The Maccabees established a dynasty that ruled a large independent Jewish state for 100 years. The Hasmonean kings, though not of Davidic descent, were accepted by the Jews. Given what God had done for them it should have lasted longer, but power has a way of corrupting those who hold it. The Hasmoneans had defeated massive external opposition, but, after a while, internal strife began to undermine them irreparably. Power struggles between siblings led to civil war in 61BC. It was brother against brother, one of them egged on by a scheming Idumean called Herod Antipater. At the same time the Romans were overrunning the Greek Empire and both brothers appealed to Rome to help them against the other. It was a sad situation in the family of God. The Jews would resent Roman rule, but they were haunted by the fact that they had invited the Romans to help them in the first place rather than reconciling with each other. So, the Romans came into the mess and took control of Judea. The Roman General, Pompey, added insult to injury when he arrogantly barged into the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem temple. Herod Antipater wormed his way to the position of procurator of Judea which then opened the way for his son, Herod the Great, to eventually become the Roman vassal king of Judea. The Jews tried to revolt against the Romans but failed miserably. They desperately wanted a repeat of the Maccabean victory, and they wanted it to be led by a Davidic king. They would not, however, get what they wanted, for God had something much better in store.
Thank God for giving you what he knows is best.
Read Isaiah 9:1-7
