17:7
If ye did well, ye did well for yourselves; if ye did evil, (ye did it) against yourselves. So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power.
According to Tafhīm al-Qurʾān, the period following the Maccabean revival witnessed a gradual decline in the spiritual commitment that had initially inspired reform among the Israelites. Over time, religious enthusiasm weakened and was replaced by political ambition and attachment to worldly power. Internal divisions emerged, eventually leading certain factions to invite Roman intervention in Palestinian affairs. In 63 B.C., the Roman general Pompey captured Jerusalem, effectively ending Jewish political independence. Although Rome preferred indirect governance through local rulers, this arrangement ultimately enabled Herod the Great to assume authority over Palestine in 40 B.C. Herod maintained political stability by supporting religious leaders while simultaneously promoting Roman cultural influence, a policy that, according to the commentary, contributed to further moral and religious decline within the community.
After Herod’s death, his kingdom was divided among his sons. Archelaus governed Judea, Samaria, and Edom until A.D. 6, when Roman authorities replaced him with direct provincial administration. This period coincided with the prophetic mission of ʿĪsā (Jesus), whose reformist teachings were strongly opposed by segments of the religious leadership, culminating in attempts to secure his execution through Roman authorities such as Pontius Pilate. Meanwhile, Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and parts of northern Palestine and is traditionally associated with the execution of Prophet Yaḥyā (John). Philip governed territories to the northeast but was more deeply influenced by Greco-Roman culture, limiting the impact of prophetic reform there.
In A.D. 41, Herod Agrippa I gained control of a large portion of Palestine and intensified persecution of the followers of Jesus. The commentary describes this era as a time of profound moral deterioration among both leaders and the general population, reflected in the strong criticisms attributed to Jesus in the Gospel narratives. According to this interpretation, the rejection of prophetic guidance marked a decisive moment in Israelite history and signaled the final opportunity for moral reform.
Tensions between Jewish groups and Roman authorities eventually escalated into open rebellion between A.D. 64 and 66. Despite efforts by local rulers and Roman administrators to contain the uprising, Roman forces launched a major military campaign. In A.D. 70, Titus captured Jerusalem after a devastating siege, resulting in widespread destruction, mass casualties, enslavement, and the demolition of the Temple. Following these events, Jewish political power in Palestine effectively disappeared for centuries. Later, the Roman emperor Hadrian rebuilt the city under the name Aelia and imposed restrictions that prevented Jewish return for an extended period. According to the commentary, these developments represent the second major historical calamity experienced by the Israelites as a consequence of renewed moral and spiritual decline (Tafhīm al-Qurʾān).
References:
Maududi, Abul Ala (2010). Tafhim ul Quran.