Difference between revisions of "Onias IV"
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*ANCIENT SOURCES: see [[Onias IV (sources)]] | |||
*SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see [[:Category:Onias IV (subject)]] | |||
'''Onias IV ''' (2nd century BCE) was a member of the [[:Category:Zadokites (subject)|House of Zadok]]. | |||
====Overview==== | |||
Onias IV was the son of the High Priest [[Onias III]] and last legitimate heir of the Zadokite dynasty at Jerusalem | |||
In 175 BCE Onias IV's father was deposed by the Seleucid king [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]], who replaced him with his brother (and Onias IV's uncle) [[Jason]]. The situation worsened when a new non-Zadokite High Priest [[Menelaus]] took power. [[Jason]], after struggling to regain power, eventually died in exile. In 170 BCE [[Onias III]], who since his deposition had been confined in Antioch, was assassinated by order of Menelaus. During these events, [[Onias IV]] was still a minor but after the death of his father and uncle, was now the legitimate heir ''in pectore'' of the high priesthood according to the Zadokite succession. His coming to age in the following years brought up for discussion again the future of the Jerusalem priesthood, exactly in a moment in which with the outbreak of the Sixth Syrian War the future of Jerusalem was again at stake between Egypt and Syria. | |||
When the party supporting "Onias (IV) got the better" (Bel I 31), [[Menelaus]] sought [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]]'s intervention, accusing his rivals of siding with the Ptolomies. [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] intended to secure the border with Egypt and purge Jerusalem from any Ptolemaic influence. His attempt to strengthen the philo-Seleucid party of Menelaus against the philo-Ptolemaic party of Onias IV by abolishing the Zadokite laws resulted in a dramatic (and quite unexpected) showdown with a third party, the nationalistic movement of the [[Maccabees]], who emerged as the true winners of the conflict. | |||
[[Onias IV]] fled to Egypt, where he was welcomed by the Ptolomies and allowed to build a new Temple at [[Leontopolis]]. At Jerusalem, [[Menelaus]] had to compromise with the rebels' leader [[Judas Maccabeus]] and allow the rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE. The Mosaic Torah was no longer the law of the House of Zadok; as a result of the Maccabean revolt, it had become the national law of all Jews. A Zadokite priesthood was no longer needed (or welcome) at Jerusalem. | |||
'''Gabriele Boccaccini''', University of Michigan | |||
==Onias IV in ancient sources== | |||
==Onias IV in Scholarship== | |||
==Onias IV in Fiction== | |||
==Related categories== | |||
*[[High Priest]] / [[Zadokites]] / [[Menelaus]] / [[Jason]] / [[Onias III]] | |||
*[[Seleucid Kings]] / [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onias_IV Wikipedia] | |||
[[Category:Index]] | |||
[[Category:People]] | |||
Revision as of 07:38, 18 October 2011
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Onias IV (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Onias IV (subject)
Onias IV (2nd century BCE) was a member of the House of Zadok.
Overview
Onias IV was the son of the High Priest Onias III and last legitimate heir of the Zadokite dynasty at Jerusalem
In 175 BCE Onias IV's father was deposed by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who replaced him with his brother (and Onias IV's uncle) Jason. The situation worsened when a new non-Zadokite High Priest Menelaus took power. Jason, after struggling to regain power, eventually died in exile. In 170 BCE Onias III, who since his deposition had been confined in Antioch, was assassinated by order of Menelaus. During these events, Onias IV was still a minor but after the death of his father and uncle, was now the legitimate heir in pectore of the high priesthood according to the Zadokite succession. His coming to age in the following years brought up for discussion again the future of the Jerusalem priesthood, exactly in a moment in which with the outbreak of the Sixth Syrian War the future of Jerusalem was again at stake between Egypt and Syria.
When the party supporting "Onias (IV) got the better" (Bel I 31), Menelaus sought Antiochus IV Epiphanes's intervention, accusing his rivals of siding with the Ptolomies. Antiochus IV Epiphanes intended to secure the border with Egypt and purge Jerusalem from any Ptolemaic influence. His attempt to strengthen the philo-Seleucid party of Menelaus against the philo-Ptolemaic party of Onias IV by abolishing the Zadokite laws resulted in a dramatic (and quite unexpected) showdown with a third party, the nationalistic movement of the Maccabees, who emerged as the true winners of the conflict.
Onias IV fled to Egypt, where he was welcomed by the Ptolomies and allowed to build a new Temple at Leontopolis. At Jerusalem, Menelaus had to compromise with the rebels' leader Judas Maccabeus and allow the rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE. The Mosaic Torah was no longer the law of the House of Zadok; as a result of the Maccabean revolt, it had become the national law of all Jews. A Zadokite priesthood was no longer needed (or welcome) at Jerusalem.
Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan