{N}THE ASMONEAN FAMILY{/}

{K}ANTIGONUS IV EPIPHANES{/}
Antigonus III died leaving two sons. One of them, Seleucus IV Philopator assumed the throne of his father, while the other was held as hostage in Rome. The new king negotiated the release of his brother in exchange for his own son Demetrius. He reigned a dozen years at the end of which he was assassinated by his minister Heliodorus. The uncle then overthrew the throne of his nephew. Antiochus had himself crowned as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This political overthrow divided the leading classes. This internal turmoil was aggravated even more by Rome's increasing encroachment in the area. By the treaty of Apamea the Seleucids had lost the eastern part of their empire. And even though they had annexed Palestine, they had to keep an eye on Egypt, not because it was a formidable foe, but because it had Rome's support.

{K}SACRILEGE{/}
The event took place in 168 BC. Antigonus attacked Egypt easily defeating the army sent against him by Ptolemy VI Philometor. Antigonus savored his victory when an emissary of the Roman Senate, Popilios Laenas, gave him the following ultimatum: Leave Egypt immediately or face the consequences with Rome. Antigonus preferred the humiliation to a probable defeat, and returned with his forces to Palestine. Seeing that money is lifeline of war, Antigonus returned to a method that had already proved successful. Since all temples had a treasury, the king began taking funds from Jerusalem's Temple treasury. In no time the Jews responded in anger. Antigonus lashed back with a violent persecution against faithful supporters of the Law. He profaned the Holy Place, forbade Jewish worship and replaced it with the cult of Olympian Zeus. He then sent soldiers to the countryside to enforce his orders. This sparked a resistance movement led by the priest {N}Mattathias{/} which quickly swelled into a war for independence.

{K}HELLENISM AND JUDAISM{/}
Such a rapid degradation of the situation to the point of insurrection would not have been understandable if the motives for it had not been accumulating for some time.
The campaigns of Alexander, the founding of Macedonian colonies, and the establishment of Hellenistic kingdoms, that is, descendants of Alexander and the domination of Hellenistic or Greek culture, all had their influence on Jewish communities in the {N}diaspora{/}, that is, on those dispersed in other countries, and this process grew day by day. These Jews scattered throughout the Near East discovered a culture they had not known, but which now attracted them greatly. In Palestine, the Ptolemites had created many cities according to the Greek model, among them Ptolemais or Nisa-Scitopolis. Even in Jerusalem, the High Priest {N}Jason{/} manifested his admiration for Hellenism. He was even willing to accept 150 talents for written authorization allowing the Greeks to construct a gymnasium and a military school [2Mac_4,9]. These would signify the establishment of institutions that were repugnant to the Jewish conscience. From that time on, the division widened that separated the traditionalist Jews who demanded even greater fidelity to ancestral laws from those who believed that the modern outside influences could benefit Israel.

{K}HIGH PRIESTS DIVIDED{/}
The quarrel had reached the great priestly families. These priestly rivalries gradually motivated political powers to become involved in order to diminish the sovereignty of the high priests. Antiochus, whose financial resources were weak, quickly passed from his role as arbiter to that of judge and so from the beginning years of his reign he made it his practice to appoint and change high priests. The king deposed Onias, naming Jason as high priest in his place. Three years later a certain Menelaus offered Antiochus more money for which he was named high priest. Jason had no option but to flee. Such practices would only discredit Antiochus and the Jewish supporters of the Greeks.

{K}JUDAS MACABBEUS (166-160 BC){/}
{N}Mattathias{/} which we already named organized a resistance group to destroy pagan altars and forcefully to circumcise all uncircumcised children in the territory of Israel [1Mac_3,1] - [1Mac_3,2]. He died several months later (166 BC). His son, Judas, named the Macabbee, that is "the hammer" succeded him. His brothers and all of his father's followers offered him their support and enthusiastically continued the war [1Mac_3,1]. Antiochus didn't take their uprising seriously. He sent merely a detachment of soldiers under the command of a certain Apollonius. Judas defeated him, whereupon Governor Lysias, who ruled in the absence of the king, sent a much larger army under the command of Gorgias. Judas defeated this Seleucid force as well. Alarmed, Lysias decided to take command of the military campaign himself. His troops were also defeated and he had to flee to Antioch.

{K}RESISTANCE INTENSIFIES{/}
These unexpected victories strengthened the confidence of the Jews winning over even other Jews who out of fear had not become involved in the struggle. Now it was evident to everyone that God was again manifesting his protection for his people. And since the enemy had been repelled far from Jerusalem, it was time to take possession again of the Temple. Judas' principal goal was now to purify the Holy Place that the Greeks had profaned three years previously. The reconsecration of the altar and the sanctuary was celebrated on the 25 th of the ninth month with songs accompanied by zithers, harps, and cymbals [1Mac_4,54]. In future centuries this {N}Dedication{/} of the Temple in the year 164 BC would be commemorated on the Feast of Hanukkah. 
With the liberation and purification of the sanctuary it again became the place where the Community of Judea could celebrate its God in total freedom. Nevertheless, it was necessary to go and help those brothers and sisters that were most distant and isolated where the Greeks were more angry than ever against the Jews because of Judas' victories. Judas and his brother {N}Jonathan{/} led their forces to Gilead to inflict bloody reprisals there and to repatriate to Jerusalem all of the oppressed communities they found there. Mattathias' third son, Simon, carried out a similar mission in Galilee.
While all this was happening, Antiochus IV died, leaving an eight year old son to rule, and {N}Lysias{/} proclaimed himself regent of the kingdom. As both the Greek poulation of Palestine and his Jewish allies urged him to intervine, he decided to deal a definitive blow to the resistance. He badly defeated Judas and his troops and threatened Jerusalem. The only thing that saved the Holy City from destruction was that Lysias had to return to Antioch to defend it against Philip to whom Antiochus IV on his death bed had entrusted his kingdom.
Thereupon {N}Lysias{/} proposed to his king that he sign a treaty with Judas in order to have peace on that flank. The king sent a peace delegation to the Jews who accepted the treaty. The king and his leaders committed themselves to it under oath, and the Greeks, who were subjects of the king and were surrounded by the Jews, abandoned the Akra citadel in Jerusalem. 
It is very probable that the Book of {N}Daniel{/} was published in this year. Its author was one of the teachers of the Law who had suffered persecution. These recent events and the end of the persecution were nothing but a prelude to God's justice that would fall definitively on the persecutor and would raise God's people above all other nations.
In reality, however, no permanent solution had been achieved. The first book of the Maccabees tells what happened few days later: {C}When the king went up to Mount Zion and when he saw the defenses, he broke his oath and ordered the surrounding wall to be demolished{/} [1Mac_6,60] -[1Mac_6,62]. The king's betrayal justifiably disturbed Judas. Within a short time the hostilities resumed.  Judas had time to sign an alliance with Rome, but his own days were numbered. Overwhelmed in combat, he preferred to suffer death rather than retreat. He died in the year 160 BC.

{K}JONATHAN{/}
The palace intrigues and the political assassinations brought to the throne the son of Seleucid IV who reigned under the name of {N}Demetrius{/} I Soter. Then the Greek sympathizers again harrassed and persecuted those who had fought at the side of Judas{C}. These men traced and searched out all{I}__{/}the friends and supporters of Judas .... It was a terrible trial for Israel such as had never been experienced since the disappearance of the prophets.{/}It was then that Jonathan accepted command of the resistance after the death of his brother Judas [1Mac_9,23] - [1Mac_9,31].

{K}A DOUBLE GAME{/}
The intrigues in the court of Antioch did not resolve themselves. {N}Alexander Balas{/} presented himself as rival to Demetrius, claiming to be one of the sons of Antiochus Epiphanes. Demetrius attempted to win Jonathan's support by making him all kinds of promises, namely that in the future he would have the right to raise an army, to manufacture weapons, and to represent himself as an ally of the king. Acting upon these authorizations, Jonathan took charge of Jerusalem and began the reconstruction of the city [1Mac_10,10].
Immediately Alexander Balas made {N}Jonathan{/} a counteroffer, naming him high priest with the sought after title, "friend of the king." Without scruples, Jonathan accepted these powers at the hands of this usurper. Accordingly, in 153 BC on the Feast of Tabernacles, Jonathan made a solemn procession into the Temple dressed in the robes of the high priest.
Demetrius attempted to win over Jonathan again with even greater favors, but they were rejected. A short time later Demetrius died in combat against Alexander Balas. However, the latter soon followed him in death in 145 BC. His son, Demetrius II, reigned without opposition. Meanwhile, Jonathan continued his double game of playing contenders for power against one another until he too fell victim of an ambush at Ptolemais and was executed shortly thereafter (143 BC).

{K}THE BIRTH OF A DYNASTY{/}
After Jonathan's capture {N}Simon{/}, another of Mattathias' sons, renewed the attacks against the Seleucids. He expelled the Greek garrison controlling the citadel in Jerusalem and then occupied the territory of Joppa. With that he had gained an important foothold to the Mediterranean. He obtained an exemption from all taxes from Antioch and then, for the first time since the rebellion had begun, was the first to imprint his own coinage.
The Jews and priests granted Simon by decree dated 140 BC the title of Governor and High Priest of the Jews. In this way the Jewish community under the command of Simon regained total autonomy both religiously and politically.
The family of Mattathias was installed as head of the Community of Jerusalem, or more exactly, of the state of Israel because it had now become a state. And this family power would become hereditary, as could be seen immediately upon Simon's death. His descendants assumed in history the name as the Hasmonean rulers.

{K}A FIRST BALANCE{/}
As long as Simon lived, Judea was at peace. The inhabitants cultivated their fields in peace. The earth produced its harvests and the trees gave their fruit. The elderly sat in the public square and talked about the good state of things, while youths wore elegant garments of war. Peace was restored once more in the country and Israel experienced happy times\u0085Each one sat in the shade of his vine and of his fig tree with no one to disturb him{/} [1Mac_14,4] - [1Mac_14,12].
Such praise of Simon's government might give the impression that everything was in order. In reality, many Jews were critical of the fact that military, political, and religious power was all united in the hands of a ruler who was not a descendant of David nor of Zadok.

{K}FIRST DISSENSIONS{/}
The first dissensions appeared in the Jewish community in 153 BC when Jonathan accepted the title of high priest from Alexander Balas. Jonathan belonged to the Tribe of Levi, and was a descendant of Aaron, but he was not of the line of Zadok who was the only one approved by ancestral tradition to give a high priest to Israel. Consequently, the most religious elements of the community, the {N}Hasideans{/} (Hasidim), considered Jonathan to be an illegitimate high priest. Moreover, as a soldier, he would contract many ritual impurities that are incompatible with priestly dignity. The political ambitions and the moral decline of the royal dynasty under succeeding leaders did the rest. The Hasideans distanced themselves more and more from political power and formed the {N}Pharisees{/} movement (the Separated Ones).
About this same time and for the same reasons, a number of laity and priests distanced themselves from the Temple in Jerusalem where an illegitimate, and even unworthy high priest officiated. They established a center on the shores of the Dead Sea to live a life of total faithfulness to the Law of the Covenant. This was the origin of the Community of the {N}Covenant{/}, known better as the Community of {N}Qumran{/}.

{K}JOHN HYRCANUS{/}
Simon's son in law , Ptolemy, wanted to take power. He invited Simon and his two sons to the fortress of Dok in the year 104 BC where he killed Simon and one of the sons. The other son, John, escaped the assassins [1Mac_16,21] and according to the dynastic system the people expressed their will that he should ascend the throne. A few years later he did so, taking the name of John Hyrcanus.
In 138 BC the Parthians took Demetrius II prisoner, and he was followed on the throne of Syria by Antiochus VII. The new ruler was determined to regain Palestine despite the treaties, promises, and guarantees signed by his predecessors. Antiochus invaded Judea and besieged Jerusalem where Hyrcanus had taken refuge. However, since Antiochus was unable to take the city, he came to terms with John. A short time later, Antiochus was killed in an expedition against the Parthians (128 BC), and his brother was incapable of maintaining control over Palestine. John Hyrcanus was able to continue his plan of reconquest.
This son of Simon, John, returned first to Transjordan where he captured several cities. Crossing the Jordan again, he annihilated Sichem. The temple on Mt. {N}Gerizim{/} was leveled and the country of Samaria was forced to observe the Law to one degree or another. Nevertheless, the opposition continued: as a result Samaria, the capital of the region, was completely destroyed in 107 BC. At this same time, the inhabitants of southern Palestine, Idumea, were conquered and forced to accept circumcision. John Hyrcanus conquered even Jamnia, Azotus, and surrounding territory, in this way widening his window to the Mediterranean. With the help of Rome, John maintained these conquests and independence.

{K}PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES{/}
The reasons that motivated the {N}Pharisees{/} to distance themselves from Simon, became even more aggravated in the case of his son. John Hyrcanus had always openly favored Hellenism and this naturally attracted the Sadducees as his best allies.
The {N}Sadducees{/} probably owe their name to Zadok, the high priest who consecrated Solomon and exercised the role in the newly constructed Temple. The Sadducees had shown an interest in Hellenism even before the Maccabean revolt. Paradoxically, they were conservative in their religious beliefs, holding that only the Law had authority. They rejected oral tradition, at the opposite of the Pharisees who considered it as important as the Torah. For that reason the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead which they considered an innovation. In contrast, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection because of oral tradition. This conservatism of the Sadducees was balanced by a real openness in other fields. For example, they took the same realist position as the Hasmoneans (descendants of the Maccabees) regarding both political and cultural affairs. 
The fact that the responsibilities of the high priest had now been assumed by the king made the priestly aristocracy, that controlled worship in the Temple of Jerusalem, feel obliged to involve itself in political power. Political leaders were increasingly administering the country with an openness toward Hellenism.

