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Nehemiah to Antiochus IV
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– data subject to continuing refinement –
The Peace of Callias (Athenian politician) is agreed between the Greek city-states of Athens and Argos, and Persia, so bringing an end to the Persian wars, which allows Athens to deal with any threats from Corinth and Thebes. (But Persia continues to meddle in Greek affairs over the next twenty years, and is to become instrumental in securing a Spartan victory in the Peloponnesian War).
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The Greeks gave Artaxerxes the surname Μακρόχειρ (Longimanus, 'Long-Hand').
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March 16: ARTAXERXES (Ahasuerus), king of Persia and second son of Xerxes, issues his decree for NEHEMIAH to rebuild the defences of Jerusalem in Judaea.
NEHEMIAH rebuilds Jerusalem's military defences in his first term as Jewish governor.
• ELIASHIB is High Priest in Jerusalem.
• ELIASHIB is High Priest in Jerusalem.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbatical Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbatical Year for the land.
NEHEMIAH, in his second term, combats the evils that MALACHI rebuked.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is properly celebrated under the leadership of EZRA and NEHEMIAH for the first time since JOSHUA son of NUN.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is properly celebrated under the leadership of EZRA and NEHEMIAH for the first time since JOSHUA son of NUN.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
King ARTAXERXES of Persia dies.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Greece – ARISTOPHANES coins the verb korinthiazesthai 'to act like a Corinthian', i.e. to practice fornication.
Here PLATO uses the expression korinthia koré ('a Corinthian girl') to mean a prostitute.
Here PLATO uses the expression korinthia koré ('a Corinthian girl') to mean a prostitute.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Rome – the city is occupied by the Gauls under BRENNUS.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
• In Jerusalem – JADDUA becomes Jewish High Priest.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Greece – About 5,000 citizens of Corinth emigrate to Syracuse because of the city's over population.
In Italy – Rome declares war on the Latin League, its previous allies, defeats them.
(Two years later it dismantles the League).
(Two years later it dismantles the League).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Central Italy – The league of Latin city states dissolves under Rome's victory over them. Rome renames their cities municipiae and establishes its coloniae inside them, and thereby ruling them as part of the Roman republic so that their residents are considered Roman colonists.
In Central Italy – The league of Latin city states dissolves under Rome's victory over them. Rome renames their cities municipiae and establishes its coloniae inside them, and thereby ruling them as part of the Roman republic so that their residents are considered Roman colonists.
In Macedon – PHILIP II is assassinated and
his son ALEXANDER becomes king.
A Biblical Structure of History
Battle of Issus: ALEXANDER defeats DARIUS of Persia.
In Jerusalem – A council of elders, called the gerousia, functions as a senate or supreme council of the Jews until 165 BC.
In Jerusalem – A council of elders, called the gerousia, functions as a senate or supreme council of the Jews until 165 BC.
ALEXANDER's siege and capture of Tyre, and occupation of Egypt.
In Palestine – Jerusalem is conquered by ALEXANDER the Great (reigned 333-323 BC). It becomes part of Hellenistic Egypt, but enjoys religious freedom.
In Palestine – Jerusalem is conquered by ALEXANDER the Great (reigned 333-323 BC). It becomes part of Hellenistic Egypt, but enjoys religious freedom.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
October 1: Battle of Arbela (Gaugamela), the final defeat of DARIUS of Persia by ALEXANDER the Great.
October 1: Battle of Arbela (Gaugamela), the final defeat of DARIUS of Persia by ALEXANDER the Great.
ALEXANDER the Great burns Susa to the ground, the capital of the Persian Empire.
On Mount Gerizim in Samaria – The Samaritan temple is built:
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Photo of excavations in the Samaritan temple complex on Mount Gerizim. At its peak it covered 100-acres and included living quarters for about 1,500 people. |
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
June: In Babylon – Death of ALEXANDER the Great, at age 32.
