The Silent Period of Biblical History
by Owen Borville
September 15, 2020
Bible
The Silent Period of Biblical History was between about 420 B.C. to A.D., or the Book of Malachi to Matthew. This events of this period were foretold in the Book of Daniel. The Silent Period represents God's last words spoken through the prophet Malachi and the words of Matthew some 400 years later. Much happened during this period, including multiple invasions by foreign empires and a renewed sense of Jewish identity.
Persian Rule
During this time, the Persians were ruling over the Israelites and the Middle East region. The Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their ancestral homeland and rebuild Jerusalem including the Temple, after the Assyrians and Babylonians had scattered them around.
Greek Rule
Greece and Alexander conquered Persia in 331 B.C. and would rule over the area until 164 B.C. The Greeks introduced the Sanhedrin to handle civil law. Greek language was introduced to the Middle East region and replaced Hebrew for Jews. The Old Testament was translated into Greek, called the Septuagint (mid 3rd century B.C.)
Syrian Greeks (Seleucid Empire) took over Jerusalem in 204 B.C. In 171 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated or defiled the Jewish Temple in 171 B.C. predicted by Daniel the Prophet (abomination of desolation in Daniel 8), and were forbidden to worship Judaism and were forced to worship Greek gods. These events led to the Jewish revolt later.
The Independent Period and Maccabean Revolt
In 164 B.C., a group of Jews led a rebellion against Greece called the Maccabean revolt, which led to the Hasmonean Dynasty and allowed the Jews to rule over themselves until 63 B.C. The Jews recaptured Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple, predicted accurately by Daniel the prophet in 2,300 days.
Roman Rule
Around 63 B.C., the Jews made an agreement with the rising Roman Empire that took over Greece. The agreement would allow more security for the Israelites, but would lead to Roman control over the Jewish homeland. The Jews adopted Roman customs and traditions.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, which contained multiple copies of Old Testament scripture, were believed to be written or produced by 150 B.C. and were discovered in a cave in the Judean Desert in the 20th century.
The Temple versus the Synagogue
The first synagogues were established after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Jews would worship and provide religious instruction in homes and gradually synagogues were built and spread throughout the Jewish cities and became the centers of Jewish life. After the second Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans, synagogues became more important.
The Sadducees versus the Pharisees
The development of the synagogue versus temple worship coincided with various philosophies or sects within the Jewish religion. The Sadducees prefered temple worship and the authority of the priestly privileges while the Pharisees preferred the synagogue and claimed Mosaic authority for their interpretation of Jewish Laws, The Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection, spirits, or angels, while the Pharisees did. The Sadducees were the "liberals" and were pro-Greek, or Hellenists, and did not want to impose religion on the people, while the Pharisees were the conservative religious zealots.
The Sanhedrin versus the Scribes
The Sanhedrin were an assembly of judges to administer the law. Scribes had knowledge of the law and could create legal documents. The scribes were more committed to tradition than the Sanhedrin.
The Herodians versus the Essenes
The Herodians were Jews who supported Roman customs and wanted to be Romans while the Essenes wanted to separate from Roman customs. King Herod was a descendent of Esau.
The Publicans versus the Zealots
The Publicans were prominent Jews who were pro-Roman while the Zealots were the Jewish religious rebels against Roman rule who had been around since the Maccabean revolt.
The End of Idol Worship
During the period of foreign occupation by various empires, the Israelites suddenly lost the desire to worship pagan idols as they had in the past. The answer to why the Israelites stopped idol worship and returned to worship of God is debatable. A new sense of Jewish identity began and the Israelites returned to worship of the one God of Jacob in an attempt to preserve Jewish heritage and culture.
by Owen Borville
September 15, 2020
Bible
The Silent Period of Biblical History was between about 420 B.C. to A.D., or the Book of Malachi to Matthew. This events of this period were foretold in the Book of Daniel. The Silent Period represents God's last words spoken through the prophet Malachi and the words of Matthew some 400 years later. Much happened during this period, including multiple invasions by foreign empires and a renewed sense of Jewish identity.
Persian Rule
During this time, the Persians were ruling over the Israelites and the Middle East region. The Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their ancestral homeland and rebuild Jerusalem including the Temple, after the Assyrians and Babylonians had scattered them around.
Greek Rule
Greece and Alexander conquered Persia in 331 B.C. and would rule over the area until 164 B.C. The Greeks introduced the Sanhedrin to handle civil law. Greek language was introduced to the Middle East region and replaced Hebrew for Jews. The Old Testament was translated into Greek, called the Septuagint (mid 3rd century B.C.)
Syrian Greeks (Seleucid Empire) took over Jerusalem in 204 B.C. In 171 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated or defiled the Jewish Temple in 171 B.C. predicted by Daniel the Prophet (abomination of desolation in Daniel 8), and were forbidden to worship Judaism and were forced to worship Greek gods. These events led to the Jewish revolt later.
The Independent Period and Maccabean Revolt
In 164 B.C., a group of Jews led a rebellion against Greece called the Maccabean revolt, which led to the Hasmonean Dynasty and allowed the Jews to rule over themselves until 63 B.C. The Jews recaptured Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple, predicted accurately by Daniel the prophet in 2,300 days.
Roman Rule
Around 63 B.C., the Jews made an agreement with the rising Roman Empire that took over Greece. The agreement would allow more security for the Israelites, but would lead to Roman control over the Jewish homeland. The Jews adopted Roman customs and traditions.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, which contained multiple copies of Old Testament scripture, were believed to be written or produced by 150 B.C. and were discovered in a cave in the Judean Desert in the 20th century.
The Temple versus the Synagogue
The first synagogues were established after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Jews would worship and provide religious instruction in homes and gradually synagogues were built and spread throughout the Jewish cities and became the centers of Jewish life. After the second Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans, synagogues became more important.
The Sadducees versus the Pharisees
The development of the synagogue versus temple worship coincided with various philosophies or sects within the Jewish religion. The Sadducees prefered temple worship and the authority of the priestly privileges while the Pharisees preferred the synagogue and claimed Mosaic authority for their interpretation of Jewish Laws, The Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection, spirits, or angels, while the Pharisees did. The Sadducees were the "liberals" and were pro-Greek, or Hellenists, and did not want to impose religion on the people, while the Pharisees were the conservative religious zealots.
The Sanhedrin versus the Scribes
The Sanhedrin were an assembly of judges to administer the law. Scribes had knowledge of the law and could create legal documents. The scribes were more committed to tradition than the Sanhedrin.
The Herodians versus the Essenes
The Herodians were Jews who supported Roman customs and wanted to be Romans while the Essenes wanted to separate from Roman customs. King Herod was a descendent of Esau.
The Publicans versus the Zealots
The Publicans were prominent Jews who were pro-Roman while the Zealots were the Jewish religious rebels against Roman rule who had been around since the Maccabean revolt.
The End of Idol Worship
During the period of foreign occupation by various empires, the Israelites suddenly lost the desire to worship pagan idols as they had in the past. The answer to why the Israelites stopped idol worship and returned to worship of God is debatable. A new sense of Jewish identity began and the Israelites returned to worship of the one God of Jacob in an attempt to preserve Jewish heritage and culture.
