Alexander Jannaeus broke with previous policy and freely declared himself both high priest and king. The conflicts between the Hasmonaeans and the Pharisees intensified, even leading to a civil war in which 50,000 Jews perished.
बंडखोरांचे प्रयत्न निष्फळ केल्यानंतर, इतिहासात मूर्तिपूजक राजांनी केल्याप्रमाणे, जनेअस याने त्या बंडखोरांपैकी ८०० जणांना वधस्तंभावर खिळले.