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82 Is Judaism the Religion of Moses?

Not all the Jews were in disfavor with Antiochus. Many of the wealthy and influential fami-
lies, and specially many of the chief priests, wickedly supported Antiochus in his wild schemes. As
the persecution grew more intense, a great many of the common people went against Antiochus.
The result of this unparalleled persecution by this madman inevitably brought a further quickening
interest in the Scriptures. Many began to take up arms against the Syrians. The cry went throughout
the land that, in reality, this was a RELIGIOUS WAR and that the Jews were fighting for their Law
and their God. This belief boosted renewed interest in fighting against Antiochus.

Judas Maccabee

The Jews, in order to band themselves together against the Syrians, came to the side of Judas
Maccabee and his four brothers. An army was formed for two purposes: 1) defeating Antiochus
Epiphanes and 2) driving out the Syrians from Palestine. This army was quickly put into action.
After many successful battles, in succeeding decades, this Jewish army managed to accomplish
both things! Antiochus' armies were defeated in 165 B.C. and by 142 B.C. the Syrians were com-
pletely driven from the land. Practical independence for the Jews resulted.

Religious Authority Re-established Among Jews

With the defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes in 165 B.C., the religious history of the Jews enters
a new phase. The Sanhedrin, which had been feebly established some thirty years before, was now
OFFICIALLY DECLARED THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY AMONG THE JEWS OF
PALESTINE. Being in virtual control of the land, the Jews were in position to re-establish the reli-
gion that had been in a state of decay for so long.

Now, for the first time since the period of the Sopherim, they had independent religious au-
thority. The Sanhedrin took the place of the Sopherim in directing the religious life of the people.
But, this governing body of men was to be greatly different from the priestly Sopherim.

During the period of religious anarchy before Antiochus Epiphanes, a fundamental change
took place in the attitudes of the priests. Many of the priests were outright Hellenists and steeped in
the pagan philosophies of that culture. Not only that, many of them had sided with Antiochus
Epiphanes against the common people during the Maccabean Revolt. Such activities caused the
common people to be wary of the priests and their teaching. There was a general distrust for any-
thing priestly at this time.

A few priests had not allied themselves with Hellenism and Antiochus Epiphanes. But the
large majority, in one way or another, were not faithful to the religion of their forefathers.

This general lack of trust for the priests led most of the common people to disapprove of
their re-assuming their full former role of being religious authorities. Only those priests who had
not been openly in favor of Hellenism were sought and allowed to take their former positions. The
common people could not bring themselves to entrust the other priests with the right to help regu-
late the religious life of the Jews. Only to these faithful priests were committed chairs in the new
Sanhedrin (Lauterbach, Rabbinic Essays, p. 209).

The Berean Voice September-October 2002