Maccabees
Antiochus IV was a Syrian ruler who took over control of Israel in 175 BCE. His antecedents had allowed for a somewhat cordial relationship with Israel. Israel was allowed to worship freely and they had a limited sort of self-government. Antiochus IV changed that relationship. First, he raised taxes. Second, he began to promote himself as a god. This obviously did not sit well with the Jews, especially the Jews who were more conservative. (The most conservative began to be called the Hasidim which means “pious ones”–this group most likely spawned the group we know as Pharisees and continue today as the ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jews.) One day, Antiochus IV was on a military campaign in Egypt and a rumor came about that he had died. There was public celebration in Jerusalem. Unfortunately Antiochus had not died and he did not much appreciate this party. On his way home to Syria, he stopped into Jerusalem and robbed the temple. He stole priceless objects and took the treasury money. He allegedly massacred forty thousand Jews in one day. He did this all on the Sabbath, when the Jews would not fight back. But it did not stop there.
On his way home from another Egyptian expedition, Antiochus again looted the temple and killed Jews on the Sabbath. Then he renamed the temple Zeus Olympius and set up a pagan altar where he sacrificed pigs, the most unclean animal to a Jew. He made it illegal to observe the Sabbath and illegal to circumcise. He burned copies of the Torah. Needless to say, it did not take much for the Jews to revolt. The revolt started with an old man named Mattathias and his five sons. They began a sort of guerrilla warfare against the Syrians. Mattathias died in 166, but his son Judas took over for him. Judas’ nickname was Maccabeus which means “the Hammerer.” In December of 164, Judas succeeded in regaining control of the temple and purifying it (you can read about this in 1 Maccabees 4:36-59). This momentous occasion is still celebrated by Jews every December as Hanukkah or the feast of Dedication. In John 10:22, we read that Jesus taught in the temple during this feast. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah?!?
Judas and his brothers kept control of Israel and passed that control onto their sons. This era of independence lasted about 80 years until the Romans came in 63 BCE. The Jews would not have that sort of independence in Israel again until after World War II. As control passed down from generation to generation, the ideals of the original Maccabean Revolt were lost. The dynasty was called the Hasmonean Dynasty and as it progressed along, the Hasidim (Pharisees) were less and less happy with it. The Hasmonean Dynasty brought in a group of guys named Herod who ruled after the Romans conquered Jerusalem.
There are a few things of interest in this short history lesson that affect the way we read the Gospels. First, we see that the most devout followers of the Law — the Pharisees — originated out of a distaste for the aggressive political maneuvers that their peers were swallowed up in. They also greatly opposed the Hellenization (Greek influence) on their culture. We normally look at the Pharisees as the bad guys of the Gospels, but most of them were simply and fervently believing that which they thought was right. It is true Jesus had much to say to them about how they observed the Law; Jesus would forever change the way we look at the Law.
Second, we notice that a hatred developed between the Jews and the Gentiles. The dislike the Hebrews had in the Old Testament towards their captors, the Babylonians and Assyrians, is nothing compared to what developed in the New Testament towards the Gentiles. When we read in the New Testament about Jesus, Paul, and others visiting and hanging out with Gentiles, we understand their opposition (read Acts 13:46-51).
Third, and most important, we understand the hatred the Jews had towards those that would oppress them. The Jews wanted independence. When Jesus was a child, the Maccabean Revolt was recent history. People would have had grandfathers that could remember the the time of freedom. The Roman presence was certainly thought to be a short-term event. The Jews knew they could create an uprising. Why is this last point so important? Because when Jesus came on the scene talking about a new Kingdom, everyone assumed a political revolution. They figured this was the revolt they had been waiting for. They did not want eternal salvation, they wanted immediate salvation from Rome. They wanted military might, not spiritual power.
Even the Disciples were confused. In Matthew 10:34 Jesus tells them, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” For those expecting a peaceful existence separate from the Romans, this may have been a disheartening comment. For those expecting a warrior to wipe the Romans out, this may have brought hope. Jesus was not talking about politics, though — He was talking about eternal spirituality. Following Jesus is not a life free from conflict.
All of this brings a special meaning to the cross. Jesus showed up and claimed to have power. He claimed to hold the keys to a new Kingdom. He asked for followers. He argued with the Pharisees. He argued with the Sadducees. But He was focused on something else. He was a Man of the people.
The majority of people were not Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots or Roman soldiers. We read about all these groups in the New Testament, but the majority of the people were just people. They were normal, average people trying to make it through life. The Hebrew word for them is Am ha-aretz which means “people of the Land.” This majority was not so concerned with the Torah; much like the majority of religious people today are not so concerned with following the rules. Most of us are simply trying to succeed — whatever that looks like: get married, have kids, get a better job, buy a house, get out of debt, watch football. Religion to most of the people in Jesus’ time was a tool that was used only when necessary if a benefit could be found. Jesus came on the scene seeking a different approach: “Follow me.” Jesus wanted a relationship with people. Unfortunately, most of the people missed that point. They saw Him as a potential liberator, but when that did not pan out, they were all too willing to do away with Him.
The question arises: How similar are we to them? Do we see Jesus and God and religion as tools to benefit us somehow? Do we seek to find some advantage from them? Or are we seeing what God wants: that He wants a relationship with us?
Great stuff, I know many Biola students who need to know this. I want to publish this. Thanks for the great intertestamental period history. Love you bro.
I MISS you, Jay.
[...] So we see that Barabbas was at least guilty of murder, of leading — or at least participating in — a political insurrection and robbery. In our society, Barabbas would be considered a pretty nasty dude. So why would the people want someone like that released to them? Mark tells us that the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Barabbas released. Remember that the Jews were oppressed by the Romans and were very interested in any sort of relief from that oppression. The Jews were looking for political salvation. The reason the chief priests and the crowd were so eager to have Barabbas released was because he was seen as a possible savior for them. Barabbas was not a serial killer… he was a fearless freedom fighter in the vein of Judas during the Maccabean Revolt. [...]