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Section Seven: A Family Feud
Review – The Patriarchal Period
Main
People
Time
Frame
Around
Abram/
Abraham, 1900
Sarai/Sara, to
1700
Hagar
BCE
Isaac,
Rebekah
Jacob/
Israel,
Leah,
Rachel,
their 12
Sons and
1 daughter
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
Book
of
Genesis
Peoples
of the
Fertile
Crescent
- ancient
Babylon
- ancient
Assyria
Egypt
Canaa
Land of the
Philistines
Scriptural
Perspective
Abraham had an
encounter with
God
Based on that
encounter and
Abraham’s faith
in God, he
traveled from his
home in Ur to
the land of Canaa
where, through
his sons, Isaac
and Jacob, the
people who
became the
nation of Israel
had their start
Critical
Perspective
Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob may
have been
patriarchal
figures of some
individual tribes
who later united
with other tribes
and captured the
land of Canaa
It was only after
Canaa was
captured that
these now united
tribes linked the
three figures
together in a
common
ancestry
7.R1
Review – The Period of the Exodus
Main
People
Moses
Aaron
Miriam
Jethro
and
Zipporah
Cushite
Wife
Rameses
Time
Frame
After a
quiet
period
from
1700
to
1300,
the
Exodus
likely
begins
sometime in
the
1200s
BCE
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
Exodus
Leviticus
Semite
Pharaohs
Of Egypt
(Hyksos)
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Egyptian
Pharaohs
Midianites
Canaanites
Sea
Peoples
Scriptural
Perspective
The Hebrew, Moses,
encountered the God
of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob in Midian
God appointed Moses
and his brother Aaron
to tell the Pharaoh
Rameses to set the
children of Israel free
After 10 plagues,
Pharaoh relented
Israel wandered 40
years in the desert
God gave them the
Law and lead them to
the Promised Land
Critical
Perspective
If Moses existed at
all, he was likely
not a Hebrew but
an Egyptian
Moses may have
been a worshipper
or even a priest of
Aten
There was no huge
Exodus event.
There may have
been a gradual
migration of
Semites from Egypt
either fleeing the
new Pharaohs or
the Sea Peoples
7.R2
Review – The Period of Joshua and the Judges
Main
People
Joshua
Othniel,
Ehud,
Deborah,
Gideon,
Jephthah,
Samson
The
Minor
Judges
Time
Frame
From
the
early
1200s
BCE to
the
mid1000s
BCE
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
Book of
Joshua
Book of
Judges
Various
Tribes of
Canaa
Scriptural
Perspective
Joshua entered the
Promised Land and in
three sweeping
campaigns, he
conquered all of it
Joshua assigned
sections of the
Promised Land to
each of the 12 tribes.
Dan was unable to
displace the
Philistines so they
were given a new
land in the far North
of Israel
During the next 200
years, the various
tribes are threatened
and a military leader
called a Judge rises up
in response.
Critical
Perspective
The 12 tribes
migrated from
Egypt over time and
settled in the land
of Canaa while the
Canaanite rulers
were busy fighting
off the invading Sea
Peoples or…
The twelve tribes
were local
Canaanite groups
that united in
rebellion against
the Canaanite rulers
while they were
fending of the Sea
Peoples
7.R3
Review – The Period of the United Kingdom
Main
People
Samuel
Saul,
Jonathan,
IshBosheth,
Abner
David,
Uriah,
Bathsheebah,
Nathan,
Solomon,
Zadok
Time
Frame
From
the mid1000s
BCE to
Around
930 BCE
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
1+2
Samuel
1+2 Kings
1+2
Chronicles
The
Philistines
Scriptural
Perspective
Under the Judges,
Israel experienced
political and moral
chaos
Despite the warnings
of Samuel concerning
kings, Saul was
anointed as King
Saul was weak so God
appointed David in
his stead. Despite
many personal
failings, David
succeeded in uniting
the tribes and
established Jerusalem
as his capital
Solomon succeeded
David and built a
Temple in Jerusalem
Critical
Perspective
Joshua never really
conquered Canaa so
the 12 Tribes were
constantly
defending
themselves against
their neighbors and
each other
Replacing their
loose confederation
with a strong King
seemed necessary
David and Solomon
were able to unite
tribes from both
North and South
into a united
Kingdom
7.R4
Review – The Period of the Divided Kingdoms
Main
People
A series of
Kings of
both
Israel and
Judah
Josiah of
Judah was
probably
the most
important
of all the
kings of
Judah
Time
Frame
From
around
930 BCE
To 586
BCE
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
1+2
Samuel
The
Philistines
1+2 Kings
The
Assyrians
1+2
Chronicles The
Egyptians
Scriptural
Perspective
After Solomon died,
the United Kingdom
of Israel was divided
into two; 10 tribes in
the North revolted
against Rehoboam,
the son of Solomon.
