The revolt Maccabees

judea under judah maccabee



jonathan s conquests



simon s conquests

in narrative of maccabees, after antiochus issued decrees forbidding jewish religious practice, rural jewish priest modiin, mattathias hasmonean, sparked revolt against seleucid empire refusing worship greek gods. mattathias killed hellenistic jew stepped forward offer sacrifice idol in mattathias place. , 5 sons fled wilderness of judah. after mattathias death 1 year later in 166 bce, son judas maccabee led army of jewish dissidents victory on seleucid dynasty in guerrilla warfare, @ first directed against hellenizing jews, of whom there many. maccabees destroyed pagan altars in villages, circumcised boys , forced jews outlawry. term maccabees used describe jewish army taken hebrew word hammer .

the revolt involved many battles, in maccabean forces gained notoriety among seleucid army use of guerrilla tactics. after victory, maccabees entered jerusalem in triumph , ritually cleansed temple, reestablishing traditional jewish worship there , installing jonathan maccabee high priest. large seleucid army sent quash revolt, returned syria on death of antiochus iv. commander lysias, preoccupied internal seleucid affairs, agreed political compromise restored religious freedom.

the jewish festival of hanukkah celebrates re-dedication of temple following judah maccabee s victory on seleucids. according rabbinic tradition, victorious maccabees find small jug of oil had remained uncontaminated virtue of seal, , although contained enough oil sustain menorah 1 day, miraculously lasted 8 days, time further oil procured.