After receiving Seleucid recognition in 152 B.C.E., Jonathan began to do battle with the Nabatean Arabs and then turned to fortifying Jerusalem. (179) Jonathan went into Arabia and fought against the Nabateans. He drove away many of their cattle, took [many] captives, and came to Damascus, where he sold off what he had taken. (180) About the […]
Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, From Text to Tradition, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 1991. By 152 B.C.E. Jonathan the Hasmonean had firmly established himself as ruler over Judea. From then until the Roman conquest of Judea in 63 B.C.E., the descendants of Judah the Maccabee ruled over the Land of Israel. Jonathan took advantage of the instability […]
From Text to Tradition The Hasmonean Dynasty Historical surveys Lee I. Levine. “The Age of Hellenism- Alexander the Great and the Rise and Fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom.” Part III Primary sources Josephus, Antiquities XIII, 179-83- The Ascendancy of Jonathan Maccabees 12-15- Jonathan’s Death and the Reign of Simon Josephus, Antiquities XIII, 225-9- The Death […]
John Hyrcanus (ruled 134-104 B.C.E.) established himself quickly as ruler and successfully negotiated his relationship with the Seleucids. He also maintained close ties with Rome which was increasingly interested in Judea as a bridge to Syria. (230) So Ptolemy retired to one of the fortresses above Jericho which was called Dagon. But Hyrcanus, having taken the […]