MACCABEES

make the recognition of the independence of Judsea a condition of an alliance with Demetrius ii. The need of that monarch was too great to warrant hia refusal of Simon's hard terms, and the political independence of Judsea was achieved (b.g. 143-142). In May 142 Simon was able to seize the citadel, and in September 141, at a great assembly of priests and people, and princes of the people, and elders of the land, he was elected to be high priest and mihtary commander and civil governor of the Jews, 'for ever until there should arise a faithful prophet.' That is to say, the high-priestly oflSce became hereditary in Simon's family. Following the policy of his house, Simon re-established the treaty with Rome, although he became involved in a strenuous struggle with Syria, in which the Syrian general was defeated by his son, John Hyrcanus. Like his brothers, however, Simon met a violent death, being killed by his son-in-law at a banquet (1 Mac 13-16^8),

5. John Hyrcanus (b.c. 135-105). Under this son of Simon, the Jewish State reached its greatest prosperity. Josephus describes him as high, priest, king, and prophet, but strangely enough the records of his reign are scanty. At the opening of his reigp, John's jposition, uke that of ms father and uncle, was critical. Antiochua yii. (Sidetes), the last energetic king_ of Syria, for a short time threatened to reduce Judsea again to political dependence. He besieged Jerusalem and starved it into surrender. For some reason, however, probably because of the interference of the Romans he did not destroy the city, but, exacting severe terms, left it under the control of Hyrcanus. Antiochus was presently killed in a campaign against the Parthians, and was suc-ceeded by the weak Demetrius u., who had been released from imprisonment by the same nation. John Hyrcanus from this time onwards paid small attention to Syrian

gower,_ and began a career of conquest of the territopf on oth sides of the Jordan and in Samaria. The affairs of Syria growing ever more desperate under the succession of feeble kings, John ceased payment of the tribute which had been exacted by Antiochus, and established a brilliant court, issuing coins as high priest and head of the Congrega-tion of the Jews. He did not, however, take the title of *king_.' His long reign was marked by a break with the Pharisees, who, as successors of 'the Pious,' had been the traditional party of the government, and the establishment of friendship with the Sadducees, thereby fixing the high priesthood as one of the perquisite of that party. John died in peace, bequeathing to his family a well-rounded out territory and an independent government (Jos. Ant. xiii. viii.-x.; BJ i. ii.).

6. Aristobulus I. (B.C. 105-104). According to the will of John Hyrcanus, the government was placed in his widow's hands, while the high priesthood was given to the oldest of his five sons, Aristobulus. The latter, however, put his mother in prison, where she starved to death, established his brother Antigonus as joint-ruler, and threw his other three brothers into prison. In a short time, urged on by suspicion, he had his brother Antigonus killed, and he him-self took the title of ' king.' Of his short reign we know little except that he was regarded as a friend of the Greeks, and conquered and circumcised the Iturseans, who probably lived in Galilee. At this time the final Judaizing of Gahlee began (Jos. Ant. xiii. xi.; BJ i. iii.).

7. Alexander Jannseus (B.C. 104-78). After the death of Aristobulus, his widow Alexandra (^Salome) released his three brothers from prison, and married the oldest of them, Alexander Jannseus (or Jonathan), making him king and high priest. Alexander carried on still more vigorously the monarchical policy of Aristobulus, and undertook the ex-tension of Juaaea by the conquest of the surrounding cities, including those of Upper (Salilee. He was essentially a warrior, but in his early campaigns was defeated by the Egyptians. Judsea might then iiave become a province of Egypt liad not the Jewish counsellors of Cleopatra advised against the subjection of the land. The Egyptian army was withdrawn, and Alexander Jannseus was left in control of the country. His monarchical ambitions, however, aroused the hostility of the Pharisees, and Judsea was rent by civil war. For six years the war raged, and it is said that 50,000 Jews perished. The Pharisees asked aid from Demetrius iii., and succeeded in defeating Alexander. Thereupon, however, feeling that they were in danger of falling again into subjection to Syria, many of the Jews went over to Alexander and assisted him in putting down the rebellion. The consec^uent success of Alexander was marked by a series of ternble pimishments inflicted upon I

MACCABEES

those who had rebelled against him. During the latter part of his reign he was engaged in struggles with the Greek cities of Palestine, in the siege of one of which he died, bequeathing his kingdom to his wife Alexandra, with the advice that she should make friends with the Pharisees (Jos Ant, XIII. xii.-xv.; BJ i. iv.).

8. Alexandra (b.c. 78-69) was a woman of extraordinary ability, and her reign was one of great prosperity, according to the Pharisees, whose leaders were her chief advisers. She maintained the general foreign policy of her house, defending her kingdom against various foreign enemies, but particularly devoted herself, under the guidance of her brother Simon ben-Shetach, to the inner development of Judsea along lines of Pharisaic policy. The Sadducean leaders were to some extent persecuted, but seem to have been able to bring about their appointment to the charge of various frontier fortresses. The death of Alexandra alone prevented her being involved in a civil war (Jos. Ant. XIII. xvi.; BJi. v.). _ 9. Aristobulus H. (b.c. 69-63) . After the death of Alexandra civil war broke out. According to the queen's provision, her eldest son, Hyrcanus ii., who was already high priest, was to have been her successor. In fact, he did undertake to administer the State, but his younger and more energetic brother Aristobulus organized the rebellion, defeated Hyr-canus, and compelled mm to surrender. Bjj the agreement that followed, Hyrcanus was reduced to private life in the enjoyment of a large revenue. It was at this time that Antipater, the father of Herod i., appeared on the scene. He was an Idumsean of boundless ambition and much experience.^ He undertook to replace Hyrcanus on the throne. With the assistance of Aretas, king of Arabia, he organized an army and besieged Aristobulus in the Temple Mount. As the war was proceeding, Pompey sent Scaurus to Syria (b.c. 65). Scaurus proceeded towards Judsea to take advantage of the struggle between the two brothers. Be-fore he reached Judaea, however, both Aristobulus and Hjjrcanus referred their quarrel to him. Scaurus favoured Aristobulus, and ordered Aretas to return to Arabia, Tlds decision, however, did not end the controversy between the brothers, and they appealed to Pompey himself, who mean- time had arrived at Damascus. The two brothers pleaded their cause, as did also an embassy of the Jewish people, which asked that the monarchy be abolished, and the govern-ment by the high priest be re-established. Pompey deferred his decision, and ordered the two brothers to maintain peace. Aristobulus, however, undertook to continue the revolt, fleeing to Alexandrium, a fortress on the Samaritan hills, above the Jordan Valley. At the command of Pompey he surrendered the fortress, but fled to Jerusalem^ where he prepared to stand a siege. Pompey followed him, and Aristobulus promised to surrender, when, however, Gabi-nius, the Roman general, went to take possession of the city, he found the gates closed against him. Thereupon Pompey

Proceeded to besiege the city. The various divisions of erusalem surrendered to him except the Temple Mount, This was captured after a long siege, and at terrible cost (B.C. 63). Pompey went into the Holy of Holies, but did not touch the Temple treasures. He did, however, make Judsea tributary to Rome and greatly reduced its territory. Aristobulus was taken prisoner, and Hyrcanus was re- established as high priest, but without the title of 'king.' Great numbers of Jews were taken by Pompey to Rome at this time, together with Aristobulus, and became the nucleus of the Jewish community in the capital. With this conquest of Pompey, the Maccabaean State really came to an end; and Judaea became tributary to Rome (Jos. Ant. xiv. i.-iv. BJ I. vi. and vii.).

10. Hyrcanus H. was a weak man, but had for his ad-viser and major domo Antipater, an exceedingly able man. 'The State, as re-organized by Gabinius, was attached to Syria and Hyrcanus exercised the function of high priest (63-40). During this time Judsea was swept more com-pletely into the current of Roman history, because of the assistance rendered by Antipater and Hyrcanus to Caesar in his struggle with the party of Pompey in Egypt. In gratitude Caesar gave many rights and privileges to the Jews throughout the Roman world. Hyrcanus was, how-ever, not appointed king, but 'ethnarch,' and Antipater was made procurator. The walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down by Pompey, were now rebuilt, and various cities taken away by Pompey were restored to the Judtean territory. Hyrcanus, completely under the_ control of Antipater, supported Cassius in the struggle which followed the death of Cfaesar, but in the disturbances following the death of Brutus and Cassius espoused the cause of Antony. At this critical juncture Antipater was killed, and his two sons, Phasael and Herod, were appointed by Antony

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