Arcykapłan Jazon i jego zamierzenia wobec Jerozolimy w świetle Ksiąg Machabejskich

Abstract

As is apparent from an analysis of the Books of the Maccabees, Jason belonged to the group of so-called Hellenized Jews, who took the initiative in introducing Hellenistic customs in Jerusalem and Judea. Certainly, the office of High Priest, which he captured through corruption, made him one of the leading figures in this process. Two institutions which Jason founded, the gymnasium and ephebate, would have pushed Jerusalem in the direction of other poleis of the Hellenistic world. It is difficult to say, however, to what extent he actually managed to implement these projects. In Jerusalem we do not know, for example, whether he managed only to create a so-called politeuma or if he perhaps went further, converting the city into a true polis. As scholars show, Jason probably wanted to connect “the old” with “the new”, i.e. to give Jerusalem the status of a Greek polis on the one hand while, on the other, retaining the “native customs” and loosening only their rigor. Perhaps his sudden loss of the post of High Priest caused the projects he undertook to not be fully implemented.