HELLENISTIC AGE 323- 37 BC

©Paul Conway, 2009, Associate Professor

Summary:
This series of lectures expose students to a broad knowledge of dates, sources and
perspectives of Greek and Jewish people and events that make up the Hellenistic Age in
Judea. This encompasses but is not limited to the Maccabean Revolt and Alexander the
Great. Got Hope is to provide a full understanding of the many events and views that
pressed against both the Jewish and Greek leaders that ignited the explosion of conflict
and produced a shift of power from Greece to Judea and eventually Rome.

Outline:
I. SYNOPSIS OF THIS PERIOD
II. SUMMARY OF THE SOURCES
III. SUMMARY OF THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD
IV. SUMMARY OF THE MACCABEAN REVOLT
V. BIOGRAPHY OF KEY HELLENISTIC FIGURES.

Objectives:
1. Frame the main events and dates that filled the Hellenistic Age.
2. Explore the primary sources that provide key information about the Hellenistic Age.
3. Engage the key people, perspectives and events of the Greeks in the Hellenistic Age.
4. Engage the key people, perspectives and events of the Jews in the Hellenistic Age.
5. Examine the portrait of Antiochus Epiphanies IV from primary source material.

I. Synopsis of this Period1

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

PTOLEMIES AND SELEUCIDS
MACCABEAN REVOLT
HASMONEAN DYNASTY

ALEXANDER THE GREAT2

333……….Battle of Issus, decisive victory of Alexander‘s forces over the Persians
332……….Palestine comes under Alexander’s control
323……….Death of Alexander the Great
301……….Ptolemy I gains control of Palestine

1
Donald E. Gowan Bridge Between the Testaments: A Reappraisal of Judaism from the Exile to the Birth of
Christianity (Pickwick Publications, Eugene, OR.) 1986.
2
Ibid., 47.
JUDEA UNDER THE PTOLEMIES AND SELEUCIDS3
Egypt Syria
323-288…..Ptolemy I Lagi 312/11-281…..Seleucus I
301…..Ptolemy controls Palestine
283-246…..Ptolemy II Philadelphus 281-261………..Antiochus I
275…..Ptolemy II invades Syria
261-246………..Antiochus II
260…..Antiochus II invades Palestine
246-221….Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-226………..Seleucus II
245….Ptolemy III invades Syria
225-223……….Seleucus III
221-203…Ptolemy IV Philopator 223-187……….Antiochus III (The Great)
203-181…Ptolemy V (Epiphanes)
202-199 Antiochus III conquers Palestine
181-146…Ptolemy VI Philometor 187-175……….Seleucus IV
175-164……….Antiochus IV (Epiphanes)

MACCABEAN REVOLT4
175-164……….ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES
170/69………...Antiochus’ first campaign against Egypt
168……………...Antiochus’ second campaign against Egypt where he is met by Rome
167, Dec……...Pagan sacrifice in Jerusalem temple, beginning of persecution
165/5……….….Death of Mattathias, JUDAS MACCABEUS leads revolt
164, March…..Negotiations lead to end of persecution
164, Dec……...Purification of temple (Hanukah)
163/2……….….Antiochus V
162-150……….Demetrius I
161………………Death of Judas, JONATHAN succeeds him
153/2…………..Jonathan appointed high priest by Alexander Balas
150-145……….ALEXANDER BALAS
143/2………....Death of Jonathan, SIMON succeeds him
142-139……….Simon gains freedom from tribute to Syria, assumes title
“prince of the people” as well as high priest.
145-139/8…….DEMETRIUS II
145/142/1…….ANTIOCHUS VI
142/1-138…….TRYPHON
139/8-129…….ANTIOCHUS VII
134……………….Death of Simon

HASMONEAN DYNASTY (Self Rule of Israel under Hasmonean’s)

3
Ibid., 61.
4
Gowan, 72.
 134-104………….JOHN HRCANUS
104-103………….ARISTOBULUS I
103-76……………ALEXANDER JANNAEUS
76-67……………..ALEXANDRA (Queen)
75/4-66/5……….Hyrcanus II (High Priest)
66/5-63…………..ARISTOBULUS II
63……………………Pompey enters Jerusalem, Judea becomes a vassal state of Rome
63-40………………Hyrcanus II (High Priest)
40-37………………ANTIGONUS
37…………………..Accession of Herod the Great

II. SUMMARY OF THE SOURCES

A. The Historical Sources:

a. Although the Persian period has few historical works written that is not true for the
Hellenistic Period.
b. A resurgence of writing takes place now that a future hope seems possible.
c. Many new Genre’s and volumes appear that are couched in the historical and political
views of the time.

B. The Book of Daniel:

a. Literary criticism claims the book was written only after the events. Conservatives say
Daniel is prophetic and did not need to be written after the events.
b. The criticism of Daniel being dated beyond his lifetime is a recent development.

1. No Jewish or Christian scholar in the Inter-Testamental or early church

age ever questioned.
2. The only exception is a pagan author named Porphyry around the 3rd
century AD5

c. Conservative authors on Daniel :

i. John F. Walvoord:
1. Daniel, The key to prophetic Revelation
2. The Knowledge Bible Commentary

ii. Josh McDowell

1. Evidence that Demands a Verdict Vol. 2: He explains and dismantles
the liberal view of Daniel and literary criticism with excellence and
scholarship.

5
John F. Walvoord Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Moody Press, Chicago, IL., 1989) 12.
 C. Josephus

a. The Man: A Jewish Priest who turned General in revolt against the Romans. Took a
suicide at Gamala when defeat was in sight. After all were dead he and the last man did
not follow through. Rather than fight a losing battle or die a martyr he submitted to
Rome and became a scribe recording the Roman was in Judea (This is what we call “The
Jewish Wars”). He later would write the history of his people (This is known as the
“Antiquities of the Jews”).

b. The Writings:

i. Jewish Wars (JW).6

1. Josephus stated he wrote the book in the language of his homeland
(Hebrew or Aramaic).
2. He sent it to the people in the upper Tigris region, the Jews in Babylon
(J.W. 1.3.).
3. Josephus translated the book into Greek and had assistants to help with
his translation (Ag. Ap., 1.50).
4. The Emperor Titus wished the Romans to learn of the War in Judea and
gave his signature of approval for its publication (Life, 363).
5. Sources Josephus Used:
6. His writings of the Hasmonean state came from utilizing Nicolaus of
Damascus, a friend and counselor of Herod the Great. He was hostile
towards the Hasmonean’s, but a closer contemporary to the state of
affairs in Judea of that time. None of his works have survived directly
but mild reconstructions of it are made from other authors.