{K}ARISTOBULUS THE TERRIBLE{/}
At the death of John Hyrcanus his oldest son, Aristobulus, officially took the title of king, the first of the Hasmonean family to do so. He also had his mother imprisoned, ordering that she be allowed to starve to death. Three of his brothers were also imprisoned. The youngest, Antigonus, was pardoned and even participated for some time in government. Suddenly, however, he was accused before his older brother and was executed. Although Aristobulus reigned for only two years, he had time to reconquer Galilee. At Aristobulus' death in 103 BC, his widow Salome Alexandra liberates the three imprisoned brothers, marries the oldest one and puts him on the throne. From the very beginning the new king boasts about his sympathy for Greek culture and Hellenizes his name. He would no longer be called Jonathan, but Alexander Janneus.

{K}ALEXANDER JANNEUS (103-76){/}
Alexander continued the expansionist policy of his predecessors. He conquered Carmel and the Plain of Sharon, then in the south: Gaza and the territories extending toward Egypt (96 BC). The same year he took possession of Gadara and Amathus in Transjordan. Shortly thereafter, however, he is almost defeated in an ambush by the king of the Nabateans.  His enemies think that it is time for an insurrection, and they go so far as to enlist the aid of Demetrius III (95-88), king of Antioch. However, a national popular uprising again saved the Hasmonean dynasty. Alexander takes savage revenge, exterminating his opponents. In 83 he completes his conquest of Transjordan by capturing Gerasa, Pella, and Dion. In every captured city Alexander forcefully imposed Judaism. Under these conditions, however, the unity of his kingdom was fragile. To repress subversive movements, he employed mercenaries from Asia Minor.

{K}CONFLICT WITH PHARISEES{/}
Despite the fact that Alexander Janneus, his mother, and his brothers had all suffered terribly at the hands of his brother Aristobulus, he himself did not act any more nobly toward others. He imposed his authority through terror and reduced all opposition to silence with great cruelty. The horror of his atrocities shocked his contemporaries so much that even his military successes in restoring to Israel the territories once held by Solomon could not justify his barbarism. For example, he had 6,000 Pharisees massacred to avenge their insult to him while he was officiating as high priest in the Temple on the Feast of Tabernacles. A short time later he had 800 of his opponents crucified, and as they hung on the cross, their wives and children were beheaded in their presence. All the while Alexander banqueted with his lovers and followers at the foot of the crosses.

{K}ALEXANDRA (76-67){/}
When Alexander Janneus died, his widow Salome Alexandra maintained a stable power over the country. However, since she could not be high priest, she appointed her eldest son John Hyrcanus II to that position. Alexandra proved herself to be an able ruler during all the years of her reign, trying by all means to maintain the peace.
With the queen's support the Pharisees gained entrance to the Council of the {N}Sanhedrin{/} which previously had been open only to the Elders and the priestly aristocracy (the Sadducees). The presence of the Pharisees, however, alienated the Sadducees who convinced Aristobulus II, brother of the high priest, to join them in opposition to his mother's government and to the growing influence of the Pharisees.  Salome Alexandra was able to maintain control, but when she died in 67 BC civil war broke out.

{K}ENEMY BROTHERS{/}
Aristobulus did not respect the right of his older brother, John Hyrcanus, to the throne. The very day that their mother fell gravely ill, Aristobulus took command of twenty strategic locations in the kingdom, assuring his control of the situation. Little by little he became involved in the civil war. His brother, John Hyrcanus, was obliged to capitulate and sign a treaty in which Aristobulus assumed the throne, but John kept the high priesthood. However, at this time a third person entered the equation, nullifying the agreement. A certain Antipater, the father of the future Herod the Great, threw his support with John Hyrcanus, fully aware of the latter's vacillating character and of the opportunity for his own ambitions. He also was very familiar with the nearby country of Nabatea, neighbor to Idumea, where his father had been governor. Antipater made an agreement with King Aretas of Nabatea that he would hand over the cities that Alexander Janneus had taken away from him in exchange for military support to offer refuge to John Hyrcanus. This move forced Aristobulus to retreat and seek sanctuary in Jerusalem where he was besieged by the troops of Aretas and Hyrcanus.
