[note 1] Tensions with the Ptolemaic dynasty continued, and Antiochus rode out on campaign again in 168 BCE. Still, both the Jews and the Greeks had a fair amount of misunderstanding that exacerbated the situation. The Seleucid Empire was too riven with internal unrest to stop this, and Ptolemaic Egypt maintained largely friendly relations. Modern defenders of more direct readings of the sources cite that evidence of such an unrecorded popular rebellion is thin-to-nonexistent. [55] Most of the forces at that parade would be deployed on matters more important to the Seleucid leadership than suppressing the Judean rebellion, however, and as such only a portion of them likely participated in the battles of the rebellion. It was the social and religious centre of the Jewish people, not to mention the economic benefits of trading in the Temple. [28], Judas had been negotiating with the Roman Republic and extracted a vague agreement of potential support. [32], From 152141 BCE, the rebels achieved a state of informal autonomy akin to a suzerain. A short-lived rebellion took place, and when this was put down, Antiochus' views were hardened. For example, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar orders his court to eat the king's rich food; the prophet Daniel and his companions keep kosher and eat a diet of vegetables and water, yet emerge healthier than all the king's courtiers. Simon would go on to establish an independent Hasmonean kingdom. Although Antiochus IVs successor, Antiochus V (reigned 164-161 BC), reversed many of his predecessors policies regarding Judea and the Jews in 162 BC, the Maccabean Rebellion had by that time transformed into an independence movement. The rule of the city and region was then given to Herod and his descendants. [69][91] While many scholars still accept this basic framework, that the Hellenists were weak and dependent on Seleucid aid to hold influence, this view has since been challenged. [61], Much of the combat in the revolt took place in hilly and mountainous terrain, which complicated warfare. They may have been supplemented by local Seleucid-allied militias and garrisons, however. [34] The land was de jure part of the Seleucid Empire, but continuing civil wars gave the Maccabees considerable autonomy. [58], The rebel forces grew with time. but the chief distinctions among them were religious and go back well before the Maccabean revolt. These sources exist in Greek; but the original language of 1 Maccabees was Hebrew, The best way to do that, he thought, was to enforce the Greek culture on all of the Jewish population, a feat that had so far been elusive. First, let us dispose of the modern myth that the author of 2 Maccabees' saw the revolt as a clash between Judaism and Hellenism. Regev 2013, p. 115117. Answer 11 people found it helpful Hazeltravasso Answer: [31], While the Maccabees had lost control of the cities, they seem to have built a rival government in the countryside from 160153 BCE. [101][102] The Givati Parking Lot dig in Jerusalem from 20072015 has found possible evidence of the Acra; it might resolve a seeming contradiction between Josephus's account of the Acra's fate (he claimed it was torn down) and 1 Maccabees's account (it was merely occupied) in favor of the 1 Maccabees version. Factors Leading to the Maccabean Revolt (Part 1) - Reading Acts - Some The rebellion marked the end of Seleucid control over the Levant and signaled the end of the Seleucid Dynasty. For example, the claim that Menelaus stole temple vessels to pay for a bribe to Antiochus is merely aimed at delegitimizing them both. Judas was eventually killed and the remaining Judeans fled. [53] The Seleucids also had access to trained war elephants imported from India, who sported natural armor in their thick hides and could terrify opposing soldiers and their horses. The Maccabean Rebellion was a conflict that pitted Hellenism against Abrahamic monotheism, leaving several long-lasting impacts on the Near East and a few that can still be seen today. Instead of crushing them with the full force of his armies, he set his less effective generals on them. Antiochus VII sent an army to Judea at some point between 139 and 138 BCE under command of a general named Cendebeus, but it was repulsed. They largely ignored Hellenism and, under Alexander and the Ptolemaic Dynasty, were respected in doing so. Whilst others tend to think that it was more than a class victory; it was an example of success in fighting against oppression. He soon became independent of the Seleucids as high priest, ruler . He defiled the Holy Temple, vandalizing it and erecting an idol on the altar. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Some see it as an economic and religious civil war, the Hellenised Jews that were propped up with the support of the Seleucids against the zealous who could only turn to their religion. Seleucid control over Judea was weakened, and then weakened further; Jonathan promptly betrayed Demetrius I after Alexander Balas offered an even better deal. Their celebrations continued for eight days as is known to this day as the celebration of Hanukkah. Article by Harry Oates published on 29 October 2015 Listen to this article Available in other languages: French The Maccabean Revolt of 167-160 BCE was a Jewish uprising in Judea against the repression of the Seleucid Empire. [36] In 143 BCE, regent Diodotus Tryphon, perhaps eager to reassert control over the restive province, invited Jonathan to a conference. Antiochus used Jason's power as the High Priest over the Jewish people to build a gymnasium just outside the Temple, with that, strengthening the Greek culture in the heartland of the Jewish community. [38][39][40], In 135 BCE, Simon and two of his sons (Mattathias and Judas) were murdered by his son-in-law, Ptolemy son of Abubus, at a feast in Jericho. [1] Greek philosophical ideas spread through Palestine as well. Then we have the formation of the kingdom; Davids' heroic reign; then the tribes are united under one ruler and Jerusalem gaining significance as the capital and a great religious center. As a victory of the "few over the many", the revolt served as inspiration for future Jewish resistance movements, such as the Zealots. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. [35], The Hasmonean leaders did not immediately call themselves "king" or establish a monarchy; Simon called himself merely "nasi" (in Hebrew, "Prince" or "President") and "ethnarch" (in Koine Greek, "Governor"). As such, they focused on being able to win open battles, with additional trained heavy infantry. Judas Maccabeus died in 160 BCE at the Battle of Elasa against the Greek general Bacchides, and the Seleucids reestablished direct control for a time, but remnants of the Maccabees under Judas's brother Jonathan Apphus continued to resist from the countryside. It is important to know that although Hellenism was certainly a Greek-centric philosophy, it was also universal in that native elites under Greek rule were encouraged and found it beneficial to learn Greek and take part in Greek customs and past times. The revolt was led by a country priest called Mattathias, and his military followers became known as Maccabees. [79][80], The final chapters of the book of Daniel include apocalyptic visions of the future. The Israelites were forced out of the Kingdom of Judah. simple farmers dedicated to the laws of Moses, armed only with spears, bows and arrows, and rocks from the terrain, the Maccabees, as Mattathias' sons, particularly Judah, came to be known, fought a guerrilla war against the well-trained, well-equipped, seemingly endless forces of . The Maccabees were also discussed less as time went on; they appear only rarely in the mishnah, the writings of the Tannaim, after these Jewish defeats. The Seleucids eventually relented and unbanned Judaism, but the more radical Maccabees, not content with merely reestablishing Jewish practices under Seleucid rule, continued to fight, pushing for a more direct break with the Seleucids. . History & Overview of the Maccabees Judas's younger brother Jonathan Apphus (Hebrew: Yonatan) became the new leader of the Maccabees. The reason he did so is not entirely clear, but it seems to have been related to the King mistaking an internal conflict among the Jewish priesthood as a full-scale rebellion. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. When was the Maccabean Revolt? - Study.com Seleucus I moved thousands of Greeks into Mesopotamia, especially to his eponymously named city of Seleucia. . Hellenism presented a unique challenged to the Jews of the Levant and their culture. Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabeus, also spelled Machabeus, or Maccabus, Hebrew: , Yehudah HaMakabi) was a Jewish priest and a son of the priest Mattathias.He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167-160 BCE).. [9] Jason heard a rumor that Antiochus had perished, and launched an attempted coup against Menelaus in Jerusalem. The Qumran religious community was not on good terms with the Hasmonean religious establishment in Jerusalem, and is believed to have favored the Zadokite line of succession to the High Priesthood. Generally speaking, the Seleucid kings allowed the Jews to pick their own high-priests. [78] The message is clear: defy Antiochus's decree and keep Jewish dietary law. The Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid rule in Judea began in earnest in 168 BC. The Hellenistic idea of masculinity was shown in the rule that one must be naked to enter the gymnasium. Jonathan was given official authority to build and maintain an army in exchange for his aid. The origin of Hanukkah is traced back to the Maccabean Revolt. The country priest was ordered to fulfil his duty to the state and be the first to sacrifice an animal to an altar of an idol. The Jewish army had defeated Lysias. The defeat of Seleucid general Nicanor is celebrated on 13 Adar as Yom Nicanor. Another of the Greek successor states, the Seleucid Empire, would conquer Judea from Egypt during a series of campaigns from 235198 BCE. [32] The hostages were also released. [46] The council of elders - which some see as a precursor to the Sanhedrin - ceased to be an independent check on the monarchy. A new tragedy struck the Hasmonean family when Jonathan's brother