Jonathan (Hasmonean)

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Judea under Jonathan
  • Situation in 160 BC Chr.
  • Conquered territory

    • Jonathan (also: Jonathan ; died 143 BC , buried in Modiin ) was ruler of Judea from the Hasmonean family from 160 BC. BC to 143 BC His Aramaic nickname was Apphus (Ἀπφοῦς) meaning deceiver or diplomat ( 1. Maccabees 2.5).

    War against the Seleucids

    Jonathan was the son of Mattatias and brother of Judas Maccabeus , both leaders in the revolt against Antiochus IV and the kingdom of the Seleucids . After the father's death in 167 BC Judas Maccabeus took over the (military) leadership of the uprising. Jonathan was one of his subordinates and proved himself in numerous skirmishes. After the death of Judas Maccabeus in the battle of Elasa in 160 BC. In BC, when the Jewish fighters were defeated by the army of the Seleucid general Bakchides , Jonathan became the leader of the surviving liberation fighters .

    Before the criminal court of the victorious general, Jonathan and his brothers fled with the remains of the Jewish army to a desert region east of the Jordan. The following years of the guerrilla war, in which the flat country was once again ruled by the Jewish rebels under Jonathan, Jerusalem and the towns fortified by Bakchides but the Seleucids, were dark in more ways than one. On the one hand they are characterized by terror and counter-terror ( Jonathan ... ruled the people and destroyed the apostates in Israel. 1. Maccabees 9:73), on the other hand the tradition from this time is unclear and contradictory. For example, it is not known who was the successor to the one established by Bakchides and 160 BC. High priest Alkimus who died and whether there was such a person .

    High priest

    In 153 BC The internal quarrels of the Seleucid Empire once again proved to be helpful for the Jewish cause. It had in fact Alexander Balas , the illegitimate son of Antiochus IV. Claim to the throne of the Seleucid king Demetrius I raised and was in these claims by both the Egyptian Ptolemies and from Rome were supported.

    Alexander had already brought the port city of Ptolemais, today's Akko, into his power and Demetrios now had to fear that Jonathan would support his opponent militarily. He tried to prevent this by sending a letter with extensive concessions (including the return of the Jewish hostages). Jonathan took advantage of this by making the letter known in Jerusalem, whereupon the Greek garrison released the hostages and withdrew from Judea. Only the Jewish followers of the Seleucids remained in the fortified City of David and the fortress of Beth-Zur . Jonathan moved his seat from Michmas to Jerusalem and began to renew and strengthen the city fortifications.

    However, Demetrios' offer was outbid by Alexander Balas, insofar as the latter named Jonathan unceremoniously high priest and friend of the king (a high rank at the royal court).

    So Jonathan put on the tabernacle festival of the 160th year SE , which was October / September 153 BC. Corresponds to the robes of the high priest, which can be regarded as the beginning of the Hasmonean rule over the Jews.

    After two years of war, Demetrios lost power and life. Alexander Balas made his position possible by marrying Cleopatra , a daughter of Ptolemy VI. and later ruler of the Seleucid Empire. On this occasion, Jonathan was appointed Administrator and Supreme Military Commander of Judea by Alexander Balas.

    However, the reign of Alexander Balas was short-lived. The son of Demetrios, Demetrios II , returned from exile in Crete with Greek mercenaries and opened the war for his father's throne. The timing seemed to be for Ptolemy VI. favorable to re-incorporate the Syrian provinces that were formerly part of the Ptolemaic Empire. He had marched with an army along the coast of Phenicia and met Jonathan there, who had previously defeated Apollonios, the general of Demetrios II, and destroyed the city of Ashdod and its temple of Dagān . An attack allegedly carried out on him on behalf of Alexander Balas gave him the opportunity to break the friendship with Alexander and bring his daughter home. In a battle at the gates of Antioch he defeated the army of Alexander Balas , but died shortly afterwards of the wounds received in the battle.

    Since the usurper Alexander had meanwhile been murdered by the Nabatean prince with whom he had sought asylum, only Demetrios II remained on the stage. Jonathan had meanwhile tried to gain control of the Seleucid garrison in Jerusalem by sieging the city of David. Therefore he was summoned by Demetrios II to the court of Ptolemais, but could not only avert an accusation by distributing ample gifts, but even returned to Jerusalem with a gain of territory.

    Soon Demetrios himself was challenged to rule. Diodotos Tryphon , a general of Alexander Balas, raised in the name of his son Antiochus VI. Claim to the Seleucid throne.

    Jonathan felt it was time to change sides again, especially since Antiochus VI. not only confirmed him in his position, but also his brother Simon as a strategist (general) across the coastal region down to Egypt. The brothers took the opportunity to round off and consolidate what had been achieved: Joppa was occupied, the fortress Beth-Zur was taken, the fortress building program continued and again tried to drive the Seleucid garrison out of Jerusalem in order to finally restore the cultic purity of the holy city.

    Diodoto's Tryphon, however, could only view these efforts with suspicion. He lured Jonathan to Ptolemais and had him captured, whereupon he was mourned as dead by the Jews who appointed his brother Simon as the new leader. Diodotos thereupon offered Simon Jonatan's release for a ransom and two of Jonathan's sons as hostages. Simon accepted the request, but Diodotus had Jonathan and his sons killed. Jonathan was buried in Modiin .

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    personal data
    SURNAME Jonathan
    ALTERNATIVE NAMES Jonathan Apphus (Aramaic); Jonathan
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION Jewish resistance fighter, ruler of Judea
    DATE OF BIRTH before 167 BC Chr.
    DATE OF DEATH 143 BC Chr.
    Place of death buried modes