ii. Antiquities of the Jews (Ant.)7

1. This work is Josephus’ attempt to describe human history from creation
to 66 AD.
2. These works did not have the assistance of the translators he had for
Jewish Wars since it was not under the directive of the Emperor of
Rome.
3. He copied large sections of Greek sources.
4. These are some reasons why Antiquities is filled with contradictions.

iii. Life of Josephus (Life.) A short autobiography of Josephus.

iv. Against Appion (Ag. Ap.) A debate with a philosopher where Josephus
attempts to debate the Jewish Faith in an apologetic manor.
v. Comment of Josephus’ sources for his writing 8

6
Hanan Eshel The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Hasmonean State (Eerdman Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI.,
2008), 5-8.
7
Eshel, 6-8.
 1. Nicolaus of Damascus, a friend and counselor of Herod the Great. He
was hostile towards the Hasmonean’s, but a closer contemporary to the
state of affairs in Judea of that time. None of his works have survived
directly but mild reconstructions of it are made from other authors.
2. Strabo and Timagenes
3. Jewish Rabbinic Literature
4. Conclusion: Since Josephus had such strong reliance on second and
third party literature for events prior to his time, contradictions arise.
This makes any additional sources available to study the Hellenistic age
profound and useful.

D. Maccabees

a. I Maccabees
i. A historical summary of the circumstantial events in Judea from 175-134 BC. It
is pro-Jewish and one sided in its version of history.

b. II Maccabees
i. This version reviews history from 175-160 BC but does less with history and
more with embellished legends. The purpose of this writing is less historical and
more to exhort the Jewish people under persecution.9 Much like Revelation’s
purpose for its letters to the church’s Rev. 2:1-3:22.

E. Dead Sea Scrolls

a. Over 900 Scrolls found at Qumran and region.

b. Details of these scrolls covered in future lectures
c. An over simplification of these sources.
i. Written between 250 BC and 70 AD (Temple destruction)
ii. Mostly in Hebrew, some Aramaic
iii. Written by the faction of Jews known as the “Essen’s”
iv. Authors avoided the use of people’s proper names and used titles like “The
Wicked Priest”, “The Righteous Teacher”, etc…
v. Only ten scrolls mention a known historical figure by name.10
1. Onias (Probably one of the High Priests who served in Jerusalem Temple
prior to the Hasmonean Revolt.
2. Jonathan and Simeon (Most likely the sons of Mattathias).
3. John (Probably John Hyrcanus I).
4. King Jonathan (Who should be identified as Alexander Jannaeus).
5. Salamzion and Hyrcanus.

8
Eshel, 8.
9
Gowan, 72-73.
10
Eshel, 3.
 6. Antiochus and Demetrius (Both Seleucid kings).
7. Ptolemy (Who might be one of the Ptolemaic rulers).
8. Aemilius, a Roman general appointed by Pompey as Governor of Syria in
63 BC

F. Apocrypha & Pesudopigrapha

a. Pseudopigrapha: A genre of Jewish literature predominantly from the Hellenistic age.

Its meaning comes from the Greek “False inscription or author”.

i. An example if this would be the book of 1 Enoch. Although it bears the title
“Enoch”, who lived in the pre-history of Genesis, he would not be the author.
The writer uses a figure and writes on their behalf, but all readers recognize it is
not that individual who is writing. It is a substitute author who writes as though
they were that individual.

b. Apocrypha: From the Greek meaning “To hide or conceal”.

i. Some believe this comes from 2 Esdras 14 where it says 94 books were dictated
to Ezra. 24 were of the Hebrew cannon and the 70 reserved only for the wise.11
ii. This literature was produced by both Jewish and Christians authors (OT by
Jewish and NT by Christian).
iii. Although versions of OT Apocrypha was added to the LXX it was the Christian
community that preserved these works. The Jews neither embraced them as
cannon nor preserved them.
iv. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox church canonized several of these works.
v. Protestants do not embrace these as cannon but do see their value for historical
and cultural insight to this window of history.
vi. Literature is always couched in the context of history even if the material is not
historical. Just as satire can give insight to a perspective of history, so these
works give a window of thought and events in that day.

c. Herodotus:
i. A Greek who traveled the Near East after the Persian and Greek tension ended
and it was safe to travel.
ii. Was willing to write even legends. Many deemed his work highly flawed but
archaeology and time is showing he is a source worth considering.

G. Greek and Latin Authors on Jews and Judaism by Eisenbraugh Publishers

a. This is a great compilation of all Greek and Latin writing that mentions Jews and Judaism
in the Hellenistic and Roman Era.
b. To sift purchase and sift through the writings would take a lifetime. This is one of the
greatest resources available. It was originally in Hebrew and has been translated to

11
Gowan, 261.
 English while still keeping texts in Greek and Latin for those competent in original
language.

III. SUMMARY OF THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD

A. ALEXANDER THE GREAT

a. This meant the end of Persian rule in Judea and the beginning of Greek dominion and
Hellenization. It starts as something good but becomes a clash of cultures after
Alexander’s death and his successors reign in Judea.

b. The Man

i. He was the son of a General

ii. Student of Aristotle.
iii. Conquered the whole world by the age of 32.
iv. Was poisoned, possibly by his own men.
v. On his death there was confusion to who he named his successor.
1. Some say “The Strongest”
2. Others say the name of one of his generals that sounds similar to that
phrase.
vi. His kingdom was divided between his four generals.
vii. He was passionate about the Greek culture and spread “Hellenism” wherever
they conquered. He respected the institutions of a region but developed the
area into Greek “civilized” culture through introducing certain institutions and
structures.

c. References in scripture

i. Daniel

1. (Dan 7:6 NIV)6 "After that, I looked, and there before me was another
beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings
like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority
to rule.

a. Leopard: Alexander the Great Conquers the world very fast. In

ten years. Comes to power in 333 BC and Dies at 32 June of
323 having conquered the known world.
b. Four Wings: His four Generals. Two of which will be famous in
Hellenistic History and Judea Ptolemy (In Egypt) and Seleucid
(In Syria).
3
2. (Dan 8:3-8, 20-22 NIV) I looked up, and there before me was a ram
with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long.
4
One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched
the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No
animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power.
5
He did as he pleased and became great. As I was thinking about this,
suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from
6
the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground.
 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the
7
canal and charged at him in great rage. I saw him attack the ram
furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was
powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and
8
trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. The
goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn
was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up
toward the four winds of heaven.