They united around
Jeroboam, an
Ephrahimite, and
proclaimed
themselves the true
Kingdom of Israel
with its capital city in
Samaria
The
Two tribes, Judah and
(Simeon
Babylonians Benjamin
had been absorbed
into Judah) remained
in the South, united
around Rehoboam
and called their
Kingdom Judah.
Jerusalem remained
their capital and the
site of the Temple
Critical
Perspective
For much of the 20th
century, critics did
not believe that
David and Solomon
ever existed. Recent
discoveries have
begun to change
that
The united Kingdom
was only able to
maintain itself
under strong kings
like David and
Solomon
Political division
was bound to
happen sooner or
later
7.R5
Review – The Period of Destruction
Main
People
Hosea of
Israel
Josiah,
Zedekiah
and others
of Judah
Several
Assyrian
Kings
Nebuchadnezzar
from
Babylon
Time
Frame
From
around
740 BCE
to 586
BCE
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
1+2 Kings
The
Assyrians
1+2
Chronicles The
Egyptians
Scriptural
Perspective
Both Israel and Judah
forgot their covenant
with God
From time to time a
prophet or even a
king might call the
people back to heed
the covenant but
these reforms never
lasted
The
made use of
Babylonians God
Assyria and Babylon
to remind His people
that YHWH was God
alone
The People of Israel
were expelled from
their land, never to
return. The people of
Judah were also led
away but were later
allowed to return
Critical
Perspective
The conquest of
Israel by a resurgent
Assyria was almost
inevitable. The
stories of “the lost
tribes” are
exaggerated. There
is evidence that the
Joseph tribes
remained in place
Babylon conquered
Judah because it
grew tired of
Judah’s constant
wavering in support
of Babylon against
Egypt
7.R6
Review – The Period of Restoration
Main
People
Cyrus of
Persia
Time
Frame
From
around
537 BCE
Zerubabbel
to
around
Ezra
175 BCE
Nehemiah
Alexander
Ptolemies
Seleucids,
Antiochus
IV
Scripture Other
Reference Peoples
Several
books of
the
prophets
The
Babylonians
The Persians
Scriptural
Perspective
Under the guidance of
YHWH, Cyrus, King of
Persia, allowed the
Jewish people to
return to their
homeland of Yehud
(Judah) and to rebuild
their Temple in
Jerusalem
The
2 Chronicles Macedonians The Jewish people
Ezra
Nehemiah
The
Ptolemies
The
Seleucids
who returned dis so
in waves over the
next 100 years
Zerubabbel, of the
line of David, lead
back the first wave
but then vanished
from history
In a later wave, Ezra
and Nehemiah
restored the worship
of YHWH in the land
Critical
Perspective
Critics, of course,
do not credit YHWH
with Cyrus’ decision
to allow many of
the peoples held
captive by Babylon
to return to their
lands. They saw a
wise ruler who did
what the Romans
did centuries later
The Hebrew
Scriptures ended
with Ezra and
Nehemiah. Only the
Septuagint and
Josephus comment
on the Hellene
rulers
7.R7
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
• Antiochus IV, a descendant of one of Alexander’s generals, tried to follow
Alexander’s lead and spread Hellenism throughout his kingdom. This did
not bode well for Judaism. Antiochus is reputed to have considered
himself as the manifestation of Zeus on earth (his name “Epiphanes” can
be translated to mean a manifestation of god)
• Antiochus’ ongoing wars against the Ptolemies of Egypt actually went well
for him (1 Macc. 1:16-19). In 170 BCE, Antiochus defeated Ptolemy VI and
named his brother Ptolemy VIII as king. Unexpectedly, the two brothers
agreed to share power once Antiochus left the region. Antiochus launched
another war in 168 BCE and captured all of Egypt (except the city of
Alexandria). Antiochus also sent a fleet to capture the island of Cyprus.
