Walls Rebuilt II

Parents sat their children down and told the story. Foreign rulers had tried to make them worship other gods. Brave men had said no. They had fought back. They had cleaned the Temple and made it holy again. Years later, under Roman rule, people still told these stories. Some began to dream of...

After the fighting ended, the Hasmonean family took power. The high priests began to act like kings. They mixed worship with power and politics. Some people praised them. Others shook their heads. Power had gotten into the holy office. Something was very wrong.

Jewish groups split apart. Some said everyone must follow every rule perfectly. Some left the cities and went away to stay pure. Some sharpened their knives and planned war against Rome. Each group said they knew what Yahweh wanted. Regular families heard them all and did not know whom to follow.