Given Hebrew name: Jehonathan
(Jonathan)
Sixth Hasmonean
priest to rule Judea. The youngest
son of Johanan
Hyrcanus was imprisoned for a
year by his oldest brother, Aristobulus
(104 BCE).
Released by his widowed sister-in-law, Salome,
whom he married, Alexander conquered cities on the Mediterranean
coast from Gaza
to Carmel & extended Judean control to Gadara
across the Jordan. He ruled more territory than any Judean king
since Solomon. Yet he faced mounting criticism from chasidic
Jews in Jerusalem.
Public outrage at this Hellenized soldier-priest reached a climax
when he was pelted with citrons at the festival of Sukkoth (Oct. 94
BCE). His soldiers responded by massacring thousands of worshippers.
This in turn led to a six year revolt led by the Pharisees, who
called the Syrian king Demetrius III to their aid. Alexander's
forces were crushed at Shechem
(88 BCE). But the Judean rebels rallied around him, when they
realized that the Syrian army planned to take Jerusalem. Rather than
accept their aid, Alexander sought vengeance against the rebels by
crucifying 800 Pharisees. His remaining years were spent on military
campaigns. He died in battle near Gadara.
References:
Josephus,
Antiquities
13.320-341,
353-364,
372-406.
_____, War
1.85-106.
Other resources on
line: