Bibliography
| Title: The Treaty between Judaea and Rome in 161 B.C.E. Pages: 3-28 Type: Generic Year: 1986 Abstract: "The first part of this article deals with the political background of the first treaty concluded between Judaea and Rome (in 161 B.C.E.). The connection between the rebellion of Timarchus in the eastern Seleucid Empire and events in Judaea is emphasized, and it is suggested that the influence of Timarchus and his brother Heracleides in the Roman Senate may have aided Judas Maccabaeus to conclude this treaty. The continuation of this paper deals with the nature of relations between Judaea and Rome, and with the question of the authenticity of the document preserved in I Maccabees 8, in light of renewed doubts expressed in recent years. Literary sources relevant to this problem and independent of I Maccabees, such as the Epitome of Justin, are considered. These prove conclusively that at this time there were very close relations between Rome and Judaea, which were given formal expression. Since in the 2nd century B.C.E. Rome pursued a policy of concluding treaties of a certain type, according to which the two parties to the treaty were granted equal status, and since the treaty included in I Maccabees corresponds precisely to treaties of this type, there is no reason to deny its authenticity. Rather it expresses those ties between Rome and Judaea whose existence is attested also in sources independent of I Maccabees. The realities of the historical situation of the time were conducive to the conclusion f these treaties. Although the treaty with Rome did not save Judas Maccabaeus from defeat by the Seleucid army, it was the cornerstone of the foreign policy of the Maccabean kingdom, was renewed several times, and enabled the Maccabean state to expand its international connections." Keywords: Jewish History: Hasmonean / Maccabean Era |