Bryant G. Wood
As you trudge up the dusty road to Kh. el-Maqatir, site of an ABR-sponsored excavation, you get the distinct impression that you are climbing a mountain. Your legs tell you that you are gaining elevation. The higher you go, the better the view of the surrounding countryside. And as you approach the top, outcrops of bedrock begin to appear here and there. When you reach the summit you feel as if you have scaled a major height.
But it is not a mountain at all, only another high limestone hill in the Biblical territory of Benjamin. Kh. el-Maqatir hosted centuries of habitation, from the days of Abraham to the times of Jesus. One of the major periods of occupation was the era of the Hamonean dynasty, 152–37 BC, when the Jews were struggling for independence against their Seleucid (Syrian) overlords. ABR volunteers have uncovered unusually wide fortification walls and a number of industrial installations from this period, as well as some fascinating coins. It appears that Kh. el-Maqatir was a Hasmonean fortress guarding the northern approach to Jerusalem, some 10 mi to the south.
One of the benefits of excavating material from later antiquity is that coins are common finds. They were typically struck by the ruler who was in power, and thus served political and propaganda purposes as well as monetary. Many times the particular year of the ruler’s reign when the coin was minted was indicated. In the case of foreign coins, sometimes the likeness of the ruler will appear. Thus, coins are extremely useful to the archaeologist, since they provide a more accurate means of dating than the pottery utilized for earlier periods. Three of the more interesting coins from Kh. el-Maqatir are those of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Demetrius II Nicator, and Herod the Great.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Antiochus IV, 175–164 BC, was the eighth ruler of the Seleucid (Syrian) empire, formed after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. The name means “opposer.” Antiochus took on the additional surname Epiphanes, “manifest,” to indicate he was the manifestation of a deity. He required his subjects to worship him as Olympian Zeus. Antiochus intended to unify the empire by imposing Hellenistic culture on all inhabitants. This policy brought him into sharp conflict with the Jews of Palestine. He is infamous for establishing pagan worship in the Jerusalem Temple, the “abomination of desolation” referred to by Daniel. His relations with the Jews are recorded in 1 and 2 Maccabees, and prophetically seen in Daniel 8:9–25, 23–25 and 11:21–34.
Most Bible scholars believe Antiochus IV to be the “little horn” referred to in Daniel 8
Bronze coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes excavated at Kh. el-Maqatir by the Associates for Biblical Research. Obverse (right, badly worn)—head of the Antiochus, radiate, with filleted border all around. Reverse (left)—female figure (Hera?) standing facing, wearing long tunic, holding scepter, inscription “King Antiochus.”
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and “the contemptible person” of Daniel 11. The prophet remarkably foresaw the events of his reign.
His Rise to Power
Daniel 8:9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.
8:23b–24a A stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power.
11:21 He (the king of the North) will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.
Antiochus IV usurped the throne in 175 BC after the assassination of his brother Seleucus IV. His immediate goal was to gain control of Egypt (to the south) and Hellenize Judea (the “Beautiful Land”).
His First Campaign to Egypt and the Looting of the Temple
11:22–28 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him (the contemptible person); both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time. With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
In 170–169 Antiochus marched on Egypt and subdued most of the country. The capital Alexandria, however, held out. On his way back to Syria, he savagely attacked Jerusalem to settle a dispute over the high priesthood. He butchered the inhabitants and confiscated the Temple treasure.
Likeness of Antiochus IV Epiphanes on a silver tetradrachma struck in 168 BC.
His Second Campaign to Egypt
11:29–30a At the appointed time, he (the contemptible person) will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him and he will loose heart.
In 168 Antiochus led another expedition to Egypt in order to complete his conquest of 170–169. When he arrived at Alexandria, he found ships from Rome already there. The Romans demanded that he call off his offensive. Not wishing to invoke the wrath of Rome, Antiochus angrily returned to Syria.
The Desecration of the Temple
8:10–12 It (the little horn) grew until it reached the host of heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
8:24b–25a He (the little horn) will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.
