Bridging the Testaments: The History and Theology of God’s People in the Second Temple Period

by George Athas

An accessible introduction to the historical and theological developments between the Old and New Testament. Bridging the end of the Old Testament period and the beginning of the New Testament period, this book surveys the history and theological developments of four significant eras in Israel's post-exilic the Late Persian Era (465-331 BC), the Hellenistic Era (332-167 BC), the Hasmonean Era (167-63 BC), and the Roman Era (63-4 BC). In doing so, it does away with the notion that there were four hundred years of prophetic silence before Jesus. Bridging the Testaments outlines the political and social developments of these four periods, with particular focus on their impact upon Judeans and Samarians. Using a wide range of biblical and extra-biblical sources, George Athas reconstructs what can be known about the history of Judah and Samaria in these eras, providing the framework for understanding the history of God's covenant people, and the theological developments that occurred at the end of the Old Testament period, leading into the New Testament. In doing so, Athas shows that the notion of a supposed period of four hundred years of prophetic silence is not supported by the biblical or historical evidence. Finally, an epilogue sketches the historical and theological situation prevailing at the death of Herod in 4 BC, providing important context for the New Testament writings. In this way, the book bridges the Old and New Testaments by providing a historical and theological understanding of the five centuries leading up to the birth of Jesus, tracking a biblical theology through them, and abolishing the notion of a four-century prophetic silence.

Genres: Biblical Studies, History, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction

688 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive survey of four significant eras in Israel’s post-exilic history: the Persian Era (539–331 BC), the Hellenistic Era (332–167 BC), the Hasmonean Era (167–63 BC), and the Roman Era (63–4 BC). This period, often characterized as “400 years of silence,” is, if anything, deafening rather than mute. A wealth of textual and archaeological data reveals what was happening in Judea and Samaria during these centuries. George Athas traces historical and theological developments during this time using all available resources.

Why is this helpful? The Israel we encounter on the pages of the New Testament is both the same and not the same as the Israel we meet at the end of Malachi. It’s an imperfect analogy, but think of it this way: the America of 2025 is and is not the same as the America of 1776, 1876, or even 1976. Some things remain, but much changes—culturally, militarily, religiously, economically, and so on.

So it was with Israel. At the close of Malachi, there were no Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, Essenes, or Herodians. The Greco-Roman world—and its incalculable impact on Israel—had not yet emerged. Most Jews lived either in Babylon or Jerusalem, with some in Egypt. All of that changed over the course of the periods covered in this book. All of it set the stage for the incarnation and is indispensable knowledge for understanding what is happening in Jesus’ day and in the New Testament.

While I enjoyed the book, I would add one caveat. On many occasions, Athas posits that what was written in Old Testament books reflects what was happening in the world at the time. Some of this exegesis is legitimate and sound, but I often found his arguments unconvincing—if not idiosyncratic—especially those that attempt to read “between the lines” of the text. The most problematic, in my view, is his retroactive reading of events from the Persian or Hellenistic periods into the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes, as if those books were written that late in biblical history.

One more thing: I listened to the audiobook version, which was well narrated, but it would have been much improved if the narrator had been given an edited version tailored for audio. Every time a biblical or extrabiblical text was referenced (not even quoted), the narrator stated the name and chapter number. While helpful in print, this becomes distracting and disrupts the flow in an audio format. For that reason, I recommend choosing either the Kindle or printed edition instead.

[Charles Meadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually I'd give this one 3.5 stars.

Athas's mastery of facts is impressive, and the book is at its strongest relating the sagas of kings, battles, and dates. But he's maximalistic in finding references to events in sriptural and Pseudepigraphal writings, like locating the death of Pompey in Ps Sol 2. It may be there, but how sure are we?

The book is at its weakest dealing with Jewish sects, painting the Pharisees as "hyperfundamentalists". Interaction with the work of Aharon Shemesh or Daniel Schwartz here would have benefited the work. This leads to my last criticism, which is a remarkably thin bibliography for a book of 600+ pages.

Overall not a bad work. But it's not on the same shelf as Hengel or Portier-Young.

[Mark Kennicott · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bridging the Testaments: The History and Theology of God’s People in the Second Temple Period, George Athas provides a sweeping overview of the history that shaped the Jewish people during the five centuries that followed the Old Testament Exile. He points to the single page that often separates Malachi from Matthew and insists–quite convincingly–that there is much more there than meets the eye. Digging into the supposed “silent years” that separate the testaments, Athas explores the world powers that both came and went, all leaving their indelible marks on the self-understanding of the people of Judea and Samaria. He also dispels the notion that prophecy had ceased, offering numerous proofs for the ways that God was still active in the lives of His people.

Thorough in presentation, Athas discusses the historical backdrop of the Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Roman eras, and specifically the ways they impacted the development of Jewish belief and practice. He explores the interplay of biblical and deuterocanonical sources, connecting historical events with biblical texts in ways that may surprise some readers. One of the things that becomes clear while reading is that the intertestamental period (as it is often referred to) is anything but silent, and understanding the events of that period is critical to properly understanding the New Testament. I would consider it essential reading for New Testament background studies, as it definitely helps place both the Old Testament and New Testament next to each other in a historical and theological continuity.

