1. TIME.

From the close of the Old Testament, 400 B. C., to the annunciation to Zacharias, 6 B. C.

2. SCRIPTURE.

The Bible is silent concerning the history of the Jewish Nation during these four hundred years. The fifteen Apocryphal books of the Old Testament which are found in some large Bibles give a history of this period. They were first attached to the Septuagint or Greek Version of the Old Testament, but the church has never considered them inspired. We must become familiar with these books in order fully to understand the religious life of the Jewish Nation during these four centuries. The following are the names of the Apocryphal books: Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, Tobit, The Wisdom of Solomon, Judith, First and Second Esdras, Esther X—XVI, The Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manassas, First and Second Book of Maccabees.

3. GOVERNMENT.

The government was External as in the preceding period, except during the reign of the Maccabees, when it was independent.

4. SUBDIVISIONS.

(1) The Persian Period.

The Persians began to reign over the Jews in 536 B. C., immediately after the fall of Babylon, and continued until the Battle of Arbela, 330 B. C., when Alexander overthrew the Persian Government.

(2) The Greek Period.

This period began under the reign
of Alexander, 330 B. C., and continued until 165 B. C. Alexander the Great died in 323 B. C. and his vast do minions were then divided into four kingdoms: Macedonia, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt. Judea was alternately under the rule of Egypt and Syria. During the latter part of this period the Jews suffered severe persecution under the Syrians.

(3) The Maccabean Independence.

This period began 165 B. C. The Syrians began their severe oppression because the Jews refused to worship idols. The Jews revolted under their leader, Judas Maccabæus, and gained their independence in 165 B. C. The Jews were governed then by a succession of rulers of the Maccabean family until 63 B. C., when the Romans gained partial control. but allowed the Maccabean princes to reign under them until 40 B. C., when the Romans assumed entire control.

(4) The Roman Period.

Herod the Great was declared king of Judea by the Roman Senate in 40 B. C. This was the Herod who, fearing a rival for his throne, ordered all the male children of Bethlehem to be slain soon after the birth of Christ. Palestine remained under the power of the Romans, and in 70 A. D. Titus destroyed the temple at Jerusalem and scattered the Jewish nation.

5. EVENTS.

(1) The Battle of Arbela, 330 B. C.

(2) The Death of Alexander the Great, 323 B. C.

(3) The Translation of the Septuagint, 285 B. C.

(4) Revolt of Judas Maccabæus, 165 B. C.

6. CHIEF CHARACTERS.

(1) Alexander the Great, the conqueror of the world.

(2) Judas Maccabæus, the restorer of religious freedom.

(3) Herod the Great, the cruel ruler.

QUESTIONS.

• What is meant by the four centuries of silence?
• What are the opening and closing events?
• What record do we have of this history?
• What was the form of government?
• What are the subdivisions?
• What led to the Maccabean independence?
• How long did this independence last?
• Who are the chief characters?
• For what is each noted?