• Antiochus was forced to withdraw when a Roman envoy (Popilius) met with
him just outside of Alexandria. The Roman envoy told Antiochus that it was
Rome’s desire that Antiochus withdraw from Egypt and from Cyprus.
Antiochus replied that he would consider Rome’s request by consulting
with his advisors. The envoy then drew a circle in the sand around
Antiochus. The envoy then said that if Antiochus did not respond to
Rome’s request before he stepped out of the circle, he would find himself at
war with Rome. Antiochus withdrew his forces (Livy, History of Rome
45:12)
7.1
Antiochus IV Epimanes
• When the High Priest Onias fled from Jerusalem to Egypt, he sought the help
of Ptolemy IV to regain his position. According to Josephus (Ant. 13:62-68),
Ptolemy was not able to offer Onias direct aid
• Meanwhile, Jason and his supporters (the Tobiads) lost their hold on the
position of High Priest when Menelaus (ethnically Jewish but not a religious
man) followed Jason’s precedent and offered an even larger bribe to
Antiochus. Jason returned from exile mistakenly believing that Antiochus
was killed in his wars in Egypt, Jason led a rebellion of anti-Hellenist Jewish
forces, re-took the position of High Priest and expelled Antiochus’ troops.
• Antiochus responded quickly upon his return. Menelaus was restored to the
position of High Priest in Jerusalem and Jason was executed. The Zadokite
line of High Priests that originated at the time of David was broken.
Antiochus made matters worse by erecting a statue of Zeus (in the image of
Antiochus, of course) in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar of the
Temple (the Abomination of Desolation). Keeping in mind where Antiochus’
real heart was located, he also robbed the Temple of many of its sacred
treasures
7.2
Antiochus IV and His Affect on Judaism
• Though some historians still try to portray Antiochus IV as Epiphanes, a man
with a zeal to spread Hellenism, most historians portray him as Epimanes, a
madman driven by ego and lust for wealth and fame
• Antiochus IV’s treatment of the Jews in Judea turned many of the region’s
inhabitants against any association with Hellenism. Recently, there has been
some interesting speculation about what might have happened to Judaism on the
world stage had Antiochus been a more benign ruler.
• Ethnic Jewish communities had been established in many of the principal cities in the
Greek and Roman world. Oskar Skarsaune in his work “In the Shadow of the Temple”,
notes that Judaism was more of a proselytizing faith in the third and second centuries
BCE. Even the Christian Scriptures note a number of “God Fearers” in Jerusalem at
the time of Jesus. At the time of Antiochus IV, interest in what the ancient faith of Israel
had to teach was growing in the Hellenistic world
• The Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt were far more open to these teachings than were the
Seleucids. Had the Seleucid rulers of Judah been more tolerant, Judaism might have
found the words to express the teachings of their faith that would resonate with
Hellenistic ears. The writings of Philo, a Jewish sage from Alexandria in Egypt,
provide a sample of what a Hellenized version of Judaism might have sounded like
• The treatment of Judaism shown by Antiochus IV in Judah ended any chance of that.
Most of the Jewish faithful in Judah wanted no parts of Hellenism. Only rebellion
against their Hellenists rulers was in their hearts
7.3
Jewish Temples in Egypt
When we discuss Jewish worship in “the Temple” in this class, we will almost
exclusively be speaking about the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem which was;
- Originally built by Solomon, the last king of the united kingdom of Israel
- Destroyed by the Babylonians
- Rebuilt by the Jewish people with the support of the Persian King Cyrus after
Cyrus defeated Babylon and released its Jewish captives
Perhaps as some evidence that Ptolemaic, Hellenistic Egypt was more open to
Judaism, there were two other Jewish Temples built in Egypt
Elephantine Island Temple Built likely during the reign of King Manasseh, was
required by Assyria to send troops to Egypt to help defend the southern border
of that land. Information about this temple became known when letters written
by the community in the mid to early 400s BCE were discovered in the dry soil
of the Egyptian desert about 100 years ago.
Onias’ Temple
When the Zadokite High Priest Onias was removed from
power by his brother Jason, he and a number of his supporters fled to Egypt.
Ptolemy IV of Egypt welcomed Onias and the troops he brought with him and
allowed Onias to build a Temple at Leontopolis, a site north of Cairo. This
temple had legitimacy in the eyes of the Talmud, as it was set up by the son of a
traditional high priest and it fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "In that day there
shall be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt..." (Is.19:19).
7.4
And So It Begins….
