Johannes Hyrkanus was van 134 v.Chr. tot 104 v.Chr. koning en hogepriester over de Joodse Hasmoneese staat. Zijn Hebreeuwse naam was Jochanan (Jahwe is genadig; vernederlandst: Johannes), de Griekse naam waarvan hij zich in het internationale politieke verkeer bediende was Hyrkanus. Hij wordt ook wel aangeduid als Hyrkanus I. Omdat we hem vooral kennen via historische bronnen die in het Grieks zijn overgeleverd, is het gebruikelijk hem met zijn Griekse naam aan te duiden
Strijd tegen Cendebaeus
In de tijd dat Simon Makkabeüs nog koning was van de Hasmoneese staat rukte de Seleucidische generaal Cendebaeus op last van Antiochus VII Euergetes Sidetes op naar Judea. Simon gaf daarop Johannes Hyrkanus en zijn broer Judas het bevel over het Joodse leger. Hyrkanus en Judas wisten in de buurt van Modeïn Cendebaeus te verslaan.
Begin van Hyrkanus' koningschap
Hyrkanus was de jongste zoon van Simon Makkabeüs, de eerste Hasmoneese koning over de zelfstandige Joodse staat, zoals die door de Makkabeese opstand was ontstaan. Tijdens de regering van zijn vader was Hyrkanus gouverneur van de in die tijd belangrijke versterkte stad Gezer. Simon werd vermoord door zijn schoonzoon Ptolemeüs, die de macht wilde grijpen. Daarbij werden ook Hyrkanus' twee oudere broers Mattathias en Judas vermoord. Toen Hyrkanus het nieuws vernam, reageerde hij echter direct. Nog diezelfde avond trok hij met een leger Jeruzalem binnen, waar hij zich liet uitroepen tot koning en hogepriester. Hierdoor mislukte de staatsgreep van Ptolemeüs, die zich terugtrok in het fort Doq. Hyrkanus belegerde het fort geruime tijd, maar het lukte hem niet het fort in te nemen. Ptolemeüs begreep echter dat zijn kansen op het koningschap verkeken waren en vluchtte naar het buitenland.
Worsteling met de Seleuciden
Het Hasmoneese rijk onder Johannes Hyrkanus
¦¦ situatie in 134 v.Chr.
¦¦ veroveringen
Kort na aanvang van Hyrkanus' koningschap, trok de Seleucidische koning Antiochus VII Euergetes Sidetes, die eerder al in conflict was gekomen met Simon Makkabeüs, met zijn legers naar Jeruzalem en hij sloeg het beleg om de stad, in een poging het Joodse land opnieuw onder Seleucidisch bestuur te brengen (133 v.Chr.). Slechts door hoge belasting te betalen en gijzelaars te overhandigen wist Hyrkanus een verwoesting van Jeruzalem te voorkomen. Wel werd de muur van Jeruzalem gedeeltelijk afgebroken en werd Judea weer een vazal van de Seleuciden. In 129 v.Chr. vergezelde Hyrkanus Antiochus dan ook noodgedwongen in diens strijd tegen de Parthen, waar Antiochus echter verslagen werd en vermoedelijk zelfmoord pleegde. Hij werd opgevolgd door zijn broer Demetrius II Nicator. Tijdens zijn regering stonden echter verschillende troonpretendenten op die de troon voor zich claimden, zodat Demetrius zijn handen vol had aan de binnenlandse aangelegenheden. Hyrkanus profiteerde van de situatie en wist de Joodse onafhankelijkheid te herwinnen.
Uitbreiding van de Hasmoneese staat
Nu de onafhankelijkheid herwonnen was, legde Hyrkanus zich toe op het uitbreiden van de Hasmoneese staat. Toen Hyrkanus zijn vader opvolgde, was het gebied waarover hij heerste niet veel groter dan Judea. Hyrkanus breidde het rijk echter uit met Idumea, Medeba (ten oosten van de Jordaan) en Samaria, tot aan het Karmelgebergte aan toe.
