History describes the Sadducees as supporters and counselors to the Hasmonean high priests and places them in the position of power as far back John Hyrcanus. Josephus reports that Hyrcanus had originally been a friend to the Pharisees. Apparently, a Pharisee named Eleazar insulted Hyrcanus during a banquet. Josephus suggests that the event led to such an entanglement that it “made him leave the party of the Pharisees”23 and Hyrcanus is known to have supported the Sadducees from that point on.