Still, one should not read this as a comprehensive overview of Jewish faith and practice in the post-exilic period, but as an important (even vital) piece of a larger puzzle. With the historical and theological backdrop provided here, I would also recommend From the Maccabees to the Mishnah by Shaye Cohen, The Jewish People in the First Century by Shmuel Safrai, Judaism: Practice & Belief, 63 BCE–66 CE by E.P. Sanders, and the excellent works of Lois Tverberg (among others). I am grateful for the additional insights that this work provides and recognize the unique contribution it makes toward understanding the intertestamental period. I would place it on my “must read” list for anyone wanting a clear picture of the world politics of the Second Temple Period. For a closer look at the cultural and theological development of the Jewish people in the same period, I would definitely recommend additional sources.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. A unique in-depth survey of this critical time in history, with so many more twists and turns than the typical retellings allow for. The story is usually told in a few big blocks, with hard lines between them, but the reality was much more dynamic and fraught, as this incredible work shows.

George Athas is a wonderful storyteller with a unique understanding across the breadth of this era, but also plays the role of detective, trying to fit hitherto dissonant puzzle pieces together as he plays out the multitudinous intrigues of the Persian, Seleucid, Ptolemaic, Hasmonean and Roman periods. His evident mastery of the sources, as well as an ability to track traces of these incidents in biblical and apocryphal texts, makes this such a useful dealing with the period.

It may be that some of his educated guesses cannot be substantiated, but his suggestions are well argued and I am certain debate is more than welcome. I noticed only two very minor typos and two very minor printing errors - astonishing for a book of over 600 pages.

I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in any of these time periods and their intersection with biblical literature to read at least that section, but anyone interested in history at all will come away highly entertained and far better informed. An absolute must-read.

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

George is such a fun lecturer, so I had a go with the audiobook version of his book. (He didn't narrate it, but the narrator did a good job keeping me engaged, felt like I was listening to George's lectures again!)

Apart from the enjoyment of hearing some fun facts and cool stories as I filled in what happened historically from exile to Jesus, I reckon the last few sections will help me read the New Testament better. Herod was a super rich guy, and his temple was actually so so big (biggest manmade floor (? I forgot the exact word) ever, even now!)

And just the little extra bits of info, like that one High priest couldn't do passover because he had a wet dream and was unclean, or the political intrigue of the Roman senate, and their power but also handsoff ish (for ages).

So I didn't get 100% content, probably only 50% of the value through an audiobook, but I enjoyed the listening experience, so a winner!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, 600+ pages of history and culture covering the post-exilic period to Herod! This should be one of the more illuminating texts in the regular church Sunday School curriculum on this not-so-covered period. In my experience, the misunderstandings and misinterpretations resulting from a lack of general awareness of this period are astonishing. I hope the book's first "intro" chapter is more widely read and incorporated into more Sunday School teachers' classes.

In general, the author painted a vivid picture of the centuries before Jesus' arrival, which helps readers understand and interpret the Gospel accounts more accurately. Thank you.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Reading Experience!

If your goal is to better grasp reading the New Testament, this book is the one for you! For me, it changed everything. It sheds meaningful light also on the ongoing political intrigue of the middle east.

[Zac Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting, though it felt like there was a lot of conjecture.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Athas’ Bridging the Testaments offers a thorough exploration of the Second Temple period, meticulously detailing historical events The book excels in tracing the political and cultural developments, such as the Maccabean Revolt and Roman rule, with impressive depth. However, as a reader seeking a stronger emphasis on theological impact and implications, I often felt lost in the intricate historical accounts. While Athas addresses theological themes like messianic expectations and eschatology, these insights are sometimes overshadowed by dense historical narratives. A more focused discussion on how these themes directly shape New Testament theology would have enhanced the book’s accessibility for readers prioritizing theological connections over historical minutiae. Still, it’s a valuable resource for understanding the complex backdrop of the New Testament.

I did hear he might make a condensed version of this book which probably will be a better read for those who want an abridged version hopefully focusing on the theology more than all the details.

[Ty Rostvedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was new ground for me. Having taken a class on the intertestamental period for my undergrad, my only collective memory was that I did not care for studying this topic. My interest in this topic has been rekindled somewhat by my interest in Biblical studies of recent years and in particular how the Old Testament came together. This book definitely addresses that topic, but does so in a way that left me questioning his conclusions.
Let me say that this book is arguably one of the most memorable of the year for me. Not only because it is so long that I had to take an extended break halfway through it (where I put it aside and read other things for a few weeks, then went back to it), but because it made several statements that I found myself disagreeing with or at least unsure about how to answer. Athas did a great job of storytelling while walking through the major battles starting with the Persian empire, moving on to the Greek empire, and finishing with Rome’s place in the Middle East setting us up for Jesus to be born.
I was particularly struck by how he clearly states that many of the Old Testament books were written much later than I expected. For example, Athas simply walks through the settings of books such as Daniel, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and 1-2 Chronicles and claims they were all written between the years 400-150 B.C. If anything, this book sparked a desire to read more authors about these books to find out what others say regarding their textual history because I know not everyone agrees.
In the end, I really did enjoy this book, despite some of my reservations. I can confidently say I know more about the history between Ezra and Jesus than I did before I read this book. On the other hand, I found myself disagreeing with some of that history. Nevertheless, I’m sure it will be a book I will return to again someday once I have a firmer grasp on my own convictions surrounding some of these issues.