In Judaism of the OT what group breaks away because the high priest isn't a Levite? And when was it?

Question

I once heard in a religion course I was taking that a certain group in Judaism of the Old Testament protested that the high priest was no longer a son of Aaron or Levite and so separated themselves (this would have been sometimes after the return from the exile and before the coming of the Romans). Which group was this and what were the circumstances? Could someone help me out? Please indicate sources, thanks. I'm placing this under history because I'm more interested in historical rather than religious implications. Thanks.

And it's not the Sadducees

Yes, I do mean during the time of the Macabbees. Following your tip I just read in the introduction to 1 Maccabees that the Maccabees were levites but not from the line of Aaron and that the Hasidim broke off because they wanted someone from the line of Aaron. The Hasidim later became the Pharisees and the Essenes, whereas the high priests, tied to the political power, became the saducees (who continued to be levites but not from the line of Aaron). Thanks for your help.

By the way, Mattathias son of John (daddy "Maccabee") was from Jerusalem and then moved to Modein.

Answer 1

This actually sounds like the Maccebean rebellion, during the reign of the Greeks. When the Greeks took over Palestine, they butchered the Jewish priests (those they could find), defiled the Lord's temple (by sacrificing a pig on the alter), and set up a temple to Zeus. A compliant Jew was instated as "high priest", because Antiochius Ephiphanes (the Greek ruler) figured that "high priest" was just another political office, and went to the highest (or most compliant) bidder. As part of his "hellenizing the world" campaign, AE's troops went around Judea, setting up alters to the various Greek deitys, usually Zeus. All went according to plan until they reached a certain village (i can't remember which one), where old man Maccabee and his sons lived. They were priests (Aaronic line), and totally unsubmissive to the greek soldiers. When one man decided to sacrifice the pig as an offering to Zeus, the old priest and his sons jumped both the apostate Jew and the Greek soldiers and killed them. The rebellion was on. Several years later, the Maccabee family re-took both Jerusalem and the Lord's temple. The Jewish festival of Channukah (Hannukah, the festival of lights) dates back to their re-kindling of the lamps in the temple.

I'm sorry I can't quote sources. I'm remembering this from my own ancient history class. You may want to Google the Maccabees, or look up their story in your local library. See also the Deuterocannonaical books of Maccabees 1 & 2. Hope this helps.