Session 7 The Intertestamental Period

The 7^th tutorial takes us into that no-man’s land of 3-400 yeasr between the two
Testaments. Judah/Judaea comes under the control of a succession of overlords; first the Persians on the return from exile, then the Greeks, and lastly, the Romans in the century before
Jesus. The desire to see the Promised Land free from foreign domination continues through this time. The aspiration tends to find its expression in the writings of the Apocalyptists (those revealing secret things). The content outline for this session is headed ‘Apocalyptic writings’ – Introduction to the Intertestamental period; groups in Judasim in the first century.

With the exception of Daniel, most of the apocalyptists appear in the Apocrypha. After researching the period attempt to answerthe following

Q1 What role do you think literature such as Daniel and the Apocrypha played and continues to play, in Israel’s faith and relationship withYahweh

The books that cover the intertestamental period cover an important episode of Israel’s history. During this time, they rebuilt the temple, re-established temple worship and the practices of Judaism, and occupied their own land. This all sounds good, but for most of that time they were still under foreign occupation, and it was only for the time of the Hasmonean Kingdom that they enjoyed a measure of freedom. Yet these stories continue the theme of Daniel and Esther, telling of God’s ongoing interest, love and protection of his people even in times of duress. And so for example Maccabees sees the Hasmonean revolt as something instituted by God and given success by him. The books seek to show that there is a spiritual life over and above the immediately obvious physical world, and continue the theme of God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers. The books also develop the theme of the Messiah, building expectation of his coming. This helped to set the scene for the actual coming of Christ. These stories also account for some modern Jewish practice, for example the festival of Hanukkah.
Note that during much of the period, the High Priest and the ruler (“Prince”) tended to be the same person. These positions were often appointed by the foreign powers, sometimes on the basis of cash payment rather than merit.

Referring back to Session 2, in which we discussed the canon, we noted that the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the OT, included the Apocrypha, whereas the Hebrew canon did not. One might have expected the Hebrews to include these accounts of Greek paganism and Jewish victories, and denouncing compromise with the Greeks, and for the Greek translation to conveniently drop them. Perhaps there was a greater need for the Greek speaking Jews to be reminded of their place as a distinct nation.

Q2 How much (and which) of the intertestamental literature has a bearing on the New Testament – in what ways?

1 As described below, much of the debate in the time of Christ centred inthe relationship between Pharisees and Sadducees.

2 As described above, much of the Apocryphal literature and otherliterature at the time increased messianic expectations.

3 Much of the Apocryphal literature is apocalyptic – revealing things hidden – and eschatological - dealing with end times. These themes are also taken up in the New Testament, revealing the Messiah and the Church, and in Revelation looking forward to the end.

Q3 Intertestamental literature reflects the variety of groups (religious/political) in Judaism at the time.
Of which groups can you find evidence?

What is distinctive/special about each one.

Hasmoneans (aka Maccabees = “Hammerers”)

The Hasmoneans, nicknamed Maccabees, were the family of Mattathias. He was a priest who was on one occasion was so enraged by Jews complying with instructions to offer pagan sacrifices that he killed one of them, together with the Greek officer that gave the instruction. This marked the beginning of a revolt against the Greeks. The descendants of Mattathias were the rulers and high priests for the next few centuries.

Zealots

The Zealots are most well known for their final defeat by the Romans at Masada, where they chose suicide rather than give the Romans an honourable victory. Although they can be traced back to the Maccabees, they were first organised as a party during the reign of Herod the great (37-4BC) when they resisted his pagan practices, and they were involved in sporadic revolts and acts of violence thereafter. They would even attack Jews that collaborated closely with the Romans.

Pharisees

The Pharisees were the layman followers of Judas Maccabee who reigned from 166-161BC. They were about 6000 in number. They had many doctrinal differences with the Sadducees, e.g. resurrection, angels, etc, but the difference was largely one of attitude and perspective – Pharisees were concerned about the detail of Levitical laws and doing things properly regardless of convenience, whereas the Sadducees were much more laid-back and pragmatic.

Sadducees

The Sadducees were the Priestly followers of Simon Maccabee, who reigned from 143-145 BC. See above for description. The Pharisees and Sadducees were not schismatic sects as modern Christian denominations can be; they were rather more perspectives within the the unity of the Jewish community.

