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Introduction to the OT World
The Hasmonean Dynasty
and the arrival of Rome
The LAST class session!
Congrats! You made it!
• Week 21, 12/29/2013
• Gene Wright, [email protected]
Those groups of people from last week?
Question: How can we survive as a people?
By killing the enemy and those who help them: Zealots
By devoting ourselves to observing the Law: Pharisees
By collaborating with the enemy: Sadducees
By running away to hide: Essenes
The hatred between Jew and Samaritan only intensified in
this time, with the Samaritans helping Antiochus and the
Jews through John Hyrcanus destroying the Temple at
Mount Gerizim.
JOHN HYRCANUS (135 - 104 BC)
During the years of his reign, John Hyrcanus concentrated on
extending the borders of the new Jewish nation. He also believed in
compelling the peoples he conquered to become proselytes to the
Jewish religion. He would forcibly circumcise all non-Jews, and
demand that the people of entire cities and regions comply with
Mosaic Law. Note the irony here vs. Mattathias.
In each location where foreign peoples were subdued, he would leave
scribes to oversee the religious affairs of the people. these scribes
were descended from the Hasidim (the ‘pious ones’ among the Jews
who would become the Scribes / Pharisees). The scribes were not
really interested in political or military power, they simply sought to
impose religious purity and strict observance of the Law. They were
strict, uncompromising legalists.
John Hyrcanus (135-104 BC)
The son of Simon, he faced his most serious challenge in
his first year – Antiochus VII laid siege to Jerusalem for a
year.
A truce required John to pay 3000 talents of silver as
tribute (which John took from the Tomb of _David_) and
fight _in Phrygia_ with Antiochus.
This did not endear him to his fellow Jews. He met with a
change of circumstances when Antiochus died in 128 BC.
He raised a mercenary army again funded from Tomb of
David.
John Hyrcanus (135-104 BC)
Beginning in 113 BC, he began an extensive fight against the
_Samaritans_. They appealed to Antiochus IX for help and
resisted a siege for a year. However, John triumphed and
destroyed the temple at Mount _Gerizim_ and sold thousands
of inhabitants of Samaria into _slavery_.
Note: John Hyrcanus had looted the Tomb of David.
Remember Peter on Pentecost?
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us
to this day.” (Acts 2:29)
Rather than looting David’s tomb, Jesus was raised from the
dead leaving an empty tomb to sit on David’s throne at God’s
right Hand. Although Peter does not explicitly mention this, it
would have been in his hearer’s minds.
John Hyrcanus (135-104 BC)
His next campaign was against the Idumeans south
of Judah all the way down to Eliat. After conquering
them, he forces them to convert to Judaism, a first
for any Jewish leader.
During John’s time, two decrees were passed in the
_Roman_ Senate expressing friendship with the
Jews. He also maintained the friendship with
Ptolemaic Egypt with even Athens and Pergamum
showing friendship.
John Hyrcanus (135-104 BC)
When John died, he compromised in
his will over the issue of the division of
secular and religious authority by
giving his _wife_ control of civil
authority after his death, and his son
_Judas Aristobulus_ the role of High
Priest.
ARISTOBULUS I (104 - 103 BC)
But Judah, who preferred to use his Greek name,
Aristobulus, soon decided being High Priest was not
enough.
He decided to take control of the nation. He cast his
mother, the Queen, and all of his brothers into prison,
and starved them to death.
Only one of his brothers, Jonathan, managed to
survive. Aristobulus, who was afflicted with mental
illness, and who was also an alcoholic, died after
reigning for only a year -- a fact which caused no grief
among the Jewish people.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
When Aristobulus died, his 37 year old widow, Alexandra,
released from prison the only one of his brothers left alive
-- Jonathan, who at this time was 22 years old.
Alexandra and Jonathan were then married. Jonathan took
the throne, assumed the position of High Priest, and gave
himself the name Alexander Jannaeus.
Note: As High Priest, he was to have married a virgin, but
did not. (Leviticus 21:13)
Just as cruel as his brother Aristobulus, his first official
act as king was to have the remainder of his extended
family, who had been overlooked by Aristobulus,
slaughtered without mercy.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
Alexander was a Sadducee and a lover of the Greek way of
life. History describes him as uncouth, a drunk, and guilty
of all manner of scandalous behavior. The Jews who were
still faithful to their God and to the Law absolutely hated
this man.
