Introduction to the OT World The Hasmonean Dynasty

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, Gene. LA@comcast. net

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

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

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

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

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 -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 70 A. 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