GRECIAN RULE, (331 –143 B.C.)
There existed two major rulers at the beginning of The Grecian Period:
Philip of Macedon - 359 B.C. to 336 B.C.: Laid the foundation of the Greek empire by uniting all of the Greek city-states.
Alexander the Great - 336 B.C. to 323 B.C.: Succeeded his father, Philip of Macedon, upon his death. Was the greatest military leader and conqueror of all time. Alexander died while returning to Greece in 323 B.C.
At the height of the Persian power there arose in the country of Macedonia (which we now know as Greece), north of the Black Sea, a man by the name of Philip of Macedon, who became a leader in his own country. He united the islands of Greece and became their ruler. His son was destined to become one of the great world leaders of all time, Alexander the Great. In 331 B.C. a tremendous battle between the Persians and the Greeks entirely altered the course of history. In that battle, Alexander, as a young man only twenty years old, led the armies of Greece in victory over the Persians and completely demolished the power of Persia. The center of world power then shifted farther west into Greece, and the Grecian empire was born.
Hellenization: Alexander’s idea to make the world Greece
a. Greece is “Hellas” or the “Hellenic” Republic in Greek
b. he wanted to make the world like Greece, civilizing it.
c. wanted people in his domain to speak Greek, act Greek, be Greek.
d. Hellenizing: civilizing people to the Greek way of thinking and acting
e. all conquered provinces were to be Hellenized
f. method of indoctrination was simple & effective
g. ordered his officers and men to intermarry with the native populations and to beget many children.
h. in 10 years he founded 25 Greek cities in the Middle East
i. He spread–Greek language, religion, philosophy, city structure, recreation, educational structures, sports, and an attitude towards the body
k. by the time of Jesus Greek was the international language
l. his method of acculturation was extremely successful
m. however he died at 32 before Hellenization was completed
When the Jews came under Grecian rule, their real enemy was Hellenism. The subsequent fight between Greek and Jew was the fight between two ideas packaged for export—Alexander’s Hellenic culture, and the Judaic religion of the Prophets. The Prophets won.
Two strands bound the anti-Hellenizers together...The Mosaic law and the belief that the Davidic line of kings would be restored.
When Alexander died in Babylon at the age of thirty-three, there was no one strong enough to take his place, so the empire quickly broke up into several parts. This crisis is referred to explicitly in 1st Maccabees 1:5 – 9 and indirectly in Daniel 11: 4...
1st Maccabees 1:5 – 9...”And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and they became tributaries to him. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die. And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. And his servants made themselves kings, every one in his place...”
Daniel 11: 4...”But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his {own} descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and {given} to others besides them. “ (NASB)
Two of these parts, the Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires, are important in the history of the Jews and of the Apocrypha since Palestine was ruled at different times during this period by each of them.
The Seleucids and Ptolemies
Seleucids...Ruled over Asia Minor and Syria
Ptolemies...Ruled over Egypt and Palestine, “live and let live.”, as long as the Jews paid taxes...they were left alone, self-government, High Priest: chief administrator, Sanhedrin: acted like a senate and supreme court, members chosen from the leading families, scholars, and intellectuals, complete cultural and religious freedom. Ptolemaic Influence - 323 B.C. to 198 B.C. Judah prospered under the Ptolemies. During the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphius, the LXX was translated and became the“Bible” of the New Testament.
The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt:
Ptolemy I Soter (governor from 323) 306 – 282 B.C.
Ptolemy II Philadelphos 284 – 246 B.C.
Ptolemy III Euergetes 246 – 222 B.C.
Ptolemy IV Philopator 222 – 204 B.C.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes 210 – 180 B.C.
Cleopatra I 180 – 177 B.C.
Ptolemy VI Philometor 180 – 164, 163 – 145 B.C.
Cleopatra II 170 – 115B.C.
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Physkon 170 – 163, 145 – 116 B.C.
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator 145 – 144 B.C.
The Seleucid Dynasty:
Seleukos I Nikator 305 – 281 B.C.
Antiochos I Soter 281 – 261 B.C.
Antiochos II Theos 261 – 246 B.C.
Seleukos II Kallinikos 246 – 226/5 B.C.
Seleukos III 226/5 – 223 B.C.
Antiochos III Megas 223 – 187 B.C.
Seleukos IV Philopator 187 – 175 B.C.
Antiochos IV Epiphanes 175 – 164 B.C.
Antiochos V Eupator 164 – 162 B.C.
Deemtrios I Soter 162 – 150 B.C.
Alexander Balas 150 –145 B.C.
Demetrios II Nikator 145 – 140, 129 – 126/5 B.C.
Antiochos VI Epiphanes 145 – 142 B.C.
Also during this time, in Egypt, under the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphius, the Hebrew scriptures were translated for the first time into another language, in about 284 B.C. A group of 70 scholars was called together by the Egyptian king to make a translation of the Hebrew scriptures. Book by book they translated the Old Testament into Greek. When they had finished, it was given the name of the Septuagint, which means 70, because of the number of translators. This became the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible. From it many of the quotations in the New Testament are derived. That is why New Testament quotations of Old Testament verses are sometimes in different words -- because they come from the Greek translation. The Septuagint is still in existence today, and is widely used in various parts of the world. It is still a very important document.
Little is known of the external history of the Jews under the rule of the Ptolemies. The whole period from the death of Alexander (323 B.C.) to 198 B.C., during most of which the land of Israel was a part of the Egyptian Empire, is almost a complete blank except for a few incidents told by Josephus and the small crumbs of fact which underlie the legends of the Aristeas document and the so-called 3rd Maccabees.
Seleucid/Ptolemaic Wars
Between the years 275 B.C. and 198 B.C. several wars occurred between the Ptolemies and Seleucids which eventually led to the Seleucid’s gaining control of Palestine. These wars are outlined in prophetic form in Daniel 11:5-20.
–1). A Marriage - Daniel 11:5-6...” Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with {one} of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain {will be} a great dominion {indeed.} After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to carry out a peaceful arrangement. But she will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who sired her as well as he who supported her in {those} times.” (NASB)
–2). Revenge - Daniel 11:7-8...” But one of the descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come against {their} army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and display {great} strength. Also their gods with their metal images {and} their precious vessels of silver and gold he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will refrain from {attacking} the king of the North for {some} years.” (NASB)
–3). Antiochus the Great - Daniel 11:9-10...” Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his {own} land. His sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, that he may again wage war up to his {very} fortress.” (NASB)
--4). Southern Retaliation - Daniel 11:11-12...” The king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight with the king of the North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but {that} multitude will be given into the hand of the {former.} When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail.” (NASB)
--5). The Return of the North - Daniel 11:13-20...” For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and after an interval of some years he will press on with a great army and much equipment. Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they will fall down. Then the king of the North will come, cast up a siege ramp and capture a well-fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand {their ground,} not even their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand. But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will {be able to} withstand him; he will also stay {for a time} in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand {for him} or be on his side. Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover, he will repay him for his scorn. So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be found no more. Then in his place one will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of {his} kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in battle.” (NASB)
--6). Antiochus Epiphanes - Daniel 11:21-35...” In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small {force of} people. In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest {parts} of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but {only} for a time. He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him. Those who eat his choice food will destroy him, and his army will overflow, but many will fall down slain. As for both kings, their hearts will be {intent} on evil, and they will speak lies {to each other} at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still {to come} at the appointed time. Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be {set} against the holy covenant, and he will take action and {then} return to his {own} land. At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. By smooth {words} he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for {many} days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because {it is} still {to come} at the appointed time.” (NASB)
