Page 101 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

These events proved to be an attack to the heart of the Jewish faith. Factions emerged in Jerusalem –
those who generally despised Hellenism, the sympathizers of Jason, those loyal to Menelaus and/or any
other possible combinations. In 168 BCE, Antiochus was committed to his attempted subjugation of
Egypt. Jason attempted to retake Jerusalem, the result being a series of internal attacks between
factions. Deeming these attacks as rebellion against him, and angered by his failure to subjugate Egypt,
Antiochus launched an attack on Jerusalem – destroying its walls and houses.

The following year, Antiochus deemed Judaism as the source of the continuing attacks and rebellion
against him. He made such religious observances as circumcision and Sabbath-keeping and the
possession of a copy of the Law punishable by death. He dedicated the temple to the Olympian Zeus and
desecrated it with a sacrifice of swine on the altar. Worship of heathen gods became compulsory. Thus,
Antiochus fulfilled God’s Word as said by prophet Daniel: Forces from him shall appear and profane the
temple and fortress and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the
abomination that makes desolate (Daniel 11:31). But just as Daniel 11:32-34 suggests, the faithful Jews
were eager to react, but it seems that they needed someone to lead them.

Antiochus continued to advance his orders by sending army officers across Judea to enforce on the
people. In a mountain village of Modin, west of Jerusalem, these officers met a local priest named
Mattathias and his five children. The local priest was ordered to fulfil his duty to the state and be the
first to sacrifice an animal to an altar of an idol. He refused and when another Jewish man stepped
forward to do it, he murdered both the Jew and an officer. Tearing down the idol, Mattathias preached
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!" (I Maccabees
2:27). The Jewish people had their leader. He and his five sons, John, Simon, Judah, Eleazer, and
Jonathan, rallied the Jewish population. In 167 BCE, the Jewish people rose up with Mattathias as their
leader.

Soon after 167 BCE the family of Mattathias became known as the Maccabees or “the hammer”.
Starting as guerrilla fighters, they recruited tough Jewish people on the way and formed an organized
army. Their efforts began a guerrilla war as they started to take over the northern villages of Judea. They
tore down the altars of idols and killed those who worshipped them, even many Hellenistic Jews.
Mattathias died in 166 BCE but just before death, he left Judah in charge of his army.

Judah’s army managed to drive out the much more formidable Seleucid army out of the Holy City.
When Judah and his brothers went to the Temple, he saw the destruction and defilement that Antiochus
caused upon it and was overwhelmed by grief (I Maccabees 4:36-40). On December 25, 165 BCE, after
months of work clearing and cleaning, the Temple was finally rededicated to God. Their celebrations
continued for eight days as is known to this day as the celebration of Hanukkah. Since the rebuilding and
rededication of the Temple (515 BCE), the past three years (167-165 BCE) was the only time that regular
worship was halted in the Temple.

The Maccabean revolt ultimately brought about Israel’s political independence and it certainly yielded
religious liberty. However, the religious landscape repeatedly changed under the different subsequent
leaders. Secularism gradually crept in, and politics and religion were dangerously mixed.

Interestingly, the two prominent groups in the New Testament times, the Sadducees and Pharisees
emerged during the Hasmonean dynasty. Although Josephus does not provide their origins, he traces
them to the reign of Jonathan (Ant. 13.171–73). By the time of the reign of Hyrcanus, the two groups
were clearly in opposition.

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