Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HYRCANUS

(Gk. Hyrkanos)

1. The son of Tobias (2 Macc. 3:11), but according to Josephus, the youngest son of Joseph and grandson of Tobias (Ant. 12.160, 186). From a family of prominent financiers, Hyrcanus donated generously to the temple treasury, and was also admired by Ptolemy for his magnanimity (Ant. 12.219). A pro-Egyptian stance forced Hyrcanus east of the Jordan where he built a fortress at ʿArâq el-Emîr. Hyrcanus committed suicide when the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes rose to power (Ant. 12.236).

2. John (Johanan) Hyrcanus, Hasmonean high priest and ethnarch of Judea 135/4-104 b.c.e.; son of Simon Maccabeus, grandson of Mattathias. Under the leadership of John Hyrcanus, who spent most of his life in battle, an independent Judean state was greatly enlarged.

In 134, when his brother-in-law Ptolemy murdered his father, John Hyrcanus escaped to Jerusalem (1 Macc. 16:11-22; Josephus Ant. 13.228-29; BJ 1.54-55). According to Josephus Hyrcanus then besieged Ptolemy at Jericho, but Ptolemy held Hyrcanus’ mother and brothers captive, threatening to throw them off the city wall if Hyrcanus did not withdraw. This delay took the siege into the Sabbatical year and the campaign was abandoned. Before Ptolemy fled, however, he killed them (Ant. 13.235; BJ 1.60).

During Hyrcanus’ first year of rule, Antiochus VII Euergetes (Sidetes) besieged him in Jerusalem. When Hyrcanus requested a truce in order to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, Antiochus sent sacrificial gifts to be offered at the temple. Encouraged by this response, Hyrcanus inquired about a settlement. The Syrian army departed after an agreement that the Jews give up their arms, pay tribute for Joppa and other towns outside Judea, and surrender hostages. In addition, Hyrcanus was compelled to pay 500 silver talents (Ant. 13.247). Hyrcanus then joined Antiochus in battle against the Parthians. Amply funded by 3000 talents taken from King David’s tomb, Hyrcanus became the first Hasmonean to recruit mercenaries (Ant. 13.249).

In 129, when Antiochus died in the Parthian campaign, his successor Demetrius II immediately became involved in internal struggles. Hyrcanus took advantage of the weakened Syrian Empire by no longer paying tribute and by marching into Transjordan, conquering Medeba. Hyrcanus then turned north, capturing Shechem and Mt. Gerizim, there destroying the rival Samaritan temple. Again he turned south, attacking the Idumeans, taking Dora and Marissa, forcing the Idumeans to submit to circumcision and to Jewish law (Ant. 13.255-57). During his later years, Hyrcanus attacked Samaria and, after a lengthy siege, completely razed the city (Ant. 13.281).

Josephus attributes the gift of prophecy to Hyrcanus, relating that Hyrcanus learned about his victory over Samaria from a heavenly voice as he was presenting burnt offerings in the temple at Jerusalem (Ant. 13.282, 300; BJ 1.68).

Internal divisions involved Hyrcanus in the emerging struggle for power between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Gradually, he shifted from Pharisee to Sadducee, finally abolishing Pharisaic rulings.

3. Hyrcanus II, elder son of Alexander Janneus and Alexandra Salome, grandson of John Hyrcanus; Hasmonean high priest (76-67, 63-40 b.c.e.) and ethnarch of Judea (47-40).

Regarded as heir to the throne, Hyrcanus II was appointed high priest during the reign of his mother (Josephus Ant. 13.408; BJ 1.109). In 67, when Alexandra died, Hyrcanus’ more capable younger brother Aristobulus II challenged him for power, defeated him in battle, and forced him to surrender. While Aristobulus ruled as high priest and ethnarch, Hyrcanus accepted the advice of the Idumean governor Antipater to seek refuge and support in Petra from the Nabatean king Aretas. Antipater urged Aretas to commit his army on behalf of Hyrcanus in return for territory lost in previous wars. In 65 Aretas joined forces with Hyrcanus, besieging Aristobulus in Jerusalem, just when Pompey appeared in the east with the military forces of Rome. Both Aristobulus and Hyrcanus appealed to one of Pompey’s officers, Scaurus. At first, Scaurus decided against Hyrcanus, preferring the wealthier and more politically astute Aristobulus (Ant. 14.30). However, Pompey, suspicious of Aristobulus, preferred the more malleable Hyrcanus, whom he appointed high priest over a smaller Judea and from whom he demanded tribute (Ant. 14.73).

In return for military support in Egypt, Julius Caesar appointed Hyrcanus ethnarch and high priest (Ant. 14.137, 143-48). Through Caesar and the Roman senate, Hyrcanus did much to enhance the lives of the Jews in the Diaspora. Yet internally, Hyrcanus could not sustain his power against the rise of Antipater and his sons, Phasael and Herod. The weakness of Hyrcanus was clearly exposed during Herod’s trial (Ant. 14.169-70). In 40 Hyrcanus was taken prisoner by Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, and the Parthians. To disqualify Hyrcanus from a return to the high priesthood, they cut off his ears (Ant. 14.366). For a few years Hyrcanus lived peacefully in Babylonia. Then Herod, who married Hyrcanus’ granddaughter Mariamme, invited him to live once again in Jerusalem. In 30 Herod executed Hyrcanus (Ant. 15.173, 181).

Bibliography. L. L. Grabbe, Judaism from Cyrus to Hadrian, 2 vols. (Minneapolis; 1992); E. Bickerman, The God of the Maccabees. SJLA 32 (Leiden, 1979); M. Hengel, Judaism and Hellenism, 2 vols. (Philadelphia, 1974); E. Schürer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (125 b.c.–a.d. 135), rev. ed., 4 vols. (Edinburgh, 1973-1987); V. Tcherikover, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews (1959, repr. New York, 1970).

Lynne Alcott Kogel

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HYRCANUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)