Palestine passes to Seleucid control: In 198 B.C. Antiochus III also known as “Antiochus the Great” succeeded in wrestling Palestine from the Ptolemaic empire...Even so, for a time Antiochus III continued the same tolerant policies of the Ptolemies allowing the Jews self-rule...However, Antiochus III knew that the Roman Empire was soon to come knocking at his door and he needed to strengthen his position...he felt he could defeat the Romans if he unified the empire...He decided to do this through a program of intense Hellenization. Antiochus IV continues Hellenization program his father (began to include Judah) and appoints Jason to high priest•What 125 years of Ptolemaic and Seleucid rule had not been able to bring about, Jason accomplished in 12 months by doing the following:
allowed pagan rites to be performed in the Temple
Greek statues were introduced installed in the Holy Place
Jewish priests in Greek costumes officiated at Greek cultic rites
Greek games performed by naked Jewish boys became common place in the Temple courtyards
Jewish representatives were sent to pagan festivals to represent Jerusalem
Anger and resentment burned hot
TheHasidean party ballooned as many Jews joined
TheHasideans began to thunder against promiscuity and idolatry
Antiochus IV, angry he could not defeat the Romans decided to vent his anger on his return trip by stopping by Jerusalem and slaughtering 10,000 inhabitants. He put new statues in the Temple, appointed a new High Priest, and returned to Antioch. Then, out of spite, Antiochus IV decided to outlaw observance of the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath and circumcision. Officials were sent throughout the villages of Judah in order to force them to offer sacrifice to pagan gods.
1st Maccabees 1:41 – 64...”The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each nation renouncing its particular customs. All the gentiles conformed to the king's decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt customs foreign to the country, banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts, defiling the sanctuary and everything holy, building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts, leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to all kinds of impurity and abomination, so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it. Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death. Writing in such terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the whole people and directed all the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city by city. Many of the people -- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed evil in the country, forcing Israel into hiding in any possible place of refuge. On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of the altar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death. Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel. On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar of burnt offering. Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had performed the circumcision were executed with them. Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.”
Maccabean Revolt (Mattathias and his five sons)
Armed resistance to the policy of Antiochus broke out in the little village of Modin in the family of an aged priest by the name of Mattathias. The old man himself precipitated the revolt by slaying both the king’s officer who came to enforce the royal decree and a villager who showed himself willing to apostatize.
Having given the signal for rebellion, Mattathias and his supporters fled to the hills where they began a guerilla war against the forces of the king.
The war continued for about three years, at the end of which the Jews regained possession of the major part of Jerusalem and were able to rededicate the desecrated temple.
This happy event has been commemorated ever since by the festival of Hanukkah meaning Dedication...1st Maccabee 4: 59...” And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.”
The feast is referred to in the New Testament (John 10:22... At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem...” (NASB)), and is observed by Jews today at about the same time as our Christmas.
Although the Temple had been purged of its heathen defilements, the Syrians had by no means given up their intention of subduing the rebellious little nation.
Summary of the Maccabees: The three most important achievements of the Maccabees came at intervals of about ten years: Judas gained freedom of religion in 162; Jonathan became high priest in 152; Simon achieved tax exemption in 142.
There were some among the Jews who were unhappy about this shift of emphasis, particularly the so-called Assideans (also spelled Hasideans and, in Hebrew, Chasidim). Hasideans fragment into Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.
Essenes: came from the nucleus of the former Hasidean party, no taste for politics, withdrew from secular activities, devote their entire lives to religious contemplation, formed their own religious communities, major focus on coming Messiah.
Pharisees: anti-Hellenizers who wanted to remain political active, Pharisee means “Separatist”, they stood for Synagogue, Rabbi, and Prayer, they were the party of the common men, highly respected by the people, stressed the new Oral Law, a series of reinterpretations of the Mosaic law.
Sadducees: pro-Hellenizers, they had joined the Hasideans only to fight the common enemy, they stood for Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice, they were the party of the aristocrats and priestly class, they were liberal politically but conservative religiously, believed that a reasonable amount of Hellenism was beneficial.