The tension between Judah and its Seleucid Hellenist overlords was so great,
it wouldn’t have taken much of a spark to set off a rebellion. Antiochus IV
provided that spark when he commanded that all Judeans must offer sacrifice
to the pagan gods of Hellenism. It started in the village of Modi’in when its
local priest, Mattathias, refused to offer the required sacrifice.
7.5
The Maccabean Revolt - Mattathias
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
HP, E
Judas (r. 166-160 BCE) Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• Mattathias, a descendant of a man named Asmoneas (the source of the name
Hasmonean that would later be applied to a dynasty of Jewish kings descended
from Mattathias), was a priest in the town of Modi’in.
• A man sent by Antiochus IV came to Modi’in to enforce the King’s command
that all men must offer sacrifice to pagan gods. Mattathias was the town’s
priest and so was asked to serve as an example and step up to be the first man
in Modi'in to obey the King’s command.
• Mattathias refused and killed a fellow townsman who tried to obey the King’s
command. He next killed the king’s messenger. Finally, he called on the people
of Modi'in to flee with him to the mountains and resist the command of the King
to apostasize. He and his sons formed a guerilla force in the mountains.
Mattathias died soon after and was replaced by his son, Judas Maccabee (the
Hammer) This story is described in Chapter 2 of 1 Macc.
7.6
The Maccabean Revolt – Judas (I)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE) Judas (r. 166-160 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
HP, E
Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• Against overwhelming odds Judas defeated
several generals of the Seleucid army including a
general named Lysias.
• Judas captured Jerusalem. He cleansed the
Temple (origin of Hanukkah).
• Lysias, now a regent of the new Seleucid child
King Antiochus V, defeated Judas in a second
battle but, because his forces were needed
elsewhere, Lysias agreed to a truce that allowed
the Jewish people to be exempt from earlier
decrees of Hellenization and were allowed to
maintain their traditional culture and worship.
Judas’ brother Eleazar died in this second battle
with Lysias.
7.7
The Maccabean Revolt – Judas (II)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE) Judas (r. 166-160 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
HP, E
Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• Demetrius I, took the Seleucid throne away from
the child Antiochus V. Some of the Jewish
people, happy under the Seleucids (not all Jews
were anti-Hellenist), opposed Judas and asked
Demetrius I for protection.
• Demetrius I appointed their candidate, Alcimus
who claimed to be a Zadokite related to Onias
(2 Macc. 14:7), as High Priest. Judas opposed
the appointment but the Hasidim, who been key
supporters of Judas, broke with him on this
issue. They favored Alcimus because of his
alleged lineage. To show his appreciation,
Alcimus later slaughtered a number of his
Hasidim supporters proving Judas right.
• Judas fought back but was killed in a series of
reprisals. His men regrouped in the mountains
These stories are described in Chapters
3 through 9 of 1 Macc.
7.8
The Maccabean Revolt – Jonathan (I)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
HP, E
Judas (r. 166-160 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
• More a politician than his brother Judas,
Jonathan did not immediately act but bided
his time. He finally acted when yet another
“Game of Thrones” broke out among the
Seleucids.
Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• At first, Jonathan played both sides against
the other but, at just the right time, he gave
his support to the eventual winner, Alexander
Balas.
• As a reward, Jonathan was named governor
of Judah and High Priest in Jerusalem. His
brother Simon was named Governor of the
region of the Philistines
7.9
The Maccabean Revolt – Jonathan (II)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
HP, E
Judas (r. 166-160 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• Alexander Balas’ victory was short-lived.
The “Game of Thrones” continued as
Alexander’s rival, Demetrius II, won the day
but, for some reason, Demetrius II chose not
to confront Jonathan.
• Antiochus VI was the next Seleucid to step to
the plate. He claimed the throne against
Demetrius II. Trypho, a supporter of
Antiochus VI, was worried about Jonathan’s
political skills, especially his political
exchanges with Rome which were first
undertaken by his brother Judas. Trypho
schemed to capture and kill Jonathan to get
him out of the way. He succeeded.
These stories are described in Chapters
10 through 12 of 1 Macc.
7.10
The Maccabean Revolt – Simon (I)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
HP, E
Judas (r. 166-160 BCE) Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• Simon succeeded Jonathan and aligned
himself with Demetrius II over Antiochus VI in
this latest battle of the Seleucids. Demetrius
II won. When he took the throne @143 BCE,
he granted Jewish independence. “the yoke
of the heathen was lifted from Israel” (1 Mac.
