Rebel Priests: The De Facto High Priesthood of the Early Maccabean Brothers Öffentlichkeit
Haigh, Rebekah (2016)
Abstract
When the Maccabees successfully revolted, retook Jerusalem, and re-consecrated the Temple in 164 BCE, they effectively swept into the highest escalons of Judean political power. During the following decade of historical volatility, there is considerable mystery around who precisely held the high priestly office. This thesis argues that the Hasmonean rise to religious power began with their rise to political power. Judas likely served as a rival high priest from 164-160 BCE, while his younger brother Jonathan may very well have served as the de facto high priest during the subsequent intersacerdotium, the seven-year-vacancy in the high priesthood between 159 and 152 BCE. This paper investigates the textual, chronological, and political evidence for Judas' high priesthood in light of a reexamination of the evidence in Josephus' Antiquities 12. In light of this investigation, Judas arguably served in a cultic capacity through the rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE, after Menelaus' death, during Alcimus' time in office, and after Judas' victory over Nicanor. Likewise, a careful analysis of the major contenders for the intersacerdotium high priest reveals that Jonathan Maccabeus is the most likely candidate for the de facto high priest. Neither the Teacher of Righteousness nor Onias are as viable in light of Qumran material and new archeological and historical evidence. Thus, although the Hasmoneans did not officially attain the high priesthood until 152 BCE, their functional occupation of the office as deputy or de facto high priests is feasible as early as 164 BCE.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
Primary Sources 2
1 Maccabees and its ideology 3
2 Maccabees and its ideology 5
Josephus 7
JOSEPHUS AND THE SUCCESSION OF JUDAS 8
Antiquities 12 or 20? 10
What about Life 12
THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE TEMPLE CULT 13
The high priesthood in the pre-Hasmonean era 15
The high priesthood and the Hasmoneans 17
MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY: 164-160 BCE 18
The rededication of the Temple 19
Antiochus V Eupator 21
Alcimus and Judas 22
Judas' embassy to Rome 29
Conclusions on Judas 31
DE FACTO HIGH PRIEST: 159-152 BCE 32
Who was high priest? 34
The Teacher of Righteousness 35
What about the Oniads? 38
Jonathan Maccabeus 38
Evidence from Qumran 39
The Wicked Priest? 40
Other Qumran evidence: Pseudo-Daniel 43
Other Qumran evidence: Apocryphon of Jeremiah 46
Moment of opportunity: 159-152 BCE 47
Appointment by the people 47
What about Akra? 49
Means and access 52
Making it official: Demetrius I' Letter 55
CONCLUSIONS 58
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