by hadassah | Dec 18, 2016 | The Maccabean Revolt
“Hannukah”—the celebration of the (re-)dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem—goes back to the very first dedication—that of Solomon in the 10th century BCE. But the holiday Jews have long called Hannukah commemorates just one of the Temple’s re-dedications—that at the...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | The Maccabean Revolt
The Seleucids attempted to neutralize Judah by appointing Alcimus as high priest. Together with the Seleucid commanders, he fought against the Hasmonean forces. Ultimately, Judah himself fell in battle. Once again the Hellenizers and their Seleucid supporters...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | The Maccabean Revolt
In 164 B.C.E. the Seleucids succeeded in convincing many Jews, including the Hasideans, to accept a truce and amnesty. The Hasmoneans, seeking not only religious freedom but political independence, refused to accept the amnesty. Judah seems to have lost power in this...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | From Alexander to the Maccabees, The Maccabean Revolt
1 Maccabees describes the rededication of the Temple, which took place after Judah (Judas) the Maccabee and his men conquered Jerusalem, and the institution of the holiday of Hanukkah. Thereafter, Judah undertook a policy of fighting against Israel’s neighbors who had...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Background, From Alexander to the Maccabees, The Maccabean Revolt
1 Maccabees 1-4: The Maccabean Uprising Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, Texts and Traditions, Ktav, Hoboken 1998, p.156-160 and Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Apocrypha, copyright 1957 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | The Maccabean Revolt
2 Maccabees was written in Greek sometime in the first century B.C.E., itself condensed from the five-volume work of Jason of Cyrene in North Africa. It relates in detail the account of the events leading up to the Maccabean Revolt (168-64 B.C.E.), showing that the...
