From The Maccabean Revolt to The Founding of The Hasmoneans to King Herod.

“And They That Understand Among The People Shall Instruct Many.

Yet They Shall Fall By The Sword,

And [They Shall Fall] By Flame,

And [They Shall Fall ] By Captivity,

And [They Shall Fall] By Spoil,

Many Days.

Now When They Shall Fall,

They Shall Be Holpen With A Little Help;

But Many Shall Cleave To Them With Flatteries.

And Some Of Them Of Understanding Shall Fall:

• To Try Them, And
• To Purge, And
• To Make Them White

Even To THE TIME OF THE END;

Because It Is Yet For A TIME APPOINTED.”

Daniel 11: 33,34 & 35

The Maccabean Revolt:

I. Under Mattathias 167 B.C.E. – 166 B.C.E.

Many Jews co-operated willingly or under compulsion with Antiochus IV’s Hellenization of Judaea but others resisted. The catalyst that sparked the Maccabean revolt happened in Modein, a small village north-west of Jerusalem. When the king’s representative came to Modein demanding a sacrifice to prove the loyalty of the village, an aged Jewish priest named Mattathias refused the demand. A fight ensued in which the king’s representative and others were killed. Mattathias and his five sons:

• Simon
• John
• Judas
• Eleazar and
• Jonathan

flew to the Gophna Hills . The passionately orthodox followers of Jewish law, the Hasidim [“Pious Ones”] joined them in armed resistance. The Hasidim rejected any compromise with Greek culture, regarding such compromises as a betrayal of faith. (The Pharisees, who appear a little later in History, were spiritual kinsmen of the Hasidim.)

II. Under Judas 166 B.C.E. – 160 B.C.E.

Judas was the third son of Mattathias.

He led The Maccabean Revolt from 166 B.C.E. – 160 B.C.E..

He:

• won victories over Seleucid troops at Beth-horon, Samaria, Emmaus and Beth-zur
• reclaimed and cleansed The Temple at Jerusalem in 164 B.C.E.
• gained religious freedom for the Jews in 162
• died fighting at Elasa.

Judas Maccabeus was appointed leader of the Maccabean Revolt by his father. Judas was called “Maccabeus – The Hammerer” He fought a guerrilla was against Seleucid armies sent to crush the revolt. His success depended upon surprise and an intimate knowledge of terrain, He attacked enemy forces in the narrow approaches leading to Jerusalem. arming his followers with weapons secured in his victories.

He won an impressive string of victories over Seleucid commanders including the defeat of:

• Apollonius at The Ascent of Lebonah (167 B.C.E.)
• Seron at the Beth-horon Pass (166 B.C.E.)
• Nicanor near Emmaus (165 B.C.E.)

Judas’ most impressive victory occurred in December, 164 B.C.E. when he recaptured The Jerusalem Temple, dismantled the pagan altar, and cleansed The Temple. The Jewish sacrificial system once again was carried out in accordance with The law of Moses. The Festival of Hannukah was instituted to commemorate this Joyous event.

This beautiful festival points to THE ONE WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Judas continued the struggle until his death in battle in 160 B.C.E. As his confidence increased, Judas grew bolder and suffered defeats. However, the defeat of Antiochus IV in 164 B.C.E. ked to an important concession to the Jews. Several claimants to the Seleucid throne – including the son of Seleucus IV, Demetrius I and the Seleucid general Lysias – vied for power. To win Jewish support, Lysias granted religious freedom to the Jews (162 B.C.E.). This act overturned the oppressive edicts of Antiochus IV and satisfied the Hasidim, many of whom gave up the armed struggle. Later Jewish leaders exploited the Seleucid dynastic rivalries to gain additional concessions.

Is it any wonder that Judas was a favoured name amongst the Jews? Two of THE LORD’S APOSTLES were called Judas.

One of the most famous paintings in the world is of course Holman Hunt’s “Light of The World”

Next Week: Judas’s brother, Jonathan, who continued to lead The Maccabean Revolt.