high priesthood by the Hasmoneans, though not an outright disregard of
priestly lineage, was nonetheless problematic. The Hasmoneans, though
priests, lacked high priestly lineage. In contrast, by assuming the title of
nagidand not king, Judah and his successors paid proper homage to the
notion that only a descendant of David could restore the throne. In this
regard, expanding the borders toward the promised borders further enhanced
their legitimacy. From a cultural perspective, the war against Hellenism
was successful in terms of religion: foreign worship was curtailed, and the
foreign presence in the Temple eliminated entirely. Non-religious forms of
Hellenism, though, continued to find adherents, even within the ruling
Hasmonean dynasty.
The Hasmonean Dynasty reigned for eighty years from the Seleucid recogni-
tion of Judean independence in 143 until the arrival of the Romans in 63 B.C.E.
This was in some ways a period of glorious triumph. National independence
had been regained for the first time in 400 years, and further territorial expan-
sion would follow. This was also a time of economic prosperity and growth, and
an age of cultural explosion as multiple forms of Judaism emerged that
embraced varying degrees of Hellenistic culture.
At the same time, a cloud of ambivalence hung over the Hasmonean dynasty.
The legitimacy of the dynasty was never clear, particularly when the
Hasmoneans assumed the title of king. In addition, the Hasmoneans them-
selves increasingly embraced Hellenistic culture at court, minting Greek coins,
using Greek dress and language, and employing foreign mercenaries. For some,
the Hellenistic character of the dynasty echoed an earlier prophetic warning
against being deceived by appearances, and the prophetic injunction to reflect
on biblical law and not foreign wisdom to determine right and wrong.
The Hasmonean Dynasty, also known as the Second Commonwealth, was
marked by four developments. First, the Hasmoneans conducted an effective
foreign policy that expanded the border steadily. John Hyrcanus, who ruled
from 134 to 104, conquered Idumea, Samaria, and part of Transjordan, and
forced the Idumeans to convert to Judaism. His son Alexander Jannai (103–86)
annexed the entire Mediterranean coast from Egypt to Mount Carmel, except
Ashkelon. He also extended his rule over many of the Greek city-states of
Transjordan, marking the zenith of Hasmonean expansion and power, and
exceeding the borders of the United Monarchy. By extending Judea to the bib-
lically promised borders, the Hasmoneans acquired some of the legitimacy that
David and Solomon had benefited from centuries earlier.
The quasi-legitimacy that the Hasmoneans gained from territorial expan-
sion, however, was counterbalanced by their expanding dynastic claims. As
long as they solicited at least nominal approval from a representative of Torah
law, the Hasmoneans’ rule was minimally problematic. Thus, in 140 B.C.E.
the legislative assembly recognized Jonathan’s brother Simon as high priest,
ethnarch, and military commander, and made these titles hereditary. Several
decades later, though, Aristobulus I (104–103) assumed the title of king.
The challenge of Hellenism 31