Dario III

Greek period (331-367 B.C) 

Till now the big powers had been Asian and African. But on the western horizon the increasing power of Greece was getting up ominously. The beginning of the Greek history the mythology veils. Is believed that it should have begun about the 12th century B.C, the epoch of the Biblical judges. Then comes the trojan and homero war for 1000 B.C, the epoch of David and of Solomon. The beginning of the Greek history authenticates generally is calculated from the first Olimpic Games (776 B.C.). Later there came the formation of the Greek states (776-500 B.C); then the Persian wars, (500-531 B.C.) and the famous battles of marathon (490 B.C.); Termopilas and Salamina (480 B.C.). Later the brilliant epoch of Pericles (465-429 B.C.), and Socrates (469-339 B.C.), contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah

Alexander the Great (336 B.C.)

Assumed the mandate of the Greek army, and with rapidity of meteor throw to the east on the lands that had been under the domain of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonian, and Persian. Already in 331 B.C, the entire world was before his feet. In his invasion to Palestine (332 B.C.), he showed great consideration towards the Jews, make Jerusalem intact, and offered guarantee to the Jews in order that they were established in Alexandria. He found Greek cities throughout of his domains, and unitedly with them his culture and language. After a brief reign, he died at the age of 33 victim of a disease called malaria. After Alexandro's death, his empire went on to hands to four of his generals. Of both oriental sectors, Seleuco touched Syria, and Egypt to Tolomeo. Placed Palestine enters both, was first from Syria, but in 301 B.C, went on to hands of Egypt in which power was approximately 100 years, up to 198 B.C.

Under the kings of Egypt, called the Tolomeos, the luck of the Jews was in general pacific and happy. Those who were in Egypt built synagogues in all his colonies. Alexandria managed to be a center of great influence in the Judaism.In 198 B.C. Antiochus the big one  reconquer Palestine, which went on again to the power of the kings of Syria, called the Seleucidas. 

Antioco Epifanes, 174-164 A.C, Very strong adversary of the Jews, did an wild effort and decided to exterminate them and to his religion. He refined Jerusalem in 168 A.C, profaned the Temple  sacrifice a pork on the altar, he raised an altar to Jupiter, prohibited the worship of the Temple and under the threat of death the circumcision, destroyed all the copies of the Writing that could be situated and killed to everything that one that had such copies in his power, sold as slaves to thousands of Jewish families, and resorted to any imaginable form of torture to force the Jews whom they were resigning to his God and religion. This drove to the revolution and revolt of the Maccabees, one of the most heroic exploits of the history.

The Seleucids (Greek kings of Syria) were:

  Seleuco Nicator, 312-280 B.C.

   Antioco I (Soter), 280-261.

   Antioco II (Theos), 261-246.

   Seleuco II (Calínico), 246-226.

   Seleuco III (Cerauno), 226-223.

   Antioco III (el grande), 222-187.

   Seleuco IV (Filopater), 187-175.

   Antioco IV (Epifanes), 175-164.

   Antioco V (Eupater), 163-161.

   Alejandro Balas, 161-146.

   Antioco VI (Theos), 146-143.

   Trifon, 143-139.

   Antioco VII (Sidetes), 139-130.

Period of the Independence (167-63 B.C)

Also called the Macabean period or Asmoneos. Matatias, a priest of intense patriotism and value without limits enraged by Antiochus Epifanes's attempts of destroying the Jews, assembled a group of loyal Jews and lifted the flag of the liberation. He had five warlike and heroic children: Judas, Eleazar, Jonatan, Simon, and John. Matatias died in the year 166 B.C. His mantle fell down on his son Judas, warrior of a military amazing genius. 

Earn battle after battle against numerous and incredible armies. Reconquer Jerusalem in the year 165 B.C, purify and re-dedicated the Temple. This one is the origin of the party of  Dedication celebrated by the Jews up to today. Judas assembled on his own the priestly and civil authority, and hereby he established the succession Asmonea of governing priests who for 100 years headed an independent Judea.

These were: Matatias, 167-166 B.C.; Judas, 166-161; Jonatan, 161-144; Simon, 144-135; Juan Hircano, 135-106, Jonatan son; Aristobulo and his children, 106-63, unworthy of Macabees name.

Roman period (63 B.C. up to the epoch of Christ)

In the year 63 B.C. Palestine was conquered by the Romans under Pompeyo. Antipater, idumeo (of Edom descendant of Esau), was nominated a governor of Judea. He was followed by his son Herodes the big one, king of Judea in the years 37-3 B.C. To be gained the good will of the Jews, Herodes  rebuilt the Temple with great magnificence. He was a brutal and cruel man. This one is the Herodes that was governing in Judea when Jesus was born, and whom give the orders to execute to the children of Bethlehem.

Literature

Canon of the Old Testament

The word "canon" that means literally "cane" or " rod of measuring, " managed to be used as name of the list of the books recognized as the God's genuine, original, and sovereign Word, to distinguish them  between all the rest books as the "rule" of faith.

Very early in the history, God began the formation of the Book that had to be the way of His revelation of  Himself to the humanity:

  Ten orders recorded in stone, Deut. 10:4-5

The laws that God gave to Moses, written in a book, were guarded next to the Ark, Deut. 31:24-26. (There were done copies of this book, Deut.17:18. Joshua added to the book, Joshua 24:26.

Samuel wrote in a book and guard it in front of God, I Samuel 10:25.

This book was well-known 400 years later, the II of Kings 22:8-20.

The prophets wrote in books, Jeremiah. 36:32; Zechariah. 1:4; 7:7-12.

Ezra read this book of God's publicly, Ez. 7:6; Neh.8:5.

In the times of Jesus this book was called the "Writings" and was read publicly and taught regularly in the synagogues. It was received between the people as the " God's Word " Jesus himself shared, corroborate and endorse this book, calling it repeatedly by this name.

Apocryphal books

This one is the name that generally is applied to certain books or portions of books that have some Bibles, writings between the epoch of the old and new testament. They had his origin in the centuries 1 to 3 B.C. They are principally of ignored origin and they were added to the Septuagint or Greek translation of the O.T. Done in that epoch, they were not in the O.T. Hebrew. They were written later that they had stopped the prophecies, the oracles and the direct revelation of the O.T.. The Jewish writer Josefo pushes them back for point, they were never recognized by the Jews as parT of the Hebrew Writings.

From the Septuagint these apocryphal books pass to the Latin translation, and then to the Latin Vulgat, that come to do the common version of Europe up to the time of the Reform. The Protestants who were basing his lives on the divine authority of the God's Word pushed these apocryphal books back immediately for not being a part of that one, as they had made it the primitive church and the former Hebrews. Later, in the Council of Trent, celebrated in 1546 A.C. to stop the Christian movement, the catholic Roman church declare these books canonical, except the III and IVth of Ezra and the prayer of Manasseh, that still remain in the versions catholic Roman.

The apocryphal books are as they continue:

III Ezra: Many bibles Catholic romans call to the book of Ezra Nehemiah II. The IIIrd of Ezra is a summary of Ezra´s passages, the IInd of Chronicles and Nehemiah, and of Zorobabel's legends. It took as an aim to ennoble the freedom of Ciro and Dario towards the Jews, as example for the Tolomeos.

 IV Ezra: Tries to contain visions started to Ezra relating to the divine government of the world, a new future age, and the restoration of certain lost writings. 

Tobiah: A novel completely devoid of historical value and fills of superstitious practices, brings over of a rich Israelite, captive young man in Nínive, who was guided by an angel to marrying a young virgin - widow whose seven spouses had been dead for a demon.

Judith: Historical novel of a Jewish, rich and beautiful widow, that in the days of Juda's Babylonian invasion come to the shop of the Babylonian general, and simulating to fall in love with him she cut the head, and hereby saved the city where she was living.

Esther 10:4-13; caps. 11-16: Passages added to the version Septuagint of Esther's book, principally to show the God's hand in the statement. These fragments were gathered and grouped for saint Jeronimo.

Wisdom: Very similar to Job's certain parts, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. A species of merger of the Hebrew thought and of the Greek philosophy. Written by a Jew of Alexandria, that makes pass for Solomon.

Ecclesiastic: Also called " wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirac. " It looks like the book of Proverbs. Written by a philosopher Jewish , that had travelled very much. Of rules of conducts for all the details of the civic, religious life, and domesticate. Praises a long list of hero of the O.T.

Baruc: This book tries to be written by Baruc Jeremiah neronian, whom it represents how happens last years of his life in Babylonia. He forwards the exiles; it content is principally paraphrased of Jeremiah, Daniel and other prophets, more a vehement denunciation of the idolatry and of the worship to the images.

Singing of three young men, Daniel 3:24-30: An added Apocrypha to Daniel's book, which tries to be the prayer of three friends of Daniel in the oven of fire, and his triumphal singing on having been freed.

Susana's history: Daniel 13: Other one added to Daniel's book. It reports as the pious wife of a rich Jew in Babylonia falsely accused of adultery, she was freed by means of Daniel's wisdom.

Bel and the Dragoon, Daniel 14: Added Apocrypha to Daniel's book. Two histories, in which Daniel demonstrates that Bel's idols and the dragoon are not gods. One bases on the statement of the pit of the lions.

Manasseh's prayer: Tries to be the prayer of Manasseh king of Juda. When was captive in babilonia (the IInd of Chronicles 33:12-13). Of unknown author, probably of the first century B.C.

I Maccabees: it is not another thing that a history of great value on the Macabean period, which tells events of the heroic struggle of the Jews for his independence, 175-135 B.C. Writing about 100 B.C., for a Jew of Palestine.

II Maccabees: These is also a statement of the struggle of the Macabees, but limits to the period 175-161 B.C. Practises to be an abbreviation of a work written by such a Jason of Cirene, of whom nothing is known. Complements I of Macabees, but it is lower than him.

Other writings

Besides the apocryphal books described in the previous pages there were other writings of the period between the century 2 B.C., and the 1 A.C. Great part is of style " apocalyptic, " in which the writing takes the name of some dead great hero before, and reports the history as if it was a prophecy. There consist largely of visions that they practise to derive from persons of the most ancient Writings; the content of some performs the most fantastic thing.

They deal in good part of the future Messiah. The sufferings of the period Macabean were intensifying the Jewish expectation of which the time was approaching. They were based partly on uncertain traditions and partly in imaginary details (it is necessary to make notice to the reader that these books are totally devoid of the divine inspiration) Some of more acquaintances are: 

Enoc's books: A group of fragments of several unknown authors, written in the centuries 1 and 2 B.C., that contain supposed revelations that are said to have be given to Enoch to Noah. They treat of the future Messiah and of the day of the judgment. This book is mentioned in the "Writings" in Judas's book there is mentioned a line of this book and we clarify that this does not do a book of the God's inspiration as falsely today some supposed ministers try to make believe teaching doctrines of this one.

The Assumption of Moses: Written by a pharisee, near the time of Christ's birth.

Contains supposed prophecies that assume to Moses, and that entrusted Joshua when he was close to die.

Isaiah's ascent: A legendary statement of Isaiah's martyrdom, and some of his supposed visions. It is believed that it has been writing in Rome, for a Christian Jew, during the neronian pursuit to the Jews and Christians.

Book of jubilees: A commentary on the Genesis. Written probably, in the Macabean period or little later. The name comes from his system to calculating the times, that it is based on the periods of 50 years of the jubilees.

Solomon's psalms: A group of canticles brings over of the future Messiah written by an unknown pharisee, probably after the Macabean epoch.

Testament of the twelve Patriarches: A product of the second century B.C., that  tries to give the instructions of twelve children of Jacob to his sons when he died. Each one reports the history and the lessons of his own life.

The Sibylline Oracles: Writings in the Macabean epoch with added later, in imitation of the style of the Greek and Roman oracles. Treats of the fall of the oppressive empires and of the dawn of the Messianic age.

The Septuagint

This one was a translation of the O.T., Hebrew to the Greek. It was done in Alexandria, where there were abounding the Jews of Greek language. Says the tradition that at call of Tolomeo Filadelfo (285-287 B.C.), 70 Jewish skilful linguists were sent from Jerusalem to Alexandria. First the Pentateuch was translated, and then other books of the O.T were added to the translation.

It was called the " Septuagint " because of 70 translators it is said, they began it. Some of the traditions over of them they are doubtful, but it is accepted generally that it was begun under Tolomeo Filadelfo's reign, and was finish in the course of 100 following years. The Greek was in those days the language of world use, this version was in common use in times of Christ. The N.T. was written in Greek, and many of the appointments that does of the A.T., they are taken of the Septuagint

The text of the Old Testament

Is believed that the books of the O.T., have been written originally on skins.

They all were written in Hebrew except parts from Ezra and Daniel that were in Arameic. They were copied to hand, the Hebrew letters were of square form written from right to left side, with small points or signs added in different ways for the vowels (the system of (vowels) was not introduced but in the sixth century A.C.) even it was copied by the major care, it was easy that one was producing variants in the reading.

Up to the captivity they were guarding in the Temple the official copies. Later, many copies were done for the synagogues, without doubts with new variants. Seemingly in some cases, the marginal notes of certain copyists were incorporated later in the text by other later copyists; but the amount of variations that were introduced have greatly exaggerated  by some modern scholars. The invention of the press  have eliminated the danger of the mistakes in the text; and now as result of the work of the scholars during long years of patient effort in arranging the different manuscripts, there is a Hebrew recognized text, called Masorete text.

The Arameic language

It was the common language of Palestine in Jesus days. It was the ancient language of Syria, very similar to the Hebrew. After the return of the Babylonian captivity gradually it had displeased the Hebrew as common language of the people.

The Targumes

These were translations of the books of the O.T. to the Aramaic. With form the use of the Aramaic was spreading, Came to do necessarily, in the publishes reading of the writings, to make clear the sense of the Hebrew words, later these translations, paraphrase and oral interpretations took written form.

