The Maccabean Revolt and the

MAP 5

M E D I T E R R A N E A N

S E A

S Y R I A

L E B A N O N

J O R D A N

DEAD SEA DEAD SEA

Jerusalem Jerusalem

Modi’in Modi’in Beth Horon Beth Horon

Emmaus Emmaus

Beth Zur Beth Zur

Beth Zechariah Beth Zechariah

Adasa Adasa Gezer Gezer

Joppa Joppa

Marisa Marisa

Shechem Shechem

Samaria Samaria

Scythopolis Scythopolis

Medeba Medeba

Dora Dora

Straton’s Tower Straton’s Tower

Raphia Raphia

Gamala Gamala

Pella Pella

Gerasa Gerasa

Gaza Gaza

Ashkelon Ashkelon

J U D E A

S A M A R I A

G A L I L E E

I D U M E A

G I L E A D

M O A B

Seleucid Empire

SEA OF GALILEE SEA OF GALILEE

L E G E N D

164 BCE, Judah Maccabee

141 BCE, Simon

104 BCE, Hyrcanus

About 80 BCE, Jannaeus

Held briefly, 80s BCE

Judah’s expeditions, 163 BCE

Modern Israel

City

Site of the revolt

Independent city

N

50 km

31 mi

North at top. Each shade adds territory to the one inside it. Outlines are approximate readings of ancient accounts. Modern borders are for reference.

MAP-005 · map

HISTORICAL MAPS

MAP 5 The Maccabean Revolt and the Hasmonean Kingdom

167 to 63 BCE, with the border of modern Israel for reference

After Alexander the Great, the land passed to the Ptolemies and in 200 BCE to the Seleucid Empire. In 167 BCE Antiochus IV banned Jewish practice and desecrated the Temple. Mattathias, a priest of Modi’in, raised a revolt that his son Judah Maccabee led to victory. On 25 Kislev in 164 BCE the Temple was rededicated, the origin of Hanukkah.

The Maccabees, later called the Hasmoneans, then won a state. Simon led from 142 BCE, took the Akra fortress in 141 BCE and was confirmed as high priest and leader. Aristobulus I took the title of king in 104 BCE.

In 163 BCE neighbors attacked the Jews living among them. Judah and Jonathan crossed the Jordan to Gilead, Simon brought the Jews of Galilee back to Judea, and Judah struck the Idumeans in the south and marched through Marisa, their capital. Hyrcanus later took Marisa and made its people convert, and from them came Herod.

Jannaeus (103 to 76 BCE) took the kingdom to its greatest extent. After his widow Salome Alexandra, two brothers fought for the throne until Pompey took Jerusalem in 63 BCE. Herod, son of the Idumean Antipater, ended the dynasty in 37 BCE (Map 6).

STAGES AND PLACES

164 BCE Judah Maccabee holds Jerusalem and the Judean hills. The Seleucid Akra fortress still stands.

141 BCE Simon holds Joppa and Gezer, takes the Akra and gains the districts of Lydda and Ephraim.

104 BCE John Hyrcanus takes Idumea, Samaria and Medeba. Aristobulus I adds Galilee.

About 80 BCE Jannaeus holds the coast from Carmel to Raphia, Gilead and the Golan. Moab only briefly.

Modi’in Home of Mattathias, where the revolt began in 167 BCE. The ancient site is uncertain.

Beth Horon, Emmaus Judah defeats Seleucid armies on the roads up to Jerusalem, 166 and 165 BCE.

Beth Zur, Beth Zechariah Judah wins at Beth Zur in 164 BCE. The Seleucids retake it in 162 and win at Beth Zechariah.

Jerusalem, Adasa Temple rededicated in 164 BCE. Judah kills Nicanor at Adasa in 161 and falls at Elasa in 160.

Shechem, Samaria Hyrcanus takes Shechem about 110 BCE, then destroys the Samaritan temple and Samaria by about 108.

Marisa Idumean capital. Judah passed through in 163 BCE. Hyrcanus converted its people, Herod’s forebears.

Coast and east Jannaeus takes Dora, Straton’s Tower, Raphia, Gaza (96 BCE), Gamala, Pella, Gerasa. Ashkelon stays free.

Sources: Josephus, Antiquities 12 to 14. 1 and 2 Maccabees. Wikipedia entries on the Maccabean Revolt and the Hasmonean dynasty.

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