Oppositie
Hyrkanus' veroveringen zetten veel kwaad bloed bij de overwonnenen, doordat hij zeer rigoureus te werk ging. Hij dwong de Idumeeërs op straffe des doods zich te laten besnijden en zich zo tot het Jodendom te bekeren. De Samaritaanse tempel op de berg Gerizzim maakte hij met de grond gelijk. De Joodse historicus Flavius Josephus beschuldigt Hyrkanus er bovendien van dat hij het graf van Koning David geplunderd zou hebben om zijn huurlegers te kunnen betalen.[1]
Daarnaast had Hyrkanus te maken met de oppositie waar alle Hasmoneese heersers mee te maken hadden, namelijk van de Farizeeën en de Essenen. Zij keurden de combinatie van koningschap en hogepriesterschap in één persoon af, omdat de Thora een combinatie van deze ambten niet mogelijk maakt. Het is in de tijd van Hyrkanus dat de Farizeeën en de Essenen (en overigens ook de Sadduceeën, die de Hasmoneeën gunstig gezind waren) sterk aan invloed winnen en een factor van betekenis worden. Josephus verhaalt hoe Hyrkanus overliep van de farizeeën naar de sadduceeën.[2]
Munten
Munt van Johannes Hyrkanus.
Sinds de Seleuciden zich definitief uit het Joodse land hadden teruggetrokken, waren Tyrische zilveren drachmen de belangrijkste munten die in omloop waren. Hyrkanus was echter de eerste Hasmoneese vorst die daarnaast eigen (bronzen) munten liet slaan. Op zijn munten gebruikte Hyrkanus het oude paleo-Hebreeuwse alfabet, dat in deze periode gewoonlijk niet meer gebruikt werd, maar de herinnering opriep aan de glorietijd van de eerste tempel. Er zijn twee soorten inscripties bekend die op Hyrkanus' munten voorkwamen, namelijk 'Jochanan de hogepriester en de Joodse gemeenschap' (zie afbeelding) en 'Jochanan de hogepriester, hoofd van de Joodse gemeenschap'.
Dood en opvolging
Hyrkanus stierf in 104 v.Chr. als gevolg van een natuurlijke dood. Hij werd opgevolgd door zijn zoon Aristobulus I.
John Hyrcanus (Yohanan Girhan;[citation needed] Yohanan Hyrcanus ????? ???????, ??????? ???a???) (reigned 134104 BC, died 104 BC) was a Hasmonean (Maccabeean) leader of the 2nd century BC
Name
Josephus explains in The Jewish War that John was also known as "Hyrcanus", but does not explain the reason behind this name. The only other primary source, the Books of the Maccabees, never used this name with respect to John, with the single reference to Hyrcanus in 2 Maccabees 3:11[1] referring to a man to whom some of the money in the Temple belonged during the c.178 BCE visit of Heliodorus.
The reason for the name is disputed amongst biblical scholars, with a variety of reasons proposed:
Familial origin in the region of Hyrcania on the Caspian Sea[2]
A Greek regnal name, which would have represented closer ties with the Hellenistic culture against which the Maccabees had revolted under Seleucid rule. However, the region of Hyrcania had been conquered by Mithridates I of Parthia in 141139 BCE
Given the name by the Seleucids after he fought in the region alongside Antiochus VII Sidetes against Phraates II of Parthia in 130129 BCE, a campaign which resulted in the release of Antiochus' brother Demetrius II Nicator from captivity in Hyrcania
Life and work
He was the son of Simon Maccabaeus and hence the nephew of Judas Maccabaeus, Jonathan Maccabaeus and their siblings, whose story is told in the deuterocanonical books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, in the Talmud, and in Josephus. John was not present at a banquet at which his father and his two brothers were murdered, purportedly by his brother-in-law, Ptolemy, son of Abubus. He attained to his father's former offices, that of high priest and national leader (but not king).[3] Josephus said that John Hyrcanus had five sons but only named three in his histories--Judah Aristobulus I, Antigonus I, and Alexander Jannai.
Hasmonean Kingdom under John Hyrcanus
situation in 110 BC
area conquered
Siege of Jerusalem
During the first year of Hyrcanus reign, he faced the most serious challenge to independent Judean rule from the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus VII Sidetes marched into Judea, pillaged the countryside and laid a year long siege on Jerusalem. The prolonged siege caused Hyrcanus to remove any Judean from the city who could not assist with the defense effort (Antiquities 13.240). These refugees were not allowed to pass through Antiochus lines. Therefore, these Judeans were literally trapped in the middle of a chaotic siege. With a humanitarian crisis on his hands, Hyrcanus re-admitted his estranged Jerusalemites when the festival of Sukkot arrived. Afterwards, due to massive food shortages in Jerusalem, Hyrcanus negotiated a truce with Antiochus.[4]
The terms of the truce consisted of three thousand talents of silver as payment for Antiochus, breaking down the walls of Jerusalem, Judean participation in the Seleucid war against the Parthians, and once again Judean recognition of Seleucid control (Antiquities 13.245). These terms were a harsh blow to a young ruler. Furthermore, Hyrcanus needed to loot the tomb of David to pay the 3000 talents (The Wars of the Jews I 2:5).
The repercussions of the Seleucid siege were initially a difficult set-back for Hyrcanus. Judea faced tough economic times after the countryside was plundered and Jerusalem was under siege. Economic struggles were greatly magnified by taxes to the Seleucids enforced by Antiochus. Furthermore, Hyrcanus was forced to accompany Antiochus on his eastern campaign in 130 BC. Hyrcanus probably would have functioned as the military commander of a Jewish company in the campaign.[5] Instead of governing a devastated Judean state, Hyrcanus was in Parthia fighting with Antiochus.
Additionally, this probably caused a loss of support for the inexperienced Hyrcanus among the Judean population.[6] Judeans in the countryside were especially disillusioned with Hyrcanus after Antiochus army plundered their land. The fact that Hyrcanus was fighting alongside Antiochus probably caused serious resentment. Furthermore Hyrcanus driving out the non-military population of Jerusalem during the siege also probably caused resentment for his rule in the city. Finally, the action of looting the Tomb of David violated his obligations as High Priest. This would have offended the religious leadership.[7]
Therefore, at a very early point in his thirty-one year reign of Judea, Hyrcanus had lost the support of Judeans in various cultural sectors. The Jerusalemites, countryside Judeans and the religious leadership probably doubted the future of Judea under Hyrcanus. However, Hyrcanus was met with fortune in 128 BC when Antiochus VII was killed in battle against Parthia. What followed was an era of conquest led by Hyrcanus that marked the high point of Judea as the most significant power in Syria.[8]
Conquests of John Hyrcanus
John Hyrcanus was able to take advantage of unrest in Seleucia to assert Judean independence and conquer new territories. In 130BCE Demetrius II returned from exile in Hyrcania to take control of Seleucia. However, transition of power made it difficult for Demetrius to assert control over Judea.[9] Furthermore, the Seleucid Empire itself fell apart into smaller principalities. The Ituraeans of Lebanon, the Ammonites of the Transjordan, and the Arabian Nabateans represented independent principalities that broke away from Seleucid control.[10] Hyrcanus was determined to take advantage of the dissipating Seleucid Empire to increase the Judean State.
Hyrcanus also raised a new mercenary army that strongly contrasted with the Judean forces that were defeated by Antiochus VII (Ant.13.249). The Jewish population was probably still recovering from the attack of Antiochus, and therefore could not provide enough able men for a Hyrcanus-led army.[9] Hyrcanus army was supported by the Judean State once again by funds that Hyrcanus removed from the Tomb of David.[11]
Beginning in 113 BC, Hyrcanus began an extensive military campaign against Samaria. Hyrcanus placed his sons Antigonus and Aristobulus in charge of the siege of Samaria. The Samarians called for help and eventually received 6000 troops from Antiochus IX Cyzicenus. Although the siege lasted for a long, difficult year, Hyrcanus was unwilling to give up his siege. Ultimately, Samaria was overrun and totally destroyed. Cyzicenus mercenary army was defeated and the city of Scythopolis seems to have been occupied by Hyrcanus as well.[12] The inhabitants of Samaria were then put into slavery. These slaves were not Israelites or worshippers of YHWH. Instead, the Samarians sent into slavery were reported to be Macedonian settlers.
Hyrcanus first conquest was an invasion of the Transjordan in 110BC.[13] Hyrcanus mercenary army laid siege to the city of Medeba and took it after a six-month siege. After these victories, Hyrcanus went north towards Schechem and Mount Gerizim. The city of Schechem was reduced to a village and the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim was destroyed. This military action against Schechem has been dated archaeologically around 111110 BC.[14] Destroying the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim helped ameliorate Hyrcanus status among religious elite and common Jews who detested any Jewish temple outside of Jerusalem.
Hyrcanus also initiated a military campaign against the Idumeans in the Negev near Eilat. During this campaign Hyrcanus conquered Adora, Marisa and other Idumean towns (Ant.13.257). Hyrcanus then instituted forced conversions on the Idumeans.[15] This was an unprecedented move for a Judean ruler.
Economy, foreign relations, and religion
After the siege of Jerusalem, Hyrcanus faced a serious economic crisis in Judea. We can assume that the economic difficulties subsided after the death of Antiochus VII. Hyrcanus no longer had to pay taxes or tributes to a weaker Seleucia.[16] The economic situation eventually improved enough for Hyrcanus to issue his own coinage (see below). On top of that, Hyrcanus initiated vital building projects in Judea. Hyrcanus re-built the walls destroyed by Antiochus. He also built a fortress north of the Temple called the Baris and possibly also the fortress Hyrcania.[17]
Moreover, Hyrcanus sought for good relations with the surrounding Gentile powers, especially the growing Roman Empire. Two decrees were passed in the Roman Senate that established a treaty of friendship with Judea.[18] Although it is difficult to specifically date these resolutions, they represent efforts made between Hyrcanus and Rome to maintain stable relations. Also, an embassy sent by Hyrcanus received Roman confirmation of Hasmonean independence.[19] Hyrcanus was an excellent case of a ruler backed by Roman support.
In addition to Rome, Hyrcanus was able to maintain steady relations with Ptolemaic Egypt. This was probably made possible due to various Jews living in Egypt who had connections with the Ptolemaic Court (Ant. 13.284287). Finally, the cities of Athens and Pergamum even showed honor to Hyrcanus in an effort to appease Rome.[20]
Furthermore, the minting of coins by Hyrcanus demonstrates Hyrcanus willingness to delegate power. Sixty-three coins found near Bethlehem bear the inscription, Yohanan the High Priest. The reserve side of the coins contains the phrase, The Assembly of the Jews. This seems to suggest that during his reign, Hyrcanus was not an absolute ruler. Instead, Hyrcanus had to submit at times to an assembly of Jews that had a certain amount of minority power.[21] The coins lack any depictions of animals or humans. This suggests that Hyrcanus strictly followed the Jewish prohibition against graven images. The coins also seem to suggest that Hyrcanus considered himself to be primarily the High Priest of Judea, and his rule of Judea was shared with the Assembly.[22]
In Judea, religious issues were a core aspect of domestic policy. Josephus only reports one specific conflict between the Pharisees and Hyrcanus (Ant. 13.288296). Essentially, criticism of Hyrcanus roles as High Priest and ethnarch by the Pharisees led to a falling out.[23] Thus, this conflict between Hyrcanus and the Pharisees elevated the status of the Sadducees.
There is, however, good reason to doubt this account by Josephus. First of all, Josephus reports elsewhere that the Pharisees did not grow to power until the reign of Queen Salome Alexandra (JW.1.110) The coins minted under Hyrcanus suggest that Hyrcanus did not have complete secular authority. Furthermore, this account may represent a piece of Pharisaic apologetics due to Josephus Pharisaic background.[24] Therefore, this account might represent a historical creation meant to elevate the status of the Pharisees during the height of the Hasmonean Dynasty.
There were probably tensions because of the religious and secular leadership roles held by Hyrcanus. However, it is difficult to assume that this account by Josephus is an accurate re-telling of the relationship between Hyrcanus, the Pharisees and the Sadducees at that time.
Ultimately, one of the final acts of Hyrcanus life was an act that solved any kind of dispute over his role as High Priest and ethnarch. In the will of Hyrcanus, he provisioned for the division of the high priesthood from secular authority. Hyrcanus wife was given control of civil authority after his death, and his son Judas Aristobulus was given the role of High Priest. This action represented Hyrcanus willingness to compromise over the issue of secular and religious authority.[25] (However, Aristobulus was not satisfied with this arrangement, so he cast his mother into prison and let her starve.)
Modern commemoration
Tel Aviv has a Yochanan Hyrcanus Street (???? ????? ???????), as do several other cities in contemporary Israel. In the early decades of the 20th century, the Zionist historical perception of the Jewish past tended to approve of and revere strong warrior kings of both Biblical and later periods, and Hyrcanus' exploits earned him a place in that pantheon.
Kind(eren):