The Talmud

A collection of different traditions and Jewish explanations of the O.T., that were written in writing in the century the second B.C., with a later commentary on the same ones.

The Great Synagogue

This is the name of the council consisted of 120 members that is said to have be organized by Nehemiah, near 410 B.C., under Ezra's presidency, with the intention of reconstructing the worship and the religious life of the returned captive ones, and which the tradition assigns important part in assembling, grouping and restoring the canonical books of the O.T. It is believed that it has been a stable body and that it should have governed the Jews returned even near 275 B.C., when it yielded his place to the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin

It is the recognized directory of the Jewish people in the days of Christ. It is believed that should have been originated in the third century B.C., it was composed of 70 members, principally of priests and noble sadducee, some pharisees, scribes and elders (ringleaders of tribes or families), under the presidency of the supreme priest. It was undone together with the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.C.).

The Synagogues

These appeared in the days of the captivity, being destroyed the Temple, and the nation disperses, they were necessary places of instruction and of worship were had been Jewish communities. After the return, the synagogues were established both in the national home and in the Jewish centers in other countries. Any important city had one or more.

In Jerusalem in spite of the Temple was there, there were many synagogues presided by an elders' meeting, each one had his copies of the books of the Writing, which were read publicly and regularly. The first meetings and places of Christian worship were still partly the model of the synagogues.

The Dispersed

This is the name which was giving to the Jews who were living out of Palestine (dispersed) and who were supporting his religious customs between the gentles.

Great number of them prefer to remain in the lands of the captivity. In the inter-testamentary period the Jews out of Palestine came to do many more numerous than the inhabitants of this land.

There were founded numerous colonies of Jews in every country and in all the principal cities of the civilized world; Babylonia, Asiria, Syria, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Greece, Egypt, the north of Africa and Rome.

Three principal divisions of the Dispersed were the Babylonian one, the Syrian one and the Egyptian. In the time of Christ the number of Jews was calculated in a million in Egypt. Also there was a great number of them in Damascus and Antioch.

In every place they had his synagogues and  Writings. Hereby under the God's decision, simultaneously that the Jews were taken captive to strange lands in punishment by his sins, his captivity was turning out to be for good of the nations between they were remaining dispersed. They were influencing the thought of all the nations, and simultaneously they were influenced by them.

The Pharisees

It is believed that the sect of the pharisees should have originated in the third century B.C., in the days previous to the wars of the Maccabees, when under the Greek authority and the Greek effort for hellenization to the Jews, there was in the Jews a marked trend of accepting the Greek culture and his pagan religious customs. The emergence of the Pharisees was a reaction and a protest against this trend between his compatriots. His intention was to preserve his national integrity and to guard of strict form of the law of Moses. Born hereby, with a spirit of fervent patriotism and religious devotion, later they turned a formalist and hypocritical sect of own justice.

The Saducees

Of the saducees as sect, it is believe that they have originated more or less at the same time as the pharisees. Being guided by mean considerations, they were in favour of adopting the Greek customs and they put of the side of the Hellenists. They did not take any part in the struggle maccabee for the liberation of his nation. They were a priestly lobby, and in spite of being officials of the religion of his nation, were franc and determined irreligious, were not numerous, but rich and of great influence. Though racionalist and mundane, they were controlling largely the Sanhedrin.

The Teachers

The teachers were copyists of the Writings. It was a profession of very ancient origin, and of great importance before the invention of the press. As organized permanent college, they seem to have appeared for the first time during the exile, it was corresponding to them to study and to interpret the Writings at the same time as to copy them. Because of his intimate knowledge of the law there were called they doctors or interpreters of the law, and they were recognized authorities. The decisions of them principal scribes came to do oral law or traditions, they were numerous enough in the Macabean period , and they had great influence between the people.

The preparations for the Coming of the Christ

The O.T. in his thickness, is the statement of the God's treatments with the Hebrew nation in order to brings to the world, for conduit of them, a Messiah for all the nations. The O.T. is like an anthem of praise of the future Messiah. Beginning with low, dispersed and slightly definite notes, with form it happens the time expands and grows in harmony and clear, powerful, abundant melodies and praise of the King who approaches. Meanwhile God, in His decision, was preparing to the nations. Greece was joining the civilizations of Asia, Europe and Africa, and established a universal language. Rome did of the entire world an alone empire, and the Roman ways made every part accessible of him.

The dispersed of the Jews with his synagogues, Writings, religion and monotheism between the nations, had given to know everywhere his expectation of a Messiah. Hereby, God prepare the way for the spread of the gospel of crucifix between the nations.

Thank you for sharing with us one more study, the peace of our Lord governs your lifes and that his eternal Word guided to all truth and justice.

 
Home

Creele a Dios Ministries

We want To serve, allow us to do it