MACCABEES, a famous family which battled for liberty in the 2d century ac., when the Jews were persecuted by the Syrians under Antiochus IV, Epiphanes. Originally applied to Judas, the third son of the aged priest Mattathias, who began the revolt, the name was widened to include the family of Judas and his followers, in due course to be applied to all wrestlers for freedom in the Greek period of Jewish history. The word's origin has received various fanciful explanations, but the most probable etymology is from the Aramaic magquaba (Judges iv, 21 and elsewhere) mean ing ((Hammer?' The story of the Maccabean struggle belongs to the history of heroism in all ages. When Antiochus of Syria (175-164 Lc.) strove to impose Hellenism in its crassest form upon the Jews under his sway and Jerusalem was over run, while pagan rites were ordered to be substituted for Jewish, a sacrifice to Zeus be ing offered (168) on the Temple altar, an aged priest at Modin, Mattathias, spurned the man date, killed the royal messenger, and destroyed the altar. Then escaping with his five sons to the mountains, he raised the standard of revolt. Two years later he died, and Judas, the third son, was acclaimed leader. His skill and genius, joined to a religious fervor that was the secret of his strength, cleared away every ob stacle, as he defeated in rapid succession the three Syrian generals, Apollonius, Seron and Gorgias. and later the regent, Lysias. In 165 he reconsecrated the Temple amid the exultation of the people—the festival of Hannukkah, in memory of this restoration is still observed by the Jews of every land. In 162 Lysias granted religious freedom but Judas resolved to fight on until political liberty was also attained. A year later he defeated Nicanor at Adasa, but shortly afterward he fell at Elasa, while resisting Bacchides with greatly superior forces.
The command was now assumed by his brother Jonathan, who was astute enough to secure the favor of the Syrian ruler and was made high priest (153). For a time he fought for Antiochus VI, who owed his crown to Tryphon, and succeeded so well as to awaken Tryphon's jealousy. He fell into his power at Ptolemais and was finally put to death (143). Simon, the last surviving son of Mattathias, be came leader of the Jewish people. By his abil ity and force of character, he outwitted Trynhon and secured the independence of Judma. In 141 he was appointed by the people hereditary leader and high priest. With him began prop erly the Hasmonean dynasty— the name being traced to an ancestor of the house Asamonaios (Josephus, Antiq. xii, 6) ; according to Well hausen (Phar. and Sadd. x, Note 94) he was the grandfather of Mattathias. The first year of his reign marked the beginning of a new era (Seleucid year 170=143-142 ac.). The coun
try enjoyed much prosperity, its resources were greatly developed and the outlook was dis tinctly more favorable than at any previous period since the Exile. With a change of rulers in Syria, Antiochus (VII) Sidetes be coming king, Simon and two of his sons were murdered by his son-in-law who wished to curry favor with the new monarch. But the third. son, John Hyrcan, escaped and succeeded to the throne, reigning 30 years with much ability. Partisan strife, however, disturbed the kingdom's peace and weakened its strength, with the constant clashing of Pharisee and Sadducee.
On the death of John Hyrcan (105), his son Arist6bulus reigned for a year when his brother Alexander Jannaeus became ruler (104-78), a man of considerable energy, in his persistent conflicts to extend and defend his realm. His sympathies were with the Sadducees, and once when officiating as high priest, some of the Pharisees in their anger threw at him and the attending Sadducees citrons which had been supplied for the Feast of Tabernacles. As pun ishment, he attacked them with his troops, killing 6,000. On his death his widow, Salome Alex andra, ruled (78-69), reversing his policy and making the Pharisees her favorites, the land enjoying peace and prosperous growth. Her eldest son, Hyrcan II, who lacked capacity, was made high priest. The younger, Aristobulus, stronger and abler, coveted the succession and organized an army to conquer Jerusalem, when Alexandra died and Hyrcan was willing to re tire in his brother's favor.
At this moment a new factor appeared in the person of Antipater of Idumma who sought to further his own designs. An appeal to Rome was made. Pompey resolved to settle the mat ter in his own fashion, at some slight which Aristobulus offered, entered Jerusalem and made Hyrcan II high priest and ethnarch, while his brother was carried a captive to Rome. And now the Roman yoke became firmly fastened, Antipater was made procurator in 47, with his sons Phasml and Herod governors of Jerusalem and Galilee. In 41 they became tetrarchs of Judwa. In 40, Antigonus, the sole surviving son of Aristobulus, was appointed king by the Parthians, in the swift changes of the day. But Herod who had escaped from prison, while his brother had committed suicide, was given the throne by the Romans (37 ac.). In the same year Antigonus was put to death by Mark Antony and the Maccabean-Hasmonean dynasty ended.
Curtiss,