Smith's Bible Dictionary

•The son of Shallum, a Levite of high rank in the reign of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 35:4) comp, 1Chr
9:19
•A priest; ancestor of Baruch and Seraiah, the sons of Neriah. (Jeremiah 32:12; 51:59)
Maasiai
(work of the Lord), a priest who after the return from Babylon dwelt in Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles
9:12)
Maath
(small), son of Mattathias in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (Luke 3:26)
Maaziah
(consolation of Jehovah).
•One of the priests who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:8)
•A priest in the reign of David, head of the twenty-fourth course. (1 Chronicles 24:18)
Macaerus
a castle of the Herods on the southern border of their Perean dominions, nine miles east of the
northern end of the Dead Sea. Here John the Baptist was imprisoned, and here was held the feast
where Herodias, at whose request John was beheaded, danced before the king.
Maccabees
(a hammer), The. This title, which was originally the surname of Judas, one of the sons of
Mattathias, was afterward extended to the heroic family of which he was one of the noblest
representatives. Asmonaeans or Hasmonaeans is the Proper name of the family, which is derived
from Cashmon, great grandfather of Mattathias. The Maccabees were a family of Jews who resisted
the authority of Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria and his successors who had usurped authority
over the Jews, conquered Jerusalem, and strove to introduce idolatrous worship. The standard of
independence was first raised by Mattathias, a priest of the course of Joiarih. He seems, however,
to have been already advanced in years when the rising was made, and he did not long survive the
fatigues of active service. He died B.C. 166, having named Judas—apparently his third son—as
his successor in directing the war of independence. After gaining several victories over the other
generals of Antiochus, Judas was able to occupy Jerusalem except the “tower,” and purified the
temple exactly three years after its profanation. Nicanor was defeated, first at Capharsalama, and
again in a decisive battle at Adasa B.C. 161, where he was slain. This victory was the greatest of
Judas’ successes, and practically decided the question of Jewish independence; but shortly after
Judas fell at Eleasa, fighting at desperate odds against the invaders. After the death of Judas, Jonathan
his brother succeeded to the command, and later assumed the high-priestly office. He died B.C.
144, and was succeeded by Simon the last remaining brother of the Maccabaean family, who died
B.C. 135. The efforts of both brothers were crowned with success. On the death of Simon, Johannes
Hyrcanus, one of his sons, at once assumed the government, B.C. 135, and met with a peaceful
death B.C. 105. His eldest son, Aristobulus I., who succeeded him B.C. 105-101, was the first who
assumed the kingly title, though Simon had enjoyed the fullness of the kingly power. Alexander
Jannaeus was the next successor B.C. 104-78. Aristobulus II. and Hyrcanus III. engaged in a civil
war On the death of their mother, Alexandra, B.C. 78-69, resulting in the dethronement of Aristobulus
II., B.C. 69-69, and the succession of Hyrcanus under Roman rule but without his kingly title, B.C.
63-40. From B.C. 40 to B.C. 37 Antigonus, a son of Aristobulus II., ruled, and with his two
grandchildren, Aristobulus and Mariurnne, the Asmonaean dynasty ended.
Maccabees, Books Of