Damien F. Mackey
Firstly, there is the name Balas, about which
commentators can scratch their heads.
Introduction
With a
reconstructed ancient history - a necessary shortening of chronology - it
becomes imperative to find a suitable point of ‘folding’, a fulcrum, whereby,
say, a ‘Middle’ kingdom must be collapsed into a ‘New’ kingdom.
It helps if that
point of ‘fold’ involves identical names. This I have been able to achieve, for
instance, with a portion of Assyro-Babylonian history, with ‘Middle’
Tiglath-pileser so-called I ‘folded’ into ‘New’ Tiglath-pileser so-called III,
and with Merodach-baladan so-called I folded into Merodach-baladan so-called II.
(My 2007 postgraduate thesis).
There have been
some awful attempts by revisionists seeking to achieve the necessary ‘folding’,
with no name correspondences (alright, kings went under different names), but,
worse, with no meaningful likenesses whatsoever.
Now, in this new
article, I am going in search of a (conventionally BC) Seleucid ‘folding’ into
an AD Greco-Roman scenario, in further support of my reconstruction that would have
a part of the Seleucid era contemporaneous with the Infancy of Jesus Christ – most
appropriate at this time of the Epiphany (Sunday 4th January, 2026).
Regarding this radical reconstruction, see
articles of mine such as:
Time to consider Hadrian, that ‘mirror-image’ of
Antiochus Epiphanes, as also the census emperor Augustus
Herod, the emperor’s signet right-hand man
(5)
Herod, the emperor's signet right-hand man
Judas the Galilean vitally links Maccabean era to
Daniel 2’s “rock cut out of a mountain”
(5)
Judas the Galilean vitally links Maccabean era to Daniel 2’s “rock cut out of a
mountain”
Religious war raging in Judah during the Infancy of
Jesus
(5)
Religious war raging in Judah during the Infancy of Jesus
The powerful Seleucid
era partnership of Alexander Balas and his understudy, Tryphon (Trypho), on the
one hand, and of Marcus Antonius Pallas and his presumed brother, Marcus
Antonius Felix, under alleged Roman employment, on the other, has just enough
parallels in it, I think, to encourage me to attempt a ‘folding’ here.
I need to point
out, immediately, that I have already tentatively identified the procurator of
Judah, Marcus Antonius Felix, with procurator Pontius Pilate:
Procurator Pontius Pilate and Procurator Marcus
Ant. Felix
(5)
Procurator Pontius Pilate and Procurator Marcus Ant. Felix
See also my relevant
article:
Antonia as the praetorium of the procurator Pontius
Pilate
(5)
Antonia as the praetorium of the procurator Pontius Pilate
To list just a few
initial, potential points of comparison:
Firstly, there is
the name Balas, about which commentators can scratch their heads.
Balas rhymes with Pallas.
Secondly, the two of
the Seleucid era, and the two of the Greco-Roman era, were not unequivocally of
the royal line, but may have been freedmen.
Thirdly, they may all
have been Greeks.
Fourthly, they
ruled much of Palestine, in some cases including Judah.
Fifthly, just as
Trypho disposed of a high priest, Jonathan (Hasmonaean), so, too, did Felix
dispose of a high priest, Jonathan.
In conventional
history, the murder of Jonathan Hasmonaean (c. 143 BC) occurred exactly 200
years before the murder of the Jonathan killed by Felix (c. 58 AD).
However, if my
potential ‘folding’ of these supposedly different eras has any worth, then that
will be mean a full two centuries of completely wasted conventional history.
To elaborate on those five
points (Firstly to Fifthly) above:
Points
of comparison
Firstly, there is the
name Balas, about which commentators can scratch their heads.
Balas rhymes with Pallas:
Alexandros I Balas - World History Encyclopedia
“His full royal name was Alexander Theopator Euergetes
(meaning "He who comes from a divine father, benefactor"), and Balas
(never to appear on the official coins of the kingdom) might have been his
original name, according to Justinus, XXXV, 1, 6-7”.
Secondly, the two of the Seleucid
era, and the two presumably under Roman employment, were not unequivocally of
the royal line, but may have been of humble origin, or freedmen – usurpers,
perhaps:
Alexander
Balas and Marcus Antonius Pallas
“Alexander Balas claimed to be the son
of Antiochus IV
Epiphanes and Laodice IV and
heir to the Seleucid throne. The ancient sources, Polybius and Diodorus say
that this claim was false and that he and his sister Laodice VI were
really natives of Smyrna of humble origin”.
ALEXANDER BALAS, King of Syria -
JewishEncyclopedia.com
“A youth of lowly origin, he was set up
as a pretender to the throne of Syria …”.
Marcus Antonius Pallas (1 - 63) - Genealogy
“Marcus Antonius Pallas … was a
prominent Greek freedman and secretary during the reigns of the Roman Emperors
Claudius and Nero. …. According to Tacitus, Pallas and Felix descended
from the Greek Kings of Arcadia”.
Who is Felix in the New Testament? - BibleAsk
“Though once slaves … [Pallas …] rose to … extraordinary prominence …”.