Philip of Macedon - 359 B.C. to 336 B.C.: Laid the foundation of the Greek empire by uniting all of the Greek city-states.
Alexander the Great - 336 B.C. to 323 B.C.: Succeeded his father, Philip of Macedon, upon his death. Was the greatest military leader and conqueror of all time. Alexander died while returning to Greece in 323 B.C.
At the height of the Persian power there arose in the country of Macedonia (which we now know as Greece), north of the Black Sea, a man by the name of Philip of Macedon, who became a leader in his own country. He united the islands of Greece and became their ruler. His son was destined to become one of the great world leaders of all time, Alexander the Great. In 331 B.C. a tremendous battle between the Persians and the Greeks entirely altered the course of history. In that battle, Alexander, as a young man only twenty years old, led the armies of Greece in victory over the Persians and completely demolished the power of Persia. The center of world power then shifted farther west into Greece, and the Grecian empire was born.
Hellenization: Alexander’s idea to make the world Greece
a. Greece is “Hellas” or the “Hellenic” Republic in Greek
b. he wanted to make the world like Greece, civilizing it.
c. wanted people in his domain to speak Greek, act Greek, be Greek.
d. Hellenizing: civilizing people to the Greek way of thinking and acting
e. all conquered provinces were to be Hellenized
f. method of indoctrination was simple & effective
g. ordered his officers and men to intermarry with the native populations and to beget many children.
h. in 10 years he founded 25 Greek cities in the Middle East
i. He spread–Greek language, religion, philosophy, city structure, recreation, educational structures, sports, and an attitude towards the body
k. by the time of Jesus Greek was the international language
l. his method of acculturation was extremely successful
m. however he died at 32 before Hellenization was completed
When the Jews came under Grecian rule, their real enemy was Hellenism. The subsequent fight between Greek and Jew was the fight between two ideas packaged for export—Alexander’s Hellenic culture, and the Judaic religion of the Prophets. The Prophets won.
Two strands bound the anti-Hellenizers together...The Mosaic law and the belief that the Davidic line of kings would be restored.
When Alexander died in Babylon at the age of thirty-three, there was no one strong enough to take his place, so the empire quickly broke up into several parts. This crisis is referred to explicitly in 1st Maccabees 1:5 – 9 and indirectly in Daniel 11: 4...
1st Maccabees 1:5 – 9...”And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and they became tributaries to him. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die. And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. And his servants made themselves kings, every one in his place...”
Daniel 11: 4...”But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his {own} descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and {given} to others besides them. “ (NASB)
Two of these parts, the Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires, are important in the history of the Jews and of the Apocrypha since Palestine was ruled at different times during this period by each of them.
The Seleucids and Ptolemies
Seleucids...Ruled over Asia Minor and Syria
Ptolemies...Ruled over Egypt and Palestine, “live and let live.”, as long as the Jews paid taxes...they were left alone, self-government, High Priest: chief administrator, Sanhedrin: acted like a senate and supreme court, members chosen from the leading families, scholars, and intellectuals, complete cultural and religious freedom. Ptolemaic Influence - 323 B.C. to 198 B.C. Judah prospered under the Ptolemies. During the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphius, the LXX was translated and became the“Bible” of the New Testament.
The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt:
Ptolemy I Soter (governor from 323) 306 – 282 B.C.
Ptolemy II Philadelphos 284 – 246 B.C.
Ptolemy III Euergetes 246 – 222 B.C.
Ptolemy IV Philopator 222 – 204 B.C.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes 210 – 180 B.C.
Cleopatra I 180 – 177 B.C.
Ptolemy VI Philometor 180 – 164, 163 – 145 B.C.
Cleopatra II 170 – 115B.C.
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Physkon 170 – 163, 145 – 116 B.C.
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator 145 – 144 B.C.
The Seleucid Dynasty:
Seleukos I Nikator 305 – 281 B.C.
