Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the SeleucidsThis book is an account of the battles fought by Judas Maccabeus between 166 and 160 B.C. against the forces of the Seleucids during the revolt of the Jews against domination by the Seleucid empire. It reexamines the accepted assessments of Judas Maccabeus' activities and achievements and seeks to reconstruct the course of the military and political events of his time. Part I examines the composition and strength of the armies on both sides, their armaments and operating methods, and discusses the extent of Judas Maccabeus' success. Following an introduction evaluating the Jewish writings from all points of view, Part II gives detailed accounts of the battles, including the terrain and the tactics employed, analysing and commenting on the relevant narratives from the Book of Maccabees. Numerous appendices discuss individual problems vital to the reconstruction of the historical developments. |
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Contents
Introduction Deployment and tactics in field battles during the Hellenistic period | 3 |
The number of combatants on each side | 29 |
The armament and tactical composition of the Jewish army | 68 |
The ethnic origin and fighting capability of the Seleucid phalanx | 90 |
The Seleucid army and mountain warfare | 116 |
The military achievements of the Jewish forces | 130 |
The battlefields tactics and leadership of Judas Maccabaeus | 138 |
ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLES INTRODUCTION TEXT AND COMMENTARY | 149 |
The location and history of the Seleucid citadel the Akra in Jerusalem | 445 |
The chronology of Antiochus Epiphanes expedition to the eastern satrapies | 466 |
Defensive war on the Sabbath according to the Books of the Maccabees | 474 |
The ceremony at Mizpah and the chapter on the Priest Anointed for Battle in the mishnaic tractate Sotah | 494 |
The Babylonian Jews and the Galatians | 500 |
The negotiations between the Jews and the Seleucid authorities in the reigns of Antiochus Epiphanes and Antiochus Eupator | 516 |
The chronology of Lysias second expedition | 543 |
The route of Bacchides second expedition to Judaea | 552 |
The sources their date provenance and characteristics | 151 |
The beginning of the Revolt and the battle against Apollonius | 194 |
The ambush for Seron at the Beth Horon Ascent | 207 |
The ceremony at Mizpah and the Ammaus campaign | 219 |
Lysias first expedition and the raid near Beth Zur | 275 |
Lysias second expedition and the battle of Beth Zacharia | 291 |
The negotiations with Nicanor and the encounter at Kafar Salama | 347 |
The battle of Adasa and Nicanor Day | 359 |
Bacchides second expedition and the battle of Elasa | 376 |
Conclusion | 403 |
APPENDICES | 411 |
The infantry Royal Guard in the Seleucid army | 413 |
maarāKā formation and fālanks in the Hebrew original of I Maccabees | 432 |
Was a Seleucid military settlement established in Jerusalem? | 438 |
EXCURSUS | 560 |
The Seleucid dates in I Maccabees | 562 |
Migdal Zur in the MSS of the Scroll of Fasting sv ₁₄ Sivan and Beth Zur | 565 |
The deployment of the armies at Magnesia | 567 |
The Seleucid peltasts at Thermopylae | 569 |
The belief in resurrection and the sectarian affiliation of the authors of the two Books of the Maccabees | 571 |
ABBREVIATIONS | 589 |
| 592 | |
INDEX LOCORUM | 621 |
| 651 | |
| 667 | |
| 670 | |
Other editions - View all
Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids Bezalel Bar-Kochva No preview available - 1989 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted according addition Akra Ammaus Antiochus Epiphanes appears Bacchides battle battlefield believe Beth Beth Zacharia camp campaign cavalry certainly combat commander connection considerable Cyrene death defeat described detailed document doubt elephants enemy episode especially evidence expedition fact fight figures force formation Greek Guard hand heavy Hebrew Hellenistic hill II Maccabees included indicates infantry Jerusalem Jewish Jews Josephus Judaea Judas Maccabaeus king known later light Livy Lysias Macc Maccabees Macedonian meaning mentioned military mountain Nicanor noted operation original period phalangites phalanx Polybius position possible present proposed Ptolemy reason rebels reconstruction reference regard Revolt Roman Royal Sabbath scholars seems Seleucid army settlements settlers shield shows side siege soldiers sources story suggested Syria Temple term took translation troops units Valley various verse victory
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids |
| Author | B. Bar-Kochva |
| Edition | illustrated, revised |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2002 |
| ISBN | 0521016835, 9780521016834 |
| Length | 692 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General History / World |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |