The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ Ptolemaic Period

Announcements

Intertestamental Period WeekDateTopic 105 Mar 14Overview 212 Mar 14Babylonian Period ( BC) 319 Mar 14Persian Period ( BC) 426 Mar 14Greek Period ( BC) 502 Apr 14Ptolemaic ( BC) 609 Apr 14Syrian ( BC) 716 Apr 14Maccabean Part 1 ( BC) 823 Apr 14Maccabean Part 2 ( BC) 930 Apr 14Independence ( BC) 1007 May 14Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC) 1114 May 14Herod (37 BC – 4 BC) 1221 May 14The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD) 1328 May 14Review

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) –1 st and 2 nd 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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