ABSTRACT

The fortified cities of Judea were destroyed, except in the Negev and along the northern border. Some Israelites continued to bring offerings to the destroyed altar in Jerusalem. Some Judeans living in Mesopotamia immigrated back to Jerusalem in three different waves, led by Sheshbazar, Zerubbabel, and Ezra. Alexander's conquest of the eastern Mediterranean coastline in 332 bce, after defeating Darius at Issus in 333, did not disrupt Judea. Josephus relates that Alexander approved the construction of a Temple on Mt. Gerizim in Samaria and that he was so impressed by Jerusalem's High Priest that he left the city untouched. The situation in Jerusalem deteriorated, mainly because of struggles over the position of High Priest. The High Priest Onias III; Simon, who was the Temple's financial administrator; Onias' brother, Jason; and Menelaus vied for the position. Palestine was a normal Roman eastern province, and the Roman governor and his staff ruled the Jews in the same manner they ruled everyone else.