Intertestamental Period

The events during the roughly 500 years between Malachi in the Old Testament and John the Baptist in the New Testament shaped the world into which Jesus was born. A better understanding of historical events during this time period will serve us well as we seek to discover who the covenant people had become during Christ's mortal ministry. We might well learn from the challenges faced by Hasmodian Jews, the Hellenization of the territories conquered by Alexander the Great, and the power struggle between two of Alexander's successors: Ptolomy I and Seleucus I.

Below are links to articles on this period between the Testaments.

No study questions! Pick one or two and familiarize yourself with the events we will discuss in class on March 19th.

"The Lost 500 Years: From Malachi to John the Baptist," S. Kent Brown, December 2014 Ensign

"Judah Between the Testaments," Richard D. Draper, October 1982 Ensign

"Background for the Testaments," Stephen E. Robinson, December 1982 Ensign

"Who were the Maccabees...?" Gaye Strathearn, December 1998 Ensign

"How the Bible Came to Be: Part 2, The Word is Preserved," Lenet H. Read, February 1982 Ensign

"Between the Testaments," Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi (1982)

"The Intertestamental Period," New Testament Teacher Resource Manual (2002)

"The Time Between the Old and the New Testaments," New Testament Teacher Resource Manual (2002)

"Between the Testaments: An Invitation to Explore the Intertestamental Time Period," Taylor Halverson, Interpreter, A Journal of Mormon Scripture