Essenes

The Essenes were a monastic sect that lived in isolation from the people. Depending on who you read, they were either the true source of Christianity or diametrically opposed to it. For example, it is said that Mary the virgin was a ‘virgin’ in the sense that she followed the sect’s rules on holy living. I tend to feel closer to those who deny any link, since Jesus’ participation in wedding feasts and generally goung around interacting with all types of people would be in stark contrast to the monastic withdrawal of the Essenes. The Essenes also claimed hidden knowledge and angelic conversations, which in modern times I see as marks of a dodgy and probably demonic cult. The Pseudepigraphical writings originated from the Essenes.

Q4 Prepare a presentation
(up to 5 minutes) on: Daniel, 2 Esdras, Tobit,
Esther, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees.

See attached.

References/Researched
Materials

1 John Rogerson,
Chronicles of the Bible Lands, Angus Books Ltd, London, 2003

2 http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/1MA/1MA0.HTM

3 http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/2MA/2MA0.HTM

4 http://www.biblicalisraeltours.com

5 http://biblia.com/jesusbible/index.html

6 http://mb-soft/believe

7 http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org

8 NIV Study Bible, Hodder and Stoughton, 1987

9 G McConville, Exploring the Old Testament Vol 4 Prophets, SPCK, 2002

Appendix 1

Brief history based on
Rogerson¹

In exile, deported Jews settled alongside a canal between Babylon and Erech. This is probably the river Chebar in Ezekiel 1v1.

This was a time of much reflection amongst the faithful, and is possibly when much of the OT was brought into its current form.

Babylon fell in 540BC to Cyrus the great, who allowed Jews to return although few did.

There was also a colony of Jewish mercenaries in Egypt under Persian rule. They even had their own temple. [linked to the Jews that took Jeremiah to Egypt?]

A group of Jews returned to Jerusalem in 539, finding it in very poor condition. They rebuilt the temple on and off until completion in 516. Nehemiah and Ezra reordered the Jewish society and laid the foundations for its survival.

This was all under Persian rule. The next major change was conquest
by Alexander the Great following his defeat of the Persians at Issus in
333BC. He incorporated Syria, Palestine and Egypt into his empire spreading Greek culture throughout these areas. Alexander died in 323 BC, dividing his empire between his generals. Israel fell in the
jurisdiction of Ptolemy and his dynasty, based in Egypt. But between 200 and 198BC the Syrian Greeks (Seleucids) won control over the area.

There was a culture clash between the Greek and Jewish systems. The Seleucid’s sold the position of High Priest to the highest bidder, and later in the reign of Antiochus IV Judaism was suppressed and the temple was defiled by being used for the pagan cult of Zeus Olympios.

This act fanned into flame the already smouldering Maccabean revolt led by the priest Mattathias of Modein. His sons, the Hasmonean dynasty, carried through the rebellion with mixed fortunes.

Key historical features are:

• 164 The temple recaptured and rededicated
  (remembered in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah)


• 152 Jonathan becomes High Priest


• 142 Autonomy recognised by Demetrius II


• 128 Some peace established.


• à 103 – Idumea to the south, Galilee to the north,
  and Perea to the west brought into the Jewish kingdom and religion.



• 63 Hasmonean dynasty implodes allowing Romans (Pompey) to take over.


• Internal conflict in Rome. Hasmoneans attempt to regain power.


• 37 Peace and civic construction under Herod


• 4 Kingdom divided between Herod’s sons


• 39AD Herod Antipas deposed – Roman Procurators
  including Pontius Pilate rule Judea, Idumea and Samaria. Their rule interrupted briefly by Herod Agrippa 41-44AD



• 66 Roman corruption and tyranny lead to first
  Jewish revolt


• 70 Jerusalem and temple destroyed by Romans


• 73 Final resistance at Masada commits suicide.

Key leaders are:

• Judas 167-160


• Jonathan 160-143


• Simon 142-135/4



• John Hyrcanus 135/4-104


• Aristobulus I 104-103


• Alexander Jannaeus 103-76


• Salome Alexandra 76-67 (wife of Alexander Jannaeus)



• Pompey 63


• Herod (of Idumea) 37-4


• Herod’s sons/Roman Procurators.>