11:30b–31 He (the contemptible person) will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
In 167 Antiochus sent his tax collector Apollonius against Jerusalem with 22,000 men. They attacked on the Sabbath day
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and killed most of the male population (the “starry host,” “mighty men” and “holy people”). The women and children were captured and enslaved. Jerusalem’s walls were demolished and a Selucid military garrison took up residence in the “Akra,” the precise location of which is uncertain. All Jewish rites were outlawed and so the daily sacrifice was taken away from the Prince of the host (God) as Daniel 8:11 states. Worse than that, worship of Olympian Zeus was instituted in the Temple and “the place of His sanctuary was brought low” (Dn 8:11). Since Antiochus claimed to be Zeus incarnate, he literally set himself up “to be as great as the Prince of the host,” as predicted in Daniel 8:11. To commit the ultimate desecration, on the 25th of Kislev (December), 167 BC, a pig was sacrificed on the altar to Zeus that had been erected over the altar of burnt offering in the Temple. Scripture refers to this as the “abomination that causes desolation” (Dn 11:31; 12:11). Offerings were made on the 25th of each month in celebration of the birthday of Epiphanes, so the sacrifices were actually offered to him.
The Temple Reconsecrated
8:13–14 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot? “ He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
8:25b Yet he (the little horn) will be destroyed, but not by human power.
11:32–34 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
A Syrian commissioner went to the village of Modein northwest of Jerusalem in 167 BC to compel the Jews there to sacrifice to the heathen gods. A local priest named Mattathias refused to do so. He killed a Jewish priest about to offer the sacrifice, and the Syrian commissioner as well. Mattathias and his five sons fled to the Judean desert where they organized gorilla bands to fight the Syrians and their supporters. This was the beginning of the Maccabean revolt. The family was known as the Maccabees after the most famous of the brothers, Judas Maccabeus. The dynasty established by the Maccabees, which ruled Judea 142–63 BC, is referred to as the Hasmonean dynasty, after the great grandfather of Mattathias, Hashman.
Under the leadership of Judas, the Jews were able to drive the Syrians from the land and recapture the Temple. The Temple was purified and a new altar of burnt offering dedicated in December 164 BC, exactly three years after it had been profaned. Each December, Jews commemorate this event when they celebrate Hannukah (dedication).
Antiochus died in Tabae, Persia, in late 164 after hearing of the successes of the Jews.
Such specific predictions made by Daniel has led skeptics to conclude that the book must have been written late, after the events had taken place. Fragments of copies of the book of Daniel dating to the late second century BC have been
Silver coin of Demetrius II Nicator excavated at Kh. el-Maqatir by the Associates for Biblical Research. Obverse (left)—diademed and draped bust of Demetrius. Reverse (right)—eagle standing on the beak of a galley, palm branch in background, in field to left A/PE and TYP (Tyre) monogram above club, to right A and SY monogram above Selucid date of CPP (= 186 = 127/6 BC), M monogram between eagle’s legs, inscription “Demetrius King.”
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Lisa Kelly, discoverer of the Demetrius coin, proudly displays her find.
found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. (See “New Light on the Book of Daniel from the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Bible and Spade, Spring 1992, pp. 45–53.) This indicates that the book was written well before the days of Antiochus IV, and that Daniel’s vision is legitimate prophecy. Such a precise foretelling of future events is a remarkable demonstration of the Divine inspiration of the Biblical text.
Demetrius II Nicator
Some 20 years after the death of Antiochus IV, Demetrius became king of the Selucid Empire in 145 BC at age 16. Taking the title Nicator, meaning “victor,” he ruled from 145–139 and again from 129–125 BC. His reign was interrupted by 10 years of imprisonment by the Parthians in present-day Iran. Because of competition for the throne, and inherent instability in the Selucid empire, Demetrius was forced to make generous concessions to the Hasmonean rulers Jonathan (152–142) and Simon (142–134), the 5th and 2nd sons, respectively, of Mattathais.
Jonathan was made “Friend of the king,” confirmed as high priest, allowed to annex three districts of Samaria to Judea, and freed from tribute. Following Jonathan’s death in 142, Simon agreed to side with Demetrius if he would grant Judea complete independence. Demetrius complied, confirming Simon as high priest, ethnarch (national ruler), and military and civil governor of Judea. Moreover, Judea was exempted from all taxes.
This ushered in a new period of freedom and prosperity in Jewish history that lasted until the Roman era began in 63 BC. Judea became a dynamic factor in the political life of the Near East for the first time since the Old Testament kingdom period. In 141 Simon was successful in removing the Syrian garrison that had occupied the Akra in Jerusalem since the days of Antiochus IV. He converted the fortress into his palace. Hebrew was cultivated as the official and religious language. In the reign of Simon’s successor, his son John Hyrcanus (Hyrcanus I), the first Jewish coinage was issued.
