6.3 The Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonean dynasty

The Maccabean Revolt shook up the ancient Jewish world. It started when the Seleucid Empire pushed Greek culture on Jews, sparking a fierce rebellion. Led by the Maccabees, Jews fought back, reclaimed Jerusalem, and rededicated their Temple.

This revolt birthed the Hasmonean dynasty, a Jewish ruling family that expanded Judea's borders. But internal conflicts and Roman interference eventually weakened their grip on power, setting the stage for big changes in Jewish society and politics.

The Maccabean Revolt

Hellenization and Antiochus IV Epiphanes

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• Hellenization refers to the spread of Greek culture, language, and customs throughout the ancient world following the conquests of Alexander the Great
• Jews in Judea faced increasing pressure to adopt Greek customs and religious practices under the rule of the Seleucid Empire
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid ruler, sought to accelerate the process of Hellenization in Judea by prohibiting Jewish religious practices and desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem (erecting an altar to Zeus)
• These actions sparked widespread resistance among the Jewish population, leading to the Maccabean Revolt

Mattathias and Judah Maccabee

• Mattathias, a Jewish priest from the village of Modiin, refused to comply with Antiochus IV's decree to sacrifice to Greek gods and initiated the revolt by killing a Hellenized Jew who attempted to make a sacrifice
• Mattathias and his five sons, including Judah Maccabee, fled to the wilderness and organized a guerrilla campaign against the Seleucid forces
• After Mattathias' death, his son Judah Maccabee took leadership of the revolt and led the Jewish rebels to several significant victories against the Seleucid army, despite being outnumbered and outmatched in terms of equipment

Temple Rededication and Hanukkah

• In 164 BCE, Judah Maccabee and his followers recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple, which had been defiled by the Seleucids
• The Temple was purified and rededicated, with the festival of Hanukkah established to commemorate this event
• According to tradition, when the Temple was rededicated, there was only enough pure olive oil to light the Temple menorah for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, giving the Jews time to prepare more pure oil
• Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days to commemorate this miracle and the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucids

The Hasmonean Dynasty

Establishment and Expansion

• The Hasmonean dynasty was established by the descendants of Mattathias, who continued to rule Judea as both high priests and kings following the Maccabean Revolt
• Simon Maccabeus, one of Judah Maccabee's brothers, was the first Hasmonean ruler to achieve a significant degree of independence from the Seleucids and expanded Judean territory
• John Hyrcanus, Simon's son and successor, further expanded the Hasmonean kingdom through military conquests, annexing regions such as Idumea and Samaria

Hasmonean Rule and Decline

• Alexander Jannaeus, John Hyrcanus' son, continued the expansionist policies of his predecessors but faced internal opposition from religious groups like the Pharisees
• Salome Alexandra, Alexander Jannaeus' widow, ruled as queen after his death and managed to maintain a relatively peaceful reign by balancing the interests of the Pharisees and Sadducees
• However, the power struggle between Salome Alexandra's sons, Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II, weakened the Hasmonean dynasty and eventually led to Roman intervention in Judean affairs, setting the stage for the end of Hasmonean independence

Jewish Sects During the Hasmonean Period

Pharisees

• The Pharisees were a Jewish sect that emphasized strict adherence to the Torah and the oral law, as well as belief in the resurrection of the dead
• They promoted the idea that all Jews, not just the priesthood, should strive to live a life of ritual purity and observance of the law
• The Pharisees often clashed with the Hasmonean rulers, particularly during the reign of Alexander Jannaeus, due to their opposition to the combination of religious and political power in the hands of the Hasmonean kings

Sadducees

• The Sadducees were a Jewish sect closely associated with the aristocracy and the priesthood
• They rejected the oral law and the concept of resurrection, focusing instead on strict adherence to the written Torah
• The Sadducees were more supportive of the Hasmonean dynasty, as they benefited from the political and economic power structures of the time

Essenes

• The Essenes were a Jewish sect that emphasized asceticism, communal living, and a strict interpretation of Jewish law
• They often lived in isolated communities, such as Qumran near the Dead Sea, where they devoted themselves to studying scripture and maintaining a life of ritual purity
• The Essenes are believed to have been responsible for the creation and preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient Jewish texts that provide valuable insights into the religious and social context of the Second Temple period