Bridging the Testaments

• PART ONE: THE LATE PERSIAN ERA1.1The History of the Late Persian Era1.1.1Brief Summary of the Early Persian Era (539–465 BC)1.1.2Yahwistic Communities in the ANE1.1.3Artaxerxes I and the Fragile Frontiers1.1.4The Mission of Ezra1.1.5The Mission of Nehemiah1.1.6The Emergence of the Samaritans1.1.7The Jewish Diaspora1.1.8The Final Century of Persian Rule1.2Theology During the Late Persian Era1.2.1Persian Imperial Religion1.2.2The Pillars of Israelite Identity1.2.3Reforming Israel1.2.4The Significance of the Land1.2.5Temple and the Presence of Yahweh1.2.6Temple and the Davidic King1.2.7Accepting Persian Hegemony1.2.8The Wisdom of Torah1.2.9The Consolidation of Monotheism1.2.10Eschatology and the Promise of Restoration1.2.11Jews and Samaritans1.2.12Diaspora and the Importance of Ancestry1.2.13PilgrimagePART TWO: THE HELLENISTIC ERA2.1The History of the Hellenistic Era2.1.1The Rise of Alexander and the Fall of Persia2.1.2The Hellenistic Kingdoms 2.1.3Ptolemy I and the Conquest of Jerusalem2.1.4Palestine: Between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids2.1.5Wrangling in the Priesthood2.1.6Antiochus IV and the Near-Death of Judaism2.1.7The Maccabean Revolt2.1.8The Hasmonean Dynasty2.2Theology During the Hellenistic Era2.2.1Political Disappointment and Eschatology2.2.2Political Disappointment and Eschatology2.2.3The Development of Apocalyptic2.2.4Messianic Expectation2.2.5Hierocracy2.2.6Torah Observance in a Hellenistic World2.2.7Development of a canonical consciousnessEpilogue: The Beginning of the Roman Era1.The Roman Conquest of Palestine2.Caesar Augustus3.Herod the Great

'Bridging the Testaments is an absolutely wonderful volume! Professor George Athas covers this crucial period so very well--this volume is thorough, carefully documented, very well written, and provides everything that students of Scripture should know about this pivotal period. I highly recommend it for scholars and students alike.'