a. Ram with two horns: Medes and Persians two horns on one
empire, Persia
b. Goat with a prominent horn between his eyes: Horn,
Alexander the Great.
c. Without touching the earth: Again, the speed with which
Alexander the Great defeats the world of Medes and Persians.
d. Height of his power the large horn was broken off: Alexander
the Greats death in 323 BC.
e. And in its place our prominent horns grew up: The four
Generals of Alexander the Great.
20
3. (Dan 8:20-22 NIV) The two-horned ram that you saw represents the
21
kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and
22
the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that
replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will
emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

a. Daniel gives us the interpretation of the kingdoms he is

seeing symbolically.
3
4. (Dan 11:3-9 NIV) Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with
4
great power and do as he pleases. After he has appeared, his
empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of
heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he
5
exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders
will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with
6
great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of
the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance,
but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In
those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and
7
her father and the one who supported her. "One from her family line will
arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North
8
and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He
will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of
silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave
9
the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the
realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

a. The mighty king… do as he pleases: Alexander the Great.

b. King of the South: Ptolemy’s
c. King of the North: Seleucids
d. This section describes the battles between these generals
during their reign of Judea.

ii. Ezekiel 26-28 (Destruction of Tyre)

 1. (Eze 26:12 NIV)12 They will plunder your wealth and loot your
merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine
houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea

a. The history behind the text (Prophecy):

i. Alexander defeats the Sidonian’s and marches south to
Tyre.

ii. Requests permission to sacrifice to Heracles in their city,

which he claimed to descend from.
iii. He offered a peace treaty and would avoid them but in
light of their reaction he chose to conquer the city.
iv. They refused because they moved from the city of Tyre
on the coast to an island fortress in the sea. They felt
safe.
v. Alexander built a bridge out of the city Tyre 200’ wide.
vi. When he reached the city 8,000 soldiers were killed and
30,000 women and children were made slaves. Only
400 of Alexander’s soldiers died.
vii. The archeological remains of that bridge still are
present in the ocean.

d. Josephus: Jewish antiquities 11.317-345,

i. Speaks of his conquer of Persia and Tyre.
ii. Mentions an account of him offering sacrifice in Jerusalem and refusing to do
the same for the Samaritans at their request.

e. Hallmarks of Hellenization in the World

i. The Polis: Greek for “city”.12

1. Had two characteristics, autonomy and liberty.
2. All citizens had a voice in the general assembly “ecclesia” (We get the
name of the church from this.
3. Life centered around ones citizenship

ii. The spread of the Greek language

1. In times past Akkadian and Aramaic were the trade languages of the
ancient near east.
2. Now the universal language begins to shift to Greek and culminates by
the Roman era.

iii. Hybrid culture:

1. A new hybrid culture of Greek and whatever it synchronized with.

12
Gowan, 55.
 2. As Gowan words it,

“To what extend does cultural change endanger the values of

traditional religion”.13

3. That question is the spark that ignites the Maccabean revolt 150 years
later.

B. PTOLEMIES AND SELEUCIDS

1. Key Scriptural moment:

3
a. (Dan 11:3-9 NIV) Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do
4
as he pleases. After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out
toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power
5
he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. "The king of the
South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and
6
will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The
daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she
will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed
7
over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. "One
from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the
8
North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize
their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off
9
to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the
North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

ii. The mighty king… do as he pleases: Alexander the Great.

iii. King of the South: Ptolemy’s
iv. King of the North: Seleucids
v. This section describes the battles between these generals during their
reign of Judea.

b. Comment on resources to study this period of History:

i. Donald Gowan, Bridge Between the Testaments: A Reappraisal of Judaism from

the Exile to the Birth of Christianity.
ii. Emil Schurer , History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ
iii. Oded Lipschitz, Judah and the Judeans in the Fourth Century B.C.E.
iv. Victor Tcherikover, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews

c. Developments in the Ethos of Judea:

i. The Polis of Jerusalem

13
Ibid, 56.
 1. There was a push to make Jerusalem a Polis (2 Macc. 4:9-15; 1 Macc.
1:11-15).
9
(2Ma 4:9-15 KJA) Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and
fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and
for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write
them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.
10
Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the
rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.
11
And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the
means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome
for amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments
which were according to the law, he brought up new customs against the
law:
12
For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself, and
brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear
a hat.
13
Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of
heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that
ungodly wretch, and no high priest;
14
That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but
despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be
partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the
game of Discus called them forth;
15
Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the
Grecians best of all.
11
(1Macc 1:11-15 KJA) In those days went there out of Israel wicked
men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with
the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we
have had much sorrow.
12
So this device pleased them well.
13
Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to
the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the
heathen:
14
Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to
the customs of the heathen:
15
And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant,
and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

2. This brought in a permanency of Hellenistic culture, the games, the

theater etc.

ii. Prosperity of the Aristocracy

1. While Nehemiah bailed out his people from a recession and shut down
commerce on the Sabbath, this group would bring in pagan materialism
and its low values with high profits.
2. Some believed many misfortunes were impacting the Jews because they
made no alliance with the Gentiles. (1 Macc. 1:11)
 11
In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who
persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant
with the heathen that are round about us: for since we
departed from them we have had much sorrow.
(1Ma 1:11 KJA)

iii. The Priesthood for sale to the highest bidder with the lowest Morals.

1. When the Priesthood became perverted Between 180- 176 BC:

2. The People Involved

a. Onias III
b. John Hyrcanus I of the Tobias Family
c. Simon “captain of the Guard”
d.

