A Time Between Testaments- The Rubicon River

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament
Around 49 BC

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is around 63 BC. (before Christ)

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|

The time between the Testaments is coming to a close. Roman General Pompey conquered Judah, took charge, but let the Jews worship in the temp as they had.

Pompey had been very successful conquering land for the Romans. He led his armies back home ready for the next task.

During this time, Julius, the other Roman general also successfully conquered lands for the Roman empire.

The problem now became both wanted to be the man in charge of the Roman people and all the lands under their control.

The Rubicon River, in what is now known as Italy, divided the territories. A rule declared that neither general would cross the river. If either did an act of war would be declared. 

Julius Caesar ordered his men to cross the river. General Pompey was afraid when Caesar entered Rome. He and his army ran away. They ran to the east around the Mediterranean Sea then turned south toward Egypt. Judah was supposed to be on his side since he conquered them. He expected the Jews to help protect him and his army.

Caesar declared himself emperor chasing Pompey. 

One of the appointed leaders of the Jews who hoped he would be crowned king of the Jews, convinced the council to fight for Caesar instead of Pompey. Caesar took 3,000 Jewish soldiers with him to Egypt to conquer Pompey.

The reward Caesar gave the Jews was: they could rebuild the city walls Pompey destroyed, the heavy tax that Pompey set was taken away, they could worship in their temple the way they wanted, and several cities, including Jaffa were returned to Jewish rule. He even gave the power to the man who had deceived the Jewish people into going to the Romans for help.

Queen Salome's son, Hyrcanus, a Jew, who could have continued the Jewish rule gave everything up to have more power. As a result, the Jews were now under Roman rule.


The time is now 37 BC. We are closing in on the beginning of the New Testament.


So what happened next?


Come back next time.


This is the history, the events that happened to real people during the time between the Old and New Testaments. 

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sources: 
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981
* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org
*The Hasmonean Dynasty