SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF GREECE

A. 359-336 Philip II of Macedon:

1. built up Greece

2. assassinated in 336 b.c.

B. 336-323 Alexander II "the Great" (Philip's son):

1. routed Darius II, the Persian king, at the battle of Isus

2. died in 323 b.c. in Babylon of a fever at 32/33 yrs. of age

3. Alexander's generals divided his empire at his death:

a. Cassender – Macedonia and Greece

b. Lysimicus – Thrace

c. Seleucus I – Syria and Babylon

d. Ptolemy – Egypt and Palestine

e. Antigonus – Asia Minor (He did not last long)

C. Seleucids vs. Ptolemies for control of Palestine:

1. Syria (Seleucid Rulers):

a. 312-280 Seleucus I

b. 280-261 Antiochus I Soter

c. 261-146 Antiochus II Theus

d. 246-226 Seleucus II Callinicus

e. 226-223 Seleucus III Ceraunus

f. 223-187 Antiochus III the Great

g. 187-175 Seleucus IV Philopator

h. 175-163 Antiochus IV Epiphanes

i. 163-162 Antiochus V

j. 162-150 Demetrius I

2. Egyptian (Ptolemaic Rulers):

a. 327-285 Ptolemy I Soter

b. 285-246 Ptolemy II Philadelphus

c. 246-221 Ptolemy III Evegetes

d. 221-203 Ptolemy IV Philopator

e. 203-181 Ptolemy V Epiphanes

f. 181-146 Ptolemy VI Philometor

3. Brief Survey:

a. 301- Palestine under Ptolemy rule for 181 years.

b. 175-163 Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the eighth Seleucid ruler, wanted to Hellenize Jews by force, if necessary:

(1) constructed gymnasiums

(2) constructed pagan altars of Zeus Olympius in the Temple

c. 168 - December 13 – hog slain on the altar in Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Some consider this to be "the abomination of desolation" in Daniel 8.

d. 167 - Mattathias, priest in Modin, and sons rebel. The best known of his sons was Judas Maccabeas, "Judas the Hammer."

e. 165 - December 25 – Temple rededicated. This is called Hanukkah or "Festival of Lights."

For a good discussion of the dating problems, procedures and presuppositions see The Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 4 pp. 10-17.