What happened in the intertestamental period?

Answer

The period between the final writings of the Old Testament and the arrival of Christ is referred to as the “intertestamental” (or “between the testaments”) era. It extended from the time of the prophet Malachi (around 400 BC) to the ministry of John the Baptist (around AD 25). Due to the absence of divine prophecy from Malachi to John, some call it the “400 silent years.” Israel underwent significant political, religious, and social changes during this time, many of which were foretold by the prophet Daniel. (Refer to Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11 and compare with historical events.)

Between 539–332 BC, Israel was under the rule of the Persian Empire. The Persians permitted the Jews to practice their faith with minimal interference, allowing them to reconstruct and worship at the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23;Ezra 1:1-4). This timeframe encompassed the final century of the Old Testament era and approximately the initial century of the intertestamental era. This period of relative tranquility and satisfaction was merely the calm before the storm.

In the intertestamental period, Alexander the Great overcame Darius of Persia, establishing Greek dominion over the region. Alexander, a pupil of Aristotle, possessed a thorough education in Greek philosophy and politics. He mandated the promotion of Greek culture in all his conquered territories. Consequently, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek, resulting in the Septuagint translation. Most New Testament citations of Old Testament Scripture utilize the phrasing of the Septuagint. While Alexander granted religious freedom to the Jews, he vigorously advocated for Greek customs. This shift was unfavorable for Israel, as Greek culture was characterized by worldliness, humanism, and ungodliness.

After AleXander died, Judea was ruled by a series of successors, culminating in the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus did far more than deny religious freedom to the Jews. Around 167 BC, he overthrew the rightful line of the priesthood and desecrated the temple, defiling it with unclean animals and a pagan altar (see Mark 13:14 for a similar event to occur in the future). Antiochus’ act was the religious equivalent of violation. Eventually, Jewish resistance to Antiochus, led by Judas Maccabeus and the Hasmoneans, restored the rightful priests and rescued the temple. The period of the Maccabean Revolt was one of war, violence, and internal conflict.

Around 63 BC, Pompey of Rome conquered Israel, placing all of Judea under the control of the Caesars. This eventually led to Herod being appointed king of Judea by the Roman emperor and senate. This is the nation that imposed taxes and governed the Jews and ultimately crucified the Messiah on a Roman cross. Roman, Greek, and Hebrew cultures were now intertwined in Judea.

During the Greek and Roman occupations, two significant political/religious groups emerged in Israel. The Pharisees added to the Law of Moses through oral tradition and eventually considered their own laws more important than God’s (see Mark 7:1-23). While Christ’s teachings often aligned with the Pharisees, He criticized their empty legalism and lack of compassion. The Sadducees represented the aristocrats and the wealthy. The Sadducees, who held power through the Sanhedrin, rejected all but the Mosaic books of the Old Testament. They denied belief in resurrection and were essentially shadows of the Greeks, whom they greatly admired.

The events of the intertestamental period set the stage for Christ and had a profound impact on the Jewish people. Both Jews and pagans from other nations were growing dissatisfied with religion. The pagans were starting to question the validity of polytheism. Romans andGreeks were attracted to their mythologies towards the Hebrew Scriptures, now easily accessible in Greek or Latin. The Jews, however, were despondent. Once again, they were conquered, oppressed, and polluted. Hope was dwindling; faith was even lower. They were convinced that the only thing that could now save them and their faith was the appearance of the Messiah. Not only were people prepared and eager for the Messiah, but God was also working in other ways: the Romans had constructed roads (to facilitate the spread of the gospel); everyone spoke a common language, Koine Greek (the language of the New Testament); and there was a considerable amount of peace and freedom to travel (further assisting the dissemination of the gospel).

The New Testament narrates how hope arrived, not only for the Jews but for the entire world. Christ’s fulfillment of prophecy was expected and acknowledged by many who sought Him out. The accounts of the Roman centurion, the wise men, and the Pharisee Nicodemus illustrate how Jesus was acknowledged as the Messiah by individuals from various cultures. The “400 years of silence” of the intertestamental period were interrupted by the greatest story ever told—the gospel of Jesus Christ!