3. The Setting and story

a. When Nehemiah returned the high priesthood became to
position of influence.
b. Onias III, became pro- Ptolemy through a friendship with John
Hyrcanus I. He placed his fortues in the temple treasury. Since
there were no banks back then, this was a smart move to
protect his money.14
c. Simon, a captain of the guard, reported this to the Seleucids
since they always needed money (2 Macc. 3:6, 11).
d. The Seleucids attempt to rob the temple but fail
e. Simon later charges Onias III with treason plotting against the
Seleucids (2 Macc. 4:1-2).
f. That leader dies before a decision is made for Onias III
g. Antiochus IV takes the throne and Simon offers a bribe to
replace him.
h. Onias III is sent to exile and Antiochus IV replaces him with his
brother Jason.
i. Jason was a liberal individual unlike Onias III. He was a good
choice for a liberal leader.
11
(1Macc 1:11 KJA) In those days went there out of Israel
wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make
a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since
we departed from them we have had much sorrow.
11
(2Macc 4:11 KJA) And the royal privileges granted of special
favor to the Jews by the means of John the father of Eupolemus,
who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away;
and putting down the governments which were according to the

14
Gowan, 73-74.
 law, he brought up new customs against the law:

j. “From this time on the Seleucids and their successors, the

Romans, assumed the right to appoint and depose the Jewish
High Priest.”15

d. Ptolemeys in Egypt16
i. Ptolemy Soter I
1. Alexander’s Body Guard
2. General of Maccedonia
3. Satrap of Egypt
4. Pharaoh of Egypt
5. Saw Egypt as the region easily controlled
a. Cut off from the world
b. Ethinic and historic unity
c. All together created in Egypt a stable society
ii. The Unique shape Helenism took in Egypt
1. Although the goal of Hellenization was to meld cultures into a Greek
culture, this was not the best fit for anyone seeking to rule Egypt.
2. Ptolemy I noted this for several reasons
3. Egypt is culturally different from most cultures in the Medeteranian and
Near East.
4. The system of Egypt was already in place.
a. Like a Pyramid, the Pharaoh was on top
b. The Scribles and Priests and Pharaoh’s family ruled under them
c. The peasants were on the base upholding the rest.
5. Ptolemy I merely replaced the Pharonic state with himself and let the
rest remain.
6. They established Alexandria as the new capitol, away from the ancient
capitols of Egpyt.
a. They were not interested in fusing with the people
b. Egyptian Peasents even needed a passport to enter the city.
c. The Romans refered to the city as “Alexandria, next to Egypt”
seen as separate.
iii. The Exploitation of Egypt by the Ptolemy’s
1. Ptolomey Micromanaged the commerce
a. Set up Alexandria by Alexander the great as a port for
commerce
b. Ptolemy used and kept it separate the cultures weren’t
interested in fusing cultures.
c. Documents

15
Ibid, 74.
16
Jeremy Mclnerny Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age Egypt Under the Early Ptolemies The
Teaching Company, Chantilly, VA) 2000. This whole section is attributed to a lecture delivered in this DVD series.
 i. Speak of the people having a seal of inspection or they
pay more
ii. “ “ measuring the depth of the
water in irrigation
iii. Even the tools used were accounted for.
iv. All this to say they micro-managed and taxed on all
ends.
2. The #1 document from this period is the petition.
a. A man who is being mistreated by a Greek doing trade. (Writes
with Zenon and was dealing with Krotos)
i. Perhaps a camel driver
ii. Man wouldn’t pay him
iii. He did not speak Greek and the man did not speak
Egyptian
iv. Never paid the man
v. “They have treated me with scorn because I don’t speak
Greek”
vi. Ouk Helonisto “Don’t speak Greek.”
b. A man who’s home is confiscated by a Greek.
iv. The property was owned by the “Ptolemy Pharaoh” and Greeks in a document
about the region of Kerkeosiris
1. 52% owned by the Ptolemy himself, over ½ of Egypt
2. 33% Greeks clerics (colonists)
3. 6% The Temple
4. 9% owned by the Egyptian Peasants to live off to supply all their needs
v. The use of coin
1. All Egyptians used copper coin
2. All outside of Egypt dealt with gold/silver bulioun.
3. In other words they kept the people dealing only with each other and
unable to barter with those outside Egypt.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE MACCABEAN REVOLT17

A. Hellenistic Age.
1. Picture of the Hellenistic Age.
a. Marked by cohersion
b. Ordinary people afraid because of the uncertainty of the times
c. Cities were frequently left vulnerable unstable and were dependent on
benefactors
d. The Power of the Government was oppressive.
e. Danger of pirates and thieves and possible to be carried off as a slave.
2. Why didn’t revolts take place?
a. Much of the ancient world was always like this.
b. Conditions in the ancient world were always like this.
c. Once you left the safety of the city and entered the “wild” you took your life
into your own hand by thieves and threats.

