Biblical Profile: Maccabees

Maccabees

The Maccabees (meaning, “hammers”) successfully led a revolt against Antiochus IV in response to his persecution of the Jews. They and their descendants (called Hasmoneans) ruled Judea for nearly a hundred years and helped form Jewish society as we see it in the time of Jesus.

The Maccabean Revolt (166–142 BC)

When Antiochus IV made the practice of Judaism punishable by death in 167 BC, many Jews acquiesced, while others passively resisted and paid with their lives. Soon, more active resistance arose. When a representative of Antiochus IV came to the town of Modein to require the Jews to perform a pagan sacrifice, a priest named Mattathias killed him and then said, “Everyone who is zealous for the law of Moses and wants to obey the covenant, follow me!” (1 Maccabees 2:27). He then fled to the mountains with his sons and some other followers.