His empire is divided between Macedon, Egypt (Ptolemy), Syria (Seleucus) and Pergamum. (See 551 BC)
His empire is divided between Macedon, Egypt (Ptolemy), Syria (Seleucus) and Pergamum. (See 551 BC)
ALEXANDER the Great is buried at Memphis in Egypt by PTOLEMY probably in the unused sarcophagus of Pharaoh NECTANEBO II (Egypt's last native ruler). (This empty sarcophagus is now in the British Museum.)
• In Jerusalem – ONIAS I becomes High Priest. He corresponds with King ARIUS of Sparta.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
SELEUCUS I (one of the generals of Alexander the Great) reigns over Seleucid (Syrian) empire.
In Palestine – General PTOLEMY, ruler of Egypt, retreats before ANTIGONUS MONOPHTHALMOS ('one eyed'), dismantling fortresses and taking many prisoners from Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, whom he settles in Egypt.
In Babylonia – General SELEUCUS stirs the east of the Macedonian empire against ANTIGONUS MONOPHTHALMOS.
In Babylonia – General SELEUCUS stirs the east of the Macedonian empire against ANTIGONUS MONOPHTHALMOS.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
PTOLEMY I (one of the generals of Alexander the Great) rules Egypt.
PTOLEMY I of Egypt is defeated in a naval engagement off Cyprus by DEMETRIUS the Poliorketes ('taker of towns'), with dozens of vessels sunk. (Source: Greek historian, Diodorus of Sicily). As a consequence PTOLEMY looses control of Cyprus for ten years.
Demetrios was the son of Antigonus Monophthalmos, a Macedonian nobleman who later ruled Asia Minor. |
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Ipsus, Asia Minor – General PTOLEMY, in alliance with Generals SELEUCUS and TELEMACHUS, with the help of SELEUCUS' Indian elephants for which he had traded the province of India, defeat ANTIGONUS MONOPHTHALMOS.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
• In Jerusalem – SIMON I becomes High Priest.
In Italy – Rome subjugates the Samnites south of Latium after three years of continuous conflict, bringing it's rule closer to the Greek colonies of South Italy.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Egypt – PTOLEMY II ( Philadelphus) reigns.
All Jewish captives sold into slavery are freed by him and their owners compensated (Josephus) and gifts are sent to the Jerusalem Temple.
All Jewish captives sold into slavery are freed by him and their owners compensated (Josephus) and gifts are sent to the Jerusalem Temple.
| Septuagint Translation of Holy Scripture. |
Oldest existing manuscripts of the LXX include 2nd century BC fragments of Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Rahlfs nos. 801, 819, and 957), and 1st century BC fragments of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and the Minor Prophets (Rahlfs nos. 802, 803, 805, 848, 942, and 943). |
He later is reputed to have invited Jewish High Priest ELEAZAR (brother of the deceased SIMON) to send six elders from each of the twelve Jewish tribes to Alexandria to help provide a reliable translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (T'nach/Old Testament) into the international Greek of the day. (First century Jewish priest Josephus credits the royal librarian Demetrius Phalerius of Alexandria with this initiative).
This translation eventually became known as the Septuagint, abbreviated as LXX, and later became the principal version used in synagogues of the Jewish Diaspora. Internal evidences in the existing text of the Septuagint indicates that the translation took place over a period of about 100 years. (See 275 BC).
This translation eventually became known as the Septuagint, abbreviated as LXX, and later became the principal version used in synagogues of the Jewish Diaspora. Internal evidences in the existing text of the Septuagint indicates that the translation took place over a period of about 100 years. (See 275 BC).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
ANTIOCHUS I reigns over Seleucid empire.
In Italy – The king of Epirus in northern Greece, PYRRHUS, invades to the help the Greek city of Tarentum which had challenged Rome. In two bloody battles he defeats the Romans.
In Italy – The Romans defeat PYRRHUS at Beneventum (near Naples) and expel his army, clearing the way to complete their conquest of Italy.
• ELEAZAR becomes High Priest in Jerusalem.
In Egypt – Under PTOLEMY II – the Torah (Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament), begins to be translated into Greek (the Septuagint, or LXX, see 285-217 BC) for use of the Jewish communities outside Palestine.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
• ELEAZAR becomes High Priest in Jerusalem.
