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

2. Intertestamental Period
Week
Date
Topic 1
01 Mar 17
Overview 2
08 Mar 17
Babylonian Period ( BC) 3
15 Mar 17
Persian Period ( BC) 4
22 Mar 17
Greek Period ( BC) 5
29 Mar 17
Ptolemaic ( BC) 6
05 Apr 17
Seleucid ( BC) 7
12 Apr 17
Maccabean Part 1 ( BC) 8
19 Apr 17
Maccabean Part 2 ( BC) 9
26 Apr 17
Independence ( BC) 10
03 May 17
Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC) 11
10 May 17
Herod (37 BC – 4 BC) 12
17 May 17
The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD) 13
24 May 17
Review
Week 1 - Overview Week 2 - Babylonian Period ( BC) Week 3 - Persian Period ( BC) Week 4 - Greek Period ( BC)              Alexander Week 5 - Ptolemaic ( BC)               Ptolemy and Egypt 320 – 198
Week 6 - Syrian ( )              Seleucid and Syria Week 7 - Maccabean Period Part 2 ( )               Mattathias
Judas the Maccabee              Jonathan Week 8 - Independence ( )
Simon              John Hyrcannaus 134 – 105
   Aristobulus              Alexander Jannaus              Alexander Salome              Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II Week 10 – Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC)
Week 11 – Herod (37-4 BC) Week 12 – Intertestamental period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD) Week 13 - Review

3. 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
The Ptolemaic Kingdom (Greek: Πτολεμαϊκὴ βασιλεία)[1] in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. It was founded when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt, creating a powerful Hellenistic state stretching from southern Syria to Cyrene and south to Nubia. Alexandria became the capital city and a center of Greek culture and trade. To gain recognition by the native Egyptian populace, they named themselves as the successors to the Pharaohs. The later Ptolemies took on Egyptian traditions by marrying their siblings, had themselves portrayed on public monuments in Egyptian style and dress, and participated in Egyptian religious life. Hellenistic culture thrived in Egypt until the Muslim conquest. The Ptolemies had to fight native rebellions and were involved in foreign and civil wars that led to the decline of the kingdom and its annexation by Rome. (Wiki) 3

4. 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

5. Reference Material KJV (w/ Apocrypha) Josephus – The Complete Works
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

6. 1 Maccabees Chapter 1:1-10
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.

7. 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
After invading Persia, Alexander the Great sent the main force of his army to Persepolis in the year 330 BC by the Royal Road. Alexander stormed the Persian Gates (in the modern Zagros Mountains), then quickly captured Persepolis before its treasury could be looted. After several months Alexander allowed his troops to loot Persepolis. A fire broke out in the eastern palace of Xerxes and spread to the rest of the city. It is not clear if it had been a drunken accident, or a deliberate act of revenge for the burning of the Acropolis of Athens during the Second Hellenic-Persian War. Many historians argue that while Alexander's army celebrated with a symposium they decided to take revenge against Persians. In that case it would be a combination of the two. The Book of Arda Wiraz, a Zoroastrian work composed in the 3rd or 4th century CE, also describes archives containing "all the Avesta and Zand, written upon prepared cow-skins, and with gold ink" that were destroyed. Indeed in his The chronology of ancient nations, the native Iranian writer Biruni indicates unavailability of certain native Iranian historiographical sources in post-Achaemenid era especially during Ashkanian and adds "..And more than that. He (Alexander) burned the greatest part of their religious code, he destroyed the wonderful architectural monouments in the mountains of Istakhr, nowadays known as the mosque of Solomon ben David, and delivered them up to the flames. People say that even at the present time the traces of fire are visible in some places.“ (Wiki)

8. 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)

