Dear Rabbi,

Why was the Davidic line not restored to the throne after the Maccabean revolt overthrew the Syrian-Greek occupation? Why did the people accept the Hasmonean line instead?

Dear Russell Gold,

The Hasmoneans were the military commanders of the coup; they kept the throne for themselves being the family in power who had the capability of maintaining law and order. In fact they were punished for not returning the throne to the house of David, and eventually not only lost the throne but the whole family died out. The people themselves had little to say about the matter, as the monarchy could not have been retrieved by force (i.e., a civil war) out of gratitude to the Hasmoneans.