Antiochos I Soter 281 – 261 B.C.
Antiochos II Theos 261 – 246 B.C.
Seleukos II Kallinikos 246 – 226/5 B.C.
Seleukos III 226/5 – 223 B.C.
Antiochos III Megas 223 – 187 B.C.
Seleukos IV Philopator 187 – 175 B.C.
Antiochos IV Epiphanes 175 – 164 B.C.
Antiochos V Eupator 164 – 162 B.C.
Deemtrios I Soter 162 – 150 B.C.
Alexander Balas 150 –145 B.C.
Demetrios II Nikator 145 – 140, 129 – 126/5 B.C.
Antiochos VI Epiphanes 145 – 142 B.C.
Also during this time, in Egypt, under the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphius, the Hebrew scriptures were translated for the first time into another language, in about 284 B.C. A group of 70 scholars was called together by the Egyptian king to make a translation of the Hebrew scriptures. Book by book they translated the Old Testament into Greek. When they had finished, it was given the name of the Septuagint, which means 70, because of the number of translators. This became the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible. From it many of the quotations in the New Testament are derived. That is why New Testament quotations of Old Testament verses are sometimes in different words -- because they come from the Greek translation. The Septuagint is still in existence today, and is widely used in various parts of the world. It is still a very important document.
Little is known of the external history of the Jews under the rule of the Ptolemies. The whole period from the death of Alexander (323 B.C.) to 198 B.C., during most of which the land of Israel was a part of the Egyptian Empire, is almost a complete blank except for a few incidents told by Josephus and the small crumbs of fact which underlie the legends of the Aristeas document and the so-called 3rd Maccabees.
Seleucid/Ptolemaic Wars
Between the years 275 B.C. and 198 B.C. several wars occurred between the Ptolemies and Seleucids which eventually led to the Seleucid’s gaining control of Palestine. These wars are outlined in prophetic form in Daniel 11:5-20.
–1). A Marriage - Daniel 11:5-6...” Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with {one} of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain {will be} a great dominion {indeed.} After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to carry out a peaceful arrangement. But she will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who sired her as well as he who supported her in {those} times.” (NASB)
–2). Revenge - Daniel 11:7-8...” But one of the descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come against {their} army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and display {great} strength. Also their gods with their metal images {and} their precious vessels of silver and gold he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will refrain from {attacking} the king of the North for {some} years.” (NASB)
–3). Antiochus the Great - Daniel 11:9-10...” Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his {own} land. His sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and overflow and pass through, that he may again wage war up to his {very} fortress.” (NASB)
--4). Southern Retaliation - Daniel 11:11-12...” The king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight with the king of the North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but {that} multitude will be given into the hand of the {former.} When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail.” (NASB)
--5). The Return of the North - Daniel 11:13-20...” For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and after an interval of some years he will press on with a great army and much equipment. Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they will fall down. Then the king of the North will come, cast up a siege ramp and capture a well-fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand {their ground,} not even their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand. But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will {be able to} withstand him; he will also stay {for a time} in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand {for him} or be on his side. Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover, he will repay him for his scorn. So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be found no more. Then in his place one will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of {his} kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in battle.” (NASB)
--6). Antiochus Epiphanes - Daniel 11:21-35...” In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small {force of} people. In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest {parts} of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but {only} for a time. He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him. Those who eat his choice food will destroy him, and his army will overflow, but many will fall down slain. As for both kings, their hearts will be {intent} on evil, and they will speak lies {to each other} at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still {to come} at the appointed time. Then he will return to his land with much plunder; but his heart will be {set} against the holy covenant, and he will take action and {then} return to his {own} land. At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. By smooth {words} he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for {many} days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because {it is} still {to come} at the appointed time.” (NASB)
