Intertestamental Period
Events between Malachi and Matthew
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Judaism survived and prospered.
It was changed by the surrounding cultures.
Judaism became more personalized.
Widespread apocalyptic and messianic
expectations
Greek culture influenced Judaism Hellinization
The Hebrew Scriptures were translated into
Greek (LXX = Septuagint)
External Circumstances = Change
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Jews under the rule of the Persians until the
time of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.E.)
Judaism became a world religion.
Palestinian Jews defined Judaism in the
narrower terms of Ezra and Nehemiah while
those outside Palestine tended to be more
liberal and inclusive.
External Circumstances = Change
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Palestinian Judaism was less affected by
outside cultural influences.
Hellenization influenced all of Judaism and,
for a brief moment, threatened to extinguish it
Palestinian Judaism achieved a brief period of
self-rule (167-63 BCE)
Palestine became a protectorate of the Roman
Empire in 63 BCE
External Circumstances = Change
8.
Judaism was a religion of the book, without
living prophets, probably from the time of
Ezra and Nehemiah.
Jewish Sects
Jewish Sects
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Probably developed during the
Hasmonean period. “Hasmonean” is a
name given to the dynasty that ruled
ancient Judea for almost a century, from
the Maccabean wars (c.145 BC) until
Roman occupation of ancient Palestine
in 63 BC.
Jewish Sects
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As Jewish self-rule lost its religious
concerns there were really 3 ways to deal
with it:
 Accept political leaders
 Oppose the political leaders
 Withdraw from the situation
Sadducees
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These claimed to be descendents from Zadok (the
High Priest under Solomon) and were closely tied to
the aristocracy in Jerusalem.
They were shrewd politicians who always tried to
accommodate the ruling power.
They were theological conservatives, but political
liberals.
Although small, they were politically powerful and
had the most to lose from a political change or
military insurrection. Therefore, they strongly
opposed Jesus.
Sadducees
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Beliefs
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Recognized only the Torah as Scripture
Rejected oral tradition
Did not believe the soul existed after death
Did not believe in eternal punishment or
reward
Did not believe in the resurrection
Did not believe in angels or demons.
Pharisees
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The term “Pharisee” comes from a term meaning “separated
ones.”
In the days of Herod the Great, the Pharisees numbered
approximately 6,000, but their influence far exceeded their
number.
Most of them lived in and around Jerusalem.
They developed the oral tradition that interpreted Scripture
and were the teachers of the two-fold law: written and oral
They had little interest in politics and opposed Jesus because
He refused to accept their interpretations of the oral law.
Pharisees
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Beliefs
 Torah—The written law, given to Moses on
Sinai
 Oral Torah – The interpretation of the Torah
became divine regulation in itself.
 Accepted the Torah, Prophets & Writings as
Scripture
Pharisees
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Beliefs
 They believed the righteous were resurrected after
death.
 They often were apocalyptic and accepted the
existence of angels & demons.
 The Pharisees understood Israel to be a “priestly
people.”
 The Pharisees saw Torah as a developing and
dynamic social force.
Essenes
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Not explicitly mentioned in the NT, but they are
mentioned as a large group by the first-century
Jewish historian Josephus.
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Beliefs
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Rejected the Jerusalem Priesthood and Temple
Lived in the Wilderness (Desert) areas
Three year period of initiation
Strict obedience to elders was stressed.
Communal property
Celibacy
Essenes
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Beliefs
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Daily Work – Farmers, shepherds, beekeepers,
craftsman
Ritualistic – Purity was essential
Apocalyptic – believed in angels & demons
Believed in a bodily resurrection.
The Essenes devoted themselves to the study of
the law and went beyond the Pharisees in their
rigid understanding of it.
Samaritans
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Believed Shechem and Mt. Gerizim as holy place
(opposed to Jerusalem & Mt. Zion)
Possible descendents of conquered Northern tribes
and others.
Moses was regarded as the only prophet and
intercessor in the final judgment.
In the days of Christ, the animosity between the Jews
and Samaritans was so great that the Jews bypassed
Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea.
Samaritans
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Shared many Jewish beliefs:
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Uncompromising monotheism
Loyalty to the law of Moses
Being the chosen people with a promise
from God of the land of Israel
They also believed that 6,000 years after
creation, a Restorer would arise and would
live on earth for 110 years.
Samaritans
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Disagreed with Pharisees at several
points:
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Built a rival temple on Mt. Gerizim, which
was destroyed by John Hyrcanus
(Hasmonean king)
Rejected the Jerusalem priesthood
Recognized only the Pentateuch as
Scripture
Zealots
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These individuals were extremists.
Forbid paying taxes to Rome for God alone
was Lord
God would help remove the Romans if the
people took an armed rebellion
They seem to agree with the Pharisees on
other matters, but they were willing to kill and
die for their beliefs.
Scribes
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Scribes were more than public secretaries.
Over time they changed from a secular to a
religious function.
During the Exile, they became guardians of
the Law.
Ezra was the best known priest-scribe, and
was highly skilled in the Law of Moses. He
was the prototype of NT scribes who were
professional interpreters.
Scribes
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Scribes were sometimes referred to as
lawyers. The Law was their sole authority.
Scribes required absolute reverence from
their students.
Most scribes were Pharisees, but some were
Sadducees.
The Jewish Worship Institutions:
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Only one Temple existed. It was in Jerusalem
It was the most significant place for the
Jewish worship of God
The Temple was the only place sacrifices
could be offered.
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Even for Jews of the Diaspora (Dispersion)
Sacrifices and offerings were associated with the
Jewish Holy Days or Feasts.
Important Jewish Holy Days & Feasts
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Passover: It was connected with the Feast of Unleavened
Bread (about the same time as Easter) and was the oldest and
most popular festival.
Pentecost: It was also known as the Festival of the First
Fruits or the Feast of Weeks, occurring fifty days after
Passover.
Yom Kippur: It was also known as the Day of Atonement.
Usually celebrated in October. It was the most solemn feast
since the forgiveness of the people was contingent upon
God’s acceptance of the sacrifice.
Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths): It was the second most
popular and second oldest of the Jewish Holy Days. It was a
celebration marked by great joy.
The Synagogue:
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A Place of:
 Worship
 Education and study of the Law
 Social importance to the community.
The Synagogue:
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The Greek term means “gathering place.”
Its Origin
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Most scholars believe it originated during or shortly
after the exile.
Jews of the Diaspora needed a place to meet
Location
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Synagogues could be located anywhere
Tradition said that at least ten adult Jewish males
were required.
The Synagogue
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The Typical Order of Service:
 The Shema from Deut. 6:4-6
 Prayer
 Reading of the Lesson from the Law
 If a competent person was present, he would give
an exposition of the Scripture passages read.
 The Benediction.
The Sanhedrin
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The supreme judicial council of Judaism.
The council arbitrated matters of Jewish
religious life and Jewish law
The decisions made by the council were
final.
It took a two-thirds majority to condemn a
person for a crime.
The Sanhedrin
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The Sanhedrin dates to the time of Ezra
and Nehemiah.
Some claim that it goes back to the 70
elders under Moses.
By the Christian era, it had absolute
religious and almost all civil authority.
Roman procurators had the power to ratify
or veto a decision.
Political Situation in Jesus' Day
Herod the Great
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Ruled Palestine first as governor & later as
king
He faced significant opposition from the Jews
because he was not a Jew, he was an Idumean
He tried to gain the favor of the Jewish people
and was a good ruler in the early part of his
reign.
Herod the Great
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He was a great builder.
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He built palaces, aqueducts, etc.
He built a Hippodrome in Jerusalem.
He built Caesarea Maritima
He refurbished the Temple beginning in 21 BC
(not finished until 64 AD).
Herod the Great
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In his later reign, he was paranoid and cruel
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He killed seven members of his family
According to the Gospel of Matthew, he ordered
the death of all the boys in Bethlehem under the
age of two, based on the report of the Magi
He left orders that upon his death prominent
Jewish citizens were to be killed.
“Herod” in the New Testament
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Herod The Great (37-4 BCE):
Herod Antipas (4 BCE-39 CE)
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Archelaus (4 BCE-6 CE)
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Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea
Jesus was sent by Pilate to be heard by Antipas
Ethnarch over Judea
Would have been ruling when Joseph returned from Egypt with Mary
and young Jesus
He was removed from his position in 6 CE and was banished to Gaul
Herod Philip the Tetrarch (4 BCE-34 CE)
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Peaceful Tetrarch of the northern Transjordan region
He rebuilt the ancient city of Panias commonly known as Caesarea
Philippi.
The Herodian Dynasty
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Herod Agrippa I (37-44 CE):
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Herod the Great’s grandson
Herod in the Book of Acts who executed James
the Apostle and had Simon Peter arrested
Herod Agrippa II (53-66 CE):
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Son of Herod Agrippa I.
Herod in Acts before whom Paul appeared in
Caesarea by the Sea before being sent to Rome.