17
“Alexander and the Hellenistic Age” Lecture 17 The Maccabean Revolt I” ©The Teaching Company, 2000.
 d. Governments and Kings were most always oppressive
3. Revolts did take place.
a. Antiochus III ( ruled 223-187 BC )
1. Faced 7 years of rebellion
a. Achius “Asia Minor”
b. King Molan in Media
c. Aristonicus
4. The best documented case of uprising is the Maccabean Rebellion
a. Came as a result of the desecration of the temple by soldiers of Antiochus IV.
B. Antiochus IV (Ruled 175-164 BC) and the Maccabean Revolt.
1. Antiochus IV is seen as a precursor of an ancient example of a Hitler type of individual.
2. The Maccabean revolt has gained recent attention as an example of a successful military
resistance.
C. Differences of the revolt compared to the Holocaust.
1. Although there were similarities there are very distinct differences
2. There was no clear anti-Semitic context in the Hellenistic world.
a. The Greeks had not developed a sense that the Jews were an inferior race or
even a culture to be dismissed.
b. Up until the late 4th century BC the Greeks new very little of Judea.
c. Hecetius, a historian at the end of the 4th century writes of the Judean Exodus
and mentions their departure from Egypt led to others departing as well, some
who even came to Greece.
1. He paints a picture of the Greeks origin as analogous to the Jews.
2. Definition: Analogous: Similar or alike in such a way as to permit the
drawing of an analogy.
3. No prior history of any legal restrictions place on the Jews prior to the Maccabean
Revolt
a. Unlike the SS laws passed against the Jews in 1933.
b. In fact, the Seleucids long dealt tolerantly with the Jewish people.
D. A history of Seleucid tolerance of their Jewish subjects.
1. Antiochus II repeatedly negotiated with high ranking Jewish officials.
a. Jason, Menelaus, Lysimachus.
1. These men spoke Greek and the Seleucids saw them more as integrated
Greeks.
2. Presented them as Greek and were integrated and not seen as entirely
foreign at all.
2. The Jewish Community of Judea was not a ghetto but was its own self sustaining
province.
a. A separate and distinct region in the Seleucid empire
b. Paid its taxes on time,
c. Supported the Seleucid kings in their wars against the Ptolemy’s.
d. Judea was a peaceful, well integrated part of the Seleucid realm.
e. The Seleucids ruled a poly-ethnic empire, and they did so pragmatically; it was
not in their interest to antagonize the Jews.
1. All throughout the world they ruled multi ethnic people.
2. Antiochus III and the Seleucids have recorded in Josephus evidence of
their tolerance and occasional benevolence toward the Jews
 3. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews XII.3. 3-4
"Since the Jews, upon our first entrance on their country,
demonstrated their friendship towards us, and when we came to their
city [Jerusalem], received us in a splendid manner, and came to meet
us with their senate, and gave abundance of provisions to our soldiers,
and to the elephants….I would also have the work about the temple
finished, and the cloisters, and if there be anything else that ought to be
rebuilt. And for the materials of wood, let it be brought them out of
Judea itself and out of the other countries, and out of Libanus tax free;
and the same I would have observed as to those other materials which
will be necessary, in order to render the temple more glorious; and let
all of that nation live according to the laws of their own country; and
let the senate, and the priests, and the scribes of the temple, and the
sacred singers, be discharged from poll-money and the crown tax and
other taxes also…..We also discharge them for the future from a third
part of their taxes, that the losses they have sustained may be repaired.
And all those citizens that have been carried away, and are become
slaves, we grant them and their children their freedom and give order
that their substance be restored to them."….4. And these were the
contents of this epistle. He also published a decree through all his
kingdom in honor of the temple, which contained what follows: "It
shall be lawful for no foreigner to come within the limits of the temple
round about; which thing is forbidden also to the Jews, unless to those
who, according to their own custom, have purified themselves.
a. This shows the Seleucid policy to help repair the damage done
to the temple.
b. This policy not only shows tolerance, but respect of the Jews,
their religion, unique laws and customs.
4. 2 Maccabeus reflects back upon this time Prior to Antiochus IV with
their favorable policy and respect of Judean religion.
a. 2 Maccabeus 3:1-3 While the holy city lived in perfect peace
and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of
the high priest Onias and his hatred of evil, 2 the kings
themselves honored the Place and glorified the temple with
the most magnificent gifts. 3 3 Thus Seleucus, king of Asia,
defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary
for the sacrificial services.
5. The question comes to bear; what provoked the Maccabean Revolt
since the disposition of the Seleucids seemed favorable to the Jews?
a. The Answer, one man Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanies,
Antiochus the Mad Man)
E. Antiochus IV “The Champion of Hellenism”
1. One man changes the policy of his father and fore fathers.
2. He believes his Job is to spread Hellenistic culture throughout his empire.
3. He attempted to create a common culture and worship through the Seleucid kingdom.
4. The Decree by Antiochus IV that kindled the fire of the Maccabean Revolt.
 a. I Maccabeus 1:42-50 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all
should be one people, 42 each abandoning his particular customs. All the
Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, 43 and many Israelites
were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the
Sabbath. 44 The king sent messengers with letters to Jerusalem and to the
cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; 45
to prohibit holocausts, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane
the Sabbaths and feast days, 46 to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred
ministers, 47 to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice
swine and unclean animals, 48 to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to
let themselves be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination, 49
so that they might forget the law and change all their observances. 50
Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king should be
put to death.
1. Although “the king wrote to his whole kingdom” there is a lack of
evidence throughout the entire kingdom.
2. Coinage continues to use previous general symbols
3. Some vassals in other areas of the Seleucids control seems to have
evidence of local cultic devotion.
4. Some scholars argue is an attempt of
5. IF Antiochus wrote a decree for the whole kingdom then the only
place we have evidence for this is the one place that chose to resist,
Judea.

b. Ruler Cult Theory

1. One explanation of this anomaly is the Ruler cult theory.
2. This theory believes Antiochus IV was not issuing a kingdom wide
decree but was attempting to establish a ruler cult in Judea with the
hope of its popularity spreading.
3. He wished to be worshiped at Zeus Olympius (Father of the Gods).
4. However, this theory seems to lack credence also.
a. Antiochus IV seems to have permitted the worship of other
Gods as well.
b. He did take the title “Epiphanies” i.e. the God right here.
5. The idea of Antiochus entering the temple and converting it to a temple
to Zeus, which he claimed to be, hardly seems like a person attempting
to win over people to a ruler cult.
5. When Cultures Clash?
a. Scholar’s perspective of the Maccabean/Antiochus IV conflict.
1. Many see this simplified as a clash of cultures.
2. Greeks colliding with Jews.
3. Dr. Jeremy McInerney recommends we see it more as a clash in two
cultures fueled by small conflicts that compounded.
a. These other conflicts also involved Jews vs. Jews. Hellenized
and un Hellenized.
b. Jews in the city and Jews in the country.
6. Three major contributing factors to the Maccabean Revolt.
 a. The Plummeting fortunes of Antiochus IV.
1. He was the last Seleucid to rule unchallenged. But the crumble was
coming.
b. A power struggle in the families of the leading ranks in Jerusalem. (Hellenized
and UN-Hellenized Jews)
c. A widening gulf between the urban and country living Jews. (Orthodox and
Unorthodox Jews)
7. Three Factors examined.
a. The Plummeting fortunes of Antiochus IV
1. 189 Battle of Magnesia the Romans Defeat Antiochus III
a. Gave up all the Seleucid territory in Asia Minor.
b. The terms of this peace treaty would have crippled most rulers
c. Paid 10,000 talents over ten years at 1,000 talents of silver a
year.
d. All holdings of the Seleucids in what we know as Turkey
vanished overnight.
e. The Attalid
2. 168 Antiochus IV is forced to sign a peace treaty at Apamea with the
Romans
a. Not a military defeat like his father, but a political one
b. Account recorded by Historian
i. Livy (ca. 64 B.C.-ca. A.D. 12), or Titus Livius, was a
Roman historian
c. Roman Magistrate. Gaius Popillius Laenas Recorded in Roman
Historian “Livy”

"After receiving the submission of the inhabitants of Memphis

and of the rest of the Egyptian people, some submitting
voluntarily, others under threats, [Antiochus] marched by
easy stages towards Alexandria. After crossing the river at
Eleusis, about four miles from Alexandria, he was met by the
Roman commissioners, to whom he gave a friendly greeting
and held out his hand to Popilius. Popilius, however, placed
in his hand the tablets on which was written the decree of the
senate and told him first of all to read that. After reading it
through he said he would call his friends into council and
consider what he ought to do. Popilius, stern and imperious
as ever, drew a circle round the king with the stick he was
carrying and said, "Before you step out of that circle give me
a reply to lay before the senate." For a few moments he
hesitated, astounded at such a peremptory order, and at last
replied, "I will do what the senate thinks right." Not till then
did Popilius extend his hand to the king as to a friend and
ally. Antiochus evacuated Egypt at the appointed date, and
 the commissioners exerted their authority to establish a
lasting concord between the brothers, as they had as yet
hardly made peace with each other." ( Livy Ab Urbe Condita,
xlv.12).

