The Hasmonean Period
The Hasmonean period
The Hasmonean period refers to the era of Hasmonean rule over Judea that began with Simon Maccabee’s assumption of Jewish leadership in 142 BCE. The Hasmoneans were descendants of Hasmon; they became known as the Maccabeans after Judah, son of Mattathias the Hasmonean and brother of Simon, received the surname ‘Maccabee’ in recognition of his military prowess. After a series of military victories over their Seleucid overlords, the Maccabees established a dynasty that ruled semi-autonomously until 116 BCE. Upon the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire shortly thereafter, the Hasmoneans became fully independent, even expanding into neighboring areas. The Hasmonean period is historically significant in that it marked the …show more content…
It replaced the First Temple, which was destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE. After the ascension of Cyrus the Great to the throne, the Jewish exiles that were driven out of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II were permitted to return home and rebuild. Although it is generally agreed that Cyrus’ decree in 538 BCE marked the beginning of the Second Temple period, construction of the Temple was not completed until 516 BCE. The Temple was largely respected during the Persian and Hellenistic periods. However, in 167 BCE, the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered a sacrifice to be made to Zeus in the Temple. This act of desecration, along with Antiochus’ persecution and execution of many Jews, ultimately sparked the Maccabean Revolt. After Judas Maccabeus’ victory against the Seleucids, he ordered the Second Temple to be cleansed and rededicated. These events are outlined in two deuterocanonical books: 1 and 2 Maccabees. The holiday of Hanukkah was established in order to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple after the Maccabean Revolt. Jerusalem was later conquered by Pompey the Great and incorporated into the Roman Empire, but the Temple was untouched. It was further expanded under Herod the Great, though construction continued until long after his death in 4 BCE. An increase in ethnic tensions between Jews and Romans culminated in the First Jewish-Roman War, during which the Second Temple was destroyed (70
The Hasmonean period refers to the era of Hasmonean rule over Judea that began with Simon Maccabee’s assumption of Jewish leadership in 142 BCE. The Hasmoneans were descendants of Hasmon; they became known as the Maccabeans after Judah, son of Mattathias the Hasmonean and brother of Simon, received the surname ‘Maccabee’ in recognition of his military prowess. After a series of military victories over their Seleucid overlords, the Maccabees established a dynasty that ruled semi-autonomously until 116 BCE. Upon the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire shortly thereafter, the Hasmoneans became fully independent, even expanding into neighboring areas. The Hasmonean period is historically significant in that it marked the …show more content…
It replaced the First Temple, which was destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE. After the ascension of Cyrus the Great to the throne, the Jewish exiles that were driven out of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II were permitted to return home and rebuild. Although it is generally agreed that Cyrus’ decree in 538 BCE marked the beginning of the Second Temple period, construction of the Temple was not completed until 516 BCE. The Temple was largely respected during the Persian and Hellenistic periods. However, in 167 BCE, the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered a sacrifice to be made to Zeus in the Temple. This act of desecration, along with Antiochus’ persecution and execution of many Jews, ultimately sparked the Maccabean Revolt. After Judas Maccabeus’ victory against the Seleucids, he ordered the Second Temple to be cleansed and rededicated. These events are outlined in two deuterocanonical books: 1 and 2 Maccabees. The holiday of Hanukkah was established in order to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple after the Maccabean Revolt. Jerusalem was later conquered by Pompey the Great and incorporated into the Roman Empire, but the Temple was untouched. It was further expanded under Herod the Great, though construction continued until long after his death in 4 BCE. An increase in ethnic tensions between Jews and Romans culminated in the First Jewish-Roman War, during which the Second Temple was destroyed (70