# Rival Hasmonean brothers contest Jerusalem

Between the Testaments · Draft · BSB

Content revision: 9791ead8564332db · No editorial review date recorded

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Date: c. 67–63 BC · Dynastic conflict

Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II struggle for power after Queen Alexandra’s death. Rival appeals draw outside powers into the conflict.

Hyrcanus II is distinct from the earlier John Hyrcanus. Internal conflict helps explain the approach to Roman intervention, without making that intervention inevitable or welcome to every community.

## Historical sources and canon context

Historical background. The sources below open externally; they are separate from the app’s bundled Bible text. Related Bible passages provide comparison or later context.

[Josephus, Antiquities 14.1–3](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-14.html)

Narrates the rival claims and appeals before Pompey’s intervention. Written in the first century AD, looking back on these events.

[IAA: historical timeline](https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/learn-about-the-scrolls/historical-timeline?locale=en_US)

Dates the civil war to 67–63 BC.

## Primary Scripture

No primary biblical passage is assigned to this historical-background event. Consult its external sources.

## Related Scripture

These Bible readings are connected by theme or later setting; they are not direct accounts of this historical stop.

[Deuteronomy 17:14–20 · teaching](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2017%3A14%E2%80%9320&version=BSB)

The Torah’s teaching on royal restraint offers a comparison for dynastic ambitions.

## Location evidence

Jerusalem locates the contested center, not a precise battle position or negotiating room.

Event map marker: Identified site; \[longitude, latitude\] = \[35.234167, 31.776667\]. This is a teaching marker, not an exact event venue.

Jerusalem: Identified site. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.234167, 31.776667\]. Classification source: editorial.

[OpenBible.info: Jerusalem (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.openbible.info/geo/ancient/a15257a/jerusalem)

[OpenBible.info: Jerusalem (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.openbible.info/geo/ancient/a15257a/jerusalem)

## For the class

How can a succession dispute change a community’s relationship with neighboring powers?

## Interpretation and reuse

Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.

Record source: editorial (content/authored/between-testaments.json)

Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.

Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm

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