9. 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

12. Nile Delta

13. 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

14. 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
Notes:
Governor or “Satrap.”
Soter was the spirit of safety, preservation and deliverance from harm. Translates to saviour or deliverer in Greek.
Read Matt 2:13-23; Hosea 11:1
See Josephus Antiquities 12:1: NOW when Alexander, king of Macedon, had put an end to the dominion of the Persians, and had settled the affairs in Judea after the forementioned manner, he ended his life. And as his government fell among many, Antigonus obtained Asia, Seleucus Babylon; and of the other nations which were there, Lysimachus governed the Hellespont, and Cassander possessed Macedonia; as did Ptolemy the son of Lagus seize upon Egypt. And while these princes ambitiously strove one against another, every one for his own principality, it came to pass that there were continual wars, and those lasting wars too; and the cities were sufferers, and lost a great many of their inhabitants in these times of distress, insomuch that all Syria, by the means of Ptolemy the son of Lagus, underwent the reverse of that denomination of Savior, which he then had. He also seized upon Jerusalem, and for that end made use of deceit and treachery; for as he came into the city on a sabbath day, as if he would offer sacrifices (1) he, without any trouble, gained the city, while the Jews did not oppose him, for they did not suspect him to be their enemy; and he gained it thus, because they were free from suspicion of him, and because on that day they were at rest and quietness; and when he had gained it, he ruled over it in a cruel manner. Nay, Agatharchides of Cnidus, who wrote the acts of Alexander's successors, reproaches us with superstition, as if we, by it, had lost our liberty; where he says thus: "There is a nation called the nation of the Jews, who inhabit a city strong and great, named Jerusalem. These men took no care, but let it come into the hands of Ptolemy, as not willing to take arms, and thereby they submitted to be under a hard master, by reason of their unseasonable superstition." This is what Agatharchides relates of our nation. But when Ptolemy had taken a great many captives, both from the mountainous parts of Judea, and from the places about Jerusalem and Samaria, and the places near Mount Gerizzim, he led them all into Egypt, (2) and settled them there. And as he knew that the people of Jerusalem were most faithful in the observation of oaths and covenants; and this from the answer they made to Alexander, when he sent an embassage to them, after he had beaten Darius in battle; so he distributed many of them into garrisons, and at Alexandria gave them equal privileges of citizens with the Macedonians themselves; and required of them to take their oaths, that they would keep their fidelity to the posterity of those who committed these places to their care. Nay, there were not a few other Jews who, of their own accord, went into Egypt, as invited by the goodness of the soil, and by the liberality of Ptolemy. However, there were disoders among their posterity, with relation to the Samaritans, on account of their resolution to preserve that conduct of life which was delivered to them by their forefathers, and they thereupon contended one with another, while those of Jerusalem said that their temple was holy, and resolved to send their sacrifices thither; but the Samaritans were resolved that they should be sent to Mount Gerizzim.

15. Ptolemy Soter

16. 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

17. 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
Notes:
See Josephus Antiquities –236 to learn more about Joseph Tobias.
Zenon, son of Agreophon, was a native of the Greek town of Caunus in lower Asia Minor. He moved to Philadelphia in Egypt and became a private secretary to Apollonius, the finance minister to Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Ptolemy III Euergetes during the 3rd century BC. A cache of over 2,000 Greek and Demotic letters and documents written on papyri by Zenon were discovered in the 1900s and are referred to as the Zenon Archive or Zenon Papyri. (Wiki, various others).
Read about Tobiah the Ammonite in Neh 2:10, 4:3,7, 6: He, along with Sanballat and Geshem the Arab, resorted to a stratagem, and, pretending to wish a conference with Nehemiah, invited him to meet them at Ono, Benjamin. Four times they made the request, and every time Nehemiah refused to come. Their object was to frighten him from completing the restoration of Jerusalem's walls and to do him some kind of harm. (Bible)
Onias I (Hebrew Honiyya or Honio ben Jaddua) was the son of the Jaddua mentioned in Nehemiah. According to Josephus; this Jaddua is said to have been a contemporary of Alexander the Great. I Maccabees regards Onias as a contemporary of the Spartan king Areus I ( BCE). (Wiki)

18. 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
Notes:
The Mishnah was first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah" and the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. Around 200 AD.
Simeon occupied a position intermediate between the Hasmoneans and the Hellenists, while, as he himself boasted, he was an opponent of the Nazirites and ate of the sacrifice offered by one of that sect only on a single occasion. (Jewish Encyclopedia)
Nazirite refers to a Jew who took the ascetic vow described in Numbers 6:1-21. The term "nazirite" comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated". This vow required the man or woman to:
Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, and according to some — alcohol and vinegar from alcohol
Refrain from cutting the hair on one's head.
Avoid corpses and graves, even those of family members, and any structure which contains such things.
According to Jewish tradition, the Great Assembly, also known as the Great Synagogue, was an assembly of 120 scribes, sages, and prophets, in the period from the end of the prophets up to the time of the development of Rabbinic Judaism, marking a transition from an era of prophets to an era of Rabbis. They were in a period of about two generations.

19. 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

20. 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
Notes.
Antioch became a major city in the Roman empire and was the place where Christianity made its first gains in the Gentile regions and where believers where first called Christians. Paul based his missionary journeys from Antioch.

21. 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

22. 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

24. 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

25. Hannibal Crossing Alps

26. 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 26