Pastor Peter's Bible Insights
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, son of King Philip II, was born in Pella, Macedonia, on July 20, 356 BC. When Alexander turned twelve, Philip retained Aristotle to tutor his son. Aristotle stayed with Alexander most of his life. One of the cities founded by King Philip was Philippi where Paul and Silas first brought the gospel to Europe (Acts 16). After Philip’s assassination at the theater in Vergina in 336, Alexander became king of Macedonia. Click here for Alexander's route, Alexander's divided empire.
Alexander Invades Asia Minor
In 334 Alexander marched 35,000 soldiers out of Pella to avenge the Persians for burning Athens and other atrocities. He crossed the Dardanelles, landing at the fabled city of Troy. Alexander proceeded down the southern coast of Asia Minor, liberating Ionian cities from Persian domination. He swept through Ephesus, Miletus, Harlicarnassus, into the central plateau, down through the Cilician Gates and on to Tarsus.
Battle at Issus
Alexander prepared for his first major battle with Darius III at Issus on the Granicus River in 333. Though badly outnumbered, the young Alexander outmaneuvered Darius by attacking his weaker left flank in the opening minutes of the battle. Darius had to flee for his life, leaving his wife and daughter captives of Alexander.
Tyre and Sidon
Alexander marched on to the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon. Sidon surrendered but Tyre’s resistance brought disastrous consequences. Ezekiel had prophesied the destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:2-5). Tyre was located on a small island just off the Levantine coast. They had successfully resisted every king who had attacked them. Tyre felt secure, but Ezekiel’s words would come true. Alexander built a causeway from the mainland to the island and destroyed the city. He sold 13,000 women and children into slavery and crucified 2,000 city leaders along the main trade route.
Jerusalem
Knowing that Jerusalem would soon have to face Alexander, the high priest sent an envoy promising the king free access to the city. Josephus writes an amazing description of Alexander’s entrance into Jerusalem (Ant. Book XI, Ch. VIII, Vs 5). He entered the city peacefully, did not desecrate the temple, and offered sacrifices according to the high priests' instructions. Alexander imposed a tribute on the city but agreed to give the Jews their sabbatical year off.
Establishing Alexandria
Alexander moved on to Egypt where he was welcomed as a liberator from the hated Persians. Alexander founded the city of Alexandria, which over the years became an influential center for culture, study and spirituality. Alexandria housed the biggest library of the day with over half a million scrolls. In time, the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek at Alexandria. Alexander was pronounced a deity by the oracle of Siwa and crowned Son of Ammon, Beloved of Ra, Ruler of the Two Lands, Pharaoh of Egypt. Alexander the Great named thirty cities after himself from Africa to India. Alexandria of Egypt was the greatest of them all.
Battle of Gaugomela
Alexander was now ready to fight the Persians on their own soil. He traveled north, following the Fertile Crescent to Mesopotamia. In 331 Alexander crossed the Tigris and set foot on Persian soil in pursuit of Darius. At the battle of Gaugomela on the plain before the Zagros Mountains, Alexander’s bold tactics put the Persians to flight. Babylon fell. Alexander entered the famous city of Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Great and the residence of Daniel the prophet who had foretold his arrival before he was born. Alexander was just twenty-four years old.
Susa Falls
Alexander pushed on to Susa, the winter palace of the Persian Kings. Daniel had been taken there in the vision of “the ram, the male-goat, and the little horn” (Dan 8:1-14). While Darius was regrouping in the north, Susa was left unprotected. Alexander entered the great banqueting hall with its 70-foot high columns supporting a cedarwood roof. He sat on the throne of the great Persian kings, but his feet did not touch the floor because he was a short man. One of his generals pushed a table under his feet and said, “Your enemies' table has become your footstool.” Alexander burned the magnificent palace.
Battle of the Persian Gates
Three months later fresh troops arrived from Macedonia doubling his force to 70,000. He was now ready to attack Persepolis, the capital city of the Persian Empire. In late December Alexander headed south to Persepolis, located behind the Zagros Mountain range. Alexander, wanting to make a surprise move on Persepolis, divided his troops in two. Parmenio took the baggage train and 40,000 men the long way around the mountains via Shiraz. Alexander took 30,000 of his elite troops into the mountains along the shorter route through the narrow Persian Gate to Persepolis. By the time they reached the narrow gates they discovered that Darius had laid a trap for them. The Persian general Areobazanus had walled up the pass and was ready to attack. From the cliffs above the Persians rained down rocks, arrows and spears on the helpless troops. Alexander was forced to sound the retreat, leaving his dead troops where they lay.
Alexander’s Desperate Gamble
That night Alexander camped at the mouth of the pass and regrouped from his first major military setback. Among his local prisoners was a shepherd who told of another way over the mountains. At 9:00pm in complete silence the troops moved out. The historian Curtius said, “Their lives were in the hands of one local guide. If they were betrayed, they would be trapped like wild animals.” Four hours later they arrived at the top where they stopped for food. In his war tent Alexander laid out the battle plan. Three infantry brigades were sent ahead to bridge the river to Persepolis. Alexander himself would descend with 4,000 troops to the back of the pass to trap the Persian troops. Ptolemy stayed on the ridge with 3,000 troops to rain down rocks and javelins on the trapped Persians. In the early hours of the morning Alexander's soldiers were all in place. The Persians were caught by their own trap. Alexander's soldiers stormed the gates from both sides while Ptolemy’s men rushed down the mountainside. The Persians were destroyed. I believe that this is the battle that Daniel saw in Daniel 8:6-7. “And he came up to the ram that had the two horns…and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. And I saw him come beside the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.”
Persepolis Falls
The surprise move had succeeded. Persepolis was defenseless. Alexander entered what he called “the most hated city in the world,” unopposed. The palace treasury was still intact. Alexander laid his hands on the greatest treasury of all time, 3,000 tons of gold and silver bullion. He could now finance any war he wished, even to the end of the world.