When I, Yannai, Die
They said: When King Yannai fell ill, he seized seventy of the elders of Israel. He put them in chains, ordering the prison guard: When I die, kill the elders, so that even as Israel rejoice, they shall mourn their masters. It was said: He had a good wife named Shalminon [Shelamzion] and when he died, she removed his ring from his finger, presented…
Queen Shelamzion, also known as Salina or Salome Alexandra, reigned in Jerusalem from 76 BCE, after the death of her husband King Yannai (Alexander Janneus, or Jannaeus), until 67 BCE. According to rabbinic texts, her rule was characterized by peace and prosperity. She is remembered favorably for her support of the Pharisees (sometimes referred to as the “sages” or “elders”). She is often mentioned in connection with her brother, the sage Simeon ben Shetaḥ.
Related Guide
The Rise and Decline of the Hasmonean Dynasty
After the Hasmonean Revolt, Jonathan and Simon establish a short-lived independent Judean kingdom, eventually brought down by a succession crisis and Roman intervention.
Related Guide
Ancient Rabbinic Constructions of the Past
You may also like
The Rains of Shelamzion’s Reign
Sifre Deuteronomy 42 | Sifra Beḥukotay 1:1
Recasting Metal Vessels
b. Shabbat 16b
Nicanor’s Head and Hand
y. Ta‘aniyot 2:13, 66a