jan 1, 169 BC - Judean Factional Conflict

Description:

ca. 169/168 Menelaus in conflict with Jason, Onias IV, and, according to Tcherivoker, the anti-Hellenistic lower-class populace (led by the Hasidim). Tcherikover would have it that a popular revolution rose up against the Hellenizers following the ousting of Jason and this led to the imposition of Antoichus' persecution (p 191). But the sources are silent on any such popular revolt. It seems that when Menelaus outbids Jason for HP position in the court of Antiochus, factional in-fighting between these figures' circles is perceived by Antiochus IV Epiphanes as a Judan revolt, whne in fact it was internecine squabbling. In response to an alleged revolt, Antiochus abrogates the decree allowing ancestral laws (as his father had done with Apollonia and Rhyndacos) (see Doran, 2011: 432)