Who Were The Maccabees?

Who Were The Maccabees?

They won against all odds.

ON DECEMBER 16, 167 B.C., the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Jewish temple in Jerusalem by offering the flesh of a pig as a sacrifice on an altar to Zeus constructed over the altar of burnt offering (1 Maccabees 1:41-64; 2 Maccabees 6:1-11; Daniel 11:31).

The following year Antiochus decreed that everyone in Palestine sacrifice to the heathen gods under an imperial representative’s supervision. Mattathias, an aged priest, had moved with his family from Jerusalem to the village of Modein, seventeen miles northwest of Jerusalem, to escape the idolatry of Antiochus. When Antiochus’s officers finally came to Modein, they forced Mattathias, his five sons, and the other villagers to assemble before an altar the officers had built. The officers addressed Mattathias, “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers. Now be the first to come and do what the king commands” (1 Maccabees 2:1-18).

But in a loud voice Mattathias replied, “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left” (vv. 19-22).

When Mattathias finished speaking, a Jew came forward to offer his sacrifice and Mattathias ran up and killed him on the altar. He then killed the officer who had commanded them to sacrifice and tore down the altar (vv. 23-26).

Then Mattathias called out with a loud voice, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me.” With that battle cry, Mattathias and his sons fled into the hills, where many Jews followed them (vv. 27-30).

From the hills they conducted guerrilla warfare, with leadership passing to his son Judas, called Maccabeus, which means “hammer,” because of the blows he inflicted on the Syrians. The name was applied to Judas’s brothers and then to all who took part in the rebellion.

The first battles of the Maccabean Revolt during the 160s B.C. were against the Syrian army led by Nicanor. In 166 B.C. the Syrians were so sure that Nicanor would defeat Judas that they brought traders along to buy Jewish slaves. However, the Maccabees were victorious.

In 164 B.C., after three years of fighting, Judas won control of Jerusalem. He cleansed and rededicated the temple with “songs and harps and lutes, and cymbals” (4:54). The eight-day celebration was the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Feast of Dedication, or Lights.

The fight was ongoing, though the leaders of Syria changed. Nicanor continued as commander in chief of the Syrian forces waging war against the Maccabees.

Finally in 161 B.C. the Syrian ruler, Demetrius I Soter, the nephew of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, sent Nicanor and his army one more time against Judas Maccabeus. On March 9, 161 B.C., before the battle, Judas prayed, “O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel to carry terror and trembling before us. By the might of thy arm may these blasphemers who come against thy holy people be struck down” (2 Maccabees 15:23-24). God answered. Judas was victorious, and Nicanor was killed. The Jews celebrate this day, the thirteenth of Adar in the Jewish calendar, as Nicanor’s Day.

Although as the years passed the Maccabean dynasty became less noble in their purposes, they set up an independent nation that lasted until 63 B.C. when Pompey established a Roman protectorate over Palestine.

Reflection

What was the reason for the success of the Maccabees? Before the final battle with Nicanor, Judas Maccabeus, “perceiving the hosts that were before him and the varied supply of arms and the savagery of the elephants, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the Lord who works wonders; for he knew it is not by arms, but as the Lord decides, that he gains the victory for those who deserve it” (2 Maccabees 15:21).

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.

Hebrews 11:33