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JUDAS MACCABEUS

(Gk. Ioúdas Makkabaíos)

The military and political leader credited with the success of the Jewish revolt against Seleucid rule during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He is listed in 1 Macc. 2:4 as the third of five sons of Mattathias, a priest of the order of Jehoiarib; Josephus makes the less likely claim that he is the eldest son (BJ 1.37). While Makkabaios appears to be a nickname in 1 Macc. 2:4 and elsewhere, he is referred to as Ioudas Makkabaios (“Judas Maccabeus”) in 2:66; 5:24. In 1 Macc. 5:34 and throughout much of 2 Maccabees he is simply called Maccabeus. Most scholars find the origin of the name in Aram. maqqaḇaʾ or Heb. maqqeḇeṯ, “hammer.” There is considerable speculation as to whether this refers to a physical characteristic such as the shape of his head. By extension the term “Maccabee” is sometimes used to refer to Judas and his brothers, even though the resultant family dynasty is referred to as Hasmonean in rabbinic literature, Josephus, and elsewhere.

Modein NW of Jerusalem was most likely his ancestral home (1 Macc. 2:70; 9:19). While 1 Maccabees, the “official” Hasmonean dynastic history, and Josephus credit Mattathias with the origin of the revolt, 2 Maccabees glorifies the role of Judas Maccabeus as the hero of these events and makes no mention of his father. This has led some historians to question the significance of Mattathias’ role in these developments. The two accounts do share a similar outline of the course of the battles which led to the expulsion of the Greek forces from the Jerusalem temple in 164 b.c.e.

In the account of 1 Maccabees Judas takes control of the fledgling group of revolutionaries that had been drawn together by his father, including his four brothers who accept his leadership (1 Macc. 2:65-68; 3:1-2). According to 2 Macc. 8:1 Judas secretly recruited a force of 6000 from the villages of the hill country NW of Jerusalem to resist the oppression and persecution experienced by the Jews under Antiochus IV. In 1 Macc. 3 this resistance begins with the defeat of Apollonius and Seron, commanders of the Greek forces. Vigorous Seleucid response is led by Gorgias and Nicanor. Utilizing a surprise attack at Emmaus, Judas routs these forces and the survivors flee, probably in the spring of 165. The sources agree that Judas led a growing army (1 Macc. 4:29) which by that fall had secured the temple area and other parts of Jerusalem. Sacrifices were offered on the new altar of the cleansed temple on 25 Chislev, 148 of the Seleucid Era (ca. 14 December 164). This event is commemorated annually in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

The texts suggest gentile resistance to this Jewish resurgence of power. Judas and his brothers defended besieged Jews in Idumea to the south, across the Jordan in Gilead, and in Galilee. In the spring of 163 Judas unsuccessfully attacked the Akra, the fortress of the Seleucid garrison and refuge of anti-Hasmonean forces in Jerusalem. After a series of battles Judas Maccabeus was killed at Elasa in 160. In the midst of the description of Judas’ military campaigns, 1 Macc. 8 records a successful delegation he sent to Rome for the purpose of forming an alliance against the Seleucids.

Judas’ political and military successes are largely responsible for initiating the period of Hasmonean rule which began with Jonathan his brother a few years later and continued until the Roman conquest in 63 b.c.e. But this Judean family could only come to power after it had recovered from the defeats which resulted in Judas’ death. The temple, however, remained in the hands of the Jewish priesthood from the time of its rededication.

Bibliography. B. Bar-Kochva, Judas Maccabaeus (Cambridge, 1989); E. J. Bickerman, The God of the Maccabees: Studies on the Meaning and Origin of the Maccabean Revolt. SJLA 32 (Leiden, 1979); L. L. Grabbe, Judaism from Cyrus to Hadrian, 1: The Persian and Greek Periods (Minneapolis, 1992); J. Sievers, The Hasmoneans and Their Supporters (Atlanta, 1990); V. Tcherikover, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews (1959, repr. New York, 1970).

John Kampen

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JUDAS MACCABEUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)