John Gaddi was seized and killed while on a mission in Nabatea. Hellenistic cavalry also used pikes, albeit slightly shorter ones. After Mattathias' death about one year later in 166 BC, his son Judah Maccabee led an army of Jewish dissidents to victory over the Seleucid dynasty in guerrilla warfare, which at first was directed . [72] 2 Maccabees also represents an attempt to take the cause of the Maccabees outside Judea, as it encourages Egyptian Jews and other diaspora Jews to celebrate the cleansing of the temple (Hanukkah) and revere Judas Maccabeus. Various organizations in the modern state of Israel name themselves after the Maccabees and the Hasmoneans or otherwise honor them. So too was the freedom to practice the Jewish religion. Still, violent tensions between the Maccabees and the Hellenized Jews continued. Maccabees | Meaning, History, Significance, Revolt, & Facts [1] The main historical items taken away from Daniel is in its depiction of the king of the north desecrating the temple with an abomination of desolation, and stopping the tamid, the daily sacrifice at the Temple; these agree with the depictions in 1 and 2 Maccabees of the changes at the Second Temple. One of the most notable and unusual aspects of the book of 1 Maccabees by absence is the lack of any direct mention of God. The Jewish people needed someone to lead them. See answers Advertisement nabeelbut2329 Answer: The answer Is D Explanation: The Jewish people were forced to worship in secret or be exiled. The already strained relations between the pious Jewish people that did not accept Hellenism and the Seleucid Empire were shattered when Antiochus Epiphanes adopted his father's policy of universal Hellenization but took it to new heights. During this period, the legitimized armies of Jonathan fought in these civil wars and border struggles to maintain the favor of allied Seleucid leaders. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. But they did not belong to the family of those men through whom deliverance was given to Israel. [112] The portrayal of an evil tyrant like Antiochus IV attacking the holy city of Jerusalem in the Book of Daniel became a common theme during later Roman rule of Judea, and would contribute to Christian conceptions of the Antichrist. It urges its readers to remain steadfast in the face of persecution. "[71][68], 2 Maccabees is an abridgment by an unknown Egyptian Jew of a lost five-volume work by an author named Jason of Cyrene. [note 5][108] As a result, Hanukkah outlasted Hasmonean rule, although its importance receded as time passed. Being naked in public was strictly forbidden under Jewish laws, so any Jewish person that went into the gymnasium violated the laws of the covenant. They tore down the altars of idols and killed those who worshipped them, even many Hellenistic Jews. During the era of the Hasmonean kingdom, Hanukkah was observed prominently; it acted as a "Hasmonean Independence Day" to commemorate the success of the revolt and the legitimacy of the Hasmonean rulers. They met again when Judah's army was at the gates of Jerusalem, but it was a much shorter battle. He then outlawed certain practices such as circumcision and the Sabbath. To understand the impacts that the Maccabean Rebellion had on the Near East, it is important to examine some of the factors that led to the rebellion and the revolt itself. She advances the view that the loss of civil rights by the Jews in 168 BCE was an administrative punishment in the aftermath of local unrest over increased taxes; that the struggle was fundamentally economic, and merely interpreted as religiously driven in retrospect. The Seleucid rival claimants to the throne needed all their troops elsewhere, and also wished to deny possible allies to other claimants, thus giving the Maccabees leverage. Soon after 167 BCE, the family of Mattathias became known as the Maccabees or the hammer. Finally, they came to battle. The Temple of Jerusalem was filled with Greek statues. [19] With the ban retracted, their religious goals were accomplished, and the Hellenized Jews could more easily be potential Seleucid loyalists again. The Ptolemies gave the Jewish people their civil rights, & they lived contently under their rule. The conflict ceased, and Hyrcanus and Antiochus VII joined themselves in an alliance, with Antiochus making a respectful donation of a sacrifice at the Temple. The date of the work is unknown, and others scholars have proposed different candidates as possible identities of the Wicked Priest, so the identification with Jonathan is only a possibility, yet an intriguing and plausible one. We know the details of the Jewish fight against the Greeks and Hellenism from the two Books of the Maccabees as well as the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus. [19][57] However, while manufacturing the mostly wooden sarissa would have been easy for the rebels, their body armor was lower quality. [37][34] Both Jonathan and now Simon had maintained diplomatic contact with the Roman Republic; official recognition by Rome came in 139 BCE, as the Romans were eager to weaken and divide the Greek states. Although many of the