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APOLLONIUS

(Gk. Apollṓnios)

1. Son of Tharseas (or perhaps “of Tarsus”), governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia during the reign of Seleucus IV. According to 2 Macc. 3:4-7 he plotted with a Jew named Simon and Seleucus to plunder the treasuries of the temple in Jerusalem. Apollonius sent his chief minister Heliodorus to carry out the order, but Heliodorus was thwarted by a divine apparition.

2. Son of Menestheus, governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia during the reigns of Seleucus IV and Antiochus IV, perhaps identical with 1 above. According to 2 Macc. 4:21 he was sent to Egypt by Antiochus to attend the coronation of Ptolemy VI Philometor, and brought back news that Egypt had become hostile toward Antiochus.

3. General of the Mysian mercenary soldiers in the service of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to 2 Macc. 5:24-26; 1 Macc. 1:29-32 Apollonius was sent to Jerusalem with orders to plunder the city. Pretending to come in peace, he attacked and massacred the Jews on the sabbath day. He probably should be identified with the general Apollonius who came with a large army from Samaria in order to put down the Maccabean Revolt (1 Macc. 3:10-12). In the ensuing battle, Apollonius was defeated and lost his sword to the rebel leader Judas.

4. Son of Gennaeus, one of the local governors (Gk. stratēgós) who, after the rebels had made peace with Antiochus V (164 b.c.e.), “refused to allow the Jews to live in peace” and incited renewed military confrontations (2 Macc. 12:2).

5. Governor of Coele-Syria, appointed by the Seleucid monarch Demetrius II (147). Josephus identifies him as the son of 1 above (Ant. 13.86-102). According to 1 Macc. 10:69-87 Apollonius challenged the Hasmonaean high priest Jonathan to battle, since Jonathan supported Demetrius’ rival Alexander Balas for the Seleucid throne. Jonathan responded by taking the city of Joppa from Apollonius’ garrison. Apollonius attempted to lure Jonathan into an ambush, but Jonathan put him to flight. Apollonius and his troops fled to Ashdod, where they took refuge in the temple of Dagon. Jonathan burned the temple to the ground and plundered the city.

Bibliography. J. C. Dancy, A Commentary on 1 Maccabees (Oxford, 1954); J. Goldstein, I Maccabees. AB (New York, 1976); E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, rev. ed., 4 vols. (Edinburgh, 1973-1987).

Anthony J. Tomasino

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

APOLLONIUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)