Between the Testaments: The Silent Years

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come. 

From the time Malachi wrote the final book of the Old Testament until the next prophet, John the Baptist, appeared, 400 years passed. Four hundred years! This span is called the "intertestamental" period (meaning "between the testaments") or "the silent years" because no prophet proclaimed God's Word during those centuries. Yet, God's work in the world was neither silent nor absent.^[1] During these years, the religious, political, and social life of Israel changed dramatically. 

As we conclude our study of the Old Testament, several major developments from the intertestamental period stand out as crucial in preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. 

The World Powers: The Persians 
At the close of the Old Testament, Persia ruled the known world, and Israel was part of its empire from about 539–332 BC. During this time, God's people were largely free to practice their religion with little interference. Those who had been captured and exiled under the Babylonian empire were allowed to return, rebuild the temple, and restore the walls around Jerusalem. Israel lived under Persian rule during the last 100 years of the Old Testament and the first 100 years of the intertestamental period. 

The World Powers: The Greeks
In 331 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Persians in the decisive Battle of Gaugamela. He then worked to spread the Greek language and culture throughout his empire. As a result, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek during the third and second centuries BC. This translation was called the Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX). Septuagint means "seventy" in Latin, reflecting the tradition that seventy (or seventy-two) Jewish scholars completed the translation. The Septuagint is typically the version used by New Testament writers when they quote the Old Testament, something we will see in our upcoming study of the Gospel of Luke. 

Hellas is the Greek word for Greece, which gives us the term "Hellenism" meaning the adoption or influence of Greek culture. The "Hellenization" of the ancient world spread Greek language, philosophy, art, education, and politics throughout a vast empire. This era saw major advances in science and mathematics, led by Euclid and Archimedes, and the spread of philosophical systems like Stoicism and Epicureanism. This Hellenistic influence would significantly shape the world of the early Christians and the Church. 

After Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, Israel came under the rule of a series of his successors, culminating in the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. In 167 BC, Antiochus abolished the priesthood, desecrated the temple, and set up a pagan altar within it. A Jewish resistance led by Judas Maccabeus (known as the Maccabean Revolt) eventually restored the priestly order and temple worship. This ushered in a period of Jewish independence under the Maccabees and, later, their descendents, the Hasmoneans (140–63 BC). 

During this timeframe, two major religious groups emerged within Judaism. The Pharisees separated themselves from the surrounding culture and sought to live strictly according to the Law of Moses adding many oral traditions to it. The Sadducees, by contrast, were more open to Greek culture and were closely associated with the wealthy and powerful. They gained control of religious and civil affairs through the Sanhedrin^[2] and, in practice, undermined the traditional priesthood. The Sadducees greatly admired Greek ideas and denied both miracles and a future resurrection. Also, this is when synagogues—local gathering places for teaching and prayer—were established throughout Israel. 

The World Powers: The Romans
Around 63 BC, the Romans conquered the Greek-controlled territories, and the great general Pompey brought Israel under Roman rule. Eventually, Herod the Great was appointed king of Judea by the Roman emperor and senate. He became one of the most ambitious builders of the ancient world. Around 20 BC, he expanded and renovated the temple, transforming it into a magnificent religious complex. Retaining walls, including the Western Wall, were designed to support the new structures. He also built Caesarea Maritima (a major port city), Masada (a fortified desert palace near the Dead Sea), Herodium (a fortress to the south of Jerusalem), the Antonia Fortress overlooking the temple, and winter palaces in Jericho. In addition, he created theaters, aqueducts, roads, and various pagan temples. 

Herod's massive building projects were costly, and the Jewish people felt the weight of heavy taxation. 

Setting the Stage for Jesus
The intertestamental period set the stage for the coming of Jesus. According to many scholars, both Jews and pagans were growing dissatisfied with the religious systems of their day. Some pagans were beginning to question the idea of polytheism. At the same time, Romans and Greeks were increasingly drawn to the Hebrew Scriptures, now accessible to them through the Septuagint. 

However, the Jews still lived under Roman rule. They were an oppressed people, heavily taxed into poverty, and they longed for the coming of the Messiah. 

"When the fullness of time had come…" (Gal. 4:4). 

God was preparing the world. Rome built roads throughout the empire, which later helped spread the gospel. Greek had become a common language and would be the language of the New Testament. The world also experienced the "Peace of Rome" (Pax Romana), which provided relative stability and freedom for the disciples to travel across the empire, sharing the gospel and planting churches.

We know that these 400 years of apparent silence would soon be broken by the greatest story ever told. Jesus—the Messiah, the Christ—was coming. That is where we'll begin next time. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on the changing landscape in today's teaching. How does God's control over world empires strengthen your confidence in his sovereignty over current events?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you be confident in his sovereign work. 

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