What happened between Malachi and Matthew?

Question

You don't hear much about demon possession in the O.T. I know that in the 400 years bet. the books that the Greeks and Romans were taking over known world. When and how did belief in demons become common among the Jews?

The real question is: How and when did demon possession come onto the stage? It's not in O.T. but is all over the N.T.

Answer 1

I've heard it said that it was Persian influences that brought this about. But actually the belief in demons goes very far back in Semitic culture. What's really interesting is how all the religions of that part of the world focused both on magic and on talismans and exorcisms to keep away various demons and devils, etc. Particularly in the Babylonian and Caananite religions, one gets the impression that the difference between demons and gods were pretty blurred, which goes right along with Paul's assertion that pagan gods actually are demons, so from that perspective one could argue that demons do make their appearance in the OT. But what's so interesting is how little the Torah and the Prophets focus on exorcism. There is not a single incantation or talisman text in the entire OT! And believe me they lived in a sea of such things. The message of Scripture seems to be that if one focuses on God and seeks His Spirit, one need not worry about such things. In reguards to the NT, it is widely known that there was a substantial Gentile (Greco/Syrian) population in the Galil during the time of Jesus. The Greeks particularly were obsessed with magic and talismans to ward off evil. Jesus in contrast says: 'Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, five for two assarions? And not one of them falls but by the will of God. Why, every hair on your head has been counted! Therefore, do not fear, for you are worth many sparrows.' (Luke 12:6&7)

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What happened between Malachi and Matthew?
You don't hear much about demon possession in the O.T. I know that in the 400 years bet. the books that the Greeks and Romans were taking over known world. When and how did belief in demons become common among the Jews?

Answer 3

It wasn't what happened between Malachi and Matthew. It was when that High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek, the Son of the Living God, God in flesh walked the earth and cast these demons out and made man aware of them. Only then did the Jews begin to understand demons, evil spirits, Satan and his organized regime. Jesus taught a lot on hades and hell before He was crucified. He even told us that He gave us power over them. The Jews knew of mentally disturbed people, but Jesus gave reason for them.

Answer 4

Hehe. The Jews were at war. During this time. Edit coming. Here's a brief summary of the major things that happened: The assyrians took northern Israle into exile The Babylonians took Southern Judah Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East Because of this, the there was some Jewish rebellion, and the Maccabes became independent. Then Rome conquered Palestine.

Answer 5

About Malachi and Matthew, I wonder myself what went on, then you bring up demon possession. Maybe That's the time when Satan was cast to the earth.

Answer 6

There is a plethora of literature that is not in the canon from this period (Second Temple Period). The dead sea scrolls speak of exorcisms. See also the Pseudepigrapha for development of ideas about angels, demons etc. (See 1 Enoch, The Testament of Job) A lot of these documents shed a lot of light about the evolution of ideas about Satan, demons etc. See also Morton Smith's book Jesus the Magician for a good discussion of magic in the ancient world.
Further, Eve and in Genesis were not decieved by Satan but by a serpent (Hebrew: nahash). The idea that the serpent was satan doesn't come into play until hundreds of years later in The Life of Adam and Eve (also in the Pseudepigrapha).

Answer 7

A very interesting question. There are demons in the Old Testament, but not demon possession. I don't yet know why, but looking at demonic phenomena in the modern wolrd may shed some light on the question.

In the modern world, demon possession is common in some places, amongst some cultures, but practically unknown in other places.

It is important for people who come from cultures that do not believe in it to know that in the places where it happens, it is not solely the result of folk superstitions. It is based on very real observations and experiences of demonic activity, such as seeing demons in the form of small black boys running around the house, or transparent whitish spectres, or seeing objects moved around by invisible forces, hearing demon possessed people speak in strange voices and do seemigly superhuman things. I come from a place where such things happen, and whilst i have not personally seen any demons, i know many people who have.

Here are some possible causes for the differeences between modern cultures, and maybe the OT/NT difference.

1. A difference in attribution. Similar phenomena are attributed to demonic causes in one culture, and to natural causes in another. This can result in mis-diagnoses in both directions. Organic diseases like epilepsy, schizophrenia, maybe even the flu, might be attributed to demons in cultures that see demonic activity in everything, and in cultures that don't believe in demons, people who are genuinely demon possessed might be diagnosed as mentally ill.

2. Superstitious beliefs. These seem to be associated with a high prevalence of demonic activity. They are probably both a cause and an effect of it. They may cause people to attribute natural phenomena to supernatural causes, and on the other hand, the demons who seek to deceive people, play along with them and actively encourage such beliefs. They thus encourage people to believe in quack occult religions and support their exorcism industry. A lot of abuses happen in the name of exorcism, things like killing witches, and sadistic treatments applied to allegedly possessed children. All this suits the demons just fine.

3. In cultures with a materialistic world view, it suits the demon's purposes to play along with that too and persuade people that there is no such thing as the supernatural realm and therefore no such thing as God. They therefore refrain from doing anything that cannot be explained by scientific theories, and seek to manipulate people in other more subtle but no less devious ways.

Answer 8

WHAT !
Demons have always been around, from the beginning. Who do you think deceived Adam & Eve ?

When Lucifer was cast from Heaven he fell to the Earth.

God Bless and have a Great New Year !

Answer 9

Malachi Demon

Answer 10

Most bibles, like the King James, have removed books that were canonized.

Machabees I and Machabees II come after the book of Malachias. These books tell of the Machabees and their battle against The reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles and profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death all that will not forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers.

Hanukkah - Day of Dedication:
Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them (Machabees)that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.

As for demons:

Isaias 34

14 And demons and monsters shall meet, and the hairy ones shall cry out one to another, there hath the lamia lain down, and found rest for herself.


.