What Happened Between the Old and New Testaments

The Book of Malachi closed the Old Testament canon around 397 B.C. The next four centuries until the birth of Christ have been referred to as “four hundred years of silence.” But on closer inspection, we can find God working throughout this period in preparation for the arrival of His Son—a culmination of history that Paul called “the fullness of the times” (Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10). Indeed, to fully appreciate the times in which Jesus walked the earth, we must consider the events that produced them. From the standpoint of Jewish history, this period between the Old and New Testaments—called the intertestamental period—can be divided into six segments.

The Persian Era (397–336 B.C.)

• The Persians had been dominating the Middle East since 536 B.C. (see “The Persians” at Ezra 1:8).

• The Jews were left in relative peace to rebuild their society after the Babylonian exile.

• The synagogue became a major influence on local worship and politics (see “A Gift of the Exile” at Ezek. 14:1).

• Scribes became influential in the interpretation of Scripture (see “Scribes” at Luke 20:39 and the entry for “Scribe” in the Jobs and Occupations index).

• A temple was built in Samaria, rivaling the temple rebuilt by Ezra in Jerusalem. This development would have far-reaching effects on relations between Jews and Samaritans (see “Jews and Samaritans” at John 4:9).

• Many Jews continued to live outside of Canaan (see “Scattered Among the Gentiles” at Jer. 9:16 and “The Dispersion of the Jews” at Jer. 52:28–30).

The Greek Era (336–323 B.C.)

• The armies of Alexander the Great took control of the Middle East and reached as far as western India.

• The entire region became heavily influenced by Greek culture and language in a process called Hellenization.

• Many Jews strongly resisted Greek influence.

The Egyptian Era (323–198 B.C.)

• After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., four generals divided his empire into four segments.

• Ptolemy Soter took control of Egypt and soon dominated nearby Israel.

• Many Jews resettled in Alexandria and gradually adopted Hellenistic culture.

• A Greek translation of the Old Testament was authorized, producing the Septuagint (see “The Septuagint” at Acts 18:24).

• The Greek emphasis on aesthetics affected Hebrew worship, tending to make it more external than internal.

• Jews in Israel polarized along political, cultural, and religious lines, led by two emerging groups: the Hellenists and the Hasidim (or “Pious Ones”). The Hasidim were the forerunners of the Pharisees.*

The Syrian Era (198–165 B.C.)

• The Syrians defeated the Egyptians in the Battle of Panion in 198 B.C. and annexed Judea to Syria.

• Conflicts between the Hellenists and the Hasidim brought Antiochus Epiphanes to Jerusalem in 168 B.C. to settle the dispute. He tried to stamp out every distinction of the Hebrew faith by forbidding sacrifices, outlawing circumcision, canceling the Sabbath and feast days, destroying copies of Scripture, forcing Jews to consume pork, and establishing idol worship in the temple.

• Opposition by the Jews led to many deaths.

• A group of loyalists to the high priest emerged, which would later develop into the party of the Sadducees.*

The Maccabean Era (165–63 B.C.)

• Thousands of Jews rallied behind an elderly priest named Mattathias of the family of Hasmon, who revolted against Syrian idolatry in his hometown of Modein, northwest of Jerusalem.

• Mattathias’s three sons Judas Maccabaeus, Jonathan, and Simon recaptured Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and restored true worship.

• By 142 B.C., Israel finally achieved independence, which lasted for seventy years under the leadership of the Hasmonaeans.

• One governor and high priest, John Hyrcanus, destroyed the Samaritan temple. He began referring to himself as king and was supported by the Sadducees. However, he was opposed by the Pharisees and their followers, who only recognized kings from the line of David.

The Roman Era (63–4 B.C.)

• Pompey of Rome overran Syria and entered Israel. Jerusalem was captured by force and was for a time subjected to Roman occupation.

• Julius Caesar appointed Antipater, an Idumean, as curator of Judea in 47 B.C. Later, Antipater’s son Herod came to power (see “The Herods” at Acts 12:1, 2), and was the king at the time of Jesus’ birth (Matt. 2:1).

• Herod began the construction of a new temple in Jerusalem. He was a devoted Hellenist and killed every descendant of the Hasmonaeans.

• A political party known as the Herodians* emerged, which was devoted to the Herods and to Hellenism, and opposed to traditional Jews for fear that they would incite a return of Roman troops to occupy Jerusalem.

• An opposing political party known as the Zealots* also emerged, which refused to submit to Rome’s authority and advocated armed rebellion.

*For more details about the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Zealots, see “Political Parties of Jesus’ Day” at Matt. 16:1.