103 BCE

The Hasmonean Kingdom (pronunciation) in ancient Judea and its ruling dynasty from 140 BCE to 37 BCE was established under the leadership of Simon Maccabaeus, two decades after Judah the Maccabee defeated the Seleucid army in 165 BCE. Hasmonean - Recorded history. The origin of the Hasmonean dynasty is recorded in the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. These books are not part of the Hebrew Bible, but are part of the deuterocanonical historical and religious material from the Septuagint; th ...

Including:

• Hasmonean - Recorded history
• Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty
• Hasmonean - Etymology of Hasmonea
• Hasmonean - Leadership and succession
• Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty

Read more here: » Hasmonean: Encyclopedia - Hasmonean

Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai), king of Judea from (103 BCE to 76 BCE), son of John Hyrcanus, inherited the throne from his brother Aristobulus, and appears to have married his brother's widow, Shlamtzion or Shlomtzion or "Shelomit", also known as Salome Alexandra, according to the Biblical law of Yibum ("levirate marriage"), although Josephus is inexplicit on that point. His likely full Hebrew name was Jonathan; he may have been the High Priest Jonathan, rather than his great-un ...

Including:

• Alexander Jannaeus - Civil war against the Pharisees
• Alexander Jannaeus - Alliance with the Essenes
• Alexander Jannaeus - Coinage

Read more here: » Alexander Jannaeus: Encyclopedia - Alexander Jannaeus

The leadership of the Hasmoneans was founded by a resolution, adopted in 141 BCE, at a large assembly "of the priests and the people and of the elders of the land, to the effect that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet" (I Macc. xiv. 41). Ironically, the election was performed in hellenistic fashion. Recognition of the new dynasty by the Romans was accorded by the Senate a ...

See also:

Hasmonean, Hasmonean - Recorded history, Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty, Hasmonean - Etymology of Hasmonea, Hasmonean - Leadership and succession, Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty

Read more here: » Hasmonean: Encyclopedia II - Hasmonean - Leadership and succession

That the Pharisees, now that the control of affairs was in their hands, did not treat the Sadducees any too gently is very probable; although the execution of Diogenes of Judea, by whose advice King Alexander had 800 Pharisees nailed on the cross, speaks rather for their moderation than for their cruelty, inasmuch as the special reference to the execution shows that such acts of revenge must have been few. The Sadducees were moved to petition the queen for protection against the ruling party. Alexandra, who desired to avoid all party conflic ...

See also:

Salome Alexandra, Salome Alexandra - Her political ability, Salome Alexandra - Reestablishment of the Sanhedrin, Salome Alexandra - Her internal and external policy, Salome Alexandra - In legend

Read more here: » Salome Alexandra: Encyclopedia II - Salome Alexandra - Her internal and external policy

An avid supporter of the aristocratic Hellenist faction known as the Sadducees, his reign was constantly challenged by opponents, among them a brother with a rival claim to the throne, and the populist urban-based Pharisee party. At the beginning of his reign Alexander Jannaeus halted the suppression of the Pharisees and the Sages for a while, under the influence of his wife Salome Alexandra (said to be the sister of the great Jewish sage Shimon ben Shetach). This gave him time and resources to increase his power and prestige by exten ...

See also:

Alexander Jannaeus, Alexander Jannaeus - Civil war against the Pharisees, Alexander Jannaeus - Alliance with the Essenes, Alexander Jannaeus - Coinage

Read more here: » Alexander Jannaeus: Encyclopedia II - Alexander Jannaeus - Civil war against the Pharisees

The Seleucids had converted the Temple in Jerusalem into a hellenistic shrine, which of course was an unacceptable blasphemy to most Jews. Judah the Maccabee led the first Hasmoneans to re-dedicate the Temple, and established the rule of his family, over a liberated land of Judah. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the divine hand in the Maccabees' victories during these events. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers in the year 165 BCE, to be celebrated annually with joy as a memorial of th ...

See also:

Hasmonean, Hasmonean - Recorded history, Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty, Hasmonean - Etymology of Hasmonea, Hasmonean - Leadership and succession, Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty

Read more here: » Hasmonean: Encyclopedia II - Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty

Alexander Jannaeus may have been in close relation with the monastic Essenes at some point, who were probably allies during his fight against the Pharisees. A piece from the Dead Sea scrolls from Qumran appears to be an homage to him: "holy city/ for king Jonathan/ and all the congregation of your people/ Israel/ who are in the four/ winds of heaven/ peace be (for) all/ and upon your kingdom/ your name be blessed" (Transcripti ...

See also:

Alexander Jannaeus, Alexander Jannaeus - Civil war against the Pharisees, Alexander Jannaeus - Alliance with the Essenes, Alexander Jannaeus - Coinage

Read more here: » Alexander Jannaeus: Encyclopedia II - Alexander Jannaeus - Alliance with the Essenes

While the Hasmonean dynasty managed to create an independent Jewish kingdom, its successes were rather short-lived, and the dynasty by and large failed to live up to the nationalistic momentum the Maccabee brothers had gained. Some Jewish historians have said that claiming of kingship by the later Hasmoneans is what led to the downfall of the state, since no one who did not belong to the line of king David was supposed to hold that title. The Hasmonean bureaucracy was filled with men with Greek names, and the dynasty eventually became ...

See also:

Hasmonean, Hasmonean - Recorded history, Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty, Hasmonean - Etymology of Hasmonea, Hasmonean - Leadership and succession, Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty

Read more here: » Hasmonean: Encyclopedia II - Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty