But sometimes, when we slow down and focus on a specific period, the stories that emerge are absolutely captivating. Today, we're diving into a fascinating, turbulent era of Jewish history, drawing from the ancient chronicle, Seder Olam Zutta, specifically chapter 8.
Our story begins with Alexander the Great, or Alejandro Magno as the text calls him, king of Macedonia and Greece. He only reigned for twelve years, a relatively short time, but his impact was enormous. Around this time, Solomon, son of Zerubbabel, passed away. After him rose Hananiah, his son, and the sages praised him. It's interesting to note these seemingly minor figures are mentioned; their righteousness mattered.
In Hananiah's time, according to Seder Olam Zutta, four Greek kings ruled: Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus, and Perdiccas. This was around the year 140 according to the Greek calendar. Hananiah himself eventually died, and Mattathias, son of John, son of Simon, took his place. Then his son Jonathan rose up, and the sages lauded him as well.
This period was marked by significant events. "In his days," the text says, "Edom was destroyed." And it was during this time that Seleucus Nicator, Antiochus, and Antiochus Soter reigned. Antioch itself was founded by Antiochus. Perhaps most significantly, Ptolemy commissioned the translation of the Torah into Greek – the Septuagint. Think about the implications! The Torah, previously accessible only to those who knew Hebrew, was now available to a much wider audience.
Then, around the year 170 according to the Greek calendar, Simon, son of John, son of Mattathias, was assassinated. Jonathan died, and his son John (Johanes) succeeded him, and the sages praised him.
But peace was not to last. The chronicle recounts, "In his days there was great suffering for Israel in the days of Nicanor, king of Greece." We're entering the era of the Hasmoneans, a priestly family that led a revolt against Seleucid rule. The sons of the Hasmoneans rose up and killed Nicanor and his armies. Seder Olam Zutta places this event in the year 175 of the Greek calendar.
John, son of Simon, son of Mattathias the Hasmonean, then reigned for thirty-seven years. After his death, Isaiah rose up, and the sages praised him. John Hyrcanus, son of John, the High Priest, reigned for twenty-seven years. He too died, and his son Aristobulus succeeded him, ruling for thirteen years before being assassinated. Then his son Antigonus reigned for twenty-seven years before meeting the same fate. According to the chronicle, this was the year 103 of the Hasmonean monarchy.
Now, things take a dark turn. "After him arose Herod, son of Antipater, servant of the Hasmoneans, and he rebelled and killed the entire house of his masters and reigned for thirty-seven years." A chilling statement, isn't it? Herod, a figure of immense power and brutality, wiped out the very family he had once served. This marks a major shift in power.
Finally, the text states that Obadiah died, and his son Simon rose up, and the sages praised him. The chapter concludes, "Behold, ten generations."
So, what do we take away from this rapid-fire account of kings, assassinations, and cultural shifts? Perhaps it's a reminder that history is never static. It's a constant cycle of power, struggle, and change. And even within these grand historical narratives, the actions and values of individuals – like the sages who praised the righteous leaders – can have a lasting impact. This short passage reminds us of the resilience of the Jewish people during a difficult time, caught between empires, fighting for survival and self-determination. It begs us to remember the names and stories of those who came before us, whose struggles shaped the world we live in today.