There s also a little state called Judaea It was independent from about 160 BC to 6 AD and again from 41 44 although it was a Roman client after 63 BC In the intermittent period under the Persians Ptolemies and Seleucids the Jews largely ruled themselves through their high priest although they didn t have political independence so I wouldn t describe it as rule But certainly the Hasmoneans and the Herods were real rulers of the region