Early Seleucid Rule

198-167BC

I. Antiochus III defeats Ptolemaic forces in 198BC

II. Palestinian Judaism

· Simon II

Ø priest at time of Seleucid takeover

Ø probably Simon of Sirach 50

· Romans defeat Antiochus III at Battle of Magnesia (190BC)

· Onias III

Ø removed by Antiochus IV (175BC)

Ø killed by Menelaus

· Jason (175-172BC)

Ø brother of Onias III

Ø appointed by Antiochus IV through bribe

Ø established a Greek gymnasium

· Menelaus

Ø not of priestly descent

Ø had Onias III killed

Ø high priest during Maccabean War

· 167BC—Antiochus’ representative sacks Jerusalem, builds a Seleucid citadel, comes back later with orders that the Jews abandon their ancestral religion.

· Alcimus

Ø Also not of priestly descent

III. Egyptian Judaism

· Onias IV, son of Onias III, fled to Egypt after the death of his father, constructed temple at Leontopolis.

IV. Babylonian Judaism

V. Other settlements

· Lydia and Phrygia (settled there by Antiochus III)