Intertestamental Period Paper

INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD PAPER: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD

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INTRODUCTION ALEXANDER THE GREAT THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD THE PTOLEMAIC PERIOD THE SELEUCID PERIOD ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES THE MACCABEAN PERIOD THE HASMONEAN PERIOD THE ROMAN PERIOD THROUGH HEROD‟S SONS AND JESUS CHRIST CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY

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INTRODUCTION In this Intertestamental Paper, I will briefly give a brief history describing the Second Temple Period, beginning with the period of Alexander the Great and continuing through the reign of Herod the Great and his sons. I will also address how various events, individuals, and groups that impacted the Jews and land of Israel leading up to and during the time of Christ. The following highlighted historic events, individuals and groups I will address will include: Alexander the Great, The Hellenistic Period, The Ptolemaic Period, The Seleucid Period, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, The Maccabean Period, The Hasmonean Period, The Roman Period through Herod‟s Sons and Jesus Christ. I will conclude with how these events affected the first century world of the New Testament. ALEXANDER THE GREAT Alexander the Great, born in 356 B.C. in Pella, Macedonia, was the son of Philip of Macedon and Princess Olympias of Epirus. As a young boy he was always fearless, strong, and eager to learn. He went on to inherit each of his parent‟s best qualities. His father was an excellent general and organizer, while his mother was extremely intelligent. At the age of thirteen he became a pupil of Aristotle. It was Aristotle who inspired Alexander's great love for literature. Through his mentor Alexander learned the Greek ways of living and the ideals of Greek civilization. However, it was not all work and no play for the young Alexander. He spent a great deal of time participating in sports and daily exercise in order to develop a strong body. At a fairly young age Alexander was given many...