Maccabees

Seleucid Rulers in Syria 281-64 BCE

Period: 281 BCE to 2 BCE

Seleucus I Nicator (one of Alexander the Great’s generals) was the first in the dynasty of Seleucid rulers in Syria, he founded Antioch and made it his capital-this dynasty’s area of control included Jerusalem circa 281-64 BCE. Seleucid-Greek. See pg 162 Daniel Book.

Antiochus Rules

175 BCE

Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.E.)

Period: 175 BCE to 164 BCE

Greek Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.E.) The High Priest at the time was Onias III. His brother Jason bribed Epiphanes. To become High Priest. Jason felt accepting Hellenism meant allowing Judaism to progress with the times. Jason built a gymnasium where young Jews and even priests competed in the games. -w98 11/15 pg 21-24

Jews Massacred

168 BCE

Antiochus Epiphanes felt his policy had been a political error. During 168 and 167 Jews were massacred, Temple looted. Circumcision and Sabbath observance became punishable by death. Dec 167 altar to Zeus erected within the Temple, Jews required to sacrifice swine to the god of the Greeks. Hellenized Jews continued in their positions, officiating at a now defiled temple. Ref -w98 11/15 pgs 21-24

Mattathias Retaliates c167 BCE

167 BCE

Mattathias a respected priest in a town NW of Jerusalem was called to the center of the town and pressured to participate in pagan sacrifices. He kills a Jew who comes forward to compromise and then kills the 7 Greek officials, before the troops could respond his sons and the townspeople kill the soldiers. He and his sons retreat to the mountains

Sects Form

Period: 166 BCE to 160 BCE

A dynamic Jewish leader, Judah Maccabee led a rebel army that freed the temple from Greek hands. The years immediately following the Maccabean revolt and victory were distinguished by a tendency to form sects based on competing ideologies, each vying with the others to win over the wider Jewish community. After achieving his religious goal of restoring worship at Jehovah’s temple, Judah Maccabee turned political. Consequently, many Jews left off following him.-w01 6/15 pg 27-30.

Hanukkah 165 BCE. Judah Maccabee 166-160 BCE

165 BCE

After the death of his elderly father, Judah Maccabee became the undisputed leader of the revolt. He devised guerrilla warfare methods. Battle after battle he succeeded in defeating overwhelmingly larger forces. Seleucid Empire was facing internal conflict and Rome’s rising power were less concerned with enforcing anti-Jewish decrees allowed Judah’s troops to capture the temple, cleanse it and rededicated it—three years to the day after its desecration. December 165 or (164?) BCE

Jonathan succeeds his brother Judah 160-143 BCE

160 BCE

Although of priestly descent, no Hasmonaean had ever served in the position of high priest. Jonathan used warfare and diplomacy to persuade the Seleucids to appoint him as high priest. Many Jews felt that this position should be filled by priests of the line of Zadok, whom Solomon had appointed as high priest. (1 Kings 2:35; Ezekiel 43:19).
-w o1 6/15 pg 27-30

Simon Becomes Ruler & High Priest

140 BCE

Simon achieved more than his brother Jonathan. He secured position of ruler as well as High Priest—for him and his descendants— was thus agreed upon not only by foreign Seleucid authority but also by “the Great Assembly” of his own people. Their central concern was no longer with the fulfilment of the Torah but with the preservation and extension of their political power.” ref -w01 6/15 pgs 27-30

John Hyrcanus c129 BCE full independence

129 BCE

Succeeds his father Simon after his brother-in-law assassinated his father. After a crucial battle was lost by the Seleucid dynasty he was able to recover in full Judea’s political independence. He then invaded territories outside of Judea, bringing them into subjugation. Inhabitants forced to convert or their cities would be razed. One such campaign was against the Idumaeans (Edomites). The conversion of the Idumeans was the first of its kind, as it was of an entire race.

Samaritan Temple Destroyed

128 BCE

Tradition has it that the Samaritan Temple at Gerizim was destroyed by John Hyrcanus.

Pharisees c128 BCE-undetermined

Period: 128 BCE to 118 BCE

Pharisees were scholars from among the common people, of no special descent. They separated themselves from ritual impurity by a philosophy of special piety, applying temple laws of priestly holiness to the ordinary situations of daily life. They developed new form of interpreting scripture “oral law”. Hyrcanus was at first a pupil, but when reproved for not giving up the the High priesthood he outlawed the Pharisees’ religious ordinances, and sided with the Sadducees.

