The Strand Study Bible

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS once subdued. Greece felt they had nothing to fear from the young and seemingly immature Alexander now that his barbaric father was dead. Although Alexander was barely twenty, the Grecian states were soon to find out that they were wrong about Alexander. Alexander immediately set out to quell the rebellion at home by putting an end to all internal opposition. He had one important quality that almost all great men have –he was swift to make decisions, and moved with a snap. His reflexes were those of a big cat, as he made quick kills of his victims. People who opposed him were quick to learn that Alexander never said anything twice. They either got the message the first time or else they did not live to hear it again. Alexander was certainly a man of his word. * Good leadership learns to keep it’s word (Psa 15:1-4 and Eccl 5:2-6) Alexander then ventured out to reclaim all of southern Greece. Within days, he reached Thebes; and it was not long before every Grecian city (except Sparta) proclaimed him captain of all Greece. Alexander began to fulfill his father’s dream of a united Greece that would one day control the world by taking away from the Persians their once mighty empire. The year was 336 BC. After securing southern Greece, Alexander then returned to Pella where he put his capitol in order. His first stops were the regions of Illyria and Thrace, where he journeyed as far north as the Danube River. The year was 335 BC.

Danube River

Thrace

Illyria

CASPIAN SEA

BLACK SEA

Pella •

AEGEAN SEA

ASIA

• Sparta Thebes •

Tigris River

Euphrates River

Crete

Cyprus

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

EGYPT

Alexander and his Macedonian army were two hundred miles from home when word came to them that the Illyrians were advancing upon Macedonia. Alexander and his men returned immediately to try and stop the invaders. Upon hearing that Alexander had his hands full with the Illyrians, Demosthenes, a leader in Athens, decided now would be a good time to rebel against Alexander’s Macedonian control. At Demosthenes’ instigation, Thebes revolted and besieged the Macedonian garrison left there by Alexander a year before. After defeating the invading Illyrians, Alexander marched his weary troops down again into southern Greece. When he reached the city of Thebes, he burned it to the ground. Six thousand Thebans were killed, and thirty thousand were sold into slavery. Alexander spared only one house –the home of the celebrated poet, Pindar. Alexander felt that he had to make an example of Thebes, in order to teach the other Greeks a lesson. It worked. From that time until the end of his life, Alexander never had any trouble from the Greeks. Confident that southern Greece was once again secure, Alexander and his troops returned to Pella. After a quick trip to Delphi, the seat of a celebrated oracle, Alexander was ready to conquer the world. He would leave 12,000 men behind under the able leadership of his friend, Antipater. The year was still 335 BC.

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