The King of Flesh and BloodThe novel is set against the backdrop of the spectacular conquests and the humiliating defeat of Judea's Hasmonean kings, bitter strife between the Pharisees and Sadduccees, and the clash between Greek and Hebrew civilization. Yannai was imprisoned by his elder brother Aristobulus but released by the latter's young widow Salome Alexandra, on Aristobulus' death. Yannai was imprisoned by his elder brother Aristobulus but released by the latter's young widow Salome Alexandra, on Aristobulus' death. Yannai was ambitious and self-aggrandizing, but Salome prevented him from persecuting the Pharisees (the popular group which was loyal to both the Written and Spoken Torah), for a short while, and excessively oppressing the people of Israel. But not for long. |
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Abba Saul Absalom Acco already Andros answered Antigonus Antipas Aristobulus Aristonicus arms army arrived Ascalon asked began ben-Tabbai ben-Tobiah Bethsan blessing blood brother cavalry command Court of Gazith crowd darkness desert Diodorus Diogenes Egypt elders Eleazar ben-Pethorah enemy eyes face father feet felt festival fortress gate Gaza glance Greek ground guard guests Hananiah hand Hasmonaean head heard heart Heaven High Priest holy Honi honour horse hurried Hyrcanus Israel Jerusalem Jews Jodan John Hyrcanus Jonathan Joppa Jose Judaea Judah king king of Jerusalem king's kingdom knew land Lathyrus listen looked Lord matter Modiin murderer Nahum Naomit never Nittai of Arbela once palace Pharisees priesthood queen rain remained rumours Sadducees sages Salome Sanhedrin servants shouted side silence Simeon ben-Shetah slave soldiers standing stood suddenly sword Temple mount throne turned village voice waiting walls watching whole words Yannai replied Zaphenath