The Hasmoneans: Who Were They?

A Distinguished Name
The actual origin of the Hebrew word for “Hasmonean” is uncertain. The term may mean “distinguished” (see Psalms 68:32), and was probably a title of honor given to a family to denote its high standing. Alternatively, “Chashmonai” may indicate the family’s origins in Cheshmon in Judea, or the family’s ancestral name.

Mattathius the Hasmonean

Priestly Warriors
The Hasmoneans were a priestly family, probably from one of those that had moved from the territory of Benjamin to the lowlands of Lydda in the last days of the First Temple. When the harsh decrees of Antiochus were extended to the country towns and villages of Jewish Palestine, Mattathius, the son of Yochanan, then the head of the family, raised the banner of revolt in Modi'in. Later, his sons Jonathan and Simon took over the battle for the autonomy of Judea from their brother Judah who had won great victories against the Seleucid forces, Jonathan was later appointed High Priest in 152 BCE. which made this office one of the Hasmoneans’ main sources of power.

Independence and territorial expansion
In 143-142 BCE, Demetrius II recognized the independence of Judea, and in 140 BCE, a decree was passed by the Great Assembly in Jerusalem confirming Simon as High Priest, ruler and commander of the Jewish people and making these offices hereditary. Simon’s son, John Hyrcanus (134-104 BCE) continued the territorial expansion. In turn, his heir, Aristobulus I, later established himself as king over Judea in addition to his other roles. During the reign of his brother Alexander Yannai (103-76 BCE) the Hasmonean state reached the zenith of its power, as the whole of the sea coast from the Egyptian border to the Carmel with the exception of Ashkelon, was annexed to Judea.

Independence at an end
Pompey’s annexation brought the independence of the Jewish State to an end, as the Romans abolished the Hasmonean monarchy and detached large areas from Judea while allowing Hyrcanus II, the oldest son of Alexander Yannai, to remain High Priest. Much had been gained, though: Judea itself, as well as the Galilee, many parts of the Transjordan and the coastal plain remained Jewish in character and culture for a long time as a result of the Hasmoneans’ policy.

The last to attempt to restore the former glory of the Hasmonean dynasty was Antigonus Mattathius, whose defeat and death at the hands of the Romans in 37 B.C.E. brought the Hasmonean rule to a close and prepared the way for Herod. The popularity of Herod’s sons, Alexander and Aristobulus and his grandson Herod Agrippa I was, however, partly due to the Hasmonean lineage passed on to them by their mother Mariamne, who was herself the granddaughter of Hyrcanus II.

A Legacy Left
A vast number of literary works have been inspired by the heroism of Mattathius and the embattled Maccabees. Under the impact of Nazism, the Holocaust and the birth of the State of Israel, several Jewish writers returned to the heroic theme of the Hasmonean revolt.