian (198-168 BC)

7 16 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 1 (168-153 BC)

8 23 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 2 (153-139 BC)

9 30 Apr 14 Independence (139-63 BC)

10 07 May 14 Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC)

11 14 May 14 Herod (37 BC – 4 BC)

12 21 May 14 The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD)

13 28 May 14 Review

Today’s Objectives• Review last week’s lesson

• Review the transition of power between Alexander and the Diadochoi

• Review key Biblical scriptures

• Learn about the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious issues during the Ptolemaic rule over Israel

• Learn about what effect the Ptolemaic rule had on the Jews

• Learn about the growing influence of the Roman empire

Last week’s lesson• Reviewed last week’s lesson• Reviewed the transition of power between

Persians and the Greeks• Reviewed key Biblical scriptures • Learn about the political, social, economic,

cultural, and religious issues during the Greek rule over Israel

• Learn about Alexander's impact on the Mediterranean and Asian regions

• Learn about the transition of the Greek empire

Reference Material

• KJV (w/ Apocrypha)– 1st and 2nd Maccabbees

• Josephus – The Complete Works

• Herodotus – The History

• Intertestamental History – Mark Moore

• Ancient Rome – Simon Baker

• Harding University – BNEW 112 Course Notes – Dr. Thompson

1 Maccabees Chapter 1:1-101 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who

came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.

5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been

brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons

after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes,

son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

The “New” Alexander• Alexander declared himself basileus (“king”)

and the “son of Ammon” (an Egyptian sun god)

• He adopted the clothing and behavior of an Oriental royal leader

• Strained the relation between him and his army

• He became increasingly cruel

• Merciless sack of Persepolis

Division of the Greek Empire• Diadochoi; it is the title given to the Greek

generals who carved up Alexander’s empire among themselves after his death

• One of them, Cassander, murdered Alexander’s widow and his infant son

• After seven years of fighting, four men emerged as the most powerful:– Antigonus (Mediterranean Sea to Asia)– Ptolemy Lagi (Egypt and south Syria)– Cassander (Macedonia)– Lysimachus (Thrace)

Further Division• In 312 B.C. the other three Diadochoi

contained the overambitious Antigonus

• In 311 B.C. Ptolemy’s General Seleucus split off on his own and established himself as ruler of Babylon and Syria

• Four rulers still remained (Dan 7:6; 8:8; 11:4)

• Of special importance to Jewish history:– Ptolemies in Egypt– Seleucids in Syria– Palestine became a political football between

these competing powers

Ptolemaic Empire• 332-30 BC, primarily in Egypt• Named themselves Pharaohs in order to gain

recognition by the native Egyptian populace• Took on the Egyptian way of life• Hellenistic/Greek culture thrived in Egypt until

the Muslim conquest• Ultimately annexed by Rome in 30 BC• Male rulers of the dynasty took the name

"Ptolemy", while princesses and queens preferred the names Cleopatra and Berenice

• 170 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Egypt and deposed the Ptolemaic ruler

Ptolemaic Rule of Jerusalem• 323-198 BC, read Daniel 11• Alexander had already made Ptolemy I Soter

(sometimes “Lagi”) the “governor” of Egypt• Ptolemy aspired to annex Palestine under

his control – yet, Antigonus controlled it• In 320 BC, Ptolemy Lagi gained some

control of Jerusalem• In 312 BC, enters Jerusalem on the Sabbath• Josephus describes his rule as “cruel”• Alexandria becomes a Jewish refuge

Influence upon the Jews

• Jerusalem shifted from being a Seleucid vassal state to a Ptolemaic vassal state

• Between 319 and 302 BC, Jerusalem changed hands seven times

• Generally enjoyed religious tolerance and peace during the 300-200 BC period

• Jewish voluntary migration greatest under Ptolemy

• Appear to have continued to live under the rule of the high priest

• Sent annual tributes to Egypt

Tobiads• Joseph Tobias• Josephus writes about him in Antiquities• Also recorded in the Zenon papyrus • Joseph Tobias became very wealthy and

powerful through tax-farming• He takes advantage of the laxity of the

high priest Onias• Many Jews believed he was the

descendent of Tobiah the Ammonite• In short, he was likely despised

Simon the Just• Probably the son of Onias I, and grandson of

Jaddua• Around 300-270 BC• Greatest high priest during the Egyptian-

Ptolemaic period, part of the Sanhedrin• Directed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall,

repair of the temple, and construction of a water supply

• Remembered as a great teacher of the law• Writings are recorded in the Mishnah• Last of the members of the Great Assembly

Septuagint (LXX)

• Letter of Aristeas• 77 Jews translated the law of Moses into

Greek in Alexandria• Under the direction of Ptolemy II • 285-246 BC• Used by Jews outside of Jerusalem• Introduced monotheism to the Greek world• Later Christians effectively used the

Septuagint to spread the news of Christ

War with the Seleucids

• Fighting initially started in 311 BC as Seleucus I split from Ptolemy I

• Predicted in Daniel 11– King of the North represents Seleucids– King of the South represents Ptolemies

• Seleucids finally garnered enough power to pull the Palestinian region from the Ptolemies

• Created a new capital of the Seleucid empire, called Antioch

Jewish Impact• Rivalry between the Tobiad family and the Oniad

high priests • Led to the attempted radical Hellenization of

Judea later on in the second century BC• National collective taxation• Jews living in Alexandria were entitled to their

own corporation with a council (gerousia)• Empowered to conduct its affairs according to

Jewish law, to build synagogues, and to send to Jerusalem taxes collected for the Temple

• Predominance of the Greek language

Egyptian Jews

• The language of the Egyptian Jews was Greek• After a generation or two immigrants from

Palestine forgot their Semitic speech• Hebrew scriptures they knew only in the Greek

translation• Archaeological evidence of large Jewish

presence in Egypt during this time• Thousands of Jews lived in Alexandria• Alexandria is thought to be the place where

Joseph and Mary fled from Herod

Rome Influence Grows• In 265 BC, Rome is in control of Italy• In 264 BC, Carthaginian Empire and the

Roman Republic at war (First Punic War)• In 241 BC, the First Punic War ends• In 218 BC, the Second Punic War begins,

Hannibal is a key figure, attacks Rome• In 216 BC, the Roman Legions are

defeated• In 202 BC, the Romans defeat the

Carthaginians

Hannibal Crossing Alps

Review• Reviewed last week’s lesson

• Reviewed the transition of power between Alexander and the Diadochoi

• Reviewed key Biblical scriptures

• Learned about the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious issues during the Ptolemaic rule over Israel

• Learned about what effect the Ptolemaic rule had on the Jews

• Learned about the growing influence of the Roman empire