Trypho
and Felix
Trypho - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway
“… Diodotus, a usurper of the throne of
Syria”.
“Felix was the younger brother of Greek
freedman Marcus Antonius
Pallas who served as
a secretary of the treasury during the reign of Emperor Claudius. ….
Felix became the procurator by the petition of his brother”.
Thirdly, they all may
have been Greeks.
Alexander
Balas and Marcus Antonius Pallas
“… [Balas] and his sister Laodice VI were
really natives of Smyrna …”.
“Marcus Antonius Pallas … was a
prominent Greek freedman …”.
“… Pallas … descended from the Greek
Kings of Arcadia”.
Trypho
and Felix
“[Trypho] … was a native of Cariana”.
Trypho - Encyclopedia of The Bible - Bible Gateway
“[Trypho] … was a native of Apamea in
Syria”.
“Diodotus was originally from Casiana … a dependent town of the city of Apamea”.
“… Felix descended from the Greek Kings
of Arcadia”.
Fourthly, they ruled much
of Palestine, in some cases including Judah.
Alexander
Balas and Marcus Antonius Pallas
https://bible-history.com/linkpage/alexander-balas
“Balas attracted the support of a loose
coalition of Egypt, Rome, Pergamum, Cappodocia & Judea -- all of which were
interested in weakening the Seleucid dynasty”.
Marcus
Antonius Pallas does not appear to have had very much to do with Palestine.
Trypho
and Felix
“In Judea Tryphon succeeded in attracting to his side jonathan the Hasmonean, whom he confirmed in the high-priesthood in the name of "king" Antiochus, and appointed his brother simeon strategus of the whole coast from the boundary with Tyre to the border of Egypt. Jonathan gave considerable aid to Tryphon. He won over to himself a large part of the army of Demetrius, and grew so powerful that he became suspect in the eyes of Tryphon.
As far as can be seen Tryphon aimed at that time at deposing the young Antiochus and proclaiming himself king. Suspecting that Jonathan might stand in his way he decided to remove him. He encountered the high priest at the head of a large army in Beth-Shean. Unable to make an attack on Jonathan, Tryphon employed a subterfuge. He loaded him with many gifts and honors and persuaded him to send his main army away, and keep only a small force. When Jonathan came to Ptolemais with only 1,000 men, Tryphon fell upon him, murdered his men, and imprisoned him. He then proceeded to conquer Judea, but Jonathan's brother Simeon acted swiftly and with great energy, and was ready for battle when Tryphon arrived at the head of his army. Tryphon at first tried to negotiate and promised to release Jonathan in exchange for a ransom and hostages, but he did not fulfill his promises and war ensued. However Tryphon was unsuccessful in his efforts to reach Jerusalem and he retreated northward”.
Who is Felix in the New Testament? - BibleAsk
“Felix, the Roman procurator mentioned
in the book of Acts, holds a unique place in both biblical and secular history.
He was the younger brother of Marcus Antonius Pallas, a Greek freedman who
served as a powerful secretary of the treasury during the reign of Emperor
Claudius. Because of Pallas’ immense influence at the Roman court, Felix rose
rapidly in rank and received the governorship of Judea”.
The Rule of Felix—A Glimpse into Judea's Governance
- Christian Publishing House Blog
“Appointed by Claudius, Felix took the
reins of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Perea as procurator around 52–60 C.E. …. Josephus
tells of several circumstances relating to Felix from this time. For example:
In Judaea matters were constantly going
from bad to worse. For the country was again infested with bands of brigands
and impostors who deceived the mob. Not a day passed, however, but that Felix
captured and put to death many of these imposters and brigands. (Jewish
Antiquities 20.160)
Josephus also states that Felix was
replaced by Porcius Festus (Jewish Antiquities 20.182).
Felix is also mentioned by the Roman
historian Suetonius, who, in describing “Claudius’ favourite freedman,”
adds: For Felix he had an equally high regard, giving him command of
infantry cohorts and cavalry squadrons, and the Governorship of Judaea; this
Felix married three queens. (The Twelve Caesars 5.28)
The Roman historian Tacitus also
mentions Felix in his history:
Claudius made Judea a province and
entrusted it to Roman knights or to freedmen; one of the latter, Antonius
Felix, practiced every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of king
with all the instincts of a slave. (Histories 5.9)”.
Fifthly, just as Trypho
disposed of a high priest, Jonathan (Hasmonaean), so, too, did Felix dispose of
a high priest, Jonathan.
Trypho
and Felix
I
Maccabees 12:39-53:
At that
time, Trypho attempted to rise up against King Antiochus, put on the crown, and
become king in Asia. He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do
this, making war on him. So he kept trying to capture and kill him. He marched
out and came to Beth-shan. Jonathan went out to meet him with forty
thousand select warriors. He also came to Beth-shan. When Trypho saw that
he had come with a large army, he was afraid to lift a hand against
him. So he received Jonathan with honor and commended him to all his chief
political advisors. He gave him gifts and told his advisors and troops to
obey him as they would himself. Then he said to Jonathan, ‘Why have you
put all these people to so much trouble when we’re not at war? Tell them
to go back to their homes. Pick for yourself a few men to stay with you, and
come with me to Ptolemais. I’ll hand it over to you as well as the other
fortresses and the remaining troops and officials. Then I’ll turn around and go
home. That’s why I’m here'.