Jewish community were at this point Hellenized, the persecution of the Jewish people and the destruction of practicing Judaism united the Jewish people in Judea. The Ptolemies gave the Jewish people their civil rights, and they lived contently under their rule. [29] Bacchides led an army of 20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry into Judea on a second expedition intending to reconquer the restive province before it grew too used to autonomy. A British Zionist organization formed in 1896 is named the Order of Ancient Maccabeans, and the Jewish sporting organization Maccabi World Union names itself after them. In this book, you will learn about the Seleucid Empire, the factors that led to the Maccabean revolt, key battles over the century of the Maccabean revolt, key players, and the effects on Jerusalem. Assuming that Antiochus IV would not have started an ethno-religious persecution for irrational reasons is an ahistorical position in this criticism, as many leaders both ancient and modern clearly were motivated by religious concerns. Pharisee - Britannica The social structure of Jerusalem was run by the Jewish aristocracy such as the priests and the high priests. The main phase of the revolt lasted from 167160 BCE and ended with the Seleucids in control of Judea, but conflict between the Maccabees, Hellenized Jews, and the Seleucids continued until 134 BCE, with the Maccabees eventually attaining independence. This turned out to be a very portentous meeting. Rather than being able to retreat to the mountains, the rebels now had territory to defend; abandoning cities would leave their loyalists open to reprisals if the pro-Seleucid forces were allowed to take control again. You can read about it in the First Book of Maccabees which is found in the Apocrypha, a collection of books included in Catholic Bibles and other places. The Revolt of the Maccabees - Judaism Online He and his five sons, John, Simon, Judah, Eleazer, and Jonathan, rallied the Jewish population. Mattathias, as a local leader of the village, was asked to make the first sacrifice. He recruited devout Jews and sent them into Judea to concentrate his allies where they could be protected, although this influx of refugees would soon create food scarcity issues in the land the Maccabees held. The general Seleucus I (ruled 305-281 BC) was given Mesopotamia and most of the Levant. [18] The Maccabees entered Jerusalem in triumph. Login . Two of these empires fought over Israel: The Ptolemaic Empire (pronounced toll-oh-MAY-ick) received its name from Ptolemy (TOLL-emy). Jonathan fought Bacchides and his troops for a time, but the two eventually made a pact for a cease-fire. Historical context of the Maccabees Today, the books are only considered canonical by the Roman Catholica and Eastern Orthodox Christian churches but have been used as a historical source for the Maccabean Rebellion, especially 1 Maccabees. [126][note 6] The revolt is featured in plays of the playwrights Aharon Ashman[he], Ya'akov Cahan, and Moshe Shamir. [24] Shortly afterward, both regent Lysias and 11-year old king Antiochus V were executed after losing a succession struggle with Demetrius I Soter, who became the new Seleucid king. Bacchides then returned to Syria in 160 BCE. [11], The Maccabean Rebellion also marked the beginning of Roman influence and then ruled over the region and the end of Seleucid rule. One section, the "Apocalypse of Weeks", is hypothesized to have been written around 167 BCE, just after Antiochus's persecution began. Oates, Harry. The History of the Hellenistic Period. In, Greenspoon, Leonard J. [2] Still, many Jews continued to speak the Aramaic language, the language that descended from what was spoken during the Babylonian exile. [79][82], Other works appear to have at least been influenced by the Maccabean Revolt include the Book of Judith, the Testament of Moses, and parts of the Book of Enoch. Regev translates "Nasi" as "King", however, and credits Simon with less restraint than other authors, though he acknowledges the different terms. [82][100], Later scholars and archaeologists have found and preserved various artifacts from the time period and analyzed them, which have informed historians on the plausibility of various elements in the books. During the Seleucid Period of the rule of Judea, the most important political position in that region was the high-priest of Jerusalem. [122] The books of Maccabees were downplayed and relegated in the Jewish tradition and not included in the Jewish Tanakh (Hebrew Bible); it would be Christians who would produce more art and literature referencing the Maccabees during the medieval era, as the books of Maccabees were included in the Catholic and Orthodox Biblical canon. The basic Hellenistic battle deployment consisted of heavy infantry in the center, mounted cavalry on the flanks, and mobile skirmishers in the vanguard. The Jewish revolt against the Greeks sets a precedent in human history - it becomes the world's first religious war. A The story of the Maccabean revolt and Temple cleansing is not in the Bible because it happened in 165 BC during the time between the Old and New Testaments. Egypt, governed by Ptolemy I Soter allowed for Judaism in Jerusalem to flourish with very little intervening in the 3rd century BCE. The rebellion helped establish the first independent Jewish state in Judea in over 400 years and contributed to the end of the already ailing Seleucid Empire. The Maccabean Revolt - Grace thru faith - The Bible made clear & simple. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. [16], In general, scholarly opinion is that Hellenistic historians were biased, but also that the bias did not result in excessive distortion or fabrication of facts, and they are mostly reliable sources once the bias is removed. My name is Harry, I have recently graduated with a 2:1 from The University of Southampton. Learn more on Maccabean revolt brainly.com/question/13799457 #SPJ4 Advertisement Definition of Maccabean in the Definitions.net dictionary. Maccabean Revolt - Military Wiki | Fandom The Revolt of the Maccabees: The True Story Behind Hanukkah [87] Another section of Enoch, the "Book of Dreams", was likely written after the Revolt had at least partially succeeded; it portrays the events of the revolt in the form of prophetic dream visions. Bacchides fortified cities across the land, put allied Greek-friendly Jews in command in Jerusalem, and ensured children of leading families were held as hostages as a guarantee of good behavior. [10] From that point forward, the ruling family of Judea was known as the Hasmonean Dynasty, named for one of their ancestors. [note 4] While the setting of the book is 400 years earlier in Babylon, the book is a literary response to the situation in Judea during the revolt (Sitz im Leben); the writer chose to move the setting either for esoteric reasons or to evade scrutiny from would-be censors. The Temple of Jerusalem was filled with Greek statues. [68][69][70] The new rule of the Hasmoneans was not without its own internal enemies; the office of High Priest had been occupied for generations by a descendent of the High Priest Zadok. It is a separate work from 1 Maccabees and not a continuation of it. Written after the revolt was complete, the books urged unity among the Jews; they describe little of the Hellenizing faction other than to call them lawless and corrupt, and downplay their relevance and power in the conflict. [30] In several battles, the rebels may have had numerical superiority to compensate for shortfalls in training and equipment. Many figures have been proposed as the identity of the people behind these titles; one theory goes that the Righteous Teacher was whoever held the High Priest position after Alcimus's death in 159 BCE, perhaps a Zadokite. Discus Thrower (Discobolus Lancellotti)Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA). [32] According to 1 Maccabees, "Thus the sword ceased from Israel. These changes did not immediately appear to rouse any particular complaint from the majority of the citizenry in Jerusalem, and presumably he still kept the basic Jewish laws and tenets. [19][20], With the rebels now in control of most of Jerusalem and its environs, a second phase of the revolt began. Bibliography The sarissa was a powerful weapon; it was held in two hands and had great reach (approximately ~6.3 meters), making it difficult for opponents to approach a phalanx of sarissa-wielding infantry safely. This may have been a tactic from Bacchides, however, to feign weakness and draw the Maccabees in where they could be surrounded and defeated, their own retreat cut off. Oates, H. (2015, October 29). Maccabees, also spelled Machabees, (flourished 2nd century bce, Palestine), priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem. The Maccabees destroyed Greek altars in the villages, forcibly circumcised boys, burnt villages, and drove Hellenized Jews off their land. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. The rebellion was primarily a response by the native Jews against the political and religious policies of Antiochus IV (reigned 175-164 BC), which were certainly oppressive. [4]. [21] Judas launched expeditions to these regions outlying Judea to fight non-Jewish Idumeans, Ammonites, and Galileans. Antiochus, buoyed by his success of the gymnasium, decided to push harder against the Jewish religion. Still, Antiochus IV accepted a bribe from a Hellenized Jew named Jason to be given the position sometime before 169 BC. Regent Lysias, having dealt with rivals back in Antioch, returned to Judea with an army to aid the Seleucid forces. Finding there a marble statue of a heavily bearded man seated on an ass, with a book in his hands, he supposed it to be an image of Moses, the founder of Jerusalem and organizer of the nation, the man, moreover, who had ordained for the Jews their misanthropic and lawless customs. The Maccabean Revolt: Anatomy of a Biblical Revolution, Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt, Insurrection: An Epic Novel About The Maccabean Revolt, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The Maccabean Revolt - World History Encyclopedia [95][82] For example, Josephus's account directly blames Menelaus for convincing Antiochus IV to issue his anti-Jewish decrees.