Seminar 1: "Between the Testaments"

Introduction

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Part 1:  ALEXANDER THE GREAT
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In 333 B.C. the Persian armies stationed in Macedonia were defeated by
Alexander the Great.  Alexander was convinced that he could unite the
world under the banner of the Greek culture.  He conquered most of the
then known world and it is said that he wept that there were no more
worlds to conquer.  There are some exciting records in Josephus'
history concerning Alexander,  and Israel and the prophecies of
Daniel.

The elders of Jerusalem were very uneasy with Manasseh, the brother of
the high priest, who had married to a foreigner. The Jews considered
marriage to foreigners a breaking of the command of God. Therefore
they argued that Manasseh should not be a partner in the high
priesthood, and quarreled with him.

They finally commanded Manasseh to divorce his wife, or not approach
the altar as a priest. Whereupon Manasseh went to his father-in-law,
Sanballat, and told him that he loved his wife and did not want to
divorce her and that he was not willing to give up the priesthood for
her since it was a noble honor and a family responsibility.

Sanballat then promised to make him a high priest and a governor of
the people if he would not divorce his wife.  He told him furthermore
that he would even build him a temple like the one in Jerusalem, upon
Mount Gerizzim, which is the highest of all the mountains in Samaria.
He explained that he would accomplish this through the favor of King
Darius the Persian. In the meantime many of the priests in similar
circumstances fled to Sanballat and were promised a temple and position
as well.

King Darius was then on his way to Syria to fight a battle against
Alexander.  Unfortunately for Sanballat Darius lost the battle and
even his family was taken captive.

Alexander then continued his southward descent conquering as he went
to Syria, and then Damascus, then Sidon and Tyre. It was then that
Alexander sent a message to Jerusalem to the Jewish high priest to
send him help and provisions.  The high priest informed him that his
allegiance was to Darius and therefore he could not and would not
supply his troops.

Alexander was furious.  He remained in Tyre but threatened that as
soon as he finished there he would go to Jerusalem and teach those men
with whom they should keep their oaths.  From Tyre he proceeded south
to Gaza where he laid siege to that city as well. It was then that
Sanballat thought he had another opportunity to promote his son-in-law
as high priest.  He denounced Darius and took 7,000 men to offer their
services in Alexander's army.  Alexander promised to allow Sanballat
to build his temple to assure himself that the Jews would be a divided
people.  With all haste Sanballat and company built the temple on
Mount Gerizim in just seven months. But then Sanballat suddenly died.

Once Alexander had taken Gaza he moved with haste to go to Jerusalem.
When the high priest Juddua heard this news he was terrified.  He
therefore ordered a fast and that the people should offer sacrifices
to God that he would protect their nation.  It was then that God
warned him in a dream, which came on him at the altar of sacrifice,
that he should not be discouraged but decorate the city, open the
gates, and dress all the high priests in the priestly fine linen and
the people in white to meet King Alexander without fear of any ill
consequences.

So it was, when the high priest heard that Alexander was approaching
the city he ordered the processional to march as God had commanded.
When they reached the high place outside the city from which you could
see a panorama of Jerusalem and the Temple they stopped.  As Alexander
approached he saw the procession, the multitude of priests in fine
linen, the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing with his mitre
on his head, and having the golden plate whereon the name of God was
engraved. He, Alexander the Great, approached by himself bowed and
worshipped that name and saluted the high priest.

Stunned, Alexander's generals thought he had lost his mind.  When one
general approached him and asked why he should adore a high priest of
the Jews, Alexander replied. "I did not adore him, but that God who
has honored him with his high priesthood; for I saw this very person
in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios in Macedonia, who
when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of
Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea
thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the
dominion over the Persians; whence it is, that having seen no other in
that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that
vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I
bring this army under the divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer
Darius and destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will
succeed according to what is in my own mind."

From there he gave the priest his hand and entered the city where he
offered sacrifices to God according to the direction of the high
priest.  Then they took the book of Daniel* and showed Alexander where
Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of
the Persians.  Alexander was elated and gave gifts and favor to the
Jews.  Whereupon he granted their request that not only in Jerusalem
but in Babylon and Media as well the Jews could worship their God and
enjoy their laws freely.

* The Daniel passages that speak of Alexander's conquests would have
been Daniel 7:6/ 8:3-8,20,21,26 and 11:3.