In Egypt – Under PTOLEMY II – the Torah (Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament), begins to be translated into Greek (the Septuagint, or LXX, see 285-217 BC) for use of the Jewish communities outside Palestine.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
Carthage (founded by Phoenicians c.800 BC) is the most significant power in the Mediterranean at this time.
Rome begins its first Punic (Phoenician) War with Carthage in North Africa, arising from a regional conflict on Sicily (a Carthaginian province) between the towns of Messina and Syracuse, Rome siding with the former. In the years that follow, Rome realizes it must develop a navy to drive Carthage from Sicily; winning their first sea battle in 260 BC. (See 241 BC).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
ANTIOCHUS II reigns over the Seleucid dominions.
• In Jerusalem – MANASSEH (uncle of Eleazar) becomes Jewish High Priest.
ZENON, procurement agent for APPOLLONIUS, Egypt's Minister of Finance under PTOLEMY, travels in Palestine: landing at Strato's Tower (Herod's Caesarea) traveling to Jerusalem, Jericho, Abila, Tyrus, Lacasa (Kisweh, near Damascus), Eeitha (Hit), Beth-anath, Cadasa, boarding Ptolemais (Acco) to return to Egypt.
Zenon's memoirs, discovered at Philadelphia in the Fayum, are an important resource for Ptolemaic administration in Palestine. |
Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS II repudiates his queen LAODICE to marry BERENICE, sister of PTOLEMY III of Egypt, in a peace settlement.
| "After some years they shall make an alliance, and [Berenice] the daughter of the king of the south [Ptolemy II] shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times." |
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
PTOLEMY III rules Egypt.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
SELEUCUS II reigns over Seleucid dominions.
• ONIAS II, son of SIMON 'The Just' (brother of Eleazar), becomes Jewish High Priest.
His neglect to pay taxes provokes king PTOLEMY (Euergetes) of Egypt.
JOSEPH, ONIAS' nephew, wards off punitive measures and wins authority to collect the king's taxes in Coele-Syria, and Phoenicia, Judea, and Samaria.
His neglect to pay taxes provokes king PTOLEMY (Euergetes) of Egypt.
JOSEPH, ONIAS' nephew, wards off punitive measures and wins authority to collect the king's taxes in Coele-Syria, and Phoenicia, Judea, and Samaria.
March 10: Rome wins a decisive victory at sea over the Carthaginian fleet north of Sicily. (See 264).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Rome – Its adult male citizens now number 270,773 (Baker 2006:307).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Iberia (Spain) – Carthaginian HASDRUBAL (brother of Hannibal) becomes commander.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
SELEUCUS III reigns over the Seleucid empire.
In Greece – Corinth trades itself to PHILIP V of Macedon (238-179 BC) in exchange for his aid against Sparta.
ANTIOCHUS III (the Great) reigns over the Seleucid empire.
PTOLEMY IV reigns over Egypt.
ANTIOCHUS III invades the valley of Lebanon but is stopped between Brocchoi and Gerrha at the fortifications erected by PTOLEMY IV's General THEODOTUS.
• SIMON II (the Just) becomes Jewish High Priest in Jerusalem.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Rome – LUCIUS AEMILLIUS PAULLUS I is consul.
ANTIOCHUS III captures Seleucia.
In Rome – LUCIUS AEMILLIUS PAULLUS I is consul.
ANTIOCHUS III captures Seleucia.
Rome is at War with Carthage (2nd Punic War).
In Palestine – Seleucid ANTIOCHUS III (the Great) takes control of many Judaean cities west and east of the Jordan river, in reaction to Egypt's attempt to recover their Lebanese territory.
PTOLEMY IV's general THEODOTUS and his second in command PANETOLUS go over to ANTIOCHUS.
Spring: In Iberia/Spain – Carthaginian General HANNIBAL (age c.30) sets out with 12,000 cavalry, 90,000 infantry, and 37 war elephants, on a 1600-kilometre journey through hostile territory to attack Rome.
PTOLEMY IV's general THEODOTUS and his second in command PANETOLUS go over to ANTIOCHUS.
Spring: In Iberia/Spain – Carthaginian General HANNIBAL (age c.30) sets out with 12,000 cavalry, 90,000 infantry, and 37 war elephants, on a 1600-kilometre journey through hostile territory to attack Rome.
The earlier revelation to Daniel from the Writing of Truth (Dan.10:21) by the angel of God, given during Israel's exile from Palestine, begins to be fulfilled –
| "Then the king of the North [Antiochus III] shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city [Raphia]. And the forces of the South [Egypt] shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land [Palestine], with destruction in his hand." |
Spring: In Egypt – PTOLEMY IV mobilizes his army of seventy thousand soldiers, five thousand horsemen, and seventy-three war elephants, including locally recruited auxiliaries, to invade Palestine, but is stopped at Raphia in southern Palestine by ANTIOCHUS III with sixty-two thousand soldiers, six thousand horsemen, and 102 war elephants.
In Rome – LUCIUS AEMILLIUS PAULLUS I and GAIUS TERENTIUS VARRO are consuls.
August 2: At Cannae, in northern Italy – Carthaginian HANNIBAL destroys the superior Roman force of about 87,000 Roman and Allied troops (under command of consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro) sent against him, killing 45,500 Roman and allied infantry, and 2700 cavalry, including 80 Roman senators (source: Livy). Roman allies in southern Italy defect to HANNIBAL.
But 19-year-old Junior Magistrate PUBLIUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO rallies the Roman troops and the Roman Republic refuses to capitulate. (Baker 2006:55).
August 2: At Cannae, in northern Italy – Carthaginian HANNIBAL destroys the superior Roman force of about 87,000 Roman and Allied troops (under command of consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro) sent against him, killing 45,500 Roman and allied infantry, and 2700 cavalry, including 80 Roman senators (source: Livy). Roman allies in southern Italy defect to HANNIBAL.
But 19-year-old Junior Magistrate PUBLIUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO rallies the Roman troops and the Roman Republic refuses to capitulate. (Baker 2006:55).
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Egypt – PTOLEMY V reigns.
Zama, North Africa (c.120 kilometres from Carthage) – Roman General SCIPIO refuses terms of peace to HANNIBAL of Carthage. Some 20,000 Carthaginians and 1,500 Romans die, forcing the surrender of the Carthaginian fleet and its elephants, payment of 10,000 talents of silver in indemnity (245 tons), and agreement never to re-arm or declare war without permission from Rome.
population world-wide estimated at being about 8 million.
In Palestine – ANTIOCHUS III's army penetrates as far as Gaza which remains loyal to Ptolemy of Egypt although it eventually falls to the Seleucid kingdom.
Jews of the Diaspora begin to abandon the Aramaic language in favour of koine/international Greek.
North of the Danube – The Bastarnae tribe migrates from the Baltic region, bringing them into conflict with the Dardani and other tribes in the north Danube region.
In Antioch – The apocryphal book of Tobit is written to encourage wayward Diaspora Jews to return to the traditions of their fathers.
North of the Danube – The Bastarnae tribe migrates from the Baltic region, bringing them into conflict with the Dardani and other tribes in the north Danube region.
In Antioch – The apocryphal book of Tobit is written to encourage wayward Diaspora Jews to return to the traditions of their fathers.
PTOLEMY V of Egypt sends his general SCOPAS to take Judaea from ANTIOCHUS, and establish a garrison in Jerusalem.
The Samaritans build their own temple on mount Gerizim, causing a final break with the Jews.
The Sarmatians (Latin Sarmatae, Greek Sauromatae) defeat the Scythians (later regarded by Josephus as being the biblical Magog).
The Samaritans build their own temple on mount Gerizim, causing a final break with the Jews.
The Sarmatians (Latin Sarmatae, Greek Sauromatae) defeat the Scythians (later regarded by Josephus as being the biblical Magog).
In Palestine – This is a Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
• ONIAS III is High Priest in Jerusalem.
Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS III of Syria defeats SCOPAS of Egypt (battle of Paneion), conquers Jerusalem for Greco-Syria, is welcomed by its inhabitants, and grants it even greater freedom the following year as a province of his empire.
• ONIAS III is High Priest in Jerusalem.
Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS III of Syria defeats SCOPAS of Egypt (battle of Paneion), conquers Jerusalem for Greco-Syria, is welcomed by its inhabitants, and grants it even greater freedom the following year as a province of his empire.
Rome declares war on Antigonid ruler PHILIP V of Macedon who had earlier allied himself with Carthage.
In Greece – Under TITUS QUINCTIUS FLAMINIUS the Roman army soundly defeat the Macedonians at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly, and allow PHILIP V to escape.
In Greece – Under TITUS QUINCTIUS FLAMINIUS the Roman army soundly defeat the Macedonians at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly, and allow PHILIP V to escape.
victory marks the beginning of the transition of power in the Eastern Mediterranean from the successors of Alexander the Great to Rome.
In Greece – ANTIOCHUS III crosses the Hellespont with his army and occupies Thrace.
In Egypt – The 'Rosetta Stone' (which later discovery in 1799 AD leads to the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics) is inscribed to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the rule of PTOLEMY V over Egypt.
In Egypt – The 'Rosetta Stone' (which later discovery in 1799 AD leads to the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics) is inscribed to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the rule of PTOLEMY V over Egypt.
Rome declares war on ANTIOCHUS III.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Greece – Seleucid king ANTIOCUS III is defeated by the Romans at Thermopylae.
In Greece – Seleucid king ANTIOCUS III is defeated by the Romans at Thermopylae.
In Anatolia – Seleucid ANTIOCHUS III is decisively defeated by the Romans at Magnesia near Smyrna (in Asia Minor), they levy an annual fine on the Seleucid empire, and limit ANTIOCHUS III to his old territory.
In Damascus, Syria – Since the third son of ANTIOCHUS III was not in direct line for the Seleucid throne, he is sent to Rome as a hostage after his father's defeat by the Romans.
SELEUCUS IV rules, sends a tax collector to Judaea (Dan.11:20) to help raise the fine to be paid to the Romans (1000 talents of gold per year).
The Hellenisation of Jews begins, but Zadokite high priest ONIAS III resists.
The Hellenisation of Jews begins, but Zadokite high priest ONIAS III resists.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
PTOLEMY VI reigns over Egypt.
In Rome – AEMILLIUS PAULLUS II is consul.
In North Iberia/Spain – The Roman army under TIBERIUS SEMPRONIUS GRACCHUS (Senior) subjugates the country to Rome.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
In Sardinia – The Roman army under TIBERIUS SEMPRONIUS GRACCHUS (Senior) crushes an 80,000-strong rebellion against Rome.
In Sardinia – The Roman army under TIBERIUS SEMPRONIUS GRACCHUS (Senior) crushes an 80,000-strong rebellion against Rome.
In Damascus – ANTIOCHUS' (originally named Mithradates) older brother, SELEUCUS IV, secures his release from Rome shortly before being murdered by his own chief minister.
ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES
Daniel's Antichrist Prototype
ANTIOCHUS avenges his brother's death and claims the throne instead of his nephew, DEMETRIUS (who is a 12-year-old hostage in Rome) as ANTIOCHUS IV 'EPIPHANES' (the Illustrious/Manifest) and so becomes king of the Seleucid empire.
Israel had been warned of this time –
Israel had been warned of this time –
| "And at the latter end of their [Greek/Seleucid] kingdom, when the [Jewish] transgressors have reached their [moral] limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles [stratagems], shall arise. His power shall be great – but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the prince of princes [Jewish High Priest], and he shall be broken – but by no human hand." (Daniel 8:23-25). |
• In Jerusalem – High Priest ONIAS is deposed and replaced by his Hellenophile brother JOSHUA, who changes his name to JASON. He builds a Greek-style gymnasium in Jerusalem and introduces many Greek customs.
Antiochus IV prefigures the ultimate Antichrist in his treatment of Israel (Daniel 8:9; 11:25-27). |
The Romans now begin to work toward the breakup of the Achaean League of Greek city states. (See 146 BC).
