Editing Maccabees (section)

== Hasmonean dynasty ==
{{main|Hasmonean dynasty}}
Following the re-dedication of the Temple, the supporters of the Maccabees were divided over the question of whether to continue fighting. When the revolt began under the leadership of Mattathias, it was seen as a war for religious freedom to end the oppression of the Seleucids. However, as the Maccabees realized how successful they had been, many wanted to continue the revolt and conquer other lands with Jewish populations or to convert their peoples. This policy exacerbated the divide between the [[Pharisees]] and [[Sadducees]] under later Hasmonean monarchs such as [[Alexander Jannaeus]].<ref>Cohen, Shaye J.D., ''From the Maccabees to the Mishnah'' (Second Edition. Westminster John Knox Press, 2006)</ref> Those who sought the continuation of the war were led by Judah Maccabee.

On his death in battle in 160&nbsp;BCE, Judah was succeeded as army commander by his younger brother, Jonathan, who was already high priest.  Jonathan made treaties with various foreign states, causing further dissent between those who merely desired religious freedom and those who sought greater power.

In 142&nbsp;BCE, Jonathan was assassinated by [[Diodotus Tryphon]], a pretender to the Seleucid throne, and was succeeded by [[Simon Maccabeus|Simon Maccabee]], the last remaining son of Mattathias. Simon gave support to [[Demetrius II Nicator]], the Seleucid king, and in return Demetrius exempted the Maccabees from [[tribute]]. Simon conquered the port of [[Jaffa|Joppa]], where the Gentile population were 'forcibly removed',<ref>Jews in the Mediterranean diaspora: from Alexander to Trajan (323&nbsp;BCE – 117&nbsp;CE) John M Barclay University of California press pg 247</ref> and the fortress of [[Gezer]]. He expelled the garrison from the [[Acra (fortress)|Acra]] in Jerusalem. In 140&nbsp;BCE, he was recognised by an assembly of the priests, leaders and elders as high priest, military commander and ruler of Israel. Their decree became the basis of the Hasmonean kingdom. Shortly after, the [[Roman Senate]] renewed its alliance with the Hasmonean kingdom and commanded its allies in the eastern Mediterranean to do so also.<ref>[[Livy]], ''Ab Urbe Condita'', [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy45.html xlv.12.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819194021/http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy45.html |date=2017-08-19 }}</ref> Although the Maccabees won autonomy, the region remained a province of the Seleucid Empire, and Simon was required to provide troops to [[Antiochus VII Sidetes]], the brother of Demetrius II. When Simon refused to give up the territory he had conquered, Antiochus took them by force.

Simon was murdered in 134&nbsp;BCE by his son-in-law Ptolemy and was succeeded as high priest and king by his son [[John Hyrcanus I]]. Antiochus conquered the entire district of Judea but refrained from attacking the Temple or interfering with Jewish observances. Judea was freed from Seleucid rule on the death of Antiochus in 129&nbsp;BCE.<ref name=deLange/> Independent Hasmonean rule lasted until 63&nbsp;BCE, when the Roman general [[Pompey|Pompeius]] [[Siege of Jerusalem (63 BC)|intervened]] in the Hasmonean civil war, making it a [[client kingdom]] of Rome. The Hasmonean dynasty ended in 37&nbsp;BCE when the [[Idumean]] [[Herod the Great]] became king of Israel,<ref name="Oesterley" /> designated "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate,<ref name="deLange" /><ref>[http://earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/war1.html Josephus' Jewish War 1].14.4: [[Mark Antony]] " …then resolved to get him made king of the Jews… told them that it was for their advantage in the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] war that Herod should be king; so they all gave their votes for it. And when the senate was separated, Antony and [[Augustus|Caesar]] went out, with Herod between them; while the consul and the rest of the magistrates went before them, in order to offer sacrifices [to the Roman gods], and to lay the decree in the Capitol. Antony also made a feast for Herod on the first day of his reign;"</ref> effectively transforming the Hasmonean kingdom into the [[Herodian kingdom]]—a client kingdom of Rome.