Mattathias

Mattathias from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum

Mattathias ben Johanan (Hebrew: מַתִּתְיָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן בֶּן יוֹחָנָן‬, Matiṯyāhu haKohēn ben Yōḥānān) (died 165 BCE)[1] was a Kohen (Jewish priest) whose role in the religion-driven Maccabean Revolt against the Greek Seleucid Empire is related in the Books of the Maccabees. Mattathias is accorded a central role in the story of Hanukkah and, as a result, is named in the Al HaNissim prayer Jews add to the Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals) and the Amidah during the festival's eight days.

History

Mattahias appealing to Jewish refugees (illustration by Gustave Doré from the 1866 La Sainte Bible)

The father of Judas Maccabeus, Eleazar Avaran, Simon Thassi, John Gaddi, and Jonathan Apphus, Mattathias was from a rural priestly family from Modi'in. Like all fit priests, he served in the Temple in Jerusalem. He was a son of Yohannan, grandson of Simeon, the Hasmonean, and great-grandson of Asmon or Hasmonaeus, a Levite of the lineage of Joarib for being the fifth grandson of Idaiah, son of Joarib and grandson of Jachin, in turn a descendant of Phinehas, third High Priest of Israel, according to Mattathias' own words in 1 Maccabees.[2][3]

After the Seleucid persecutions began, Mattathias returned to Modi'in. In 167 BCE, when asked by a Seleucid Greek government representative under emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes to offer sacrifice to the Greek gods, he not only refused to do so, but slew with his own hand the Jew who had stepped forward to do so. He then killed the government official that required the act.[4]

Let everyone who has zeal for the Law and who stands by the covenant follow me!

— Mattathias, after assassinating the Greek government official, who was forcing him to sacrifice, Septuagint, 1st Maccabees 2:27.

Upon the edict for his arrest, he took refuge in the wilderness of Judea with his five sons and called upon all Jews to follow him. Many eventually responded to his call.

Context

Tomb of Mattathias ben Johanan, Israel

This was the first step in the Maccabean Revolt, the result of which was Jewish independence, which had not been enjoyed for more than 400 years. The events of the war of the Maccabees form the basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, which is celebrated by Jews on the 25th of Kislev (on the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to mid-November to late December in the Gregorian calendar).

In literature and liturgy

The story of the Maccabees can be found in the deuterocanonical books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, in Josephus, and in Talmudic references (Shabbat 21b, Shabbat 23a - related to the candles).

The "Al HaNisim" prayer, added into the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon on Chanukah, refers to the story of the Maccabees and to Mattathias by name.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mahlon H. Smith". Virtualreligion.net. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  3. ↑ T. Stanford Mommaerts (version of 4/11/2005). "Ancient Genealogy chart - Ansbertus". Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ↑ "2 Maccabees Ch. 2". Earlyjewishwritings.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  • Weir, William. 50 Battles That Changed the World: The Conflicts That Most Influenced the Course of History. Savage, Md: Barnes and Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-6609-6.
Mattathias
Jewish titles
New title Leader of the Maccabees
c. 167 BCE – 166 BCE		 Succeeded by
Judas Maccabeus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "article name needed". The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.

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