The Untold Revolt: How Two Jewish Brothers Became the Rulers of Babylon

During the Second Temple period, there were millions of Jews in the Land of Israel, yet not all lived in the land. Most of the Jewish people resided in various countries, leading the sages to determine that the commandment of the Shemitah was not applicable by biblical law since "the majority of Israel is not on its land."

One of the major centers of Judaism during the Second Temple era was Babylon. Only a few returned to Israel with Ezra and Nehemiah during the Return to Zion, while the majority remained in Babylon. Hillel the Elder immigrated from Babylon a hundred years before the destruction, and due to his Torah greatness, he was appointed as the Nasi. During the Second Temple period, there were more sages from Babylon, such as Rabbi Judah ben Bathyra from Nisibis, among others.

The year is 10 CE, sixty years before the destruction, at the twilight of Hillel the Elder's leadership. A large Jewish community thrived in Babylon, in exile. The rulers: the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great had conquered Babylon approximately three hundred years prior, but the Greek army withdrew, and Babylon became a Persian province. Their enemies now were the Romans, who frequently harassed the Persians.

In the city of Nehardea, there was a large weaving factory owned by one of the Persian king's officials. The workers were nominally salaried, but in reality, the owner treated them cruelly. One morning, two Jewish brothers, Chanilai and Chananiah, arrived late to work. The foreman punished them with brutal lashes. The brothers, resourceful and courageous, decided to fight back—against the Persian Empire!

Chanilai and Chananiah inspired more young Jewish workers at the factory. Together, they broke into the armory, armed themselves, and took a strategic position at a place called "The River Junction," a grazing area between rivers, which provided food and natural defense. The brothers persuaded or intimidated all the local herdsmen into joining them. The herdsmen offered them taxes from their flocks, and with this money, they purchased weapons and fortified their position.

The Persian governor of Babylon quickly attempted to suppress the revolt. He underestimated the Jewish insurgents by the river and dispatched a cavalry regiment, choosing to attack on Shabbat, assuming the Jews would not fight on that day. However, the Jewish rebels were well organized, unleashing an arrow barrage that felled the cavalry before they could approach the insurgent camp. The governor retreated in disgrace, his army depleted.

Persian King Artabanus III evaluated the situation and decided to cooperate with the brothers' autonomy. If they were difficult to conquer, perhaps it was better to collaborate, letting them protect Nehardea from Roman raids. Chanilai and Chananiah were invited to an audience with King Artabanus III. Chanilai attended alone, while Chananiah remained to safeguard the fledgling kingdom. The king proposed they rule the entire region, suppress the bandits, and maintain friendly and respectful relations.

The brothers accepted control over the Nehardea area, erecting fortresses, leading a well-armed military, turning a large part of Babylon into a Jewish autonomy. This tale recounted by Josephus abruptly concludes with him noting: "Calamity began to befall them when they deviated from the ancestral laws." Chanilai married a Babylonian woman against Jewish law. She introduced idol statues into their home, sparking unrest among other Jews. Chanilai executed a dissenter, and the Babylonian wife, fearing Chananiah might compel her divorce, poisoned him, leading to his death. The Jewish autonomy descended into suspicion, mistrust, and disregard for Torah principles. Chanilai embarked on a hubristic campaign against the Persian Mithridates. He was victorious initially but, upon Mithridates' return with a larger army, was besieged and ultimately demanded Chanilai's head. Eventually, Chanilai was killed, and all Jews under his protection fled the area to escape reprisals, thus ending the 15-year Jewish autonomy.