Together they will provide great hope and strength to the Jewish people who will live the remaining years of their pre-Messianic history under dominating foreign cultures, sometimes accommodating and sometimes hostile. Subsequent to the victory of Chanukah, the heroic Hasmonians become kings over Israel. Shortly afterwards, the Roman Empire begins its eastward expansion toward Judea. The family has a tragic history. The sons of the High Priest all experience violent or non-peaceful deaths.
Power struggles tear the family and the nation apart.
Rome is called in to take sides. Eventually Herod, their Edomite servant, leads an uprising and wipes out the family. To help us understand the perplexing events, the Oral Torah reminds us of the words of our patriarch Jacob, spoken on his death bed. The Scepter shall not be removed from Judah. The Hasmonians are from the tribe of Levi, to whom the office and honors of priesthood are reserved.