The Sadducees
The Sadducees Excerpt The Sadducees were one of the major Jewish religious groups in Israel from the Maccabean period (167 bc ) through the destruction of the temple ( ad 70). While we do not have any of their writings, the information we do have paints a picture of a rather small group of individuals and families who maintained a strong influence on the leadership of the Jewish people under Roman rule. They were popular with the aristocracy and the wealthy, but they did not enjoy the support of most of the people. The term Sadducees is likely derived from Zadok, the high priest at the time of David ( 1 Sam 8:17 ; 15:24 ) and Solomon ( 1 Kgs 1:34 ; 1 Chr 12:29 ). The sons of Zadok controlled the Jerusalem temple and high priesthood from the rebuilding of the temple (520–525 bc ) through its desecration by Antiochus IV ( ad 175–164). In the aftermath of the Maccabean revolt, the Hasmoneans emerged as occupiers of the priesthood. … More...