Jewish society becomes Hellenized despite priestly rule,…

Jewish society becomes Hellenized despite priestly rule, except in its generally staunch adherence to monotheism.

Rural life is relatively unchanged, but cities such as Jerusalem rapidly adopt the Greek language, sponsor games and sports, and in more subtle ways adopt and absorb the culture of the Hellenes.

Even the high priests bear such names as Jason and Menelaus.

Biblical scholars have identified extensive Greek influence in the drafting of commentaries and interpolations of ancient texts during and after the Greek period.

The most obvious influence of the Hellenistic period can be discerned in the early literature of the new faith, Christianity, from the second century CE.