JEWS
387
JEWS
whole country, and attaineil to eminence in science,
art, and even literature, as is proved by the numerous
Judeo-Greelc fragments which have survived. Under
Ptolemy II (Philadelphus), the Hebrew Pentateuch
was first rendered into Greek; and this, in turn, led in
the course of time to the complete translation of the
Old Testament known as the Septuagint. His suc-
cessor, Euergetes (247-222 b. c), is particularly cred-
ited, after a successful campaign in Syria, with having
offered rich presents at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Again, the annual tribute demanded by the early
Ptolemies was apparently light; and as long as it was
paid regularly, the
Palestinian Jews
were left free to man-
age their own affairs
under their high-
priests at w'hose side
stood the Gerusia of
Jerusalem, asa covm-
cil of state, includ-
ing the priestly aris-
tocracy. In this
wise, things went
well under the high-
priesthood of Simon
the Just (310-291
B. c), and that of
his two brothers
Eleazar II (291-27ti
B.C.) and Manasse>
(276-250 B.C.).
Matters proved less satisfactory un- der Onias II (250- 226 B. c), who with- held the tribute for several years from his Egj'ptian suze- rain. Under OniasV son and successor. Simon II (226-19N B. c), whose godly rule is highly praised in Ecclesiasticu.-; (chap, iv), the con- dition of Palestine became precarious owing to the renewei 1 conflicts between Egypt and SjTia for the possession of Ccele - S y r i a and
Judea. In the end, - m . , w ^ i , ..u Ti.e W
however, the Syrian l Sliming by
king, Antiochus III, remained master of Palestine and did liis utmost to secure the loyalty of the Jews not only of Judea, but also of Mesopotamia and Babylon. Seleucus IV (187-175 B. c.) pursued at first the conciliatory poUcy of his father, and the Judean Jews prospered during the opening years of Onias III (19S-175). Soon, however, intestine strife disturbed the pontiff's wise rule, and Seleucus, misled by Simon, the governor of the Temple, sent his treas- urer, Heliodorus, to seize the Temple funds. The failure of Heliodorus's mission led eventually to Onias's imprisonment and deposition from the high- priesthood. This deposition purchased from the new king, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), by Jason, an un- worthy brother of Onias, was the real triumph of Hel- lenism in Jerusalem. The man who, in turn, sup- planted Jason was Menelaus, another hellenizing leader, whom craft and gold maintained in office, de- spite the complaints of the Jews to the SjTian mon- arch. At length, a popular revolt occurred against Menelaus, which Antiochus put down with great bar- barity, and which resulted in his leaving Menelau.s in
charge of the high-priesthood, while two foreign
officers became Governors of Jerusalem and Samaria
respectively (170).
(:i) The 'Mfirhabean Age (168-63 B. C.).— The whole period which has just been described, was marked by the steady growth and widespread influence of hei- lenistic culture. Towards its end, the Jewish high- priests themselves not only assumed Greek names and adopted Greek manners, but became the ardent cham- pions of Hellenism. In fact, Antiochus IV thought that the time hatl now come to unify the various races of his dominions by thoroughly hellenizing them. His general edict for that purpose met prob- ably with unex- pected opposition on the part of most Palestinian Jews. Hence, by special letters he ordered the litter destruction of Yahweh's worship in Jerusalem and in all towns of Judea: un- der the penalty of death everything distinctly Jewish was prohibitetl, and Greek idolatry pre- scribed (168 B. c). The Holy City had recently been dis- mantled, and a part of it (Acra) trans- formed into a Syrian citadel. Now its Temple was dedi- cated to Zeus, to whom sacrifices were offered upon an idol- altar erected over Yahweh's altar. In like manner, in all the townships of Juda altars were set up and heathen sacri- fices offered. In the dire persecution which ensued, all resistance seemed impossible. In the little town of Modin, however, an aged ALL or Waiung, jERu.sAijM pi'iest, Mattathias,
J. L. Gerome boldly raised the
standard of revolt. At his death (167 B. c), he ap- pointed his son Judas, surnamed Machabeus, to head the forces which had gradually gathered around him. Under Judas's able leadership, the Maehabean troops won several victories, and in December, 165 B. c, Jerusalem was re-entered, the Temple cleansed, and Divine worsliip renewed.
The struggle was a hard one against the numerous armies of Antiochus V and Demetrius I, the next Syrian kings; yet it was heroically maintained, with varying success, by Judas until his death on the battle- field (101 B. c). One of his brothers, Jonathan, be- came his successor in commantl for the next eighteen years (161-143 B. c). The new leader was not only able to re-enter and fortify Jerusalem, but was also recognized as high-priest of the Jews by the Syrian Crown, and as an ally by Rome and Sparta. It was not given liim, however, to restore his country to com- plete independence: he was treacherously captured and soon afterwards put to death by the Syrian gen- eral, Tryphon. Another brother of Judas, Simon (143-135 B. c), then assiuned the leadership, and un-
