King Herod the Great, reigning as a Roman-appointed king over Judea from 37 to 4 BC, significantly altered the political landscape by shifting the rule from the Levite Hasmoneans, the royal family descended from the Maccabees, to the Edomite Herodians. The Hasmoneans faced opposition from Herod due to his actions concerning the high priesthood. In 40 BC, when the Parthians invaded Jerusalem with Antigonus, they took captive Hyrcanus, the Hasmonean high priest. Herod replaced him with Ananel, a Babylonian Jew, which drew strong disapproval from Alexandra, a prominent Hasmonean and grandmother of Herod's wife, Mariamne. Under pressure from Alexandra, Cleopatra, and Mariamne, Herod appointed Aristobulus, Mariamne's brother, as high priest in 35 BC, though this broke traditional laws regarding the office. Aristobulus, however, became too popular and was seen as a threat, leading to his assassination at Herod's command later that year. Additionally, before presenting himself to Caesar Augustus in 30 BC, Herod executed Hyrcanus to prevent any Hasmonean claim to the throne. Between 29 and 25 BC, Herod's paranoia led him to execute every relative of Hyrcanus who might have posed even the slightest threat to his rule.

During the Intertestamental Period, spanning four centuries between the Old and New Testaments, the Hasmonean Period, also known as the Maccabean Period, emerged as a significant era for the Jews in Judea, lasting from 165 BC to 163 BC. This period began with a revolt sparked by the slaying of an idolatrous Jew at the temple altar, led by Judas Maccabaeus, who succeeded his father as the leader of Jewish patriots. Judea's terrain favored guerrilla tactics, and Judas excelled in this warfare, thwarting three Syrian campaigns under Antiochus Epiphanes, who eventually died of a loathsome disease. Peace was achieved, and though still under nominal Syrian control, Judas became governor of Palestine, initiating the purification and rededication of the temple, which marked the origin of the Jewish feast of Chanukkah. Following renewed conflict with the Syrians, Judas sought Roman aid but died in battle before it arrived. His brother Jonathan succeeded him, becoming meridarch of Judea under Syrian acknowledgment, only to be assassinated soon after. Simon followed as leader, securing hereditary rule of Palestine with Roman support. He was succeeded by John Hyrcanus, but internal strife persisted. A generation later, civil war erupted between Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus, grandsons of John Hyrcanus. In this conflict, the Roman general Pompey sided with Hyrcanus, while Aristobulus resisted, defending Jerusalem. Pompey captured the city after a three-month siege and entered the holy of holies, deeply alienating loyal Jewish hearts from Rome. The Hasmonean era, through the actions of the Maccabees, significantly shaped Jewish nationalism, influencing the cultural and political landscape of Judea into the New Testament period.

During the Intertestamental Period, the Hasmonean Period, also known as the Maccabean Period, spanned from 165 to 63 BC, covering about 102 years. It began with a revolt sparked by the slaying of an idolatrous Jew at the altar in the Temple. Judea, well-suited for guerrilla tactics, was led by Judas Maccabaeus, who succeeded his father as the leader of the Jewish patriots. Despite three Syrian campaigns, Antiochus Epiphanes failed to suppress the rebellion and eventually died of a detestable disease. Peace was achieved with the Jews, and though still under nominal Syrian rule, Judas Maccabaeus became governor of Palestine. His initial act was the purification and rededication of the Temple, marking the origin of the Jewish Feast of Purification. When the Syrians resumed hostilities, Judas sought aid from the emerging Roman power but died in battle before help arrived. His brother Jonathan succeeded him, and the Maccabean history became marked by endless factions. Jonathan was recognized by the Syrians as governor of Judea but was soon assassinated. Simon Maccabaeus followed, securing hereditary rule of Palestine with Roman assistance. He was succeeded by John Hyrcanus. Later, a civil war erupted between two of John Hyrcanus's grandsons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, during which the Roman General Pompey sided with Hyrcanus. Aristobulus defied Rome and defended Jerusalem, but Pompey captured the city after a three-month siege and entered the Holy of Holies, deeply alienating loyal Jewish hearts. In some respects, the Maccabees established the pattern of Jewish nationalism that persisted into the New Testament period.