Forced Conversion c120 BCE

120 BCE

Forced by John Hyracanus

Sadducees had regained control

104 BCE

Sadducees is likely connected with the High Priest Zadok, whose descendants had held the priestly office since Solomon’s time not all Sadducees were of this line. Some hand intermarried with high priestly line.Pharisaic concept of extending priestlike sanctity to all the people was perceived as a threat that could undermine Sadducean natural authority. in the final years of Hyrcanus’ reign, the Sadducees regained control. -w01 6/15 pg 27-30

Alexander Jannaeus 103-76 BCE

103 BCE

Hyrcanus’ son. Ruled from 103-76 B.C.E., that the Hasmonaean dynasty reached the zenith of its power. Jannaeus was a pragmatic politician. He saw that the Pharisees had increasing popular support. His deathbed instruction to his wife, Salome Alexandra, was to share power with them. Jannaeus had chosen her over his sons as successor to his kingdom.

Alexander Jannaeus 103-76 BCE

Period: 103 BCE to 76 BCE

Hyrcanus’ son. Ruled from 103-76 B.C.E., that the Hasmonaean dynasty reached the zenith of its power. Jannaeus was a pragmatic politician. He saw that the Pharisees had increasing popular support. His deathbed instruction to his wife, Salome Alexandra, was to share power with them. Jannaeus had chosen her over his sons as successor to his kingdom.

Anna born-82 BCE

82 BCE

Salome, wife of Jannaeus 76-67 BCE

76 BCE

Successor to her husband. Following his instructions she restored the Pharisees to positions of authority, which her husband saw were increasing in popularity- revoked the laws against their ordinances. Her son Hyrcanus II served as high priest but upon her death his brother Aristobulus ll entered a power struggle In 63 B.C.E., both brothers turned to the Roman ruler Pompey. That same year, Pompey marched into Jerusalem took control. It was the start of the end for the Hasmonaean kingdom

Salome

Period: 76 BCE to 67 BCE

Successor to her husband. Following his instructions she restored the Pharisees to positions of authority, which her husband saw were increasing in popularity- revoked the laws against their ordinances. Her son Hyrcanus II served as high priest but upon her death his brother Aristobulus ll entered a power struggle In 63 B.C.E., both brothers turned to the Roman ruler Pompey. That same year, Pompey marched into Jerusalem took control. It was the start of the end for the Hasmonaean kingdom

Roman influence is felt.

64 BCE

In 64 BCE Roman General Pompey made Syria of province of Rome. By 30 BCE Rome was the next world empire with the defeat of the last of the Grecian General’s dynasties The Ptolemaic dynasty (Egypt’s territory) fell in 30 BCE. Ref Daniel Book pg 162

Demise of the Hasmonaean Kingdom 63 BCE

63 BCE

Hyrcanus II, who had served as high priest, and Aristobulus II entered a power struggle In 63 B.C.E., both brothers turned to the Roman ruler Pompey while he was in Damascus and requested his mediation in their dispute. That same year, Pompey and his troops marched into Jerusalem and took control. It was the beginning of the end for the Hasmonaean kingdom. -w01 6/15 pg 27-30

Julius Caesar, Cleopatra allies

48 BCE

The Roman political scene was tumultuous with Julius Caesar taking Cleopatra as his mistress-they have a love child. Caesar assassinated in 44 BCE.

Idumaean King Herod the Great 37 BCE

37 BCE

In 37 B.C.E., Jerusalem was taken over by the Idumaean King Herod the Great, whom the Roman Senate had approved as “King of Judea,” “ally and friend of the Roman people.” The Hasmonaean kingdom was no more. Idumaean=Edom, Esau’s descendants-Circa 120 BCE John Hyrcanus The conversion of the Idumeans was the first of its kind, as it was of an entire race. Idumaean’s were nominal Jews having been forced to convert or their cities would be razed, they submitted to circumcision.

Mark Antony defeated at Actium

32 BCE

In 41 BCE Mark Antony and Cleopatra ally she eventually marries him and has 3 children.
32 BCE Mark Antony and Cleopatra lost naval endeavor at Actium, fled back to Egypt.
30 BCE Octavian’s forces had them cornered in Alexandria Egypt and they took their lives.

Birth of Jesus

2 BCE