13:41)
• Simon became the political leader (King,
though he did not take that title), religious
leader (High Priest) and military commander
of the newly independent land. The goal of
the Maccabeans had finally been reached
These stories are described in Chapters
13 through 16 of 1 Macc.
7.11
The Maccabean Revolt – Simon (II)
Mattathias (d. 166 BCE)
John
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE)
(d. 134 BCE)
HP, E
Judas (r. 166-160 BCE) Jonathan (r. 160-143 BCE)
(d. 160 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
HP 152-143
Eleazar
• The new kingdom did not last long. About five years
after taking a leadership role in Judah, Simon was
killed by his son-in-law, Ptolemy, who conspired with
the Seleucid supporters of Antiochus VI.
• Simon’s son John managed to escape but Judah,
though independent, was once again a client kingdom
of the Seleucids
• Since Simon didn’t actually claim the title of king,
some claim that he did not begin the Hasmonean
line of Jewish kings. Others dispute that claim
• As a side note; the fifth son of Mattathias, John
also called Gaddi, died on what was thought to be
a peaceful mission to the Nabateans
These stories are described in Chapters
13 through 16 of 1 Macc.
7.12
A Jewish King Again in Jerusalem (I)
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE) HP, E
(d. 134 BCE)
John Hyrcanus I (r. 134-104 BCE) HP, E
(d. 104 BCE)
• Those who do not believe that Simon Maccabee
was the first Hasmonean king hold that this
honor belongs to his son, John Hyrcanus. After
his escape, John returned and managed to
reclaim his father’s throne. Unlike his father,
Simon, John also took the title of King. A Jewish
King once again ruled in Judah. Nearby
territories such as Samaria, Perea and Idumea
came under the rule of Judah
• During the first seven years of Hyrcanus’ rule,
the Kingdom, though independent, still relied
heavily on the favor of the Seleucids, now ruled
by Antiochus VII. In 128 BCE Antiochus VII died,
and the independence of the Jewish nation
was now guaranteed by their new ally, Rome.
7.13
A Jewish King Again in Jerusalem (II)
Simon (r. 143-134 BCE) HP, E
(d. 134 BCE)
John Hyrcanus I (r. 134-104 BCE) HP, E
(d. 104 BCE)
• John Hyrcanus was a devout Jew and, as he
expanded his kingdom, he imposed the Mosaic
law on those whom he conquered. He was also
maintained good relations with Rome and
Ptolemaic Egypt
• John put scribes from the Hassidim in charge of
imposing the law. The Pharisees grew out of
this movement as did the Essenes, though they
chose to isolate themselves from politics.
• The Sadducees, who favored the Hellenistic
culture of the Seleucids, opposed Hyrcanus’
reforms
7.14
The Hasmonean Kingdom of Judah
How Did It Happen?
Perhaps the best way to look at this event is to compare it to events in our own time.
Think about the number of SSRs that were once independent lands but were later
absorbed into the vast Soviet Union
As the Soviet Union began its decline, a number of these lands attempted to assert
their independence (Czechoslovakia, Poland). Their initial attempts failed but, as the
decline continued, they ultimately gained their freedom as independent lands
What Was Its Impact?
After the death of Alexander the Great, the Ptolemaic land of Egypt to the south and
the vast Seleucid empire to the north, dwarfed tiny Judah. Despite all of that, the
people of Judah were not only able to regain the independence of their own land but,
under the “Messiahship” of the Maccabee family, they were also able to recapture
most of what was the original Kingdom of Israel under King David
When the Roman Empire asserted its dominance over the Hasmonean Kingdom, it’s
not hard to understand why many of the Jewish people of Jesus’ time did not think it
impossible to believe that another Messiah would rise to lead them in casting of the
yoke of yet another empire, the Roman Empire. The revolt of the Maccabees and the
re-establishment of a Jewish kingdom set the stage for the events that took place
during the time of the Christian scriptures
7.15
The Hasmonean Story Continues
John Hyrcanus I (r. 134-104 BCE) HP, E
(d. 104 BCE)
(Judah) Aristobulus I (r. 104-103 BCE) HP,E (Jonathan) Alexander Janaeus (r. 103-76 BCE) HP, K
(d. 103 BCE)
(d. 143 BCE)
married Salome Alexandra (r. 76-69 BCE) Q
(d. 69 BCE)
• John Hyrcanus was an effective King and devout Jew who was aligned with the Pharisees.
