Judas Maccabeus

the one who purified the Temple

Who was Judas Maccabeus?

Son of the priest Mattathias. He was called Maccabeus. 1 Maccabees 2:1-4
When his father died, he took his place at the head of the Israelites who were faithful to the Law. 1 Maccabees 2:66; 1 Maccabees 3:1-2
He purified the Temple in Jerusalem and established the feast of the Dedication. 1 Maccabees 4:36, 59

He is not Judas Iscariot, nor the apostle Jude Thaddeus. He lived in the second century before Christ.

The name: “Maccabeus” is his nickname. It probably means “hammer.” NAB introduction to 1 Maccabees
Also called: Judas, called Maccabeus 1 Maccabees 2:4 · Judas Machabeus, as the Douay-Rheims spells it 1 Maccabees 3:1
From: From a family of priests who left Jerusalem and went to Modein 1 Maccabees 2:1
Occupation: Leader of the army of the faithful Israelites 1 Maccabees 2:66

What the Bible says

1 Maccabees 2:1-4

¹In those days arose Mathathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin. ²And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis: ³And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi: ⁴And Judas, who was called Machabeus:

1 Maccabees 2:66; 1 Maccabees 3:1-2

And Judas Machabeus who is valiant and strong from his youth up, let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the people.

1 Maccabees 4:36, 59

³⁶Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them. ⁵⁹And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Judas Maccabeus

Before Jesus. His father Mattathias, a priest, had five sons. Judas was called Maccabeus. 1 Maccabees 2:1-4
Before Jesus. Before he died, Mattathias said that Judas, brave from his youth, would lead the army. 1 Maccabees 2:66
With Jesus. Judas took his father's place, and his brothers helped him. 1 Maccabees 3:1-2
With Jesus. Before a battle, he told his men that strength comes from heaven, not from numbers. 1 Maccabees 3:18-19
With Jesus. He found the Temple abandoned and profaned. He and his men tore their clothes and wept. 1 Maccabees 4:38-39
With Jesus. He chose faithful priests, who purified the Temple. They built a new altar and lit the lamps. 1 Maccabees 4:42-50
With Jesus. With his brothers, he decided that the Dedication would be celebrated every year, for eight days. 1 Maccabees 4:59
Afterward. He died in battle. His brothers buried him in Modein, and all Israel mourned him. 1 Maccabees 9:18-20

Words of Judas Maccabeus

“It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but strength cometh from heaven.” 1 Maccabees 3:18-19

When his men, few and weak from fasting, saw a large army coming.

“Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them.” 1 Maccabees 4:36

With his brothers, when they decided to purify the Temple.

What they were like

Brave from his youth. 1 Maccabees 2:66
He trusted God more than the number of his soldiers. 1 Maccabees 3:18-19
He loved the Temple: he wept when he saw it abandoned. 1 Maccabees 4:38-39

The greatest thing they did

He purified the Temple and renewed the altar. 1 Maccabees 4:42-53
He began the eight-day feast of the Dedication. 1 Maccabees 4:59
He prayed and offered a sacrifice for his fallen soldiers. 2 Maccabees 12:42-43

Not to be confused with

Judas Iscariot: Judas Iscariot was the apostle who handed Jesus over. Judas Maccabeus lived about two centuries earlier. Matthew 26:14-16; 1 Maccabees 2:4
Jude Thaddeus: Jude Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He has nothing to do with the Maccabees. Luke 6:16
Tradition calls the seven brothers who died with their mother for being faithful to the Law “Maccabees.” They are not Judas or his brothers. 2 Maccabees 7:1

What people ask

What does “Maccabeus” mean?

Probably “hammer.” In the books of Maccabees, only Judas is given that name. NAB introduction to 1 Maccabees

What is the feast of the Dedication?

The feast that Judas and his brothers began when they purified the Temple and renewed the altar. It lasted eight days. 1 Maccabees 4:56, 59

Did Jesus keep that feast?

The Gospel says that Jesus was in the Temple in Jerusalem during the feast of the Dedication, in winter. John 10:22-23

What did Judas do for his fallen soldiers?

He prayed for them and sent money to Jerusalem for a sacrifice. The Catechism cites this when it speaks of prayer for the dead. 2 Maccabees 12:42-43; Catechism 1032

Does the Bible speak of oil that lasted eight days?

No. The Bible says that they lit the lamps and celebrated the feast for eight days. 1 Maccabees 4:50, 56

Little known His brothers were named John, Simon, Eleazar, and Jonathan. 1 Maccabees 2:2-5 In his battles he used the sword of Apollonius, an enemy general. 1 Maccabees 3:12 They…

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Who Judas Maccabeus is connected to

Jesus · the feast of the Dedication

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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