Under the great patriot and hero Judas Maccabeus, the Jews asserted
their religious freedom in 166 B. C. Antiochus Epiphanes died in 164,
and Maccabeus fought with success against the Idumeans, Syrians,
Phœnicians and others, who had formed a league for the destruction of
the Jews. In 163, Judas Maccabeus became governor of Judea under the
King of Syria, but fell in battle, in 161, while he was resisting an
invasion of his country by the troops of Demetrius Soter, new ruler of
the empire. His brother, Jonathan Maccabeus, ruled from 161 to 143 B.
C., amidst many troubles from Syria, and was succeeded by his brother,
Simon Maccabeus, who strengthened the land by fortifications, was
recognized by the Romans as high priest and ruler of Judea, and fell by
assassination in 136 B. C.
His son, John Hyrcanus, threw off at last the yoke of Syria, and made
himself master of all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, reigning then in
peace till 106 B. C., when the line of the greater Maccabean princes
ended. A miserable time of civil wars and religious and political
faction followed.