Intertestamental Period Begins

The period between the Old and New Testaments (~400-5 BCE) is sometimes called the '400 years of silence' because no new prophetic voices emerged that made it into the biblical canon. But it was NOT quiet — Alexander the Great conquered everything, Greek became the universal language, the Maccabees revolted, and Rome rose to power. All of this set the stage perfectly for the New Testament era. God wasn't absent; He was lowkey arranging the furniture.