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A detailed Chronology of the Events Leading up to and following from the Maccabean Revolt
N.B., some elements of the chronology are controversial.

Date Rome, Macedon Antioch & the Seleucid Empire Judea Egypt
198   Battle of Panium gives the Seleucids control of Coele-Syria.  Antiochus III's agreement with the Jews gives the Temple-administration tax concessions, guarantees the Jews the right to live under their own laws, and especially forbids Gentiles to enter the Temple. Josephus, A.J. 12.138ff.  
191-190 War between Rome and  Antiochus III. He loses at the Battle of Magnesia.    
189   Antiochus makes Seleucus IV his co-Regent.    
188   Peace of Apamea signed between Antiochus III and Rome. His son Antiochus (IV) is a hostage in Rome for 13 years. Severe financial problems result from the reparations demanded by Rome.    
187   Antiochus III dies in June/July, attempting to extract funds from a temple in Babylon. Seleucus IV comes to the throne.    Ptolemy V plans the recovery of Coele-Syria, on the grounds that it was the dowry of Antiochus III's daughter Cleopatra, his queen.
      Faction fighting in Jerusalem, Onias and Jason. Heliodorus' attempt to extract funds from the Temple, told in 2 Maccabees.  
176?   Seleucus IV's son Demetrius sent as hostage to Rome: Antiochus released.    Egypt begins to press harder for the return of Coele-Syria.
175   September: murder of Seleucus by Heliodorus. Seleucus' younger son, another Antiochus, is put on the throne, aged 4-5. Heliodorus holds power. Antiochus IV, with the help of Eumenes of Pergamon, takes over in Antioch, adopts his young nephew, comes to the throne, and accepts him as co-regent. Onias III (High Priest) goes to the King but arrives during the change-over.   
175-4   Antiochus appoints Jeshua / Jason High Priest.  At Jason's request a program of "Hellenisation" begins and "Citizens of Jerusalem are enrolled as Antiochenes" (2 Macc. 4.7.ff.).  
174-3   Antiochus' war debt to Rome is finally paid off. Livy 42.6 - 29? The new constitution  is all in order. 1 Macc 1.11: Building of the Gymnasium; "The Hellenising process reached such a pitch" (2 Macc. 4.13) that the priests "ceased to show any interest in the services of the altar". 
     Antiochus' visit to Jerusalem: 2 Macc. 4.22 puts this just after Ptolemy Philometor's (Antiochus' nephew's) "enthronement" (181). That can't be right, but it could mean the attainment of his majority, his "Protoklisia" in 174 or so. 
      2 Macc 4.18: the delegates from Jerusalem go to the Quinquennial Games at Tyre.		  
172   Menelaus uses tribute he is delivering for Jason to outbid Jason for the High Priesthood. Jason flees to Ammon. There are further tax increases and attempts to bribe royal officials with Temple vessels.  
171 Spring: Outbreak of the war between Perseus of Macedon and Rome.      
170  Third Macedonian War Onias III is murdered at Daphne.  Menelaus' brother Lysimachus is murdered in riots in Jerusalem after taking temple treasures (2 Macc. 4.40ff.)  
  Third Macedonian War On the brink of war with Egypt, Antiochus has his nephew and co-regent murdered: he rules in his own right. Embassies sent to Rome.    Ptolemies 6 Philometor & 8 Physcon and Cleopatra II rule in Egypt: Embassies sent to Rome 
  Third Macedonian War      In October/November Antiochus invades Egypt, wins a major battle, and captures Pelusium.
169 The Romans, too busy with Macedon, have not yet heard of the actual outbreak of war. They send an ambassador insisting on negotiations.     Antiochus comes to terms with Ptolemy Philometor, who virtually accepts him as his guardian. He appears to have been formally crowned. See Burstein Doc. 39 a, b & c, pp. 52-3. 
Alexandria (Ptolemy VIII Physcon and Cleopatra II) goes to war with Memphis (Ptolemy Philometor and Antiochus). After some fighting Antiochus returns to Syria for the winter.
  Third Macedonian War   On the way back Antiochus (with Menelaus, the High Priest) plunders the Temple in Jerusalem of 1800 talents (arrears of tribute?) in order to finance his Egyptian war. He enters the Holy of Holies.  
168       Winter: reconciliation between the warring Egyptian factions. The Egyptians call for Roman help.
Late 168 June 22, Roman victory over Macedon at Pydna. Rome is now free to act. Popillius Laenus is sent to Egypt.  
 
 
 
 
 

On the way home Antiochus suppresses a revolt in Jerusalem due in part to premature reports of his death. He leaves royal officials in Jerusalem and Samaria.

 Antiochus' 2nd invasion. After initial successes in Cyprus and Egypt Antiochus is confronted with the Roman ultimatum, and backs down. He returns to Antioch.
      Jerusalem receives a military colony (1 Macc. 1.29, 2 Macc. 5.21-26). Its fortifications are destroyed, and a garrison is installed on the Acra, with the Hellenisers. Land is confiscated for the colony. Popular discontent high. Some riots, forcibly suppressed. Egypt is received as a Friend and Ally of Rome.
167     Flight of some conservatives from Jerusalem? Judas Maccabee flees the city (2 Macc 5.27). New tax system: tax will be collected by royal agents, rather than the High Priesthood. 
December: The religious reforms are instituted. The "Abomination of Desolation".		  
167-6     Maccabean risings begin. 
See 2 Macc. 8.6, 1 Macc. 2.44-47, for Maccabean attacks on country towns and villages. 		  
      The "Hasidim" join the revolt (1 Macc. 2.42).  
166 Aemilius Paullus' Triumph in Rome. Antiochus' great festival at Daphne. 46k infantry, 10k cavalry, c. 40 elephants (Polybius 30.25, Diodorus Siculus 31.16).  The revolt slowly makes gains.   
165   Antiochus' eastern campaigns. Lysias attempts to suppress the revolt, and tries to negotiate with the rebels.  
164     Antiochus, under Roman pressure, declares an amnesty, rescinds his religious reforms and returns to his previous policy of toleration. But the revolt has gained great momentum, and the Maccabeans recapture and rededicate the Temple in December: exactly 3 years after the "abomination".   
164-3   Antiochus dies in Babylon. His son Antiochus V Eupator, aged 9, succeeds: Lysias, facing a rebellion by Philippus in Babylon, grants the Jews full religious freedom and all other privileges. Menelaus is executed and replaced by Alcimus.     
162     Antiochus V & Lysias achieve some successes: 1 Macc. 6:28ff., 2 Macc. 13ff. Alcimus is made High Priest.  
161   Seleucid dynastic feuds divide and weaken the kingdom for some years. Defeat of Seleucid forces under Nicanor. 
Formal Maccabean treaty with Rome negotiated by Eupolemus and Jason (1 Macc. 8.1-32).		  
160     Lysias achieves a major victory: Judas Maccabee is killed (1 Macc. 9)