The Strand Study Bible

BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS Phoenician coastline and was well protected by high, heavy walls of solid stone, two miles in circumference), it was a difficult city to attack. It took Alexander seven months to build a causeway out to the island city. Delays did not discourage Alexander; they only strengthened his resolve to win. Alexander breached the walls in July of 332 BC. Furious that he had to spend seven months on one city, Alexander allowed his soldiers to massacre 8,000 people, and to sell the other 30,000 as slaves. He then leveled the city to mere rubble, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning the city (Ezk 26:1-5). Next, down the coast, he reached Gaza. Since Gaza was a Persian stronghold, the people of Gaza despised Alexander and refused to surrender. Once again, Alexander was forced to fight a fiercely prolonged battle before the city fell. Enraged at their response, Alexander stormed the city and killed every man, allowing his soldiers to rape every woman that was left. Alexander then sacked Jerusalem and resumed his march down into Egypt where he was welcomed with open arms. Next Alexander journeyed hundreds of miles into the desert to a remote oasis where he visited the Temple of Zeus- Ammon in Siwa (Ammonium). He received what he came for –confirmation that he was more than a mere mortal, that he was indeed the son of a god. This is the first time that we have any record of Alexander’s men becoming dissatisfied with Alexander himself. Although Alexander himself did not take his “divinity” too seriously at first, in time it began to influence him. He then returned to Alexandria near the banks of the Nile.

BLACK SEA

ASIA

• Issus

• Gaucamela • Arbela

• Babylon

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Tyre •

• Jerusalem

PERSIAN GULF

ARABIA

Alexandria •

Nile River

Ammonium •

Memphis •

EGYPT

One of the first things Alexander did upon his return to Egypt was to found a new capital, called Alexandria, at the mouth of the Nile River. He was determined to found a new city in each country he conquered, which would serve as a model for the reordering of the life of the country as a whole along Greek lines. An ardent student of Aristotle, Alexander was thoroughly convinced that Greek culture was the one force that could unify the world. (Years later, a general of Alexander’s named Ptolemy I, founded the Alexandrian library which became the greatest collection of scholarship the ancient world had ever known. Sadly, in AD 646 the library was completely destroyed by the Muslems. Tradition has it that the scrolls from the library were taken to the public baths, where they served as fuel to heat the water. In this unfortunately ignoble manner, the collected wisdom of centuries went up in smoke. During this time, at Aristotle’s suggestion, Alexander sent down the Nile a scientific expedition that penetrated all the way into Ethiopia. Alexander then received word that Darius III wanted to bargain with him. Keenly aware that he did not match up militarily with Alexander, Darius III offered Alexander 10,000 talents, all of the land west of the Euphrates River, and his own daughter in marriage, if only Alexander would stop advancing toward Persia. Alexander called a council to discuss the matter. This was a princely offer indeed. Parmenio, Alexander’s best general, who was much impressed with the offer, told Alexander, “If I were Alexander, I would accept this offer.”

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