There were now two parties at Jerusalern—the pious Jews or Chasidim, a word Grecised into Assidmi, connected with the Maccabees, and the so called impfrals or Hellenizing faction, under the lead of Alcimus, who, acting with Bacchides, strength ened the Acra. and placed svithin it as hostages the children of some of the principal families of Judma. He was on the point of making some ob jectionable alteration in the structure of the Temple when he died ; after which Baccbides retumed to Antioch, and thing remained quiet at Jerusalem for some years, the Syrian garrison, boss-ever, still holding the Acra and retaining the hostages.
In 153 B. C. there was a new claimant for the throne of Syria—Alexander Ba/as, calling himself the son of Antiochus Epiphanes. This added to the power of the Maccabees, for both parties courted them ; so that Jonathan was able to release the hostages from the Acra, to repair the city, and fortify Mount Sion. He was also appointed to the high-priesthood by Alexander ; while De. metrius, recognising Jerusalem as holy and free,' and renouncing all right to the Acra, not only freed the Temple from taxation, but richly endowed it and authorised its repair, and promised that Jerusalem should be fortified at his own ex pense.
Jonathan, hovvever, was so mixed up for some years with the contentions for the throne of Syria, and so enormous was the strength of the Acra, that it was not till 142 B.C.—two years after his death—that it was forced by famine to capitulate. Simon, who was now bigh-priest, having thus fully accomplished the independence of Judma, de molished the Acra and lowered the height on which it stood. He also built a very strong tower— the Basis, afterwards called Antonia—close to the wall of the Temple, to command its site, and in this tower he resided with his followers. Nu event of importance occurred at Jerusalem till his death, B. C. 135. He was treacherously killed, with two of his sons, Judas and Mattathias, by his son-in-law Ptolemy, just as he had succeeded in resisting an attempt of Antiochus VII., second son of Demetrius Soter, to regain possession of Judma. Simon was succeeded as high-priest and chief by John Hyrcanus, his retwtining son ; and Antiochus immediately repeated Ms attempt upon Judma. Jerusalem was invested ; a hundred towers were raised on its north side to hurl projectiles into the city, and a deep ditch made in front of the towers to impede the sallies of tbe besieged. Hyrcanus was induced, by a failure of water and the pros pect of a long siege, to send all the aged and infirm out of the city ; and on the approach of the Feast of Tabernacles he requested Antiochus to grant a truce for its celebration. The request was complied with, and further negotiations led to an honourable capitulation and a peace, B. C. 133. Hostages and a heavy payment were required by Antiochus, and the city walls were dismantled. But the walls were afterwards repaired, and Hyr canus ruled in great peace and prosperity for many years. He had belonged originally to the sect of the Pharisees, but he afterwards became a Sad ducee, and took their part strongly against his former friends. During the wars of his long government, he subdued the Idumeans—whom he obliged to conform to the laws and customs of the Jews—and Samaria, which he razed to the ground. He died B. c. 106.
A short pedigree of the descendants of John Hyrcanus will here be useful :— Aristobulus was the first of the Maccabees who assumed the title of king. He was a promoter of Greek habits and manners, as his name and sur name indicate. IIis death was hastened by remorse
for the murder of his brother Antigonus, whom Ile caused to be put to death in a subterraneous pas sage between the Baris and the Temple. During the reign of his brother, Alexander Janneus, who was chiefly eng,aged in distant wars, Jerusalem was a scene of fierce strife between Pharisees and Saddu cees ; and once, at the instigation of the Pharisees, Alexander himself was pelted with citrons while performing the high-priest's office during the Feast of Tabernacles. This led to cruel retaliation, and 6000 citizens were put to death. On a subsequent occasion, Soo of his opponents were crucified, and their wives and children slain before their eyes, while he and his concubines feasted in their pre sence. But, perceiving that the Pharisees were the more powerful of the two sects, he directed his queen Alexandra, to whom he bequeathed his authority, to join their party. She thus secured to herself the peaceable possession of the throne at his death, while Hyrcarnis took the high-priesthood, and Aristobulus the command of the army. At her death Hyrcanus claimed the crown, but yielded it to his brother after a few months' possession. He was, however, persuaded by Antipater, an Idn mean noble who had been brought up at his father's court, to seek the protection and help of Aretas, king of Arabia Petra. Aretas, at his instigation, invaded Judzea and besieged Jerusalem, B.C. 65, but was interrupted by Scaurus, one of Pompey's lieutenants, whose aid Aristobulus had purchased by a gift of 400 talents. It was in the same year that Antiochus XIII. was conquered, and Syria constituted a Roman province by Pompey, and the rival brothers appeared to plead their cause before the great Roman general. Aristobulus saw that Pompey was disposed to favour Hyrcanus, and returned to Jerusalem to prepare for resistance ; but thinking it hopeless, went to meet Pompey as he approached the city, and offered to surrender. Pompey sent on Gabinius to take possession, but he was refused admittance, and Aristobulus was carried there a prisoner. The city was now in possession of Hyrcanus, who received Pompey with open arms ; but the Temple was occupied by the friends of Aristobulus, who sustained a deter mined and most severe siege with admirable courage and magnanimity. The temple-worship was carried on all the time with the greatest exactness, and had it not been for the opportunity they gave their assailants to make their approaches and repair their engines on the Sabbath, the Roman battering-rams might never have been brought to bear against the works. But a breach was made at the end of three months, and, after great slaughter, the Temple was taken by Pompey, who was amazed, on exploring the Holy of Holies, to find there no image of any God. He left the sacred things and treasures un touched, but imposed a tribute upon the city and demolished its walls, B.C. 63. Hyrcanus was allowed to govern as high-priest, but without the title of king, and Aristobulus and his sons, Alex ander and Antigonus, were carried to Rome. Hyr canus governed peacefully for a great many years under the favour of Rome, and by the advice of Antipater the Idumean, and about the year 47 B.C. received the title of Ethnarch from Julius Csar, together with confirmation in the high-priesthood, for help given to his ally Mithridates. Cxsar also made Antipater procurator of Juthea, and allowed the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt.