Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MACCABEES

Burial site of the Maccabees near Modein/Ras Medieh (149148). The burial chambers
are topped by heavy blocks (Phoenix Data Systems, Neal and Joel Bierling)

A term designating (1) the dynasty founded by Mattathias the Hasmonean which ruled the Jews from the 160s to 63 b.c.e. when the Romans entered Jerusalem; and (2) the son of Mattathias, Judas the Maccabee, the first leader of the Jewish revolt against the Seleucids. Though the name “Maccabee” was first applied only to Judas, the use of the title “Maccabean Histories” (Gk. Makkabaiōn) in the Christian Church during the 2nd century for both 1–2 Maccabees resulted in the habit of referring to all the heroes of the books as “Maccabees.” In this way, “Maccabean” and “Hasmonean” became synonymous in Greek and later literature. The name Maccabee is not found in rabbinic literature.

1 Macc. 2:4 introduces Judas as “Judas called Maccabeus,” and each of his four brothers also are listed with nicknames. Although it is not known when or how Judas acquired the appellation, several explanations exist for its derivation and significance. The most popular explanation adduces the similarity between the name and the Hebrew term for “hammer” (mqbt) to explain that Judas was called “the Hammer” due to his military prowess and strength (cf. Carl Martel [Lat. the “Hammer”], 8th-century conqueror of the Saracens). Alternatively, the derivation may be from participle forms of the Hebrew roots kbʾ/kbh (“to extinguish”) or qbʿ (“to overpower”), both of which may have lent themselves to association with Judas’ military career. Because it is not known whether the name was given at birth, during adulthood, or as a result of some deed or feature, however, it is not possible to determine with certainty the purpose for the appellation. Most scholars associate the name with Judas’ military career rather than any other feature or event associated with him.

See Hasmoneans.

Bibliography. J. A. Goldstein, I Maccabees. AB 41 (Garden City, 1976); S. S. Tedesche and S. Zeitlin, The First Book of Maccabees (New York, 1950).

Melissa M. Aubin