In the year 94 BC, at the Feast of Tabernacles, Alexander
(who was also the High Priest, and thus was officiating in
the Temple during this feast) decided to perform an act
which would display his contempt for the Pharisees and
their strict, legalistic observance of the letter of the Law.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
In front of the people in the Temple, he
poured out a water offering at his own
feet rather than upon the altar of God as
prescribed by Law.
The people present were outraged, and
began throwing fruit at Alexander. "Ye
shall take for yourselves the fruit of the
tree hadar" (the citron). (Lev. 23: 40)
Alexander, in turn, ordered his troops to
attack the worshippers, and hundreds
were slaughtered in the Temple.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
As a result of this atrocity against God and
the people, civil war broke out in the land. The
Pharisees raised an army of rebels, and for
the next six years fought against Alexander
and his Sadducean forces.
Over 50,000 Judeans died.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
The Pharisees asked for help from the Seluecids of all
people. At the last minute, however, the Pharisees
realized this was not a very good idea, so they
switched sides and joined Alexander, who had been
losing the war.
It was at this point, however, that the Pharisees made a
serious error in judgment. Believing that the nearly
defeated Alexander and his followers had been
punished enough, and that they had probably ‘learned
their lesson,’ they allowed him to retake the throne as
King.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
Alexander immediately ordered a lavish banquet to be held,
and invited all the Pharisees to attend. It was to be in their
honor! Over 800 leading Pharisees and their families
assembled to enjoy the feast.
During the banquet, Alexander ordered his soldiers to take
them all captive, and while he and his concubines reclined on
couches and got drunk, he had all 800 Pharisees crucified in
front of him.
The wives and children of these men were then slaughtered in
their presence as they hung dying on their crosses.
When news of this reached the ears of the faithful Jews in the
land, many fled to the wilderness or joined the monastic
Essene communities.
ALEXANDER JANNAEUS (103 - 76 BC)
In 76 BC Alexander Jannaeus died, some accounts saying as the
result of his heavy drinking. According to tradition, he is said to
have repented of his sins on his deathbed, and supposedly
instructed his wife, Alexandra, to dismiss all of his Sadducean
advisors and to reign as Queen with the aid of the Pharisees. He
expanded Jewish territory to limits that rivaled David and Solomon.
ALEXANDRA (76 - 67 BC)
At the death of her husband, Salome Alexandra, who was 64 years old,
ascended to the throne as Queen of the people of Israel. Since she was a
woman, and could not serve as High Priest, she appointed her son,
Hyrcanus II (who had cognitive difficulties), to serve as High Priest. Her
other son, Aristobulus II, was appointed to be Commander-in-Chief of the
military.
The reign of Alexandra is characterized by historians as being extremely
pro-Pharisee, possibly as a result of the fact that her brother, Simeon ben
Shetah, was a leader of the Pharisees. Under her rule the Pharisees severely
persecuted the Sadducees.
Alexandra's two sons did not get along well with one another. John
Hyrcanus II was a Pharisee, and Aristobulus II sided more with the
Sadducean point of view. Thus, with the death of Queen Alexandra, in 67 BC,
a struggle for control of the land broke out between the two brothers --- and
between the two Jewish parties which backed them.
PERIOD OF STRUGGLE FOR POWER (67 - 63 BC)
At the death of Queen Alexandra, Hyrcanus II, who had been serving as
High Priest, ascended the throne as King. His brother, Aristobulus II,
immediately led an army of Sadducees against the city of Jerusalem.
Hyrcanus II and the Pharisees were caught by surprise and gave up
without a fight. Aristobulus II then became both King and High Priest.
The two brothers decided to make a vow of ‘eternal friendship’ with one
another, and this vow was then sealed with the marriage of Alexander
(the eldest son of Aristobulus II) to his cousin Alexandra (the only
daughter of Hyrcanus II).
This ‘eternal friendship’ was short-lived, however, and hostilities soon
broke out between the two brothers. Hyrcanus was eventually forced to
flee for his life to the land of the Arabs. While there, he encountered a
man by the name of Antipater, who had been made Governor of Edom by
Alexander Jannaeus. Antipater was the father of Herod the Great.
PERIOD OF STRUGGLE FOR POWER (67 - 63 BC)
Antipater saw in this situation an opportunity to perhaps fulfill
his own dream of gaining power in Judea. He convinced
Hyrcanus II that he needed to return to Judea and reclaim his
throne.
When Hyrcanus II and his army of Arabs invaded Palestine and
laid siege to Jerusalem, Aristobulus II was completely caught
by surprise. He barricaded himself inside the walls of the city
of Jerusalem, and both sides prepared for a long, drawn out
siege of the city.