• Priest MENELAUS bribes Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS IV 'EPIPHANES' to appoint him as High Priest in the place of JASON.
His first act is to seize the sacred gold vessels in the Temple stores in order to meet the bribe obligations he had incurred.
Because of his ensuing unpopularity, MENELAUS brings before the king an accusation against the people of Jerusalem, that they are partisans of the Egyptians and persecute him only because he is opposed to their intrigues. This accusation causes the execution of several Jews who, although they prove that MENELAUS and his brother LYSIMACHUS desecrated the Temple, are nevertheless sentenced to death.
His first act is to seize the sacred gold vessels in the Temple stores in order to meet the bribe obligations he had incurred.
Because of his ensuing unpopularity, MENELAUS brings before the king an accusation against the people of Jerusalem, that they are partisans of the Egyptians and persecute him only because he is opposed to their intrigues. This accusation causes the execution of several Jews who, although they prove that MENELAUS and his brother LYSIMACHUS desecrated the Temple, are nevertheless sentenced to death.
of Israel were the primary teachers of the written Law of the Lord (2 Chron.15:3) in terms of God's Covenant with Israel established at Mount Sinai. Although this function begins to be taken over later by those that eventually call themselves Pharisees, the priesthood had primary responsibility before God. This responsibility outweighed their ritual and sacrificial duties (Isa.1:10). Yet, from this time at least, the priesthood of Israel does not even understand the basic meaning of the written Law of the Lord. For instance:
in Israel's Temple –
• the number 'seven' in the seven branches of the lampstand/candlestick in the sanctuary, which takes its significance of 'complete' or 'whole' from the seven-day structure of the creation event in Genesis One, is understood as representing the seven planets; and
• the 'twelve' loaves upon its table, which represented the twelve tribes of Israel in Covenant, are understood as representing the twelve signs of the zodiac in the circle of the year. (Josephus Wars V.5.5).
• the number 'seven' in the seven branches of the lampstand/candlestick in the sanctuary, which takes its significance of 'complete' or 'whole' from the seven-day structure of the creation event in Genesis One, is understood as representing the seven planets; and
• the 'twelve' loaves upon its table, which represented the twelve tribes of Israel in Covenant, are understood as representing the twelve signs of the zodiac in the circle of the year. (Josephus Wars V.5.5).
In Palestine – Legitimate High Priest ONIAS III is murdered (at instigation of Jewish priest MENELAUS), and the forced Hellenization of the Jewish people starts.
| "Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant [Israel's High Priest]. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people." |
ONIAS IV (son of murdered ONIAS) is deposed as High Priest and flees to Alexandria in Egypt.
The prophesied'2300-evenings-and-mornings' period now begins (See Daniel 8:14); a merciful prophecy that gives Israel's faithful a time-horizon to help their perseverance through this difficult time ahead.
Seventhday Adventist misrepresentation
In Rome – The Roman Republic declares war on PERSEUS of Macedon (son of Philip V) for his attempted domination of the Greek city states. (See June 168).
PTOLEMY VI and PTOLEMY VII reign jointly over Egypt.
In Palestine – A Jewish Sabbath Year for the land.
The guardians of underage King PTOLEMY VI of Egypt demand the return of Coele-Syria (the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, but a term often used for the area south of the river Eleutherus including Judaea)
ANTIOCHUS IV invades Egypt, defeating its army between Mount Cassius and Pelusium, and proclaiming himself its king at Memphis.
The guardians of underage King PTOLEMY VI of Egypt demand the return of Coele-Syria (the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, but a term often used for the area south of the river Eleutherus including Judaea)
ANTIOCHUS IV invades Egypt, defeating its army between Mount Cassius and Pelusium, and proclaiming himself its king at Memphis.
ANTIOCHUS IV marches on Alexandria and besieges the city.
Ousted Jewish high priest JASON, on a rumour of the death of ANTIOCHUS, attacks and conquers Jerusalem (except for the citadel, Acra) with the helps of the Tobiads, and massacres his opponents.
