I think this is very applicable in todays society, because money and politics rules the world unfortunately. In the narrative of I Maccabees, after Antiochus issued his decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice, a rur. What a dirtball. The questions about whether or not Christians should resist violently or be martyred is a hot debate. And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today.' He had many children, fought against and with gods against other beings, betrayed and seduced gods, and even ate his wife according to some myths. Some scholars argue that his actions towards the Jews were primarily motivated by political consolidation and control rather than solely religious animosity. After his death, Maccabeus (or Maccabee) became the family name so his brothers and even his father are referred to as "the Maccabees" (also called the Hasmoneans), and the revolt is referred to as "the Maccabean Revolt." The history of the rebellion led by Judas Maccabeus is recorded in Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews and in the . I wonder if this was also to make the Jews be more interested in adopting a more Greek lifestyle and culture because the gymnasium and games played inside could be fun to participate in. That is sad! 1 and 2 Maccabees seems to show some of the outcry against all this. Either the Jews can fight for what they believe in and die that way or they can go along with it and resist passively and die that way. It is really interesting to see the fact that Jason went to the king and bribed him to be appointed High Priest. All around this just seems like a really hopeless situation. He is famous for almost conquering Egypt and for his brutal persecution of the Jews, which precipitated the Maccabean revolt. That is the devils work. Antiochus Epiphanes played a substantial role in shaping religious practices within the Seleucid Empire. The reign of Antiochus Epiphanes offers valuable insights into the dynamics of power, cultural clashes, and the resilience of religious and national identities. People these days are literally shying away from Gods word and trying to live in their own selfish ways, as if thats going to workout for them. The Jews had began believing that Antiochus rage and persecution was punishment from Godthat Yahweh was furious with their incorporation of a Hellenistic culture. I think it is sad that in order to defend themselves and their faith, they had to break some of the rules of the faith they were fighting to defend. When we go to church we know that we arent going there to worship a pastor or minister. Menelaus s corrupted motivation for taking the place as high priest is a common characteristic that is prevalent in many churches and authority figures today. Jason, who first took to bribery proposed something what while popular among some people and even some priest, did not please the Jews or the Hellenization. This group of people would rather die than see their religion and culture being besmirched by foreign influence, bringing with it an entirely new way of life that would take root. So much of the Jews problem stems from the fights for the position of high priest. Historical context of the Maccabees When Pompey did this he was talked about for years, as being this horrible person for entering the Temple. Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes launched a massive campaign of repression against the Jewish religion in 168 BCE. Led by the priestly Maccabees, the revolt aimed to restore Jewish religious autonomy and repel Hellenistic influences. This assumption plays into the idea of glorified martyrdom, however, this just wasnt the case. 91-186, with minor changes. We should be doing what God has called us to do. I like what you said Ben about being careful with idols that we could possibly be worshiping today. There were several factors which led to the Maccabean Revolt. The rebels as a whole would come to be known as the Maccabees, and their actions would be chronicled later in the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. The battle's only contemporaneous record is in the First Book of Maccabees. The historian Josephus mentions the battle briefly in Antiquities of the Jews, but seems to largely be a paraphrase of the 1 Maccabees version. The leadership in this time period it is evident that leadership was corrupt and evil. In 1 Maccabees there seems to be an assumption that our only hope of anafterlife is in gaining glory and a good name, so that our descendants will sing our praises (Tomasino, 234). For the battle between Judean rebels and the Syrian Legion of the Roman Empire, see. We know the details of the Jewish fight against the Greeks and Hellenism from the two Books of the Maccabees as well as the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus. The origin of Hanukkah is traced back to the Maccabean Revolt. It serves as a reminder of the importance of religious freedom and tolerance, underscoring the need to respect and accommodate different beliefs and practices. Onias III protested: Menelaus was not the real high priest and had no authority to sell anything from the temple, let alone to pay bribes to a Gentile king! The death of Alexander the Great of Greece in 323 BCE led to the breakup of the Greek empire as three of his generals fought for supremacy and divided the Middle East among themselves. Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabeus, also spelled Machabeus, or Maccabus, Hebrew: , [1] Yehudah HaMakabi) was a Jewish priest ( kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. Since most of the Jews did not support him as high priest, he had trouble raising the money to pay Antiochus his bribe. [2], The Beth Horon pass in the era was exceptionally narrow; according to a baraita tale: "Two camels climbed Beth Horon Ascent and met each other. There were two paths of resistance in the Maccabean revolt. It was in an attempt to please Antiochus, that Jason built a gymnasium close to the temple and was encouraging the Jews to become more Greek. People have not changed a bit. He also undertook significant building projects, including the restoration of cities ravaged by wars and the construction of new cultural centers. For the writer of 1 Maccabees, violence was indeed the answer. You might also like This Map Shows Where the Hanukkah Story Happened. 28 Jun 2023 04:31:25 Onias III was the legitimate High Priest. Psalm 34:19 tells us that many are the afflictions of the righteous Its sad to read about how much Antiochus disrespected the Jews, but is ultimately relatable in a post-Christian culture. Through reading this blog, we can see that the people were hungry to have power. They come against us in great insolence and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. According to Britannica, Zeus is the god of the sky in ancient Greek mythology. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. The term "Maccabee" is used to describe someone who joined this revolt against the Seleucid Empire. 1:57). It definitely reminds me of some of the difficult situations that that have caused people that are close to me to leave church. 1 Maccabees covers a 40-year period. To understand this revolt, one needs to know what happened between the history recorded in the biblical account and these events circa 167 BC. I think that this is still happening very clearly in the church today and the government for sure. Power hungry. This name traces its origin to Judas Maccabeus, a priest and the leader of the revolt. Led by the priestly Maccabees, the revolt aimed to restore Jewish religious autonomy and repel Hellenistic influences. This can be taken as another question I need to continually ask myself is what what influences am I allowing in my life that I am letting change me and get in the way of my faith? John 14:6 talks about how we as believers need to be in the world not of the world. 39 Her sanctuary became desolate like a desert; her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into contempt. It was during this time that Onias III was the actual High Priest, and his brother Jason traveled to this recently founded Antiochus and bribed the king to be the High Priest. Today we refer to these events as the Maccabean Revolt, named after the Jewish leader, Judah Maccabee. An alliance with the Roman Republic helped guarantee their independence. How can we get rid of it and have our sole focus be on Him alone? 1:54), Antiochus offered the desolating sacrilege on the altar. Mattathias's death is recorded as happening in the 146th year of the Ancient Macedonian calendar of the count used in Babylon & Judea, the equivalent to between Spring 166 BC to Spring 165 BC of the Gregorian calendar, and the structure of the narrative implies that Mattathias was already dead by the time the battle with Seron was fought. Utilizing guerrilla warfare tactics, the Maccabee rebels ambushed the passing Seleucid force from the pass, pursuing the surprised and fleeing remnants into the plain. These events truly show the corruptness of the government and church leaders during this time. I think that Menelaus even being a priest is most interested in sitting at the top of society as a priest, being that it was one of the highest places in Jewish society, rather than taking on the duties of being a priest and serving God. Judas Maccabeus died in 160 BCE at the Battle of Elasa against the Greek general Bacchides, and the Seleucids reestablished direct control for a time, but remnants of the Maccabees under Judas's brother Jonathan Apphus continued to resist from the countryside. He is not referring to Christians actually fighting. 1 Maccabees 1:62-65 tells of the martyrs that did not fight and died, when do we fight and when do we simply stand our ground? Another thing that I think was evil was that Menelaus sold items from the temple, especially since he was not being supported by so many people. Phillip J. They literally made him sit in a watched area until a decision was made. This portion of Maccabees is a very sad reflection on religious government. The Revolt of the Maccabees. His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of the battles of Judas. Judas replied, 'It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. This repression triggered exactly the revolt that Antiochus IV had feared, with a group of Jewish fighters led by Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee) and his family rebelling in 167 BCE and seeking independence. The thing that I like most about this blog post that was asked near the end would be if something goes against your way of thinking and your lifestyle, would you just conform to the new society even though that was not the way you were raised; or would you bear arms and stand on what you believe in, even if death and war are at stake. Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 2003. Frankly, that should be a wake-up call, that Faith and how we live by it every day needs repair. This is encouraging to hear for the Jews because they were finally able to get the justice they deserved. I also was reminded of a mass of Bible verses that inform Christians that they will face trials in this life. There are several other verses that assure suffering (Psalm 34:19; John 16:33; Phillipeans 1:29, and so on). We see this a lot in todays church as well. The Maccabean Revolt was a rebellion against Hellenistic Greek role led by Moses F Teachers of the law and successors to the Pharisees are called rabbis T Zionism refers to the modern movement for large Jewish immigration into Palestine T The term kosher means "that which is unclean" F Students also viewed Sikhism Quiz 10 terms Galatians: Freedom through Gods Grace (Wipf & Stock, 2019). The revolt had a great impact on Jewish nationalism, as an example of a successful campaign to establish political independence and resist governmental anti-Jewish suppression. Unfortunately, this left Jews with two basic options in the Maccabean revolt, as explained on page 41 in the notes. Led by a family of Jewish priests, the Maccabees, the revolt commenced in 167 BC. Once again a strong army of godless men went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the Israelites. People choose sides and become angry, focused more on themselves and how comfortable they are instead of expanding the kingdom of God. Antiochus waited until the Sabbath then sends his general Appolnius and some mercenaries into Jerusalem. But this text also says these foreigners became a great menace, using the noun , often translated snare or trap. The word is often used for a trap laid by an enemy, as in LXX Psalm 56:7 (ET 57:6) or Jeremiah 5:26. There were a lot of things happening leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. He is infamous for his tyrannical rule and aggressive policies towards the Jews, particularly his desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem, which led to the Maccabean Revolt. What is the significance of pomegranates in the Bible? Much of this history is found in Daniel 11:21-35. I also wonder to what degree does this occur in churches today. In todays day, it reminds me of the Maccabean revolt. In 167 BC (1 Macc. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. After several years of guerrilla warfare against the Seleucid forces, the Maccabees successfully recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the desecrated Jewish temple. Judas Ancient Judean Priest who murdered a fellow Jew and started what came to be called the Maccabean Revolt Mattathias Responsible for temple cultus; wealthy but small group; theologically more conservative (they said no to what they thought was the relatively new notion of resurrection, that the dead would be raised) Sadducees His Greek soldiers collected and burned the Scriptures (1 Macc. Antiochus Epiphanes was a ruthless and often capricious ruler. What I would like to discuss is the overall impact that Antiochus had in shaming Jewish religion and customs. Either he thinks there is no God of Israel or he thinks He has no power. However I find Menelauss behavior amidst his power struggle to be really be one of the most repulsive. When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were crushed before him. For the Jews, there was like Megan said, very little hope. Phillip J. I also question how the concept of sin plays a role in Greek mythology, as its such a crucial aspect for God Yahweh the very concept of sin is completely separated from God. Clearly, money was the start of this civilizations issues. He promoted the worship of Greek gods and attempted to fuse Hellenistic and indigenous religious traditions. We are still glorifying God at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we still see Christian/religious officials abusing power or sustaining their power for personal gain. Essentially, in the story we are seeing a prime example of power struggle. They were so hungry that they were willing to do whatever they were told in order to please those in charge in hopes to get a role of power themselves. Another force was soon sent against the Maccabees, which led to the Battle of Emmaus. It is unsettling how easy it seemed to bribe their way into powerful and important positions. Sadly enough but sometimes evil prevails because Satan exists. I still do not think that it would be right for him to sell things from the temple, but if he were to, it should not be for his own selfish intentions. This did not end well for Menelaus, he did not have support from the people and could not raise enough money to pay off his bribe, so he robbed the temple. His army was met by a delegation from the Roman senate led by Popilius Laenas. 35 For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were grieved and displeased at the unjust murder of the man. Long February 15, 2017 Factors Leading to the Maccabean Revolt (Part 2) In 168 B.C. That is all these people were after and guess what. There was a shocking lack of respect for a position that was supposed to be the leader of repenting sins, offering sacrifices, and communicating with God. The subsequent cleansing of the temple and rededication of the altar on 25 Kislev is the source of the festival of Hanukkah. People were more focused on having power than they were on anything else. As interesting as the Maccabean revolt is to learn and read about, it is sad to see what the Jews had to go through. However, the concept of combining the two Gods in worship is fascinating to me. There was a huge hunger for power so much that people were willing to kill and do whatever it takes to maintain that power. Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell on the Gentiles all around them. Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity 32. How did Antiochus Epiphanes shape religious practices in the Seleucid Empire? The Maccabean Revolt ultimately succeeded, leading to the rededication of the Temple and the establishment of the independent Hasmonean dynasty. Even today, many politicians have to buy their way into offices. Most prominently are the pursuits of money, power, and pride. Does this count as an idol? Antiochus Epiphanes was a Greek king of the Seleucid Empire who reigned over Syria from 175 BC until 164 BC. Alongside that, the sacred priesthood had been perverted. It could also be pointed out that what led to this sacrifice on the altar was the fact that Antiochus IV Epiphanies was raised as a hostage in Rome for a time therefore influencing his beliefs especially in the area of enforcing a unified state religion. The Greek invaders are certainly a danger, but the real danger for the writer of 1 Maccabees is the temptation to surrender to the Gentiles and forsake the covenant. Antiochus Epiphanes reign continues to be a subject of historical debate and controversy. 48 And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages and the holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. I have no clue why he thought he would have time to just roam around and think about what he wanted to do. He outlawed certain Jewish customs, such as circumcision and observance of the Sabbath, while imposing Greek religious practices on the Jewish population. Whats in the motive of ones heart? Our world is so broken and split apart. When it comes to money I feel like it doesnt matter if you have one hundred dollars or a thousand you are always going to want more. If so, I think he is using fighting the good fight metaphorically. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167-160 BCE). Haaretz | World News The Revolt of the Maccabees: The True Story Behind Hanukkah The ancient Israelites, led by Judas Maccabeus, did vanquish the oppressor Antiochus - but Greek rule would only be shaken off 20 years later under Judas' younger brother. I think often we forget to be faithful that we can be expressive about our faith and dont have to hide it. I think its very interesting how easy it was to simply buy their way into power in Jerusalem, especially the High priest position seeing how sacred that position was held at one point. I cannot imagine being in the position of the Jews during this time period. In 2019 he published a commentary. It is even more offensive, though strategic, that Antiochus waited until the Sabbath to destroy Jerusalem, which likely influenced action on the side of the Jews. 1 Maccabees 1:37-40 On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the sanctuary. They slaughter men, women and children indiscriminately and burn much of the city. RT @AmKsheOref: reminder that the Seleucids under Antiochus IV (may they eternally rot in the deepest pits of hell) instituted prima nocta forcing Jewish virgin brides to be deflowered by Greek governors before their Jewish husbands, one of the many cruel edicts that led to the Maccabean revolt. Antiochus Epiphanes reign marked a turning point for the Seleucid Empire. The Maccabean Revolt is a very real-life rebellion that according to Strauss, was one of the bleakest moments in Jewish history, out of this came one of the brightest periods of Jewish independence (Strauss 128). [2], Nothing is known of Seron other than his name and that he commanded the army. I think that much like the Maccabean revolt this issue with the hunger for power from individuals with the wrong motive is a very real issue in todays society. Popilius presents Antiochus with a letter from the Senate ordering him out of Egypt or face the wrath of Rome. We know the details of the Jewish fight against the Greeks and Hellenism from the two Books of the Maccabees as well as the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus. Being a Jew in this time must have been devastating. As soon as one man comes up, there are always people there trying to tear them down. There is so much that happened as the Maccabean revolt was starting to happen. Not long before the revolt, Jerusalem had been captured by the Seleucids. One could take up arms, as Judas and his brothers did, or one could resist passively and be martyred for the faith. Jesus can have anger that is fully righteous, because he himself was fully righteous. Often, we see leaders in society who are fueled by greed, led down a path that leads to increased wrongdoing. More disregard came about when Antiochus consistently took bribes for a majority of things such as making Menelaus his High Priest, despite the fact that he knew this was wrong (Tomasino 132). Historian Bezalel Bar-Kochva believes that Josephus misread 1 Maccabees on the matter of Seron's fate; 1 Maccabees says that Seron was "defeated" in the sense of his army losing the battle, but he speculated Josephus read it more literally as Seron being defeated as in "slain". [2], The book of 1 Maccabees occasionally uses archaic phrasings to present the deeds of the Hasmoneans as similar or equivalent to those of earlier heroes of Jewish Scripture. He was. Menelaus especially needs to be punished. Any second of the day I could tell you where my phone was (in my pocket, on the table). I simply cannot comprehend what the average person went through EVERY SINGLE DAY. The Maccabean Revolt ( Hebrew: ) was a Jewish rebellion led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire and against Hellenistic influence on Jewish life. There were two paths of resistance in the Maccabean revolt. Hellenization was also an issue that played into the Maccabean Revolt, as was the desecration of the temple, but the struggle for the position of high priest was still behind even parts of these other reasons. Bar-Kochva is citing BT Sanhedrin 32b. Antiochus Epiphanes continues to be remembered primarily for his antagonistic policies towards the Jews and his role in inciting the Maccabean Revolt. The rebellion marked the end of Seleucid control over the Levant and signaled the end of the Seleucid Dynasty. [7] The identity of the "godless"[note 1] allies of Seron is not entirely clear either; possibilities include outlying Samaritans or Ammonites hostile to the Jews, Thracian mercenaries similar to Seron himself (if he really was Thracian), and Hellenized Jews who had been recruited as soldiers by the Seleucid government. This time things were not to go as well as he had planned. Not only were there many political moves, but there were also many things put into place to sway the Jews into Hellenistic views and beliefs. It is in a different way, but interesting to see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. His behavior certainly did not help the Jews to further their fascination with the Greco-Roman culture, and caused a great self-awareness on the Jews part of the apostasy they had committed towards Yahweh. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. Even on a smaller scale, I have witnessed power struggles in my own church, though the matters are typically settled quickly and professionally. We as Christians know that we should follow Christ no matter what but a lot of us havent had to make a decision nearly as difficult or scary as that. Risking as well as setting aside their Christian virtues and devotions in efforts just to fit into something that does not matter and is completely against what God has planned for mankind. The second Book of Maccabees is not the continuation of the first. It is too easy for a church-going American to not pick up a Bible or say a prayer until the next Sunday service. It is in part parallel to it: its starting-point is a little earlier but it ends with the defeat of the Seleucids by Judas Maccabeus. [2] Josephus's account differs in that adds is that he claims that Seron was killed outright, as well as referring to him as a general (strategos) rather than a commander. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. It is apparent that money has influenced their thought processes in a negative way. Antiochus immediately declared Menelaus High Priest and sent Syrian troops with him in order to oust Jason from Jerusalem. Tomasino, Anthony J. Judaism Before Jesus. This makes it plausible as a spot for a small force to inflict major damage, as coordination among a surprised procession would be difficult, and superior numbers would count for little. 2 Maccabees 4:33-35 When Onias became fully aware of these acts, he publicly exposed them, having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. I would like to say I would resist and stay strong in my faith. (Strauss, 127) After the gymnasium was built there was even more of a divide between people. I feel like one thing started happening after another everything went downhill. Religion did not matter to them as much as power and money did. The history of the Maccabean Revolt is found in 1 and 2 Maccabees and in the writings of Josephus. These power-plats from rival high priests directly led to the Maccabean Revolt. I think that it is a little interesting, and smart, on Antiochus part to wait until the Sabbath to go in and neturlize/ quell the uprising because he knew that on the Sabbath the Jews would be unable to resist or fight back due to Jewish Law. Strauss mentions that under Antiochus IV, Israel would face its greatest threat to survival yet, Strauss also mentions that Antiochus IV got the nickname Epiphanes which means Madman. We see that everyone was willing to do whatever they needed in order to please the king. Antiochus made a second campaign into Egypt with the intention of annexing it to his own kingdom. Early in his reign, Antiochus IV Epiphanes was involved in a dispute over the high priesthood in Jerusalem. This is an example of a rebellion of a people that has had what they know and have come to expect taken from them. It therefore covers only about 15 years and corresponds to the first seven chapters of 1 st Maccabees. It needs to change, we are all Gods people and thus should act like it every day. Thanks to Menelaus, temple worship was stained with a blend of reverence for Yahweh and Zeus. Additionally, the temple ran a sort of banking system, so the high priest had access to a lot of money and was responsible for taxes and tributes. Antiochus Epiphanes played a significant role in the history of ancient Israel and had a lasting impact on the religious and political landscape of the region. It was very sad to see in Maccabees 1 37-40 how the author described the defilement that they were experiencing. THE MACCABEAN REVOLT 1. 46 Therefore Ptolemy, taking the king aside into a colonnade as if for refreshment, induced the king to change his mind. Antiochus had taken hold of this city and abused the people within the city in nearly every metric. The revolt launched by the priest Mattathias and later led by his third son, Judah Maccabee, was both a civil war and a war against an outside enemy. This opened up the door for more trouble. Bar-Kochva 1989, p. 212. [2], Judas's speeches and prayers in the book of 1 Maccabees are best seen as free compositions of the historian, not actual transcriptions, in the style of Hellenistic historians to essentially invent or rewrite such dialogue to be more literary. Through his support of the Greek culture and endorsement of some of their customs and traditions, Jason offended orthodox Jews, however, others believed that he did not support the Greeks enough and promote Hellenization enough. There is no way people should be willing to die over money or power. James 1:2-4 tells us that we will face trials of many kinds, but should find joy in persevering so that we may be made complete. Jason had picked this time to make his attempt to regain the office of High Priest based on a rumor which said Antiochus had been killed in battle (1 Macc 1:16-19). The part of this story that irritates me the most is the disgracefulness from the priest. The Jewish army had earlier won a battle at the ascent of Lebonah against the Seleucid General Apollonius. Answer. What does it mean that God is omnibenevolent? I do not know what one I would choose but am encouraged to see that all of them did not give into temptation.