In 125 Demetrius was defeated by the Egyptians at Damascus. He fled to Tyre where he was murdered.
Herod the Great
Herod was born to Antipater II, an Idumean (Idumea was located in the southern part of Palestine) whose family had converted to Judaism, and Cypros, an Arabian woman. Herod was thus considered half Jew. Julius Caesar appointed Antipater procurator (governor) of Judea in 47 BC. Herod was then made military governor of Galilee by his father at age 25. He retained that office until 41, when Antony, Roman ruler of the east, named Herod and his brother Phasael as tetrarchs (“rulers of a fourth”) over the land of the Jews. When Phasael died in 40, the Roman senate appointed Herod king of Judea. He spent the first three years of his reign fighting the Hasmoneans to establish his authority. Finally, in 37, Herod captured and occupied Jerusalem, thus officially beginning his rule which lasted until his death in 4 BC.
Jesus was born in the reign of Herod (Mt 2:1). He is best known as the king who had the Bethlehem babies put to death in order to eliminate any threat to his rule (Mt 2:16). This is perfectly in keeping with what we know about Herod. Throughout his reign he systematically eliminated any potential contenders to the throne, including members of his own family. He was a typical oriental despot, engaged in political maneuvering and manipulation, and taking to himself 10 wives. Even though Herod held his position with brutality, he maintained peace and security during his reign and brought significant economic prosperity to Judea. He was the consummate politician, currying favor with the Romans and the various factions of the populace. Although no doubt motivated by his political agenda, there was a kinder, gentler side to Herod. For instance, he gave famine relief and tax relief when needed. He also contributed food for the aged and infirmed, and provided workers at his expense to help with the harvest.
Herod is also famous for his building program, some of which still can be seen today. He not only erected magnificent
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Bronze coin of Herod the Great excavated at Kh. el-Maqatir by the Associates for Biblical Research. Obverse (right)—tripod, ceremonial bowl above, date LG (Year 3 = 37 BC) in field left, monogram TP in field right, inscription “Herod King.” Reverse (left)—military helmet, wreath featuring acanthus leaf around, star above flanked by two palm branches.
structures in Judea, but also throughout the Roman empire. In Jerusalem he constructed an amphitheater, as well as a fortress, hippodrome, palace, theater, and, of course, the Temple. Herod also built imposing palaces at Ashkelon, Caesarea, Herodium, Jericho, Masada and Sepphoris. He constructed, or reconstructed, many cities in Judea, including the important port of Caesarea Maritima.
Herod’s crowning achievement was the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. The Temple proper was built in nine years, between 20 and 11 BC. Work on the complex continued, however, into the New Testament period (Jn 2:20), with the project not being completed until AD 63. Constructed of solid limestone, it was one of the largest and most beautiful temples in the ancient world (Mk 13:1; Lk 21:5). Jesus predicted the destruction of this majestic edifice (Mt 24:2; Mk 13:2; Lk 21:6), saying “not one stone will be left on another, every one of them will be thrown down.” His words came true when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. Excavations in the commercial area adjacent to the west side of the Temple mount have provided graphic evidence of this event. Tons of limestone blocks were discovered lying in the street where they were thrown by the Roman soldiers when they razed the Temple.
Herod died of disease in his palace in Jericho, which has been extensively excavated. His body was carried in an elaborate procession to Herodium, where he was interred with splendor. Josephus described the lavish appointments:
The bier was of solid gold, studded with precious stones and draped with the richest purple embroidered with various colors. On it lay the body wrapped in a crimson robe, with a diadem resting on the head, and above that a golden crown and the scepter by the right hand. (Wars of the Jews I.33.9)
Even though thorough investigations have been made at Herodium, Herod’s tomb is yet to be found (see Bible and Spade, Autumn 1997, pp. 96–98).
In spite of his cruelty and paranoia, Herod has to be ranked as probably the most powerful ruler of Palestine. Jews prospered under his rule and were able to establish themselves throughout the empire. This paved the way for the spread of the Gospel. Not understanding who He was and what His message was, Herod attempted to kill the infant Jesus. Little did he know that he was being used of God to enable the message of love, peace and salvation brought by that Infant to be spread to the four corners of the world.
Eight-light candelabrum for the eight days of Hanukkah, plus an extra (ninth) light called the service.