The Age of the Maccabees (Illustrated) by Annesley Streane Page B

people that were brought low: the law he searched out, and
every lawless and wicked person he took away. He glorified the sanctuary, and
the vessels of the Temple he multiplied”. One more step was needed to crown the
position. The office of high priesthood had been held by Jonathan with the
permission of theSyrian power. Simon must assume it at the call of his own
nation, and this was done with all due pomp and ceremony in September 141 BC,
when it was resolved that Simon should be ecclesiastically, as well as in civil
and military affairs, supreme “for ever, until there should arise a faithful
prophet”. Brazen tablets recording the decree were set up in the Temple court.
The announcement of this solemn confirmation of the high priesthood in the
house of Joarib was made to the Jews resident in Egypt in a carefully worded
communication, having regard to the susceptibilities of men who had not only
set up a novel temple in their adopted country, but also had among them a
representative of the ancient high-priestly family of Jaddua.
    Now that the
culmination had been reached, Simon, or rather, probably, the council of chief
men over whom he presided, proceeded to issue shekels and half-shekels with the
words (in old Hebrew characters) “Jerusalem the Holy” on one side, and on the
other, “shekel (or half-shekel) of Israel”, with the number of the year, dating
apparently from his consecration to the high priesthood. Emblems of his office
were added in the shape of a budding rod, and a cup suggesting incense. Simon’s
name does not occur on those extant, of which we have specimens of the years
(142—138 BC) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
    After several years of
peace, during which Simon obtained the renewed expression of Roman goodwill—of
value less than doubtful, could men have foreseen the future—he was called upon
by Antiochus Sidetes (138 BC) to recognize his authority as successor to
Demetrius, who had been defeated and captured in the course of his Parthian
expedition. Sidetes, while the contest between himself and Demetrius’s general
Trypho was still doubtful, readily confirmed Simon in his independence and immunities.
As soon as that leader had been captured and put to death,Sidetes claimed the
restoration to Syria of the citadel in Jerusalem and other fortresses on
payment of suitable compensation, and followed up his claim by an appeal to
arms. Simon, now an old man, sent his sons, Judas and John, to meet the invader
between Modin and Ekron. The Syrians were vanquished, and Simon was left in
peace by Sidetes during the few remaining months of the Jewish prince’s life.
He and his sons, Mattathias and Judas, were treacherously slain at Jericho by
his son-in-law Ptolemy, son of Abubus, who had been appointed by Simon civil
and military governor of that district. Ptolemy's ambitious designs, which had
prompted him to this deed of violence, were unsuccessful. John, the sole
remaining son, was forewarned that Ptolemy's agents were approaching in order
to complete the murderous designs of their master. He hastened to Jerusalem,
where he received the support of the people, and succeeded to his father's
position (135 BC).
     

THE REIGN OF JOHN HYRCANUS (135—106  BC)
     

     
    THE reign of John
Hyrcanus, who now succeeded to the priestly and princely dignities of his
father, has been compared to that of Solomon. They both began under troublous
circumstances. Both extended the bounds of their country's dominion and its
influence over neighboring states, and both, after a period of much prosperity,
declined in glory and at length ended with gloom and party strife.
    Hyrcanus’s first duty
he considered to be to avenge the deaths of his father and brothers. Ptolemy
took refuge in Dok, near Jericho, where his main defence against capture by
siege seems to have been his possession of the person of the mother of
Hyrcanus, whom he threatened to hurl from the walls, if extreme measures were
resorted to by the besiegers. After a