Changes

==History==

==History==

According to the apocryphal book ''1 Maccabees'' the Assideans were the most active supporters of Judas Maccabeus in his struggle for religious freedom during the time of [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]].  A portion of them fled to the desert rather than fight to escape his tyranny (1 Macc 2:27 f), which in time became known as the [[Essenes]]. When Judas Maccabeus cleansed the temple and rededicated it he possibly took on the role of high priest, although this is not indicated either in Maccabees or by Josephus. To the Assideans, this would have been a shock as Judas was not of their sect, but his actions would be tolerated at that time on account of the imminent necessity for the work of reconsecration and the eminent services of the Maccabean family.

According to the apocryphal book ''1 Maccabees'' the Assideans were the most active supporters of Judas Maccabeus in his struggle for religious freedom during the time of [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]].  A portion of them fled to the desert rather than fight to escape his tyranny (1 Macc 2:27 f), which in time became known as the [[Essenes]]. When Judas Maccabeus cleansed the temple and rededicated it he possibly took on the role of high priest, although this is not indicated either in [[Maccabees, Books of|Maccabees]] or by Josephus. To the Assideans, this would have been a shock as Judas was not of their sect, but his actions would be tolerated at that time on account of the imminent necessity for the work of reconsecration and the eminent services of the Maccabean family.

When Bacchides appeared against Jerusalem with Alcimus in his camp, this feeling against Judas took shape in receiving the treacherous Alcimus into Jerusalem and acknowledging him as high priest, a line of action which soon showed that it was fraught with disaster, as Alcimus murdered many of the people. They had to restore relations with Judas, but this desertion was the beginning of a separating gulf which deepened when he made a treaty with the idolatrous Romans. As is not infrequently the case with religious zealots, their valor was associated with a mystic fanaticism. The very idea of alliance with heathen powers was hateful to them, so when Judas began to treat with Rome they deserted him, and he sustained the crushing defeat of Eleasa. Believing themselves the saints of God and therefore His peculiar treasure, they regarded any association with the heathen as faithlessness to God.  About this time the change of name seems to have taken place, and they began to call themselves ''Pharisees'', ''perushim''; "separatists".

When Bacchides appeared against Jerusalem with Alcimus in his camp, this feeling against Judas took shape in receiving the treacherous Alcimus into Jerusalem and acknowledging him as high priest, a line of action which soon showed that it was fraught with disaster, as Alcimus murdered many of the people. They had to restore relations with Judas, but this desertion was the beginning of a separating gulf which deepened when he made a treaty with the idolatrous Romans. As is not infrequently the case with religious zealots, their valor was associated with a mystic fanaticism. The very idea of alliance with heathen powers was hateful to them, so when Judas began to treat with Rome they deserted him, and he sustained the crushing defeat of Eleasa. Believing themselves the saints of God and therefore His peculiar treasure, they regarded any association with the heathen as faithlessness to God.  About this time the change of name seems to have taken place, and they began to call themselves ''Pharisees'', ''perushim''; "separatists".