This Article: (6 Pages)
- 1. A Conflict with Sons of Greece
- 2. Who are the sons of Greece?
- 3. Classical Greece and a Hellenised... world
- 4. Sons of Zion
- 5. Two cultural inheritances
- 6. At that time, in those days
3) Classical Greece and a Hellenised world
If the culture of Yavan was made dominant by its sea trade and industry of making goods by 500BC, it was to become greater still when the Yavan, whose many tribes collectively called themselves Hellen, became a superpower. Daniel was told that after the Medes and Persians would arise another king of Yavan (Hellen), out of whom would come 4 kingdoms.
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia (Yavan): and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
The Athenian Treasury at Delphi built to commemorate the Greek victory over the Persians circa 480BC
Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:19-25)
Out of one of the kingdoms in the latter part, was to come another king. A king who would continue the Hellenistic culture. Daniel was told after the 4th great prince of Persia was removed, then the prince of Yavan (Hellen) would come.
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia(Yavan) shall come. (Daniel 10:19-20)
And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia(Yavan). And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. (Daniel 11:2-4)
Alexander the Great irrevocably changed the world, and began the Hellenistic period dated from 323 BC to about 146 BC. The Hellen people colonized the then known world taking their language and culture with them. Even Egypt was dominated by Alexandria the city of Hellenistic learning, and Egyptian arts reflected Greek style. The Greeks referred to those who became Hellenised as Epigonoi which means “offspring” or “sons”.
The zealous Jews versus Hellenists
In the approximate geographical centre of Alexander's Hellenistic empire, was the remnant struggling Jewish state centred at Jerusalem. While Alexander had accepted Jewish submission and respected the Jews by bypassing them on his conquest, his Seleucid successors in the Middle East sought to Hellenise, and homogenise, their polyglot kingdom, including the Jews. The Seleucids to lesser or greater degrees, promoted Hellenistic culture, but Antiochus IV Epiphanes sought to forcefully impose Greek culture on all minorities, including the Jews.
But from a zealous Jewish perspective the Hellenistic culture was diametrically opposed to their own. The Hellen worshipped many gods, whereas the Jews worshipped one. The Hellenistic culture promoted material possessions, the Jewish did not. The Hellenistic culture valued the representation of the naked human form, an abomination to the Jews. The Hellen in their thinking separated soul and mind, whereas the Jews believed they were united. The Hellen thought there was an immaterial world that was perfect, whereas the Jews, only had one world, the physical one. The Hellen valued abstract philosophic discussion, whereas the Jews valued focussed study of their Law and wisdom in action. Lastly the greatest difference which could not be disguised was that the Hellen elevated human thinking, whereas the Jews saw human thinking as being possibly evil and often opposed to their God.
The Seleucids gave privileges, power and influence to those in their empire who adopted their Hellenistic culture, and in so doing forced a sharp social divide in the Jewish people. Some chose to become Hellenised and these saw themselves as progressive, others chose to retain their own customs. Wherever there were Jews in the Empire, there could be seen two types of people.
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