i. Is cold and indifferent to Antiochus IV.

ii. Wants to see if he is friend or foe.
iii. Antiochus asks if he could discuss with his friends the
conditions of the treaty.
iv. In a bravado arrogant fashion Gaius Popillius Laenas
draws a circle around the man and says give your
answer before leaving the circle.
d. Forced to end his war
e. With Ptolemy immediately.
f. Romans clearly becoming the power brokers of the Greek
affairs.
g. Also gives us the humiliations suffered by Antiochus. Bluffed by
a Roman magistrate.
h. He reacts a year later with a parade like that the Romans gave
Ptolemy.
i. 50,000 men
ii. All the fanfare of Hellenistic wealth.
iii. He was sending a message that neither Rome nor Egypt
meant anything to the Seleucids. They had their own
power and glory apart from them.

V. Biography of Key Hellenistic Figures.

A. Outline of Historical Figures
1. Antiochus IV “Epiphanies” (175-163 BC)
2. Judas ‘The Maccabee’ (164-161 BC)
3. John Hyrcanus I (135-104 BC)
4. Judah Aristobulus I (104-103 BC)
5. Alexander (Jonathan) Jannaeus (103-76 BC)

B. Antiochus IV “Epiphanies” (175-163 BC)

1. SOURCES: Old Testament: Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 11:25-32 Josephus: Ant. x,

(276); xii, (153); xii, (242-361, 393); xiii, (35, 243, 292); xv, (41); Jewish Wars
(B.J.) i, (19,39); v (394,460); vii, (44, 221); Against Apion i,(34); ii, (80, 83);
Apocrypha Pesudapigrapha: 1 Macc. 1:1-6:17; 2 Macc. 1:1-10:9; 4 Macc. 4-
5; Dead Sea Scrolls: 4Q248; Greek and Latin Authors: Livy Ab Urbe Condita,
xlv.12; Strabo’s Cappadox 83; Porphyry 464q-r; Appolonius Molon 88;
Tacitus, Historiae V. 8:2.

2. Some call him the ultimate villain of Jewish history. Others used the titles
god and king. Revelation would use his description from Daniel for the
 picture of the anti-Christ.’ Some men make history. Others, like Antiochus IV
are the victims of their circumstances. Jews believe that the book of Daniel
prophesies about him as the “king of the north’ but Christians will argue the
references are merely for the anti-Christ. The historian Porphyry rejected
the Christian view favoring the Jewish position but believed Daniel was
historical propaganda that was written after the events. An alternative belief
suggests that Daniel speaks to both Antiochus Epiphanies IV and the anti-
Christ.

3. Seleucid was one of four generals that divided Alexander the Great’s
kingdom after his death. The Seleucids ruled from Babylon to Syria.
Antiochus’ father was Antiochus III, ‘The Great,’ the fifth ruler of the Seleucid
Empire. He was known for his religious tolerance of the Jews while his son
would be remembered for their persecution. Ptolemy, another general of
Alexander, controlled Egypt. Both fought for control of Israel for trade and a
military buffer zone. In 190 B.C. Antiochus III was defeated by Rome at the
battle of Magnesia. The Romans reduced his army, took away large
territories of his kingdom and forced him to pay 15,000 talents of gold. That
is 855,000 lbs. or the equivalent of 428 pick-up trucks of solid gold. When
Antiochus IV inherited the kingdom, it was bankrupt. The financial strain and
Roman threat caused him to grasp Israel so tightly that revolution resulted.

4. To gather wealth for this debt, Antiochus IV traveled to Egypt to plunder the
Ptolemies. He arrived to find the Roman General Popilius standing with his
enemy. They drew a circle around Antiochus IV and asked if he wanted war
or peace. They demanded a final before allowing him to take a step.18
Antiochus IV choose peace and returned home. Upon his return home, he
plundered the temple of Jerusalem. Antiochus IV had a habit of plundering
temples to pay his debts. Once he attacked the temple of Diana whose
priests resisted and prevailed. The king left without treasure.

5. To strengthen his hold on the only

servants left in his empire, the king
declared himself a god, “Epiphanies.”
He struck coins and carved statues that
depicted him as Zeus. An image of the
deity was erected in the Jewish Temple
in Jerusalem (2 Macc. 6:1-2) and a cart
bearing an altar of incense and a statue
Figure 1
18
Jeremy McInerney, Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age: DVD-ROM (Chantilly, VA: The Teaching
Company, 2000).
 of the king was sent throughout the land for Jews to worship his image.
When the cart reached Modein, a man by the name of Mattathias, speared
two men to the cart and sent it back to Antiochus IV with the message that
they would not bow to his image. This man and his sons began what we call
the Maccabean War. Eventually his children gained independence for the
nation only to surrender it back to Rome several generations later.

C. Judas ‘The Maccabee’ (164-161 BC)

1. SOURCES: Josephus Ant. xii, (327-434) Apocrypha Pesudapigrapha: I

Maccabees 5-9:22; 2 Maccabees 12-15; Rabbinic Traditions: Megillath
Taanith § 30.

2. Titles reside for the reputation of our deeds. Judas earned the nick name,
“The Hammer” (Maccabee in Greek), for mercilessly pounding hammer- like
blows to the superpowers of his day: Rome and Greece. Judas was the son
of Mattathias and became his replacement as general.19 His father was
remembered for starting the Maccabean revolt but Judas was the military
general that made this a reality. Initially, Judas, his brothers and their
company engage the enemy with hit and run tactics similar to contemporary
guerilla warfare. Residing in caves, they surfaced to slaughter the enemy,
sowing confusion and disappear into the shadows. The author of 1
Maccabees depicts him as the new David, who took the sword of his enemy
and pursued them all the way to the Philistine coast (in I Macc. 3:10-24. I
Macc. 3:12; I Sam. 21:9 cf. I Sam. 17:51; I Sam. 17:52-53 cf. I Macc. 3:12,
24). The Seleucid army retaliated and gathered in the Valley of Ajalon, by the
city of Emmaus. In a moment of brilliance, Judas deceives and divides the
enemy. 1 Maccabees records that, “Israel had a great deliverance that day”
(1 Macc. 4:24). They battled their way to Jerusalem and cleansed the temple,
(2 Macc. 10:1-9) establishing the holiday we know as “Hanukah.”

3. The struggle of Judas transitioned from the battlefield to the High Priesthood.
Alcimus, a contender for the position, turned to the Seleucid ruler Demetrius
for installation.20 Since the Temple was the national treasury, it became
politicized. Judas never officially held the office despite one disputed
reference from Josephus. Undoubtedly, he was fully general unto his last
breath. The Seleucid Empire became unstable as contenders reached for the
throne. Judas capitalized on their conflict and gained the support of Rome for
Jewish independence. Eventually, Demetrius sent his general Nicanor to
march against Judas and Jerusalem. He mocked the priests and threatened to

19
Geza Vermes editor, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.- 135 A.D.) Vol. I.
A New English Revised Ed. (Edinburgh, England: T & T Clark LTD, 1973), 164.
20
Ibid., 169.
 burn the city but never got the opportunity. He fell in battle and the Jews
established a celebration around the day of his death, Nicanor Day (1 Macc
7:39-50) and great morning fell through all Israel.

D. John Hyrcanus I (135-104 BC)

1. SOURCES: Josephus, Ant. xiii, (230-300); Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, (55-69).

Apocrypha Pseudepigrapha, I Macc. 16:23-24; Rabbinic Literature: Mishnah
Ma’aser Sheni 5:15; Sotah 9:10.

2. Hyrcanus I rose to leadership during the Maccabean revolt upon the fall of his
father Simon. Simon was lured by the sweet words of peace by the enemy to
the fortress of Doq, only to taste the bitter sword of murder. His enemy added
the torture and murder of his mother then escaped to Philadelphia in Jordan.
His vengeful son surrounded the citadel.21
In the North, the Seleucids were amidst a coupe and Hyrcanus I allowed them
to barter for his loyalty. Secretly he Figure 2
gained the support of Rome to ensure
they kept their word.22 The result
was the political recognition for the
independence of the Jewish nation
by Rome and was tolerated by Syria.
The Lilly coin of Syria was the last
Seleucid coin of Judea marking an
end to their reign.

3. John Hyrcanus I was the first ruler

after David to hold the office of
prophet, priest and king, (J.W. i,168 cf.
Ant xiii, 282). Hyrcanus plundered the tomb of David, purchased
mercenaries and declared war on all non-Jewish neighbors in prejudice and
brutality. 23

4. Domestically he sided with the Sadducees and marginalized the authority of

the scribes. The Talmud recalls his disdain; “And what will happen to the
Torah? -It will be wrapped up and laid in a corner, and all who wish to come

21
Abraham Schalit, The World History of the Jewish People Vol. 6: Political History of Jewish
Palestine from 332 BCE to 67 BCE (New Brunswick, Canada: Rutgers University Press, 1972), 211.
22
Ibid., 219-220.
23
Schalit, 217-219.
 and study it, let them come and study.”24 The beauty of Priestly robes became
soiled from Greek-like diadems and behavior.

5. Under Hyrcanus, the Hasmonean house sided with the Sadducees and
marginalized the scribes or „Pharisees.‟ This divided sage and priest. The
Pharisees demanded the king‟s resignation from the High Priesthood, but he
refused. The Mishnah reflects this hostility where the Pharisees determined
that the bones of a donkey were clean but not the bones of John Hyrcanus I.25
The Sadducees became an aristocracy of wealthy men who were not interested
in study of the Law, placing it to the side of political and financial gain. The
Monarchy of Judah began to define itself in the virtues of becoming more like
a Greek king rather than a kingdom of priests. Victor Tcherikover says it
well; “And then came the great change: the Hasmonean took the road of
monarchy; the power of the High Priest became a secular authority.”26

E. Judah Aristobulus I (104-103 BC)

1. SOURCES: Josephus Ant. xiii, (301-319); Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, (70-84).

2. How much damage can a person do in a year? Aristobulus I might have

destroyed centuries of Jewish identity and culture, had he reigned longer.
He was the son of John Hyrcanus I, brother to Alexander Jannaeus and king
for only one year. Irony and Josephus would declare him the first Jew in 481
years to “wear the diadem on his head” (Ant. xiii, 301). His first coins read,
“Judah the High Priest and the Community of the Jews” (Hever ha-Yehhdim).27
None of the coins he minted ever mentioned him as king but the crown on
his head made him more Greek than previous Hasmonean.

3. Like his father, Aristobulus was a Sadducee who took away more of the
Jewish identity. Under Aristobulus’ reign, the name of the Jewish community
or counsel of the Jews became “Hever ha-Yehhdim” and in the Greek, the
“Sanhedrin.”28 The identity of ‘the community of the Jews’ may have been
on his coins, but their title, like his crown, was seen and spoken in Greek
terms. He was close to his brother Antigonus and together they led military
campaigns. Josephus says he made him “equal” while throwing all other kin

24
Victor Tcherikover, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews (Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society of
America, 1959), 43, 494.
25
Jacob Neusner, The Mishnah: A New Translation (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988), 1131.
26
Tcherikover, 263.
27
Schalit, 224.
28
Ibid.
 and his mother in prison (Jewish Wars i, 71). Like many crowns, the one
Aristobulus I wore held the weight of suspicion and jealousy. When he
showed signs of disease, his mother conspired for the murder of her sons.
She poisoned the king’s mind with suggestions that Antigonus was
attempting to steal the throne by force. Their mother convinced the prince
that his king wished to see his new armor. In the kings ear she whispered
that his brother had come to kill him. Antigonus was killed before reaching
the throne. Days later, Aristobulus died of internal bleeding from a disease.
The Queen released the family from prison and placed Alexander Jannaeus
on the throne (Jewish Wars i, 74-85).