Jonathan
trusted him and did what he said. He sent away his troops, and they returned to
Judah. He kept with himself three thousand troops—two thousand of whom he
left in Galilee, while one thousand accompanied him. But when Jonathan
entered Ptolemais, the people there closed the gates and captured him, and
killed with their swords all those who had entered with him.
Trypho then
sent infantry and cavalry into Galilee and the great plain to destroy
Jonathan’s soldiers. But Jonathan’s forces believed that Jonathan had been
seized and had died along with his troops. They encouraged each other and kept
marching in tight formation, ready for fighting. When their pursuers saw
that they would fight for their lives, they turned back. So they all
reached the land of Judah safely. They mourned for Jonathan and his companions,
and they were very anxious. All Israel mourned deeply. All the nations
around them tried to destroy them, saying, ‘They have no leader or helper now.
Let’s make war against them and blot out their memory from humanity’.
I
Maccabees 13:14-24:
Trypho
learned that Simon had taken the place of his brother Jonathan and that he was
about to battle against him. So he sent envoys to Simon who said, ‘We
are detaining your brother Jonathan because of the money he owes the royal
treasury in connection with the offices he held. Send now 5,700 pounds of
silver and two of his sons as hostages, to ensure that when he is released he
won’t revolt against us, and we will release him’.
Simon knew
that they were speaking deceitfully to him, but he sent for the money and the
sons so that he wouldn’t arouse hostility among the people. He was
concerned that they might say, ‘Jonathan died because Simon didn’t send the
money and his sons’. So he sent the sons and 5,700 pounds of silver. But
Trypho broke his word and didn’t release Jonathan.
After this,
Trypho came to invade and destroy the country. He circled around by the way to
Adora. But Simon and his army kept marching opposite him, every place he
went. Now the men in the elevated fortress kept sending messengers to
Trypho, urging him to come to them by way of the wilderness and to send them
food. So Trypho got all his cavalry ready to go, but that night a very
heavy snow fell so he didn’t go. Instead, he marched into the land of
Gilead. When he approached Baskama, he killed Jonathan and buried him
there. Then Trypho returned to his own land.
FELIX (ANTONIUS FELIX) -
JewishEncyclopedia.com
“Procurator
of Judea. Felix, who was a freedman of the empress Antonia, was administrator
of Samaria, and probably of Judea proper also, as early as the time of the
procurator Cumanus (Tacitus, "Annales," xii. 54; Josephus,
"Ant." xx. 7, § 1). The two procurators almost went to war with each
other during the conflict that broke out between the Samaritans and the
Galileans; but Cumanus was recalled. Felix was thereupon appointed sole
procurator of Judea by Claudius (52 C.E.) on the suggestion of the high
priest Jonathan, who had gone to Rome with other nobles on account of the
Samaritan disturbances (Josephus, "B. J." ii. 11, § 6;
"Ant." xx. 8, § 5). Felix was also entrusted with the entire military
command, as Suetonius ("Claudius," § 28) and Victor
("Epit." § 4) distinctly point out. Felix exercised, as Tacitus says,
"the royal prerogative in a slavish sense, with all manner of cruelties
and excesses"; it was he who excited the bitter feelings of the Jewish
patriots to the highest pitch, and for this even his patron Jonathan reproached
him in the end.
….
He sent the
chief of the Zealots, Eleazar b. Dinai, in chains to Rome, while
taking relentless measures against his followers, whom he denounced as robbers,
crucifying them in countless numbers ("B. J." ii. 3, § 2;
"Ant." xx. 8, § 5). On the other hand, he tolerated the much more
formidable Sicarii, and used them for his own purposes, as, for instance, in
the murder of Jonathan (ib.). He also proceeded rigorously against the
would be prophets that were disturbing the peace with their fanaticism,
especially against an Egyptian Jew who, with several thousand followers,
attempted to drive the Roman garrison from Jerusalem, but who was defeated
("B. J." ii. 13, §§ 4-5; "Ant." xx. 8, § 6; comp. Acts xxi.
38; Eusebius, "Hist. Eccl."ii. 21). His term of office was
practically a reign of anarchy; for even the high-priestly families were at war
with the lower priests ("Ant." xx. 8, § 8; "Vita," § 3)”.
Jonathan (High Priest)
Explained
“Felix
disliked Jonathan, because he often got criticized by the latter about
governing the Jewish affairs, and threatened to be reported to Caesar if not
doing well as the priest was the one who made the recommendation to Caesar to
send Felix to be the procurator of Judea. Felix persuaded one of Jonathan's
most trusted friends, Doras, a citizen of Jerusalem, to hire robbers to kill
Jonathan by promising to give a large sum of money. Doras arranged for some
hired men to mingle with the worshippers in the Temple in Jerusalem, while they
hid daggers under their garments. These assassins succeeded in killing Jonathan
during a Jewish festival and were never caught. …. The main source that
mentions this high priest is the Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus”.
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