Aristobulus II

Introduction

Aristobulus II was Jewish King and High Priest over Judea from 66 to 63BC. Being the younger son of Alexander Jannaeus and Alexandra Salome, he was unable to assume the hereditary roles of High Priest and King after the death of either one of their parents. This left Aristobulus greatly resentful of his older brother's succession to the throne and office of High Priest, and a with a driving determination to take these posititons by force.

After the death of his mother, Salome, Aristobulus' older brother Hyrcanus II did in fact become King over Judea. He had already been installed as High Priest by Salome during her rule as Queen. [1] After Hyrcanus had reigned as king for only three months, Aristobulus rose in rebellion against him, feeling better equipped for both leadership roles. Aristobulus engaged Hyrcanus in battle at Jericho and won the victory after Hyrcanus' own soldiers went over to his side.

Fearing for his life, Hyrcanus took refuge in the citadel of Jerusalem, but when Aristobulus captured the Temple, he felt compelled to surrender. The brothers then concluded a peace treaty whereby Hyrcanus was to renounce the throne and the office of High Priest, but was to receive the revenues of the High Priest office.

The political wrestling of the two rivals worsened as each brother sought military and political aid from such foreign leaders as Aretas III, King of the Nabataeans, and Roman general Pompey.

Family Background

Aristobulus’ family were the Hasmoneans (/hæzməˈniːən/), the ruling dynasty of the Hasmonean Kingdom of Israel. They ruled over Israel from 140BC to 37BC, and their territory was an independent religious Jewish state in the Land of Israel. The Hasmonean Dynasty was established under the leadership of Simon Maccabaeus, a little over twenty years after his brother Judas Maccabee (aka "Hammer") defeated the Seleucid army during the Maccabean Revolt in 165 BC. The Hasmonean Kingdom lasted for 103 years before succumbing to the Roman appointed Herodian Dynasty in 37 BC. [2]

• The Hasmonean Dynasty

The Hasmoneans were applauded for ending the oppressive rule by the Seleucids and founding the first independent Jewish kingdom after the Israelites returned home from their deportation to Babylon. At the start of this exile, Judah's last King, Zedekiah, had been dethroned. The Jewish Feast of Hannukah [aka “Festival of Lights”] is celebrated every year in honor of the re-dedication of the Temple after the defeat of Antiochus IV [Seleucid leader] by the Hasmoneans.

• Conflict over Hasmonean Rule

Because the Hasmoneans were not descended from the lineage of King David, many righteous Jews felt that they were not legitimate rulers of the Jewish people. To some Jews, they were seen as worldly or overly concerned with military power. It was during this time, however, that the hope of a Messiah, the "son of David," grew ever stronger as Jews witnessed the corrupt practices taking place during Hasmonean rule.

This is also the time when the Sadducees emerged as the party of the priests, taking their name, Sadducee, from King Solomon's loyal priest, Zadok. Their rivals, the Pharisees, emerged out of the group of scribes and sages who objected to the Hasmonean monopoly on power. The Pharisees were hoping for a Messiah and they criticized the growing corruption of the Hasmonean court. During the Hasmonean period, the Sadducees and Pharisees functioned primarily as political parties. According to Josephus, the Pharisees opposed the Hasmonean war against the Samaritans, as well as the forced conversion of the Idumeans. The political rift between the two parties grew wider under the Hasmonean king, Alexander Jannaeus, who adopted Sadduceean rites in the Temple. [3]

Aristobulus' Rise to Power

After the death of Alexander Jannaeus in 76 BC, his widow, Salome [4] succeeded to the rule of Judea and installed their elder son Hyrcanus as High Priest. When Salome died in 67 BC, she named Hyrcanus as successor to the Kingship as well. Infuriated for being passed over for either role, Aristobulus set out to make himself King and High Priest by military means.[5] [6]

It is well worth noting at this point that both brothers adhered to different religious views that were being fostered by two religious sects in existence at that time, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Hyrcanus favored the Pharisees while Aristobulus was loyal to the latter. The Sadducees were a priestly group [from the Aaronite priesthod], associated with the leadership of the Temple in Jerusalem. They represented the aristocratic group of the Hasmonean High Priests. The Sadducees rejected the existence of an afterlife and the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were the common people who believed in a resurrection of the dead. They also maintained that God punished the wicked and rewarded the righteous in the world to come [in the “afterlife”]. Most importantly, the Pharisees believed in a Messiah who would herald an era of world peace.[ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/sadducees_pharisees_essenes.html]

Hyrcanus had scarcely reigned three months [c. 67BC] when  Aristobulus rose in rebellion against him. He responded by advancing against him. The two brothers met in battle near Jericho.  Many of Hyrcanus' soldiers went over to Aristobulus’ side, thereby giving him the victory.

Consequently, Hyrcanus took refuge in the citadel of Jerusalem. When Aristobulus captured the Temple, Hyrcanus surrendered. A peace was then concluded between them. Hyrcanus was to renounce the throne and the office of high priest, but was to receive the revenues that came with that office.