HASMONEAN RULE (142 –63 B.C.)
Relevant Events: Antiochus VII Sidetes besieges Jerusalem but fails, Emergence of Pharisees and Sadducees (?), Judah expands and subdues Idumeans, takes Samaria, Alexander Janneus brings all Palestine under his control, Phase 1b at Qumran, expanded settlement that was abandoned after the earthquake in 31 B.C.
Pharisees ,Sadducees, and Essenes:
The Pharisees, whose name may have meant "separatists," were a group of religious lay leaders committed to the purification of Judaism through meticulous observance of moral and ceremonial laws. They supported the temple cult but were most uneasy about the usurpation of the high priesthood by one of non-priestly caste. More often they were identified with synagogues, the local autonomous gathering places of the masses, where prayer and study were conducted. In addition to the study of the scriptures, the Pharisees emphasized the teachings of the elders or oral tradition as a guide to religion. They professed belief in the resurrection of the body and in a future world where rewards and punishments were meted out according to man's behavior in this life. They believed in angels
through whom revelations could come, and later were to develop a belief in a Messiah. They tended to view alliances with foreigners with suspicion.
The Sadducees were pro-Greek, aristocratic priests, whose interests were centered in the temple and the cultic rites. Their name was probably derived from Zadok, the famous priest of the time of David and Solomon.
2nd Samuel 8:17...” Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar {were} priests, and Seraiah {was} secretary.” (NASB)
2nd Samuel 15:24...” Now behold, Zadok also {came,} and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city.” (NASB)
1st Kings 1:34...” Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, '{Long} live King Solomon!‘” (NASB)
Because the offices of high priest and governor were combined, the Sadducees tended to be deeply involved in high-level politics. Politically, they were committed to independence and to the concept of the theocratic state, as were most Jews. Although they were opposed to foreign domination, they did not object to the introduction of foreign elements into Jewish life. Like the Pharisees, they stressed the importance of observance of the Torah, but they rejected the authority of oral tradition. When confronted by situations not covered in the Torah, they enacted new laws. They rejected the Pharisaic doctrine of a resurrection and a future life and held to the older Jewish belief in Sheol. Nor did they accept the belief in angels.
The Pharisees, whose name may have meant "separatists," were a group of religious lay leaders committed to the purification of Judaism through meticulous observance of moral and ceremonial laws. They supported the temple cult but were most uneasy about the usurpation of the high priesthood by one of non-priestly caste. More often they were identified with synagogues, the local autonomous gathering places of the masses, where prayer and study were conducted. In addition to the study of the scriptures, the Pharisees emphasized the teachings of the elders or oral tradition as a guide to religion. They professed belief in the resurrection of the body and in a future world where rewards and punishments were meted out according to man's behavior in this life. They believed in angels
through whom revelations could come, and later were to develop a belief in a Messiah. They tended to view alliances with foreigners with suspicion.
The Sadducees were pro-Greek, aristocratic priests, whose interests were centered in the temple and the cultic rites. Their name was probably derived from Zadok, the famous priest of the time of David and Solomon.
2nd Samuel 8:17...” Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar {were} priests, and Seraiah {was} secretary.” (NASB)
2nd Samuel 15:24...” Now behold, Zadok also {came,} and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city.” (NASB)
1st Kings 1:34...” Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, '{Long} live King Solomon!‘” (NASB)
Because the offices of high priest and governor were combined, the Sadducees tended to be deeply involved in high-level politics. Politically, they were committed to independence and to the concept of the theocratic state, as were most Jews. Although they were opposed to foreign domination, they did not object to the introduction of foreign elements into Jewish life. Like the Pharisees, they stressed the importance of observance of the Torah, but they rejected the authority of oral tradition. When confronted by situations not covered in the Torah, they enacted new laws. They rejected the Pharisaic doctrine of a resurrection and a future life and held to the older Jewish belief in Sheol. Nor did they accept the belief in angels.
Simon, high priest, 142 – 134 B.C.
Simon being the high priest, a new era dawned for the Jews. For the first time since the Babylonian conquest, they breathed the pure air of freedom. The atmosphere was charged with expectation. Simon seized the important port city of Gaza, providing Judah with a direct outlet to the Mediterranean world. Treaties were made with Rome and Sparta. Jewish coins were struck. Trade and industry increased and the arts were encouraged. A pro-Hellenistic, aristocratic, priestly group, later to be called the Sadducees, began to take form. The Hasidim tended to merge with other nationalists to become the nucleus of the religio-political party later called Pharisees. The Jews used the year 142 as the base for a new chronology.
1st Maccabees 13:42...”... and the people began to write in their records and contracts, "In the first year of Simon, high priest, governor, and leader of the Jews."
Simon issued coinage in Jerusalem with the new dates and a legend in Hebrew. Hebrew was considered the official and cultic language, although Aramaic and Greek continued to dominate everyday life. The Qumran (Dead Sea) scrolls reflect the use of Hebrew from this era.
1st Maccabees 13:42...”... and the people began to write in their records and contracts, "In the first year of Simon, high priest, governor, and leader of the Jews."
Simon issued coinage in Jerusalem with the new dates and a legend in Hebrew. Hebrew was considered the official and cultic language, although Aramaic and Greek continued to dominate everyday life. The Qumran (Dead Sea) scrolls reflect the use of Hebrew from this era.
John Hyrcanus I, 134 – 104 B.C.
Under John Hyrcanus (134 – 104), Judaean territory was increased by the annexation of Idumea, Samaria and Perea. The Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim, long an irritation to the Jews, was demolished. The Idumeans, descendants of the Edomites who had entered Judah in the early post-Exilic period, were compelled to become Jews and accept circumcision and obedience to the Torah. During Hyrcanus' reign, the characters of the Sadducee and Pharisee parties became clearly defined, and another group called the Essenes was formed. Hyrcanus I did not call himself king but stressed the dignity of his position by putting his name at the beginning of the inscriptions on coins. Besides being the civil and priestly leader, the office of prophet was also ascribed to him.
Aristobulus I, 104 B.C
Judah Aristobulus reigned only one year and was succeeded by Alexander Jannaeus. Under his leadership Judea extended its borders into the Trans-Jordan and the plains. From the outside it appeared as though Judea was eminently prosperous, but inwardly it had become Hellenized and corrupt. This eventually proved its downfall.
Alexander Janneus, king of the Jews from 103 to 76 B.C.
Under the reign of Alexander Jannaeus, civil strife escalated between himself and the Pharisees. This eventually led the Pharisees to ask Demetrius III to intervene on their behalf against Jannaeus. After the battle with Demetrius III, the Syrian King in which Jannaeus mercenaries where slaughtered, Demetrius left the country which allowed Jannaeus to suppress the rebellion. He murdered over 800 of the rebels while he himself had a party.
Alexandra, Hyrcanus II, and Aristobulus II, 76 – 63 B.C.
Towards the end of The Hasmonean Rule Rome enters the picture. In 66 B.C., Scaurus, the legate of Pompey, came to Damascus and decided in favor of Aristobulus. This caused the Arabian Nabateans to lift the siege of Jerusalem. In 63 B.C., Pompey himself came to Damascus and again both Aristobulus and Hyrcanus made their appeal to Pompey for control of Judea. Because of a lack of confidence, Aristobulus lost the support of Pompey who then ordered the occupation of Jerusalem. The city was laid siege and taken in the fall of 63 B.C. Thus ended the Hasmonean dynasty and thus began the occupation of Rome.