The Family

*ARISTOBULUS II, was killed by HEROD. He feared anybody who would threaten his position in life. The MACCABEES, MATTATHIAS, as head of the family, a KOHEN, Priest, he dies in 165 BCE. I could not find his date of birth. His father is reported to be YOHANNAN, a Syriac name. MATTATHIAS was a property owner in MODI’IN.

MATTATHIAS is accepted to have started the ‘revolt’ against the SELEUCID EMPIRE, unfortunately as the fighting starts, he dies in 167 BCE.

At his death, his sons are sworn to continue what he started. JUDAS, the eldest takes the lead as Military Chief of the Rebellion. JONATHAN, the 3rd born, gets to serve under his brother. JUDAS dies around 160 BCE during a skirmish against BACCHIDES. He was a SELEUCID General under DEMETRIUS I SOTER.

JONATHAN, steps up and takes the lead. He is known to be a brilliant diplomat, but definitely not a good soldier. The family finds themselves in battle with BACCHIDES, but he out smarts BACCHIDES, this time. In the days that followed, BACCHIDES with a more powerful army catches him, but in the meantime he had sent his brother JOHN on a different route with their ‘goods’ to find refuge with the friendly NABATAEANS of PETRA.

The NABATAEANS, were an ARAB TRIBE, living in the desert located to the East of the JORDAN. They settled first in PETRA, and later expanded their Territory to HORAN and LEVANT. Finally, they announced BOSRA, in SYRIA as their CAPITAL CITY, today an ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.

Anyway, JOHN is attacked by the sons of JAMBRI of MEDEBA, a city beyond the JORDAN, within the land of the TRIBE of BENJAMIN. The land was attributed to the MOABITES who took possession from the ISRAELITES. They killed him and took their ‘goods.’ Revenge always follows and JONATHAN hears of the death of his brother by the hands of JAMBRI, and he also hears that JAMBRI was arranging a wedding for his son. JONATHAN does not hesitate, and he attacks the wedding party and kills all of them and took all of their ‘goods.’

Again, JONATHAN and BACCHIDES faces off and JONATHAN misses a strike at BACCHIDES, and he and his army had to flee. They jumped into the RIVER JORDAN and swam to safety. They saved themselves. And so was the life of BACCHIDES, but he lost over 1000 men, as written. He decides not to pursue JONATHAN and leaves the country of JUDEA. It would appear that he had enough.

JONATHAN, had now matured and no longer was he this delicate Diplomat. All the battles he had encountered had allowed him to learn the art of war and his experiences turned him into one of the best guerrilla fighters the region had encountered. He turns his energy and tactics to ‘clean’ JUDEA of JEWS who were still practicing the HELLENISTIC RELIGIONS.

The powers that be, no longer enjoyed the activities of JONATHAN, and they brought BACCHIDES back. He strikes it lucky and captures JONATHAN and his youngest brother SIMEON. But JONATHAN had not lost his skills of diplomacy and offers BACCHIDES a PEACE TREATY in exchange for the release of the prisoners of war. The two sign an OATH never to make war against each other and BACCHIDES finally leaves the CITY of JUDEA for good.

This leaves JONATHAN to take up residence in MICHMASH, a town located in the Highlands of JERUSALEM, a settlement owned by the TRIBE OF BENJAMIN.

From this town, JONATHAN continues to ‘clean’ JUDEA from the GODLESS.

JONATHAN makes Diplomatic deals with DEMETRIUS, who was BACCHIDES’ General, but he does not trust him.

Whilst all the above is happening, there are ‘things’ going on in the background. What is written is that the relationships between DEMETRIUS I SOTER and ATTALUS II PHILADELPHUS of PERGAMON, PTOLEMY VI of EGYPT and CLEOPATRA II of EGYPT, started to decline.

As they are struggling within their circle of governance, in walks a claimant, ALEXANDER BALAS. He claims that he is the son of ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES as well as the first cousin of DEMETRIUS.

After a look at the situation all of the above chooses ALEXANDER BALAS over DEMETRIUS. These decisions of such a powerful group, DEMETRIUS had only one choice and that was to recall his armies out of JUDEA, except AKRA / PTOLEMAIS.

This allows JONATHAN to take residence in JERUSALEM in the year 153 BCE.

DEMETRIUS, loses his throne and his life in 150 BCE. ALEXANDER BALAS is victorious and becomes the SOLE RULER of the SELEUCID EMPIRE. He is given further honour when he is allowed to marry the daughter of PTOLEMY VI and CLEOPATRA II, CLEOPATRA THEA.

JONATHAN, gets invited to the wedding, but arrives late, I could not find the reason why. But he took gifts for both kings and he is well received and allowed to take a seat at the table between the two. BALAS takes his ROYAL GARMENT and hangs it over JONATHAN’S shoulders. They appoint JONATHAN as CIVIL GOVERNOR of the Province (not sure of the boundaries of the said Province, but at the time, it could have stretched from EGYPT to ISRAEL.)

147 BCE, DEMETRIUS II NICATOR, son of DEMETRIUS I SOTER, battles JONATHAN and SIMON. This battle was not nice as the city of AZOTUS suffers serious destruction. Their DAGON TEMPLE is destroyed, and the people could not understand the reasons why? However, JONATHAN and SIMON win, and ALEXANDER BALAS as king of EGYPT continues to keep peace with JONATHAN. 145 BCE during the BATTLE of ANTIOCH and ALEXANDER BALAS is defeated, what a strange turn of power as we see his wife CLEOPATRA THEA, turns and marries DEMETRIUS II NICATOR.

JONATHAN, is tired of all, and turns his armies on the remaining SELEUCID FORTRESSES in and around JERUSALEM and he succeeds to send them packing. DEMETRIUS II, was very angry at JONATHAN. But JONATHAN uses his diplomatic reasoning skills, calms him down, and walks away with a letter exempting ISRAEL from any future taxes. This letter, as it is written, is still in safe keeping with the MACCABEES and with JOSEPHUS FLAVIOUS.

JONATHAN, now controls more of ISRAEL, MOUNT EPHRAIM, LOD and RAMATHAIM-ZOPHIM, including a country exempt from taxes. I am sure he thought that “the battle was won,” but he was wrong.