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4. Between the Testaments.
From the death of Nehemiah to the fall of the Medo-Persian empire before the Macedonian little is known of the Jews. The high priests were practically the rulers of the people. They were assisted by a council of one hundred and twenty members, called the great synagogue. The royal house of David sank into oblivion, prophecy was suspended, and the Jews gradually became more and more exclusive and austere, both religiously and socially.
(1) The Hellenistic Domination.
Alexander the Great defeated Darius (Codo-mannus) and founded the
B.C.
(2.) The Period of the Maccabees and the Ashmonaean Kings. B.C.
A band of Patriotic Jews, headed by Matthias the Ashmonaean, rebel against
Macedonian empire-the Greek empire in
Asia
...............................................................331-167
Death of Alexander the Great at Babylon. 323
Alexander's four generals (the diadochi) divide his empire between them. Palestine becomes a part of Syra. 323
Judea is annexed to Egypt when the Graeco-Egyptian kingdom is founded, and the Jews came under the dominion of the Ptolemies. The Jews are scattered over the heathen world. 301-221
The Old Testament began to be translated into Greek by learned Jews in Alexandria for the use of the African Jews. The translation was probably completed during the next century. It is called the Septuagint (q.v.) Version. 291
Antiochus III., the Great, overruns Palestine. 219
Ptolemy IV. of Egypt recovers Palestine. 217
The Jews submit to Antiochus the Great
Antiochus the Great defeats the Etgyptians, and Palestine becomes a part of the Graeco-Syrian kingdom. 197
Antichus IV. (Epiphanies) usurps the Graeco-Syrian throne. 175
Antiochus cruelly persecutes the Jews, ordering all his subjects on pain of death to adopt the Graeco-Syrian religion and customs. 170-167
the tyranny of Antiochus. 166
Antiochus dies at Tabae in Persia, being stricken with a loathsome disease (comp. Acts 12:23), which he recognizes as a judgment sent upon him for his treatment of the Jews. 164
After a period of varying success, the Maccabean commonwealth, introducing the era of Jewish independence, is established. 143
The Ashmonaean kings rule over Judea
Pompey annexes Syria to Rome, and Judea becomes from this time a Roman dependency. 63
Julius Caesar appoints Anipater, son of Antipas, an Idumaean chief, first procurator of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, and henceforward the Herodian family supplants the Ashmonaean. 47
Antipater makes his son Herod joint (with his brother Phasael) tetrarch of Judea and Galilee...................2..0...5 41
(3.) The Herodian Kindom.
Herod the Great takes Jerusalem, and becomes the founder of the Herodian kingdom. End of the Ashmonaean line. 37
Battle of Actium. 31
Egypt becomes a Roman province, and is the chief seat of the Jewish Dispersion. 30
Herod rebuilds Samaria, and attempts to introduce among the Jews Greek and Roman customs. 27
Building of Caesarea finished. It is
B.C.
Augustus emperor of Rome..B.C. 27-A.D. 14
Herod founds the Graeco-Roman city and port of Caes-area. 22
Erects a temple to Augustus at Paneas. 20