His children however, raised in the luxury of the palace, were less devout and more at home
with the Hellenistic culture so loved by the Sadducees
• John died in 104 BCE. He wanted his wife (name unknown) to become Queen and his son,
Judah (who preferred the Greek name Aristobulus) to become the High Priest. Unsatisfied
with that arrangement, Aristobulus had his mother, the Queen and all his brothers arrested.
All but one starved to death in prison. Aristobulus himself died a year after taking power
• The surviving brother, Jonathan, succeeded Judah/Aristobulus. He married Alexandra, his
brother’s widow. Jonathan took the Greek name Alexander Janaeus as he began his rule.
• By this time, the Sadducees (Jews who favored Hellenism) and the Pharisees (Jews who were
devoted to the Torah) had developed into true political parties. Alexander, more at
home with the Sadducees, decided to “make peace” with Pharisees. Shortly thereafter
Alexander slaughtered 800 Pharisees at a dinner supposedly in their honor
7.16
A Coin From the Time of Alexander Jannaeus
TNvhy
Lrg Nkhv
V nbj v
ydvhv
m
Note that the coin’s inscription uses the Paleo-Hebrew
script based on the Phoenician alphabet rather than the
Hebrew Block Script in use at the time. The Hebrew
script in use today is known as square script, block
script or Assyrian script. One entry in the Talmud
suggests that Ezra introduced the modern block script
into Hebrew. Paleo-Hebrew was never abandoned by
the Samaritans and continues to be used today by the
few hundred Samaritans that remain in Israel
7.17
Yet More Hasmoneans
John Hyrcanus I (r. 134-104 BCE) HP, E
(d. 104 BCE)
Aristobulus I (r. 104-103 BCE) HP,E (Jonathan) Alexander Janaeus (r. 103-76 BCE) HP, K
(d. 103 BCE)
(d. 76 BCE)
married Salome Alexandra (r. 76-69 BCE) Q
(d. 69 BCE)
Hyrcanus II (r. 47-41BCE) E (76-69 and 63-41) HP
(d. 30 BCE)
Aristobulus II (r. 69-63 BCE) HP,K
(d. 49 BCE)
• On his deathbed, Alexander Janaeus, repented of his Hellenistic ways and advised his
wife Salome (age 64 at the time) to avoid the Sadducees and rule according to
traditional Jewish laws
• During Salome’s reign, the Pharisees held the upper hand over the Sadducees. Since
Salome Alexandra was a woman, she could not serve as High Priest. She appointed
her son, Hyrcanus II, to that post. He was rumored to have a somewhat weak
personality. Her other son, Aristobulus II was appointed as commander of the military
• When Salome Alexandra died, things quickly got out of hand
7.18
Internal Strife
Salome Alexandra (r. 76-69 BCE) Q
(d. 69 BCE)
Hyrcanus II (r. 47-41BCE) E (76-69 and 63-41) HP
(d. 30 BCE)
Aristobulus II (r. 69-63 BCE) HP,K
(d. 49 BCE)
Alexandra (d. 27 BCE) ---- m ----- Alexander (d. 49 BCE)
Antigonus (r. 40-37 BCE) HP, K
(d. 37 BCE)
• Hyrcanus II, the High Priest at the time of Salome’s death, ruled as King. Aristobulus
II, immediately led an army of Sadducees against Jerusalem . Hyrcanus II and the
Pharisees were caught by surprise and surrendered without a fight. Aristobulus II
then proclaimed himself to be both King and High Priest over the Jewish nation
• Aristobulus and Hyrcanus tried to resolve their differences. They sealed this
reconciliation by the marriage of their children. The reconciliation didn’t last.
Hyrcanus II fled to Nabatea and there met a man named Antipater, the governor of the
Jewish province of Idumea (ancient Edomites among whom Ishmael and later Esau
lived). Antipater urged Hyrcanus II to reclaim his throne. Hyrcanus and allies from
Nabatea laid siege against Aristobulus II in Jerusalem
• Hyrcanus II may well have managed to regain his throne so Aristobulus II, sensing
defeat, decided to appeal to his ally, Rome, for help
7.19
An Important Life Lesson
Who is more dangerous, your brother who wants to regain his position as
King and High Priest or the man below?
Hi, I’m
from the Roman
Government and I’m
here to help!
7.20