Hasmonean Rule From Jonathan to the Death of Simon

Hasmonean Rule From Jonathan to the Death of Simon (160-134 BCE). Brief Account of Events Said to Have Occurred. After Judas' death, there followed a period when the Maccabean movement was out of power (160-53 BCE). In 153 BCE, Jonathan, Judas' brother and replacement regained popular support. Jonathan took advantage of internal weakness within the Seleucid kingdom to take political control of Jerusalem and Judea. In Syria, in 153-52 BCE, a rival to the throne, Alexander Balas, forced Demetrius I to offer an alliance to Jonathan, which he accepted, but Alexander Balas then made an even better offer to Jonathan. In 150 BCE, Demetrius I was defeated in battle by Alexander Balas. Thus, Jonathan became both political ruler and High Priest.