High Priest MENELAUS whom Antiochus IV had appointed is forced to flee.
Before the fall of Alexandria, ANTIOCHUS IV turns back to Palestine, on hearing of the attack of JASON. ANTIOCHUS attacks Jerusalem and removes the Temple treasure.
ANTIOCHUS IV in reply launches a preemptive strike against Egypt, conquering all but Alexandria and capturing King PTOLEMY, but to avoid alarming Rome, ANTIOCHUS allows PTOLEMY VI to continue ruling as a puppet-king.
(Upon ANTIOCHUS' withdrawal from Egypt, the city of Alexandria chooses one of Ptolemy's brothers as a new King (PTOLEMY VIII Euergetes). Instead of fighting a civil war between them, the Ptolemy brothers agree to rule Egypt jointly.)
Ousted Jewish high priest JASON, on a rumour of the death of ANTIOCHUS, attacks and conquers Jerusalem (except for the citadel, Acra) with the helps of the Tobiads, and massacres his opponents.
High Priest MENELAUS whom Antiochus IV had appointed is forced to flee.
Before the fall of Alexandria, ANTIOCHUS IV turns back to Palestine, on hearing of the attack of JASON. ANTIOCHUS attacks Jerusalem and removes the Temple treasure.
ANTIOCHUS IV in reply launches a preemptive strike against Egypt, conquering all but Alexandria and capturing King PTOLEMY, but to avoid alarming Rome, ANTIOCHUS allows PTOLEMY VI to continue ruling as a puppet-king.
(Upon ANTIOCHUS' withdrawal from Egypt, the city of Alexandria chooses one of Ptolemy's brothers as a new King (PTOLEMY VIII Euergetes). Instead of fighting a civil war between them, the Ptolemy brothers agree to rule Egypt jointly.)
In Rome – AEMILLIUS PAULLUS II is consul.
June: At Pydna (northeast coast of Greece) – The Roman army under LUCIUS AEMILIUS PAULLUS wins a decisive victory over PERSEUS of Macedon, killing 20,000 Macedonians and taking 11,000 prisoner. Rome now partitions Macedonia into four republics loyal to Rome.
The Romans having defeated ANTIOCHUS' ally (PERSEUS of Macedonia) demand his withdrawal from Egypt. He asks for time to consider and the Roman ambassador (GAIUS POPILLIUS LAENAS) draws a circle around ANTIOCHUS with his walking stick and demands a reply before he leave the circle. Humiliated, ANTIOCHUS IV agrees.
July 30: ANTIOCHUS withdraws his troops in anger, marching north to Palestine.
June: At Pydna (northeast coast of Greece) – The Roman army under LUCIUS AEMILIUS PAULLUS wins a decisive victory over PERSEUS of Macedon, killing 20,000 Macedonians and taking 11,000 prisoner. Rome now partitions Macedonia into four republics loyal to Rome.
The Romans having defeated ANTIOCHUS' ally (PERSEUS of Macedonia) demand his withdrawal from Egypt. He asks for time to consider and the Roman ambassador (GAIUS POPILLIUS LAENAS) draws a circle around ANTIOCHUS with his walking stick and demands a reply before he leave the circle. Humiliated, ANTIOCHUS IV agrees.
July 30: ANTIOCHUS withdraws his troops in anger, marching north to Palestine.
Jerusalem – ANTIOCHUS IV 'EPIHANES' re-conquers the Jewish city (at the request of Jewish priest MENELAUS and reinstalls him), plunders and burns it.
December 25: ANTIOCHUS IV arrogantly –
December 25: ANTIOCHUS IV arrogantly –
| 1. | enters the Temple Sanctuary as Zeus incarnate; | |
| 2. | sets up and dedicates a statue of himself as 'Zeus Olympios' in its Holy of Holies; | |
| 3. | sacrifices a sow on its great altar to his own statue; | |
| 4. | sends the holy Temple Veil of the Holy of Holies as tribute to the temple of Zeus (45-foot-high ivory seated-statue by Phidias) at Olympia in Greece; and, | |
| 5. | builds a fortress overlooking the Temple area from the South to supervise its use. |
He forbids all Jewish religious practices, such as:
| 1. | Observance of the Sabbath and of all traditional feasts; |
| 2. | All religious sacrifices; |
| 3. | Reading of the Law, and ordered the burning of all copies; |
| 4. | Circumcision. |
forfeits its previous privileges and is permanently garrisoned by Syrian/Seleucid soldiers.
(Beginning fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 8:11-14, 23-26).
The Samaritans receive ANTIOCHUS' permission to attribute their temple to Zeus (Jupiter Hellenius).
century AD Jewish priest-historian, Flavius Josephus, later writes of Antiochus –
"So he left the temple bare, and took away the golden candlesticks, and the golden altar [of incense], and table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of burnt-offering]; and did not abstain from even the veils, which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied it of its secret treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation, for he forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to offer to God, according to the law. And when he had pillaged the whole city, some of the inhabitants he slew, and some he carried captive, together with their wives and children, so that the multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to about ten thousand. He also burnt down the finest buildings; and when he had overthrown the city walls, he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, for the place was high, and overlooked the temple; on which account he fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians. However, in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the [Jewish] multitude, from whom it proved that the citizens suffered many and sore calamities. And when the king [Antiochus IV] had built an idol altar upon God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that country. He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon them every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threatened to punish any that should be found to have transgressed his injunction. He also appointed overseers, who should compel them to do what he commanded. And indeed many Jews there were who complied with the king's commands, either voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced." (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews). |
Note: there was no ark of the covenant to steal or it would have been mentioned. |
Antiochus IV is Daniel's prototype of the still future Antichrist referred to later by Jesus in His Olivet prophecy.
|
The elderly priest MATTATHIAS (great grandson of HASMON) in the village of Modein northwest of Jerusalem, raises the banner of revolt by attacking a Jew, about to sacrifice to the new gods, and killing the king's officer present.
He flees to the hills with his five sons –
He flees to the hills with his five sons –
| 1. JOHN GADDI | 2. SIMON THASSI | 3. JUDAS MACCABEUS |
| 4. ELEAZAR AVARON | 5. JONATHAN APPHUS |
MATTATHIAS attacks all degrees of Jewish collaborators with the same bitterness as he does the Syrian troops of ANTIOCHUS, engendering civil war in some Jewish communities.
Many join him in the hills, especially the Hasidim who refuse to fight on the Sabbath and promptly loose a thousand men in the conflict.
of ANTIOCHUS' western problems, King MITHRIDATES I of Parthia attacks from the east and seizes the city of Herat, disrupting the direct trade route to India and so effectively splitting the Greek world established by Alexander's conquests into two.
Prophecy concerning
the Maccabee Wars
MATTATHIAS dies urging his sons to "show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the Covenant of our fathers" (1 Mac.2:50).
And so is fulfilled the Lord's prophecy through Zechariah to Israel –
And so is fulfilled the Lord's prophecy through Zechariah to Israel –
| "I will bend Judah as I bend My bow, and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you [Zion] like a warrior's sword." |
MATTATHIAS' third son JUDAS becomes leader of the guerrilla war.
Zechariah 9:13.
JUDAH/JUDAS sees himself as successor to JOSHUA and GIDEON, so leads his fighters in spiritual devotions, and justifies his massacres of non-combatants on the basis of JOSHUA's holocaust of certain Canaanite cities which God had commanded.
December (Kislev 25): JUDAS 'MACCABEUS' cleanses and rededicates the Temple.
(The "2300 evenings and mornings" period of the Syrian-Greek oppression now ends! See Dan.8:14).
event is celebrated annually in December at the Jewish festival of Chanukah.
MENELAUS is still Jewish High Priest.
News of the death of ANTIOCHUS IV (from disease) causes LYSIAS, his general, to offer peace to the Jews under Seleucid rule.
| Israel's Right to Canaan/Palestine | The Victim Mentality Cycle |
Copyright © Lloyd Thomas 1997-2012. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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Feel free to copy, as long as this full copyright notice is included.