When we reach the end of the Old Testament, specifically the book of Malachi, we find ourselves at a fascinating yet perplexing juncture. Prophecy ceases around the 5th century BC, and there’s a 400-year gap between Malachi and the opening of the New Testament with the Gospel of Matthew.
Why God chose not to inspire any new books of Scripture during this time, I have no clue—it’s one of those mysteries we’ll have to ask Him about one day! Because, despite this prophetic silence, the Intertestamental Period was anything but uneventful. In fact, it was a time filled with political upheavals, cultural shifts, and religious developments that set the stage for the world Jesus was born into. From the Persian Empire’s dominance to the rise of Greek influence under Alexander the Great, and finally the iron grip of the Roman Empire, this 400-year period shaped the Jewish people in profound ways.
Below is a brief list of key milestones for Israel during this period mapping the power shifts, along with religious and political struggles. All of this set the stage for the New Testament era, shaping the Jewish expectations of the Messiah and the socio-political climate in which Jesus lived and ministered.
Persian Period (539–332 BC):
- 539 BC: The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. This marked the beginning of the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4).
- 516 BC: The Second Temple was completed under the guidance of Haggai, Zechariah, and leaders like Zerubbabel (Ezra 6:15). Jewish life centered around the temple, with Persian governors overseeing the region.
Greek Period (332–167 BC):
- 332 BC: Alexander the Great of Greece conquered the Persian Empire, bringing Israel under Greek rule. Alexander promoted Hellenism, a Greek cultural and religious influence that would deeply impact Jewish life and identity.
- 323 BC: After Alexander’s death, his empire was divided among his generals, leading to a power struggle between the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Syria over control of Israel.
- 198 BC: The Seleucids, under Antiochus III, gained control of Israel, increasing pressure on the Jews to adopt Greek culture and religion.
- 167 BC: Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to impose Greek religious practices on the Jews, desecrating the temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar and banning Jewish practices like circumcision and Sabbath observance. This sparked the Jewish Maccabean Revolt.
Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonean Period (167–63 BC):
- 167–160 BC: Led by Judas Maccabeus and his family (the Hasmoneans), the Jews revolted against Antiochus IV. They successfully reclaimed and rededicated the temple in 164 BC, which is commemorated today as Hanukkah.
- 140–37 BC: The Hasmonean Dynasty ruled as an independent Jewish kingdom, combining religious and political authority. Although the dynasty brought about Jewish autonomy, internal strife and the mixing of political and priestly power led to corruption.
Roman Period (63 BC–AD 70):
- 63 BC: The Roman general Pompey intervened in a civil war between Hasmonean leaders and conquered Jerusalem, bringing Israel under Roman control.
- 37 BC–4 BC: Herod the Great, a client king installed by the Romans, ruled over Judea. He is known for his massive building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple, but also for his cruelty. His rule coincided with the birth of Jesus.
- 4 BC–AD 70: After Herod’s death, his kingdom was divided among his sons under Roman oversight. During this time, Roman governors, like Pontius Pilate, ruled Judea, and tensions between the Jews and the Romans grew. This period saw the rise of various Jewish factions, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes.