Introduction: Interlude…A Kingdom Story Waiting for an Ending…
Intertestamental: Malachi 4 => Matthew 1… 400 years.
• Why study this?
• What happened in the intertestamental period?

I. Israel’s Faith: five fundamental beliefs
• Monotheism: One God vs. pantheon of gods
• Election: Israel chosen by God…blessing for all the nations
• The Law: Torah defined Israel’s life
• The land: new Eden…holy…God dwelt with Israel
• Hope for future act of God
• Drama of Scripture quote

II. Under Pagan Rule: Politically impotent…cultural assault.. “Where is God?”
A. Persians (until 331 BC)
B. Greeks: Hellenism is pervasive
a. Alexander (331 – 323 BC)
b. Ptolemies in Egypt (323 – 198 BC)
c. Seleucids in Syria (198 – 142 BC)
C. Israel’s Independence (142 – 63 BC)
D. Rome (63 BC – N.T. Period)

III. Unfolding Story
A. Persian rule: Jewish identity: Jews to return to the land…foreign pagan power
• Jewish community in Palestine: thriving community but most Jews remained outside
• The Diaspora = “the scattered”
• form synagogues…integral part of Jewish life…longed for the temple

B. Alexander: Threat of Hellenism. forcing people to learn your language and your culture…

C. Israel a subject client-state…Hebrew Scriptures into Greek (Septuagint).
• Antiochus IV: Seleucid ruler…threatened by both Rome and within his own empire…
• Policies of looting and Hellenizing…infamous for entering the sacred Jewish temple
• Dec. 25, 167 BC…sacrificed a pig… “abomination” (Daniel 11:31)…Jewish response
• The Maccabean revolt: old priest revolted…fled to the desert and organized a rebellion.
• “Maccabee” = “the hammer”…Dec. 25, 164 BC when Judah Maccabee
• 80 years lived under the Hasmonean dynasty.

D. Compromised Jewish rule: Hasmoneans and diversified response
Diversified Response:
1. Essenes: withdrawal
2. Pharisees: boundary markers
3. Zealots: violent revolt
4. Sadducees: strategic compromise
E. Roman rule and revolt
a. Israel ready for God’s kingdom

Conclusion