Palestine passes to Seleucid control: In 198 B.C. Antiochus III also known as “Antiochus the Great” succeeded in wrestling Palestine from the Ptolemaic empire...Even so, for a time Antiochus III continued the same tolerant policies of the Ptolemies allowing the Jews self-rule...However, Antiochus III knew that the Roman Empire was soon to come knocking at his door and he needed to strengthen his position...he felt he could defeat the Romans if he unified the empire...He decided to do this through a program of intense Hellenization. Antiochus IV continues Hellenization program his father (began to include Judah) and appoints Jason to high priest•What 125 years of Ptolemaic and Seleucid rule had not been able to bring about, Jason accomplished in 12 months by doing the following:
allowed pagan rites to be performed in the Temple
Greek statues were introduced installed in the Holy Place
Jewish priests in Greek costumes officiated at Greek cultic rites
Greek games performed by naked Jewish boys became common place in the Temple courtyards
Jewish representatives were sent to pagan festivals to represent Jerusalem
Anger and resentment burned hot
TheHasidean party ballooned as many Jews joined
TheHasideans began to thunder against promiscuity and idolatry
Antiochus IV, angry he could not defeat the Romans decided to vent his anger on his return trip by stopping by Jerusalem and slaughtering 10,000 inhabitants. He put new statues in the Temple, appointed a new High Priest, and returned to Antioch. Then, out of spite, Antiochus IV decided to outlaw observance of the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath and circumcision. Officials were sent throughout the villages of Judah in order to force them to offer sacrifice to pagan gods.
1st Maccabees 1:41 – 64...”The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each nation renouncing its particular customs. All the gentiles conformed to the king's decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt customs foreign to the country, banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts, defiling the sanctuary and everything holy, building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts, leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to all kinds of impurity and abomination, so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it. Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death. Writing in such terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the whole people and directed all the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city by city. Many of the people -- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed evil in the country, forcing Israel into hiding in any possible place of refuge. On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of the altar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death. Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel. On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar of burnt offering. Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had performed the circumcision were executed with them. Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.”
Maccabean Revolt (Mattathias and his five sons)
Armed resistance to the policy of Antiochus broke out in the little village of Modin in the family of an aged priest by the name of Mattathias. The old man himself precipitated the revolt by slaying both the king’s officer who came to enforce the royal decree and a villager who showed himself willing to apostatize.
Having given the signal for rebellion, Mattathias and his supporters fled to the hills where they began a guerilla war against the forces of the king.
The war continued for about three years, at the end of which the Jews regained possession of the major part of Jerusalem and were able to rededicate the desecrated temple.
This happy event has been commemorated ever since by the festival of Hanukkah meaning Dedication...1st Maccabee 4: 59...” And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.”
The feast is referred to in the New Testament (John 10:22... At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem...” (NASB)), and is observed by Jews today at about the same time as our Christmas.
Although the Temple had been purged of its heathen defilements, the Syrians had by no means given up their intention of subduing the rebellious little nation.
Summary of the Maccabees: The three most important achievements of the Maccabees came at intervals of about ten years: Judas gained freedom of religion in 162; Jonathan became high priest in 152; Simon achieved tax exemption in 142.
There were some among the Jews who were unhappy about this shift of emphasis, particularly the so-called Assideans (also spelled Hasideans and, in Hebrew, Chasidim). Hasideans fragment into Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.
Essenes: came from the nucleus of the former Hasidean party, no taste for politics, withdrew from secular activities, devote their entire lives to religious contemplation, formed their own religious communities, major focus on coming Messiah.
Pharisees: anti-Hellenizers who wanted to remain political active, Pharisee means “Separatist”, they stood for Synagogue, Rabbi, and Prayer, they were the party of the common men, highly respected by the people, stressed the new Oral Law, a series of reinterpretations of the Mosaic law.
Sadducees: pro-Hellenizers, they had joined the Hasideans only to fight the common enemy, they stood for Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice, they were the party of the aristocrats and priestly class, they were liberal politically but conservative religiously, believed that a reasonable amount of Hellenism was beneficial.