whose name was inscribed on the coins. Men liked to flatter themselves that the prophetic gift had been restored in his person (Jos. An¢, XII. xX. 7).
Outwardly brilliant, however, as his reign was, it was marked by a strong development of internal discord. It was at this time that the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees first took delinite shape
MACCABEES, THE
Hashmon Simeon
Johanan
| Mattathias, ἡ B.o. 166
Johannes | asad t 161
Simon (Thassi) 185 | | Johannes Hyrcanus 1 105 | Judas Aristobulus «Salome Cnssandra) t 104 +69
J ne + 135
as political and religious parties. The Maccabsean party was originally Pharisaic, but Hyrcanus now went over to the Sadducees, who attached more value to political supremacy.
Of the five sons left by Hyrcanus, three rose to power. Their names were originally Judas, Matta- thias, and Jonathan, but in accordance with their father’s new-born Hellenistic proclivities they were now designated Aristobulus, Antigonus, and Alex- ander Jannzus.
Hyrcanus bequeathed the civil power to his wife, and the high-priesthood to his lest son Aristo- bulus. But the latter shut up all his relatives in prison except Antigonus, and openly assumed the title Ki ing 2 the Jews, ‘a name previously unknown to Heb. history, but destined to carry with it a sacred and enduring significance’ (Mt 274, Mk 15? etc.). Antigonus also fell a victim to his jealousy, owing to suspicions awakened in him by ‘his evil spirit’ Salome Alexandra. In other respects he appears to have deserved well of his country, whose boundaries he enlarged by the subjugation of the Iturzeans ; but remorse for the murder of his brother is said to have brought on his death, which occurred in B.C. 104, after a reign of only one year.
The next king was Alexander Jannzus (104-78), the eldest surviving brother of Aristobulus. Of warlike disposition, he set himself to complete the conquest of Palestine, which his father had begun, and after varying fortunes succeeded in bringing under his sway most of the important towns on the Philistine coast, as well as the regions E. of the Jordan, But Jannzus had other battles to fight. His reign was marked by civil dissension and internal revolt. A supporter of Hellenism, and a dissolute high priest linea hands reeked with blood, he came into acute collision with the Phari- sees, and took the most savage revenge on his opponents.
efore his death Janneus handed over the government to his wife Salome Alexandra, who soon proved her fitness to rule. Shrewdly enough, she at once threw herself into the arms of the Pharisaic party, allowing them practically to re- gulate the inner life of the nation; but reserving to herself the control of external affairs. Her elder ton Hyrcanus I., as a pliable weakling, was invested with the office of high priest, while her younger son Aristobulus, who had energy and ability enough to
Judas (Maccabwus) t 161
MACCABEES, THE
Eleazar (Avaran) Jonathan (Apphus) t 163-2 t 143
ianightabe βίοις τι τς (1 Mac 1611.)
| Mattathias t 135
| Antigonus Alexander Jannwus=Alexandra t 105 t 78 + 69
Hyrcanus 11, ¢ 80 waar Yas nu
| ἈΞ Alexandra Antigonus t 49 t 28 + 37 Ι Aristobulus 35
Miarkuiitecttabed the Great t t 29
Ateoaes pelos t Bo. 7 t Bc. 7
render him dangerous, was kept strictly aloof from public affairs. The latter, who disliked the Phari- sees and the docility with which his mother gave effect to their wishes, particularly as regards an ill- advised attempt to take vengeance on those who had counselled the crucifixion of 800 rebels durin; the reign of his father Jannzus, ultimately seiz several fortresses, and contrived to raise an army, with which he bore down upon Jerusalem. t this stage Alexandra, who had on the whole ruled happily and with discretion, died after reigning for nine years (69).
Aristobulus soon got the better of Hyrcanus I1., who agreed to retire in his favour and reside in Jerusalem as a private citizen. But the abdication of Hyrcanus was distasteful to some, and especially to one whose name we now meet with for the first time—the Idumzan Antipater, father of Herod the Great. Working upon the fears of Hyrcanus, this man persuaded him to flee for protection against his brother to the Arabian king Aretas, from whom he extracted a promise to re-establish Hyrcanus in his dominions, provided the latter gave up all claim to twelve cities unjustly wrested from the Arabians by Alexander Janneus. Defeated in battle, and deserted by many of his troops, Aris- tobulus retreated to the temple mount, where he was besieged by a coalition army of Arabs and Pharisees.
At this juncture (B.C. 65) the shadow of Rome first fell upon the land. Scaurus, the legate of Pompey in Syria, having been ΒΕΡεαοα to by both parties, went to Je em and decided in favour of Aristobulus. Aretas had accordingly to with- draw. But in the spring of 63 ambassadors from both parties appeared before Pompey himself at Damascus, while the representatives of a neutral party pled for the abolition of the monarchy and the re-establishment of the ancient constitution. Pompey delayed his decision, and Aristobulus, feel- ing insecure, at once occupied the stronghold of Alexandrium. Pompey advanced to attack him, whereupon Aristobulus surrendered all the for- tresses, but fell back upon Jerus. and prepared for resistance. His vennlare policy was further illustrated when Pompey Bppronsed the city. Aristobulus sued for peace, and offered to open the