The Roman Consul Pompey was in the area trying to make the
area more secure and expand Roman influence. When he
arrived in Jerusalem, both sides presented their case to him,
each hoping the general and his vast Roman army would come
to their aid.
PERIOD OF STRUGGLE FOR POWER (67 - 63 BC)
Pompey ruled in favor of Hyrcanus II, and declared him the
rightful heir to the throne. Aristobulus II, however, refused to
submit to this decision. Therefore, Pompey and Hyrcanus II,
and their combined armies of Arabs and Romans, attacked the
city of Jerusalem.
The battle lasted three months before the city finally fell in 63
BC. Hyrcanus II was reinstated as High Priest, and the
ambitious Antipater was made Minister of the land of Judea.
The Romans declared the Hasmonean Dynasty to be
terminated, and Palestine was added to the ever expanding
and increasingly powerful Roman Empire.
Pompey of course, required a tour of the Temple, including the
Holy of Holies.
ANTIPATER (63 - 47 BC)
As a reward for his efforts, Antipater was given
additional authority and power over Judea by
the Roman government. In effect, he became
Rome's puppet ruler over Palestine. Hyrcanus II
remained as the religious leader of the people,
but really held no real political power.
HEROD THE GREAT (37 - 4 BC)
Antony bestowed upon Herod the title ‘King of
the Jews.’ Later on, when Herod thought that a
rival king had been born in Bethlehem, he
ordered the murder of all the infants in the area
(Matthew 2).
Speaking of Herod the Great…look at this
genealogy chart.
HEROD THE GREAT (37 - 4 BC)
Herod, later known as Herod the Great, was
extremely crafty and devious, and did everything in
his power to strengthen his position. Not only had
he won the friendship of Antony, and thus of Rome,
but he also married Mariamne, who was the
granddaughter of Hyrcanus II, and thus a
descendant of the Maccabees. This move further
strengthened his claim to the throne.
HEROD THE GREAT (37 - 4 BC)
Shortly after this, Herod immediately executed
nearly every member of his family!
Caesar Augustus once said “it was better to be
Herod's pig than his son”
If said in Greek, this is a pun, since the word “pig”
(hus) sounds like the word “son” (huios)
HEROD THE GREAT (37 - 4 BC)
What pained Herod most was the knowledge that his death would be met
with joy in Judea. To forestall this, he devised an incredible plan.
“Having assembled the most distinguished men from every village from one
end of Judea to the other, he ordered them to be locked in the hippodrome
at Jericho.” - Jewish Wars FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS
Herod then gave the order to execute them at the very moment he, himself,
died. His sick mind reasoned that their death would dispel any joy in Judea
over his own death.
The order was never carried out. After Herod's death, his body was carried
in procession from Jericho to the Herodium outside Bethlehem for burial.
Herod's body was adorned in purple, a crown of gold rested on his head,
and a scepter of gold was placed in his hand. In his mind, the King of the
Jews had died.
THE KINGDOM DIVIDES (4 BC)
At the death of Herod, the Jews begged
Augustus not to appoint another ruler over them
like Herod. After much deliberation, Augustus
decided to split the Jewish kingdom into three
parts, and appoint a different ruler over each
section. These officials would have far less
power than Herod had, and most of the control
would come from Rome. These three rulers were
all sons of Herod the Great.
THE KINGDOM DIVIDES (4 BC)
1)Herod Archelaus --- given the area of Samaria, Judea,
and northern Idumaea.
2)Herod Antipas --- given Galilee and Peraea.
3)Herod Philip --- who was given the area east and
northeast of Jordan
The most wicked of the three was Herod Archelaus (whom
we encounter in Matthew 2:22-23: “But when he (Joseph)
heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been
warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth”).
Exciting and tragic
Remember, the Jews are still
God’s people during this
period. It is nearly impossible
not to see God’s hand in the
victories of a small group of
fighters.
However, once the battle was
won, they become every bit as
evil as what they fought
against.
They are also a primary reason
why the Jewish people looked
for a political / military Messiah.
“If the Hasmoneans could throw
the Seleucids out, surely the
Messiah could throw the
Exciting and tragic
Sadly, it was the initial
success of the Hasmoneans
that led the Jewish people to
think that God would bless
their efforts to rebel in 70A.D.
and, when that failed, in their
rebellion in 135 A.D.
Meanwhile, Jesus had come
preaching to love your
enemies.
Next week? We begin
“Following Paul through
Greece”
See you then!