'At first the pious (Hasidim) were simply butchered (I. Macc. i. 63) and rather than profane the Sabbath by striking a blow died without resistance, on one occasion "to the number of ',coo souls" (I. Macc. ii. 38).
confirmed to him and his heirs for ever (141 B.c.) "until there should arise a faithful prophet" to determine otherwise (I. Macc. xiv. 41). Some time later (14o B.c.) Simon was granted the right of coining money (probably copper only') and some speci mens of "the year four" "of the redemption of Zion" (Nisan 143 being counted as the beginning of a new era Macc. xiii. 42)—still survive. His son, John Hyrcanus I. (135-104 B.c.) on his coins, John the High Priest conquered and destroyed Samaria and forced the Idumeans to be circumcised. He was the first of the Macca baean princes to employ mercenaries. John Hyrcanus made the mistake of quarrelling with the Pharisees and seeking the support of the Sadducees of whom we first hear as distinct parties in this reign (Ant. xiii. 1o). His immediate successor, Aristobulus I. (104-103 B.c.) extended his conquests to Galilee and is said to have assumed the title of king (Ant. xiii. i 1) though it does not occur on his extant coins. The long reign of his brother, Alexander Iannaeus (103-76 B.c.) was full of conflict at home and abroad. He continued his father's policy of forcing outlying regions, includ ing even the Greek cities, to accept either Judaism or annihilation. His coins are the first to bear a Greek inscription (on the obverse; Hebrew still on the reverse), and he calls himself plainly King Alexander. In 76 B.C. he was killed, fighting at Ragaba on the east of the Jordan. His widow, Salome Alexandra, was the zealous patron of the Pharisees who (and especially a famous rabbi of the name of Simon ben Shetach) largely dictated her policy and looked back upon her reign as a foreshadowing of the golden age. At her death (67 B.c.) her two sons, Aristobulus and Hyr canus fought one another for the succession. At first Hyrcanus, the elder and more indolent of the two, gave way to his younger and more vigorous brother ; but he was persuaded by Antipater, "thick shekels" of silver which have often been attributed to Simon, are now generally assigned to the revolt of A.D. 66-70. See
B.M. Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Palestine, pp. xc. ff., and P.E.F.Q.R. January 1927 pp. 47 ff.
a son of the governor of Idumea, to stir himself to obtain his birthright. At this juncture Pompey appeared on the scene. Both sides appealed to him and after some delay he decided in favour of Hyrcanus (II.), whom he set up, not as king, but as high priest of the Jews (63 B.c.).
Pompey curtailed the Jewish dominions and freed a number of Greek cities, including those of the federation known as the Decapolis. During the disturbances which followed Pompey's death (48 B.c.) Antipater and his family rose to greater and greater power. For some services he was able to render to Julius Caesar he was rewarded with the Roman citizenship, and the title of Procurator of Judaea.' Some time before he died one of his sons, Phasael, had become governor of Jerusalem, and another, Herod, governor of Galilee. The family of Aris tobulus, however, had not given up their designs upon the throne ; and in 4o B.C. his son Antigonus was set up as king at Jerusalem by the Parthians in a sudden invasion. In this in vasion Phasael poisoned himself, but Herod escaped.
When Herod the Great died, the country f ell into a turmoil while three of his sons went to Rome to lay their several claims before Augustus. According to the emperor's decision Judaea, Samaria and Idumaea were allotted to Herod Archelaus ; Galilee and Peraea to Herod Antipas ; Trachonitis, Batanea and Auranitis (districts in the north) to Herod Philip. All the Herods had a strong family likeness. They were all great builders. They were all of set policy, double-faced : Jews at home and Hellenists abroad. Above all they were determined, at all costs, to be and remain philorontaioi, friends of the Romans.