The Failure of a Religious Reform: Observations on the Hellenistic Reform in Jerusalem
The Failure of a Religious Reform: Observations on the Hellenistic Reform in Jerusalem

Summary/Abstract: One of the most significant moments of the so-called Hellenistic reform in Jerusalem was the introduction of polytheistic worship into the Jerusalem temple around 168 BCE. This led to the repression and persecution of Judaism’s followers, which, according to the accounts of 1 and 2 Maccabees, became the direct cause of the Maccabean revolt. Today, the role of religious aspects in the origins of the Maccabean revolt is often downplayed in favor of economic factors. However, there is no doubt that both played equally important roles. Nevertheless, much evidence suggests that the manner in which the polytheistic reform was implemented sparked armed resistance among the population. The author argues that this reform should not be viewed as a top-down religious policy of the Syrian king, but rather as being linked to establishing a polis in Jerusalem.

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