JANUARY 4, 2022
A Brief History of the Intertestamental Period
From Malachi to Matthew: 400 Years When the Prophets Were Silent
Welcome back to this New Year overview of the entire New Testament. During January 2022 we are on a journey of faith with Jesus as we examine and reflect upon the 27 Books of the New Testament.
What happened in between the Old and New Testaments?
400 years of fascinating history between Malachi and Matthew! This is known as the Intertestamental Period after the prophets stopped prophesying and before Jesus was born. Becoming a bit more familiar with this interesting, long period enhances our understanding of the overall context, culture, characters, language, and politics of the Old and New Testaments.
NOTE: Dates provided in this study are based on information gleaned from a couple dozen hours of study of three dependable, faithful, orthodox Biblical study resources:
+The Lutheran Study Bible (CPH, 2008; Edward A. Engelbrecht, General Editor);
+Concordia’s Complete Bible Handbook (CPH, 2013; Second Edition); and
+Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Time Lines (Hendrickson/Rose Pulishing, 2005, 2015; Peabody, Massachusetts; 10 Anniversary Edition).
IMPORTANT Timeline Abbreviations:
B.C. = “Before Christ”
A.D. = Latin Anno Domini =”Year of our LORD”
It is necessary to note this, because many modern history and science scholars have attempted to remove any mention of God or Christ from how we reckon and record history and time. Many modern scholars have transitioned to a new secular system of tracking time using B.C.E. (“Before the Common Era”) and C.E. (“Common Era”). (“What a bunch of pagans!” Editorial comment from Pastor Schmieding! Ha)
+ Over the vast centuries of Old Testament, Intertestamental, and New Testament times Israel was ruled by various dominant and ever changing world powers such as the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Ptolemies, the Seleucids, and finally the Romans.
What follows are some big picture historical highlights covering about 1,500 years of the Biblical timeline. (It was a challenge and joy to assemble. I hope you find it helpful and interesting. Pr. Schmieding).
Historical Highlights of the Old Testament Timeline:
c. 1,500 B.C. Moses and Aaron
> Compare a couple points of ancient secular history:
- 1,450 - 1,027 B.C. - The Shang Dynasty in China
- 1,350 B.C. King Tut in Egypt
c. 1,350 - 1,050 B.C. Era of the Judges
1,009 - 597 B.C. - The House of David lasted 412 years (CSB, p. 1565)
c. 1,000 B.C. - King David; The United Monarchy; The Psalms were inspired and written
960 B.C. - Solomon’s Temple completed
930 B.C. - Israel and Judah Divide
722 B.C. - Israel (The Northern Kingdom) destroyed by Assyrians
586 B.C. - Judah (The Southern Kingdom) falls to Babylon; Jerusalem and the Temple is destroyed; Babylonian exile begins
539 B.C. - Babylon falls to Persia
538 B.C. - Cyrus of Persia allows the Jews in captivity to return to their homeland (“The Promised Land”) and is tolerant toward the Jews
536 B.C. - Rebuilding of Temple begins led by Zerubbabel
516 B.C. - Second Temple completed and dedicated (Ezra 6:13-15)
457 B.C. - Ezra
444-432 - Nehemiah governs Judah; Jerusalem’s walls rebuilt; The prophets are silent…
Historical Highlights of the Intertestamental Period:
400-100 B.C. - The Books of the Apocrypha are written.
Catholics include these books in their Scriptures and use them in worship; Luther valued them but did not consider them to be equal to the universally accepted Scripture known as the canon. Most Lutherans and many Christians see them more as historical commentary.
332 B.C. - Alexander the Great of Greece conquers the Persians;
Greeks take control of Palestine and Egypt;
Hellenization of conquered lands begins, which is the spread of Greek language and culture throughout the Middle East.
NOTE: During this period the Old Testament was translated for the first time from its original Hebrew into Greek. This Greek translation is known as LXX (70), or the Septuagint.
323 B.C. - Alexander the Great dies (and is NOT so Great anymore! Ha); His vast Empire was divided between his four generals. Ptolemy, one of Alexander’s generals, ruled Egypt and Israel.
198 B.C. - Descendents of another general of Alexander are called the Seleucids and rule over Israel.
175-165 B.C. - The very harsh and evil Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanses, ruled the Judeans (Israel area). He persecuted the Judeans, opposed the Jewish practice of circumcision, and even desecrated their Temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar. His horrible actions prompted the Judeans to revolt.
167 B.C. - A Judean leader named Matthias began and led a rebellion against the Seleucids to retake Jerusalem. The descendants of Matthias were named the Hasmoneans and ruled the land of Judea until the Romans came to power.
164 B.C. - Judas Maccabeus, the son of Matthias, retook Jerusalem and purified the Temple. This event marks the origin of what is known as Hanukkah.
63 B.C. - Jewish independence ends with the rise of the Roman Empire.
In 63 B.C. Roman General Pompey invaded and subdued the Jewish nation.
39 B.C.-1 A.D. (or some say 37 B.C.-1 B.C.) - King Herod the Great is appointed by Rome as ruler over Israel
19 B.C. - King Herod begins a restoration and expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem and leads many other grand construction projects throughout his lifetime. Herod the Great was an egomaniac and very paranoid and evil ruler who even murdered some of his family members he thought were a threat to his power.
1 B.C.- 59 A.D. - After Herod’s death, three of his sons rule over most of his Kingdom. Herod and his descendents are in power total of four generations throughout the events recorded in Acts of the early Christian Christian Church and during the missionary journies of Paul.
Historical Highlights of the New Testament Timeline:
(Dates are the best estimates of sincere Biblical scholars):
5-4 B.C. Jesus was born at Bethlehem (Say what! How could Christ be born 4 or 5 years B.C.-“Before Christ”?!)
NOTE: Scholars later discovered that the Monk Dionysius who developed the basis of our modern Western calendar in the 6th Century A.D. ended up being slightly off (aka “wrong”) by about 5 years early in his calculations of the actual birth date of Christ. Keep in mind the way(s) humans reckon and record time are simply human constructs or systems subject to human error.
2 B.C. Mary and Joseph and toddler Jesus flee to Egypt to avoid evil Herod.
9 or 10 A.D. - 13 year old Jesus is found teaching in the Temple
27-30 A.D. - The Three year Public Ministry of Jesus
> Luke 3:23 tells us: “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.”
29/30 A.D. - Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
c.32 A.D. - Stephen is matyred
c.37 A.D. - Conversion of Saul to Paul
36 - 100 A.D. - Jewish Historian Josephus records a vast amount of Roman, Jewish and early Christian history
45-50 A.D. - The first New Testament Books are written
70 A.D. - The Romans destroy the Temple and Jerusalem; only the Temple foundation stones remain to this day, known as the Western Wall or “Wailing Wall”
85-95 A.D. - The Revelation of St. John
Here’s an Enlightening Assignment for today’s study:
> Read Acts 7
This amazing speech by Stephen provides a one chapter succinct summary of Old Testament history - from Moses to the Children of Israel in Egypt and the wilderness (Exodus) using the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle (Numbers 2) to the Promised Land and to Solomon building the Temple (2nd Samuel 7) in Jerusalem. Stephen compresses much of the content of the 39 Old Testament books into ONE chapter -a scathing, Truth-filled lecture. Stephen highlights the hypocrisy of the hierarchy of Jewish religious leaders. Go Stephen! Yes, God’s Truth hurts at times— OUCH! God’s Law convicts humanity (in every generation) of our sin. For being faithful to God and sharing the Good News of Jesus, what does Stephen get? Stephen is stoned! He is the first adult matyr to die for his faith in Christ. Stephen’s courage in Christ is inspiring!
As we continue our New Testament overview, we continually keep in mind the connection between the Old and New Testaments and the overall harmony and unity of God’s revelation to humanity.
Time and time again Jesus highlighted OT/NT connections and that He is the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets when He made statements such as these in:
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (The so-called Golden Rule)
Luke 24: (Christ’s post-Resurrection appearance on the Road to Emmaus). 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And [Jesus] said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Personal Application: It has been said, “Hindsight is 20/20.” As we look back and review both Biblical and secular history, we clearly see God’s hand active throughout history delivering and preserving His Divine Word to humanity. QUESTIONS: As I reflect upon this wild pandemic period (March 2020 through January 2021), how do I see God’s presence and blessings evident in my life? How has God’s Word strengthened me during uncertain times?
PRAYER: Dear God, Your Word is True and endures forever! Thank You for revealing Your plan of salvation to us over the centuries. Generation after generation You speak to us through Moses and the Prophets and ultimately through Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, our LORD and Savior! Help us to grow in the grace of Your unchanging Word. Thank You for Your life-changing and eternal life-giving Word! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Scott Schmieding
Senior Pastor
Immanuel Lutheran Church and School
115 S. Sixth Street
Saint Charles, MO 63301
636.946.2656
