Hellenistic Jerusalem

The time period of Hellenism had a great influence on Jerusalem and Judaism. Hellenism is the Greek influence. There are a few sources for this time period. These sources include apocrypha, which are all the books that are not in the Hebrew bible. They are considered scripture to some groups. Also there is Flavius Josephus who was a Jew, rebellion leader until he got caught and then claimed to be a prophet. He wrote Jewish history. Roman historian. Very pro roman history, exaggerates numbers. During this period Palestine was considered Israel and Judah up until this time. When they come back fro exile called Yehud and now called Palestine. Palestine was applied to the territory by the Romans.
Alexander the Great was a Greek king. He reigned from 336-323 BCE. He conquered the known world, which included Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the Fertile Crescent, and Palestine. He defeated Darius in 333 BCE. After Alexander dies in 323 BCE, his kingdom divides. It divides between the Ptolemys and the Selucids. The Ptolemies ruled out of Egypt and captured Jerusalem in 320 BCE. The Selucids ruled out of Syria and annexed Jerusalem and Palestine in 201 BCE.
The Ptolemies minted coins and gave the people independence and freedom. The Selucids push Hellenization of the people. They wanted to make the people more Greek. They wanted the people to speak Greek because they believed that the Greek language was more civilized that the Hebrew language. They also want to turn Jerusalem into a center for Greek life.
Hellenizing Jerusalem began in 201 BCE and went on until 164 BCE. From archaeological evidence we see that Greeks were successful in Hellenizing the Jewish people. From the Kidron Valley tombs we see that Jewish people were using Greek methods and art in their burials. Also there was Greek in Jewish burial inscriptions. During the Selucids time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes sells the high priesthood to his brother Jason in 175 BCE. Jason established gymnasiums in Jerusalem. Antiochus IV reconquers Jerusalem, looted the temple treasury, and sacrificed a pig in the temple.
Some Jews did not react well to Hellenization, while others did not mind. The Jews that welcomed Hellenization said God wants it to happen, so the people should accept it. During this time Jewish infighting escalated which led to sects and factions. Later there was an open revolt against Hellenism.