Antiochus Epiphanes and Rise of the Herods

As in the last article, Daniel's prophesies were astoundingly accurate. Dan.8:23 revealed the

rise of Antiochus IV. A man shaped by the ruthlessness and politics of his day, Antiochus IV referred to himself as Epiphanes or as stated in the Greek Ἀντίοχος Δ΄ ὁ Ἐπιφανής, Antíochos D' ho Epiphanḗs, "God Manifest." This title was taken in the following of a "ruler cult" that began to develop in the time, in which rules would use such titles to announce to the world their stature and conquests. Antiochus also tried to interact with common people, by appearing in the public bath houses and applying for municipal offices, and his often eccentric behavior and capricious actions led some of his contemporaries to call him Epimanes ("Mad One"). This was long before the Roman Empire's excesses.

Antiochus’ policies advocating Hellenism brought him into conflict with many religious organizations, particularly with the Jews. Up to this point, the Jews had enjoyed autonomy under their own high priest. However, conflict with the Samaritans and transplanted peoples by the Babylonians and Persians had been an antagonism since the return and rebuilding of the Temple. As a result, even though the Temple rebuilt and Jerusalem refortified, the Jews were politically divided into two parties, the orthodox Hasidim (Pious Ones - forerunners of the Pharisees) and a reform party that favored Hellenism (forerunner of the Sadducees). Politics and worldly wrangling had also infiltrated the Priesthood of the Jews. For financial reasons Antiochus supported the reform party and, in return for a considerable bribe, permitted the High Priest, Jason (Greek name of Joshua, brother to Onias III), to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and to introduce the Greek mode of educating young people. Such a move was appalling to the Hasidim, because the gymnasium was being used to supplant ancient Jewish law in Jerusalem. Nude art and sculpture, along with naked participation in the "games" were heralded and advertised. "Upper classes" of the Jews (Sadducees) were interested in obtaining this training for their young people, because policy identified the graduates of the gymnasium as legitimate Greek "citizens," and only these might serve as the basis for local administration. In 172 B.C. for an even bigger tribute, Antiochus IV appointed Menelaus in place of Jason as High Priest. In 169 B.C. however, while Antiochus was campaigning in Egypt, Jason conquered Jerusalem—with the exception of the citadel—and murdered many adherents of his rival Menelaus. When Antiochus returned from Egypt in 167 he took Jerusalem by force and enforced its Hellenization. Jewish religious rites and traditions kept by observant Jews were outlawed he ordered the worship of Zeus as the supreme god. This was anathema to the Jews Jimand when they refused, Antiochus sent an army to enforce his decree. Because of the resistance, the city was destroyed, many were slaughtered. A man could not keep the sabbath or celebrate the traditional feasts, nor even admit that he was a Jew. According to one account, one of Antiochus' officers ordered a pig be sacrificed to Zeus upon the altar of God.

This policy of Jason and his supporters was the chief cause of the Hasmonean revolt which broke out afterward, and which finally freed Judea from the rule of the Seleucids and gave birth to the Hasmonean dynasty and rise of the Herods. Now, we can understand why the people of the time cried out for a Messiah, a Deliverer from oppression. Which raises the question we will deal with in a study next week - How would the sending of Jesus to deliver from sins, be the answer to this prayer?  

Jim