During the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire, the Jews faced severe religious persecution. Antiochus IV, who presented himself as the embodiment of Zeus, banned Jewish sacrifices, circumcision, and the observance of the Sabbath, Passover, and other religious festivals. He forced Jews to eat pork, which is considered unclean in Judaism. He removed the altar of burnt offering from the Temple, set up an altar to Zeus, and sacrificed pigs there, executing anyone who refused to comply.
Having returned from Persian captivity, the Jews believed that their past suffering was caused by abandoning God for idols. Determined to worship only the one true God, they rejected all forms of idolatry-a stance that was incomprehensible to the surrounding polytheistic nations.
Antiochus IV’s harsh policies provoked strong resistance. Mattathias, a Hasmonean priest, led a revolt with his five sons. They joined forces with the Hasidim, a group awaiting God’s intervention in the wilderness, and launched an armed uprising. Under the leadership of Mattathias’s third son, Judah-nicknamed Maccabee (“the hammer”)-the revolt achieved major victories and became known as the Maccabean Revolt.
Judah Maccabee recaptured Jerusalem on the 25th of Kislev (November–December), 164 BCE, three and a half years after the Temple was desecrated. He removed the idols and rededicated the altar to God. This event is commemorated in the Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah), which, according to John 10, Jesus himself observed.
After Judah’s death in 160 BCE, his brother Jonathan took command. Jonathan’s diplomatic skill won him favor with Alexander Balas of the Seleucid Empire, who appointed him both ruler and high priest of Judea in 152 BCE. However, Jonathan was soon captured and executed by Seleucid rebels. The youngest brother, Simon, succeeded him and in 142 BCE gained full independence from Demetrius II of the Seleucid Empire.
The Hasmonean dynasty, established after 25 years of struggle, seemed to fulfill God’s promise but faced internal challenges. Although the Jews were now religiously free, the Hasmonean rulers began to resemble the Hellenistic leaders they had once opposed. By taking the high priesthood despite not being of the Zadokite line, they alienated even the Hasidim who had fought alongside them.
Simon, the first king of the Hasmonean dynasty, was assassinated by his son-in-law. His son, John Hyrcanus I, suppressed the rebellion and took advantage of the weakened Seleucid Empire to expand Judean territory, conquering neighboring regions. During his reign, Hyrcanus I captured Samaria, destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim, and banned its rituals. This led the Samaritans to develop their own version of the Pentateuch, which differed theologically from the traditional Mosaic text. When Hyrcanus conquered Idumea (Edom), he forcibly converted its people to Judaism; among their descendants was King Herod.
During this period, the Pharisees-originally rooted in the Hasidim-were pushed out of power, while the Sadducees, composed of priests and aristocrats, took control. Some of the displaced Pharisees and former high priests are believed to have formed the Essene community, a group of desert hermits.
Under Aristobulus I, son of John Hyrcanus I, Hasmonean conquests extended to Galilee, prompting many devout Jews to settle there. This policy transformed Galilee, which had been inhabited by other peoples since the fall of the Northern Kingdom, back into a predominantly Jewish region. However, the continued presence of Gentiles led Judean Jews to view Galileans with suspicion-a sentiment that later affected perceptions of Jesus and his disciples.
The exact timing of Joseph and Mary’s family’s migration to Galilee is unknown. It could have been during the reign of John Hyrcanus I or later. Since this information is not found in canonical scripture, the explanation for Joseph’s migration in the novel should be considered historical fiction.
There is, however, a reason for this narrative choice. Joseph wanted to conduct the census in Bethlehem, not where he lived. At that time, Roman censuses were typically held in a person’s place of residence. If Joseph had not established roots in Galilee and was still unsettled, he might have wanted to return to his hometown for the census. Additionally, the famine and social unrest during his parents’ time were real historical events, so I combined these elements to shape the story as it is.
As this novel progresses, you will encounter many elements not found in the Bible. In these author’s notes, I will explain such parts in detail so that readers do not misunderstand or develop misconceptions because of this novel.
