The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ Seleucid 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 Learn about Antiochus III and Antiochus IV Epiphanies ruled over Palestine Learn about Roman influence over the Seleucid empire Review the degeneration of Jewish religious freedom under Antiochus IV Epiphanies Discover the seeds of a Jewish revolt in the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanies Review the key events occurring during the Seleucid rule of Jerusalem

Last week’s lesson 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

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

War with the Ptolemies 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

Seleucid Rule BC Series of rulers become increasingly harsh towards Jews Building of Antioch High priest becomes politicized Roman influence grows across the region Rise of the Jewish dissidents

Antioch Established by Seleucus I as the capital of the Seleucid Empire Honored his father Antiochus Sometimes called called Antioch-Syria as opposed to Antioch-Pisidia Located 15 miles from the Orontes River Main trade route Great city of the Roman Empire Center of Paul’s missionary travels – Acts 11:19-26, first called “Christians”

Antiochus III, the Great BC Added the territory of Palestine to his rule General of Ptolemy IV defected to Antiochus III, battle ensued Dan 11:11, 3 Macc 1:9-11, 24 Ptolemy IV dies, succeeded by his young son and Antiochus III takes advantage Antiochus III defeats Ptolemy V in 198 BC Begins Seleucid/Syrian rule over Palestine

Antiochus III Coin

Hannibal and Antiochus Romans defeat Carthaginians in Second Punic War (202 BC) Hannibal too refuge under Antiochus III Hannibal convinces Antiochus III to attack Greece Rome declares war against Antiochus III Rome defeats and captures Antiochus III in 190 BC Rome strips Antiochus III of Asia Minor and force him to surrender his Navy

Compensation to Rome Rome demands large payments, equal to tons of Silver Rome takes Antiochus III’s son Antiochus IV hostage as insurance Antiochus III was forced to levy heavy taxes and plunder temples in order to meet payments Eventually led to Antiochus III’s death

Antiochus IV, Ephiphanes BC Remembered as a very cruel persecutor of faithful Jews in Jerusalem He is what Nero is to the Christians Lived 12 years in Rome Seleucus IV succeeded him as Seleucus IV tries to confiscate items from the temple in Jerusalem, Onias III defended Seleucus IV is eventualy assissinated and Antiochus IV becomes king

Antiochus IV Epiphanies Coin

Jason Bribes Seleucus IV and is declared the high priest He institutes a policy of pro-Hellenism Practices pagan Greek games in Jerusalem Many priests corrupted by his leadership Many Jews began to openly ridicule Jewish customs and ordinances Wanted to make the new Antioch Remained high priest for three years

Hasidim Soon many priests and Jews broke away from Jason – stayed loyal to the law Supported Onias III This religious party was called the Hasidim from the Hebrew word chesedh or pious Modern Hasidic Jews use the same name

Menelaus Replaced Jason as high priest Even more wicked than Jason Not of the Levi tribe, but a Benjamite Has Onias III murdered Jason returns in 169 BC and retakes rule when Antiochus IV departs for war in Egypt Kills many Jews in the process Antiochus IV returns and restores Menelaus Syrian soldiers dominated Jerusalem for 25 more years

Great Persecution Antiochus IV attempts to take Egypt but efforts are thwarted by Rome Rome did not want Syria to get too strong Antiochus IV is forced to return empty- handed and humiliated Two years of Jewish persecution ensues He attacks Jerusalem on the Sabbath Kills thousands of Jews, destroys the walls, strips the temple, carries away 10,000 Jewish slaves

Removal of Jewish Religion Antiochus IV forces Jews to unit their religion with pagan Greek worship Introduces pagan Greek worship to the temple Drunken orgies to Bacchus in the temple Erected a statue of Zeus in the temple –Known as Baal Shamem Offers a pig on the altar Menelaus and his priest actively participate Jews call these events “the abomination of desolation” (see Dan 11:30-31, 1 Macc 1:54)

Further Degeneration Antiochus IV forbids the practice of the Jewish religion Destroys all copies of Scriptures (Ant ) Forbids observance of Jewish festivals Forbids circumcision Requires Jews to sacrifice on pagan alters and eat pig flesh (2 Macc 7) Samaritans, meanwhile, assure Antiochus of their allegiance to him –Not “Jews” but “Sidonians”

Seleucid Empire Collapse Maccabean Uprising (next week) 100 BC: Empire encompassed little more than Antioch and some Syrian cities Existed solely because no other nation wished to absorb them Saw as a useful buffer between their other adjacent nations King of Armenia invades in 83 BC and established himself as ruler of Syria, virtual end to the Seleucid Empire Roman general 69 BC restores the kingdom Eventually Roman distrust led to the fall of the Seleucid empire and it became a Roman province in 63 BC

Rome Influence Continues BC – Macedonian Wars 195 BC – Hannibal incites Antiochus III to war with Rome in Macedonia 186 BC - Bacchanalia cult prohibited through Italy 168 BC – Rome wins the third Macedonian War and gains control of Macedonia, Egypt, and Syria

Review Reviewed last week’s lesson Learned about Antiochus III and Antiochus IV Epiphanies ruled over Palestine Learned about Roman influence over the Seleucid empire Reviewed the degeneration of Jewish religious freedom under Antiochus IV Epiphanies Discovered the seeds of a Jewish revolt in the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanies Reviewed the key events occurring during the Seleucid rule of Jerusalem