F. Alexander (Jonathan) Jannaeus (103-76 BC)

G.
1. SOURCES: Josephus: Ant. xiii, (320-406); Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, (85-106);
Apocrypha Pseudepigrapha: Dead Sea Scrolls: I QpNah I 2 on Nahum 2:12; I
QpNah I 6-8 on Nah. 2:13 RabbinicTraditions: Genesis rabbah 91:3,
yBerakhoth 11b, 48a; b. Yoma 25b, b. Sukkah 48b, b. Kiddushin 66a,

2. History is like a well written tragedy. Many people who enter the story
heroically exit as villains. Alexander Jannaeus is one such actor on the stage.
After the death of Aristobulus I, Alexander Jannaeus assumed the throne.29
The beginning of his reign was described as moderate.30 However, by the
end of his reign he earned him the title “murderer” from his countrymen for
his butcheries.31 Jannaeus assumes the office of “king” and “high priest.” His
coins initially were stamped in Hebrew, “Jonathan, The High Priest and the
Council of the Jews.”32 As time progressed they read in Hebrew and finally in
Greek, “Of Alexander the King.”33 As this Jewish High Priest was captivated
by Hellenization he began to look more like the Greek kings of the East rather
than Aaron, David or the priestly kings of old.34
Alexander felt the burden of furthering the campaigns of his fore-fathers.
Judah was losing revenue because the coastal cities of the Galilee were
abandoned in the days of Simon (I Macc. 5:1-10). He declared war on the coastal
region of the Galilee and experienced success until coming to Acco (then known
29
Schalit, 225. Scholars like Schalit believe his proper name is Jannaeus Alexander because the initial
reference to him is by that title.
30
Ibid., 227. He cites Ant. xiii, 321 & Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, 85 (metrio,thj).
31
Ibid., 232-233.
32
David Hendin, Guide to Biblical Coins (NY, NY: Amphora Books, 1987), 43-47.
33
Ibid., 43-47.
34
Schalit, 232.
 as Ptolemies). The Greeks advanced against the Hasmonean king from Egypt.
He fled from the battle and the Greeks struck down the fleeing Jews “until their
swords became blunted with killing and their hands were utterly tiered (Ant. xii,
344).” This caused the kings popularity to diminish.
The second decline of his adoration was due to his lack of piety for the
people’s traditions. The Pharisees added a ceremony to the Feast of Booths
where the high priest would offer a cup of water on the ground before the
altar.35 The Sadducees, whom Jannaeus sided with,
rejected the oral traditions. Instead of offering the
libation (water) on the ground he poured it on his feet
as a mockery of the Pharisaic ritual. The crowd
responded by pelting him with fruit and calling him the
“son of a captive.”36 A civil war between the Pharisees
and the Saddusaic king ensued for six years (90-85
BC).37 Jannaeus attempted to make peace with the
Pharisees but when he inquired about what he could
do to reconcile them to their king, they replied, “Die!”
The Pharisees sought the support of the Seleucids to
overthrow their disappointing king. They felt it would be
Figure 4
better to be a vassal nation with pure religion than have
freedom with an apostate king. Since Alexander Jannaeus was hiring
mercenaries in his war against the Pharisees, they felt justified for such an
alliance.38 The enraged king called the Pharisaic leaders “Hypocrites,” because
they used their religion as a mask to hide their barbaric desire for war.
The Pharisaic army and Seleucid king Demetrius Eukairos met Jannaeus
near Shechem but the Greek ruler withdrew. The events that followed were
horrifying. Alexander brought the captives to Jerusalem where he crucified 800,
slitting the throats of their families before their eyes. Alexander Jannaeus
enjoyed a feast with his concubines in the presence of this slaughter. This event
struck so much fear in the hearts of his opponents that over 8,000 Jews fled from
the country. The authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls called him a “young furious
lion” who “hangs men alive” on a tree for this act of cruelty (I QpNah I 2 on Na
2:12; I QpNah I 6-8 on Na 2:13).39

35
M. Sukkah 4:9.
36
Ant. xiii.372. This same event is found in in the Babylonian Talmud (Suk. 48b), as well as the Tosefta,
(Tosef. Suk. 3.16). The insult “son of a captive woman,” was also used against his father Hyrcanus I (Barayta in Qid.
66a).
37
Schalit, 231.
38
Schalit, 229-231. Josephus records, “No fewer than 50,000 Jews” were the casualty of this religious civil
war. cf. Ant. xiii, 376; Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, 91.
39
Geza Vermes, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, Vol. 1 (EdinBurgh, England: T &
T Clark, 1974), 25.
 At the end of his life, Jannaeus makes peace with the Pharisees. A
disease and heavy drinking overtook the king. He persuaded his wife Alexandra
to make peace with the Pharisees and even hand his corpse over to them to do
with it what they wish. Instead of disgracing his body, they give it a king’s burial.
The coins toward the end of his reign reflected this attempt for reconciliation by
returning to the Jewish inscription “The Council of the Jews.” Although he
differed with the Pharisaic Jews, he loved the Torah and it is believed that he
ordered a scroll to be made that had the name of Yahweh in Gold throughout.40

H. Antigonus (40-37 BC)

1. SOURCES: Josephus: xiv, (370-419) Jewish Wars (B.J.) i, (274-375) Greek and
Latin Authors Strabo of Amaseia, 108; Plutarch 264-266; Cassius Dio, 413-
414.
2. All good things must end and every sunset gives way to darkness. Antigonus
was the setting sun of the Hasmonean dynasty and began the darkness of
Herod’s reign. Herod was half Jewish while Antigonus was fully a Hasmonean
prince. Antigonus possessed the proper nationality, valor, intelligence and
military skills that resisted Rome. All fit perfectly under the robes of a High
Priest that could never be worn by Herod, the half Iddumean (Edomite).

3. Ironically, his Hebrew name was Mattathias.41 Antigonus‟ coins

proclaimed the title “High Priest” and “King” like the Hasmonean before
him.42 In negotiation, he bartered portions of Judea to Cleopatra for her
support. As a general, he vested Rome and Herod as a viable threat. His
claim to the throne was so threatening that Herod bribed Mark Anthony to
behead the prince. Mark Anthony executed him because of the threat he
represented to Roman control of the region. Before the cross claimed the
prince‟s life, he nearly plundered all that was dear to Herod. To the Jews, he
was a messiah. Although the loyalty of the people resonated with him, the
support of Rome remained in Herod.

4. Antigonus gathered support from the Iranian tribe called the “Parthians”
and left for Jerusalem with ambition for the crown. While Herod fled for his
life, a cart carrying his mother overturned. Suspecting she was dead, he
considered suicide. Upon the pleas of the soldiers, he did not take his life but
vented full fury on the pursuing Parthians. Placing his company on the
fortress Masada, he fled for help to Rome. There Augustus Caesar crowned

40
Schalit, 237.
41
Vermes, 281.
42
Ibid.
him king of the Jews and he returned with Roman legions that corner the
Hasmonean prince in Jerusalem. When the city fell, Antigonus was placed in
irons and begged for his life in vain. Antigonus‟ sun set and Herod‟s darkness
dawned but Christ‟s morning star would pierce the darkness and take Herod‟s
title from him, “king of the Jews.” Antigonus would have liked that ending.