Richwallet:
Maccabean Wars:
The setting for the Maccabean wars was the brutal reign of Antiochus IV over the people of Israel. Under Alexander the Great, the Greeks had conquered Persia and with it came the territory of Palestine where the Jews lived. The Jews lived under Greek rule without major trouble until the reign of Antiochus. By the time Antiochus was ruling there were many Jews in high positions who had compromised their faith for the luxury and power that could be attained by conforming to Greek ways and interests. The Greeks gave basically all the top political, religious, and economic positions to these Hellenized Jews. One of these Jews Jason, had bribed the Greeks for the position of High Priest. He also asked Antiochus if he would grant permission for them to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem, and once permission was granted he quickly set about to build it. The Greek gymnasium was not just a place where Greeks would exercise, and play sports; all of this was done while naked. There were also secular teachings brought in there, that reflected Greek mindsets.[1] This greatly displeased and shocked the orthodox community who having remembered the exile, did not want to be displeasing to God in any way whatsoever.