[Gutenberg 43057] • History of the Jews, Vol. 2 (of 6)

Excerpt from History of the Jews, Vol. 2

The Crowning Point of the Period - War with Antiochus Sidetes - Siege of Jerusale - Treaty of Peace - The Parthian War - Hyrcanus joins Antiochus - Successful campaigns of Hyrcanus against the Samaritans and Idumaeans - The Idumaeans forced to embrace Judaism - Destruction of the Samaritan Temple at Gerizim and of the Capital, Samaria - Internal Affairs - The Parties: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, their Rise and Constitution - Doctrines and their Relations to one another - The Synhedrion - Strained Relations between Hyrcanus and the Pharisee - Death of Hyrcanus.

135-106 B. C. E.

The reign of Hyrcanus is at once the pinnacle and the turning-point of this period. He not only carried on his father's work, but completed it. Under his predecessors Judaea was confined to a narrow space, and even within these bounds there were territories in the possession of foreign foes. Hyrcanus enlarged the boundaries to the north and to the south, and thus released the State from the external pressure that had been restricting its growth. His genius for war was aided by fortunate circumstances in bringing about these happy results.

If the reign of Hyrcanus corresponds in brilliancy to that of Solomon, it resembles it also in another respect: both reigns commenced and ended amid disturbance, sadness and gloom, while the middle of each reign was happy and prosperous.

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