by hadassah | Nov 16, 2015 | From Alexander to the Maccabees, Maccabean Period
A Greek name meaning “comparable to his father” or “worthy of his father”. In this context, we are referring to Antigonus (died 37 BC), the last ruler of the Hasmonean kingdom of Judea. This is known as the, “Coin of...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Background, From Alexander to the Maccabees, The Rabbis
Josephus, War I, 110-12: The Pharisees in Power Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, Texts and Traditions, Ktav, Hoboken 1998, p.512. Josephus here gives his opinion about how the Pharisees came to be the dominant party in the time of the Hasmonean queen,...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Background, From Alexander to the Maccabees, Pharisees and Sadducees
Josephus, War II, 119-66: Three Philosophical Schools Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, Texts and Traditions, Ktav, Hoboken 1998, p.267-268. Here Josephus elaborates on the three sects which he identifies amongst the Jews. We include here only the material...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | From Alexander to the Maccabees, The Maccabean Revolt
1 Maccabees describes the rededication of the Temple, which took place after Judah (Judas) the Maccabee and his men conquered Jerusalem, and the institution of the holiday of Hanukkah. Thereafter, Judah undertook a policy of fighting against Israel’s neighbors who had...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Background, From Alexander to the Maccabees, The Maccabean Revolt
1 Maccabees 1-4: The Maccabean Uprising Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, Texts and Traditions, Ktav, Hoboken 1998, p.156-160 and Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Apocrypha, copyright 1957 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council...