Since Babylon: A Window on Israel from the Silent Years to 70 CE

In this review of Since Babylon: A Window on Israel from the Silent Years to 70 CE, the bottom line is straightforward: this book is for readers who want a compact, narrative bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament that emphasizes cultural forces like Hellenism. Allen P Stouffer writes for an audience that values historical context and theological relevance, and the single biggest reason to buy is the book's sustained focus on the so-called silent years and how they shaped Jewish life up to the First Roman War.

Key Features

• Chronological coverage: The book traces Jewish history from the end of the Babylonian captivity through Herods death and into the first century CE, giving a continuous timeline readers can follow.
• Focus on Hellenism: Stouffer gives attention to the cultural and political impact of Hellenism, helping readers understand shifts in religion, language, and governance.
• Context for New Testament study: By filling the historical gap between Ezra and the New Testament, the work offers useful background for Bible study and theological reflection.
• Extension beyond Herod: The study continues into Roman rule and the events leading to the First Roman War, providing a fuller arc than treatments that stop earlier.
• Theological relevance: The author connects historical narrative to Christian concerns about how Gods revelation unfolds in history.

Who It's For

This title is best suited to Bible study leaders, seminarians, and thoughtful readers of Christian history who want a concise, narrative account of Jewish history between the Old and New Testaments. Those looking for a devotional or a verse-by-verse commentary will find this book's historical approach more useful than devotional application.

Scholars seeking exhaustive footnoted primary-source analysis should look elsewhere, since the strength here is synthesis and narrative clarity rather than dense academic apparatus. Readers who appreciate clear connection to Christian beliefs will find the book especially rewarding.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, continuous narrative across the silent years, making the period accessible to non-specialists.
• Highlights the role of Hellenism in shaping Jewish society and thought, which clarifies later New Testament settings.
• Extends the story into the first century CE and Roman rule, giving fuller context for the fall of Judea.

Cons

• Not a heavily footnoted academic monograph, so experts may find the source documentation limited.

Specifications

Title	Since Babylon: A Window on Israel from the Silent Years to 70 CE
Author	Allen P Stouffer
Primary topic	Jewish history between Ezra and the New Testament
Historical range	End of Babylonian captivity through first century CE
Special focus	Hellenism and Roman governance of Judea
Intended audience	Bible students, church leaders, general readers of Christian history

Our Verdict

Since Babylon is a well-focused historical narrative that succeeds at closing the gap between the Old and New Testaments for informed Christian readers. It is good value for anyone seeking readable context on the silent years and the rise of Roman-era tensions without wading into heavy academic apparatus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover the period after Herod?
Yes. The study continues into the first century CE and examines Israel under Roman rule up to the First Roman War.

Is this a devotional or an academic textbook?
It reads as a narrative historical study aimed at Bible students and church readers rather than a dense, footnoted academic monograph.

Will this help with New Testament study?
Yes. By filling the historical gap known as the silent years and emphasizing cultural influences like Hellenism, the book provides helpful background for New Testament contexts.