This is the second installment of a series written by Wayne Jackson. This first appeared in the September 1975 edition of The Christian Courier. It was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and edited by Jackson. This series examines the time between the Testaments.
THE GREEK AGE - So far as Jewish history is concerned, the Greek Period of Inter-Biblical history was from 332-167 B.C. The ancient world was brought under Greek control by the efforts of Alexander the Great. Alexander was obviously a precocious youth. Educated under the renowned Aristotle, he was leading military expeditions at the age of sixteen. By the year 331 B.C. he had overthrown the Persian Empire, becoming master of the Middle East. With a force of only 30,000 soldiers, he conquered the army of Darius, 500,000 strong, thus fulfilling Daniel's prophecy of three centuries earlier. (Daniel 8:5-8, 20-21) God rules in the kingdoms of men! Incidentally, Daniel had symbolically depicted Alexander as the horn of a rough he-goat (8:21) and oddly, a Thracian coin of the 3rd century B.C. shows an inscription of Alexander's head with a horn. (National Geographic Magazine, Jan. 1968, p. 28.)
In 332 B.C. Alexander invaded Palestine. After a siege of seven months, the city of Tyre was taken. The Greeks massacred 8,000 citizens of Tyre and sold 30,000 into slavery. In route to Egypt, the young Greek went to Jerusalem where, strangely, he apparently took it without a struggle. Josephus says that as Alexander neared Jerusalem a group of priests met him and showed him the prophecies of the Book of Daniel and allegedly the illustrious Greek, "supposed that himself was the person intended" (i.e., the conqueror of Persia) and accordingly he treated the Jews favorably. When Alexander died in 323 B.C. his kingdom was divided into four sections (see Daniel 7:6; 8:8, 22). Two of these kingdoms, the Ptolemies and the Seleucids are of great concern to us.
The Ptolemies, with power focus in Egypt, dominated the Jews for the next one hundred and twenty two years (320-198 B.C.). With but few exceptions the Hebrews were treated well during this period. The kindly treatment of the Jews by the Greeks made the former receptive to Greek culture (known as Hellenization). It was but natural that a reactionary movement against Hellenization should develop. Jews who opposed the corruption of their ancient culture were known as Hasidim, "pious people" and this was in germ form, the beginning of that sect of Jesus' day called Pharisees. Several other important developments also transpired.
(a) From the time of Alexander, there was a great dispersion of the Hebrews. Throughout Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria, etc., they scattered (Cf. Acts 2:5; I Peter 1:1) and everywhere they went they took their Scriptures, preaching the concept of the one true God and the coming Deliverer. The world was being conditioned for the advent of the Messiah!
(b) Commencing about 330 B.C., the Koine Greek language was spoken throughout the civilized world. It was the common street language of Rome, Alexandria and Jerusalem, as well as in Athens. Now, "Koine Greek is without doubt the most richly and accurately expressive language which human history has known." (H. E. Dana) So influential was this beautiful language that when Rome conquered the Greeks, rather than imposing Latin upon the vanquished, she adopted the Greek language. Of course all of this was but a providential preparation for the coming of the New Testament Scriptures.
(c) Another significant development of this time was the production of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. It was most likely begun under Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.) and traditionally, was the work of seventy two Jewish scholars. It is abbreviated LXX, seventy two being rounded to seventy in Roman numerals. This made the Old Testament, with its precious prophecies and promises available to the entire Greek speaking world.
In 198 B.C. the Ptolemies were defeated and for the next thirty one years the Jews were under the crushing pressure of the Seleucids of Syria. When Antiochus IV came to power, terrors unspeakable engulfed them. Antiochus Epiphanes mercilessly sought to paganize the Hebrew people and for this they hated him with unequaled rage. For example, when an erroneous report of Antiochus' death reached Jerusalem, a celebration was proclaimed. Upon learning of the event, the ruler launched a campaign of horror during which thousands of Jews were slain or sold into slavery. Judaism was outlawed. It was a crime to read the Scriptures, observe the Sabbath or practice circumcision. To add insult to injury, Antiochus sacrificed a hog upon the Jewish alter and erected an idol to the Greek god Zeus in the temple area. Daniel prophesied the death of this tyrant. (Daniel 8:25) Such indignities could finally be tolerated no longer. In 167 B.C., a revolt was initiated by an aged Jew named Mattathias who, with his five sons, declared open war upon Antiochus. this Maccabean Rebellion continued vigorously until Jerusalem was purged of paganism and the temple was repaired. On December 25, 165 B.C. the temple was formally rededicated and thereafter an annual eight day celebration known as the Feast of Dedication was observed by the Jews. It was during the time of this winter feast that Jesus, walking in the temple, taught concerning His divine relationship with God. (John 10:22f) In our next article, the Roman period if the Inter-Biblical age will be discussed.
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