Between the Testaments Lesson 3

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Between the Testaments Lesson 3

Between the Testaments png

Lesson 3

Intro: for the last couple of weeks we have reviewed the events tat lead up to the period of time that we refer to as the silent years. Around 400 years where we have no written word from the bible. But, just because we say they are silent, doesn’t mean there was no works of God taking place at that time. As we move forward in this study some of the contrast and differences between the Old and New Testaments I want to look at and hopefully address will be the:

Government:

  1. Self-Rule

    1. Still Under Medo-Persian Empire,

      1. From Cyrus II (The Great) to Darius III

        1. from about 560 B.C. To 330 B.C.

        2. The Persian empire had control of the area surrounding Israel,

          • however they allowed the Jewish people to set up their own society.

          • They would even allow the Jewish people to have their own government, at least to a limited extent.

            • As long as they were submissive to the Persian empire.

        3. During this time, Cyrus gives an edict for the Jews to return form exile

          • They start the rebuilding, but it quickly becomes hindered.

            • Nehemiah and Ezra operate during this time.

          • It is also the time when Achashverosh/ Ahasuerus becomes king of Persia

            • He is the king at the center of the book of Esther,

            • He became king around 438 B.C.

            • Haman’s sons were executed around 425 (Purim Celebration, 1 month before passover)

            • in 411 B.C. Bagoas is made governor over Jerusalem, (He was a Persian)

          • this was the end of the Persian empire in Israel,

  2. Grecian Empire,

    1. The Hellenistic Period, 333 B.C. 63 B.C.

      1. The Rise of the Greeks,

        1. Greece had it’s beginning around the same time as the book of the judges,

          • the Trojan wars took place around 1000 B.C. (David and Solomon)

          • the Olympics began between 776 & 500 B.C.

        2. Even tho they were an ancient empire, they were not a super power until Philip of Macedon,

          • he laid the foundation for the Greek empire, bring all Greek cities under a single leader.

          • He was not Greek, but wanted to see all Greeks united against Persia.

            • His Son would carry out his desires.

      2. Alexander the Great,

        1. at the age of 13, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle,

          • and he was appointed regent of Greece at the age of 16.

          • at the age of 22, his father died and he took his place as leader.

        2. Alexander waged war against the Persian empire.

        3. Isaiah 23:13-15 Prophesied the destruction of Tyre by the Chaldeans,

          • “Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.15And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. ”

          • Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it first, as prophesied by

          • See Ezekiel 26:7-14

          • but a new Tyre was built on an island, and

          • Zechariah 9:3&4 Prophesied of it’s destruction “And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.4Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. ”

          • and Ezekiel 27:32 “And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? ”

          • Alexander fulfilled this in 332, and this was considered his greatest military achievement.

      3. Alexander Enters Israel,

        1. it was after the destruction that Alexander turned toward Israel.

        2. When Alexander rode into Jerusalem, the people there meet him dressed in all white, with the city decorated, the priest wearing purple.

          • The high priest Jaddua said he was warned by God to do this.

          • It is accredit with the saving of Jerusalem.

          • Alexander ordered his soldiers not to harm the Jews,

          • Alexander was also taken to the temple and shown the book of Daniel, and told of the Prophecies concerning the Grecian empire.

          • Alexander allowed the Jews to continue in their laws, and pay no tribute each 7 years, when the people of Samaria saw this, they also claimed their heritage as being Jewish (causing even more rift between them)

      4. After Alexander’s death,

          • the kingdom of Alexander was divided into his four generals,

        1. Ptolemy.- Egypt area, with Alexandria as it’s capitol

        2. Seleucus- the area of Syria,

        3. Lysimachus- Trace, and Bythynia

        4. Cassander- Macedonia.

          • We will discuss more about these next week.