The Seleucid Era

Leader	Ruled
Antiochus III the Great	222–187 bc
Seleucus IV Philopater	187–175 bc
Antiochus IV Epiphanes	175–164 bc
Antiochus V Eupator	164–162 bc
Demetrius I	162–150 bc

(Dates are from Bo Reicke, New Testament, 50.)

Antiochus III gained control of the Ptolemies’ region at the Battle of Panium in 198 bc, ushering in the era of Seleucid control, which would last until 167 bc.

The most extreme of the Seleucids was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whom the Jews called “madman.” Under Antiochus’ rule, the Jewish high priesthood experienced great instability. In 175 bc, when Antiochus became the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, Jason, the brother of the then high priest Onias III, bribed Antiochus to make him high priest instead of Onias. As high priest, Jason built a gymnasium and aided in Hellenization of the Jews (2 Maccabees 4:7–13). Menelaus, who was not of priestly ancestry, then bribed Antiochus so that he could become high priest in place of Jason. Menelaus had Onias assassinated and was arrested for Onias’ murder. Jason subsequently drove out Menelaus and took the office of high priest again. The issue was handled by Syrian rulers (Köstenberger, Kellum and Quarles, The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown, 69). The Jewish high priesthood’s interception with the realm of politics during this period led Jews to suspect the integrity of the priests and whether they may be under the influence of foreign rulers (R.A. Horsley, Scribes, Visionaries, and the Politics of the Second Temple Judea, 16–22).

During his reign, Antiochus undertook an ambitious program of Hellenizing the Jews (2 Macc 4:9–19). He introduced a law prohibiting various Jewish religious activities on penalty of death, including offering sacrifices in the temple, worshiping on the Sabbath, practicing circumcision, and not eating pork (1 Macc 1:44–50). His harsh restrictions incited the Jews to revolt.