Page 121 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Sadducees among the Hasmoneans emerged and constituted the ruling elite. Governing through the
Temple system proved to be effective for these Sadducees, but their secular influence often separated
them from the people. Meanwhile, the Pharisees, a much more conservative sect, led through
synagogues. Though popular with the general public, they almost never made political decisions.
While this internal system existed, the Hasmoneans also relied on external allies (1 Maccabees 14:16–
19, 24; 15:15–24). This system can trace back to the days leading to their Babylonian captivity but
proved to be dangerous many times.

Religion

Jews had been under the rule of Ptolemaic (Egyptian) rule roughly since the days of Alexander the Great.
In 198 BCE, the Seleucid dynasty (Syrian) snatched Palestine from Egypt’s control. During the Egyptian
era and in the early years of Syrian occupation, the Jews enjoyed the freedom to worship as they
wished. The growing Hellenization campaigns would soon change this situation.

To expand and unify their empire, the later Seleucid kings took Hellenization to advanced levels.
Particularly, the Jewish faith was threatened by the rising of Antiochus IV (175–163 BCE) to the throne.
He tried to abolish the religion of his subject people and replace it with Greek culture and religions. One
way of achieving this in Jerusalem was his assumption of the right to appoint Jewish high priests. Jews
who embraced Hellenism welcomed this, but conservatives regarded it as a serious compromise to their
identity and faith.

Meanwhile, Antiochus’ Hellenization campaign caused the Jewish elite and loyalists to start vying for
positions of prominence, especially the high priesthood. At this time, Onias was the high priest in
Jerusalem. His highly Hellenized brother Jason bribed Antiochus IV to appoint him as high priest so that
he could, in return, help in Hellenizing the Jews. The deal was agreed and a conservative priest, Onias,
was made to step down. In keeping his part of the deal, Jason built a gymnasium not far from the
Temple in Jerusalem (2 Maccabees 4:8–10).

For future context, a gymnasium was an outdoors complex, open to the public at large, and provided
space dedicated to sports and cultural activities. A standard gymnasium included a running track, a place
for gymnastics, one or more swimming pools, dressing-rooms, and other minor buildings. In ancient
Greek, the word gymnos (from which gymnasium is derived) means naked, and every participant
competed naked.

Antiochus used Jason’s power as the High Priest over the Jewish people to build a gymnasium just
outside the Temple, with that, strengthening the Greek culture in the heartland of the Jewish
community. It was a symbol of Greek Hellenism, and having it outside the Temple showed the Jewish
community exactly who was in charge. The Hellenistic idea of masculinity was shown in the rule that one
must be naked to enter the gymnasium. Being naked in public was strictly forbidden under Jewish laws,
so any Jewish person that went into the gymnasium violated the laws of the covenant. For conservative
Jews, this was a clear infiltration of Paganism.

Jason’s influence only lasted for three years (175–172 BCE). Menelaus, a colleague of his but not from
the priestly line, deposed him by outbidding him in the bribery game (2 Maccabees 4:23–26). That a
Greek gymnasium was built in Jerusalem was one issue for the Jews, and that the high priesthood was
this time given to an outsider in Menelaus was another. According to 2 Maccabees 4:25, Menelaus is
described as having the hot temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage wild beast. He

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