Friday, March 03, 2017

A Hasmonean messianic age?

READING ACTS: Simon the Hasmonean Messiah? – 1 Maccabees 14:4-15.
Undoubtedly this description of Simon is propaganda, but it is biblical propaganda. Describing the Hasmonean dynasty in terms reminiscent of the dreamed of eschatological kingdom is designed to put Simon on the best light possible. But that Simon’s propaganda should draw on these particular images from the Hebrew Bible indicates some (many?) in the second century B.C. were looking to the restoration of a kingdom as anticipated in the prophets.
Past posts in Phil Long's series on the Second Temple Period are noted here and links.