The Hasmonean Civil War

Evidence from Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, and rabbinic literature points to deep internal dissension within the Hasmonean kingdom. These conflicts eventually culminated in a prolonged civil war, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Judeans and paving the way for the Roman takeover of Judea. The event examines the origins of these divisions and asks what political, social, and religious tensions engendered the conflict.