The Maccabees were a Jewish family who fought against the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty, who was succeeded by his infant son Antiochus V Eupator. The Maccabees founded the Hasmonean royal line and established Jewish independence in the land of Israel for about 100 years (from 165 BC to 63 BC). The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175 - 163 BC). ... The term Hellenistic (established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen) in the history of the ancient world is used to refer to the shift from a culture dominated by ethnic Greeks, however scattered geographically, to a culture dominated by Greek-speakers of whatever ethnicity, and from the political dominance... Seleucus I Nicator (Nicator, the Victor) (around 358–281 BC) was one of Alexander the Greats generals who, after Alexanders death in 323 BC, founded the Seleucid Empire. ... Antiochus V Eupator (reigned 164-162 BC), was only nine when he succeeded as head of the Seleucid dynasty. ... The Hasmonean Kingdom (pronunciation) in ancient Judea and its ruling dynasty from 140 BC to 37 BC was established under the leadership of Simon Maccabaeus, two decades after Judah the Maccabee defeated the Seleucid army in 165 BC. Origin of the Hasmonean dynasty The origin of the Hasmonean dynasty is... The Land of Israel (Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael) refers to the land making up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 170 BC 169 BC 168 BC 167 BC 166 BC - 165 BC - 164 BC 163 BC 162... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC - 60s BC - 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC Years: 68 BC 67 BC 66 BC 65 BC 64 BC 63 BC 62 BC 61 BC 60...

In 165 BC, Judas Maccabaeus started the revolt against the Seleucid overlords of Judea. After defeating them militarily, he entered Jerusalem in triumph and cleansed the Temple, reestablishing traditional Jewish worship there. Judas Maccabeus (also called Judah the Maccabee) was the third son of the Jewish priest Mathathias. ... Jerusalem ( Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushaláyim, Arabic: القدس al-Quds, see also names of Jerusalem) is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ...

Independence was achieved gradually. It was not until 140 that Simon had himself crowned king (in, ironically, a Hellenistic ceremony). Jewish historians have said that Simon's claiming of kingship is what led to the downfall of the state, since no one who did not belong to the Davidic line was supposed to hold that title. In any case, the Maccabee kings ruled in manner similar that of the Seleucids, save for allowing Jews to practice their religion. Their bureaucracy was filled with men with Greek names. Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC - 140s BC - 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC Years: 145 BC 144 BC 143 BC 142 BC 141 BC - 140 BC - 139 BC 138 BC... Simon Maccabaeus (died 134 BC) was a member of the Maccabees family. ... Davidic line, or Davidic Kingdom, known in Hebrew as Malchut Beit David (Monarchy [of the] House of David) refers to the tracing of royal lineage by kings and major leaders in Jewish history to King David in Judaism. ...

Judas Maccabeus' victory over the Seleucids is celebrated each year at Hanukkah. Chanukah (חנכה ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה ḥănūkkāh) is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of lights. ...

The story of the Maccabees can be found in the deuterocanonical books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. The deuterocanonical books are the books that Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Oriental Orthodoxy include in the Old Testament that were not part of the Jewish Tanakh. ... 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible which was probably written about 100 BC, after the restoration of an independent Jewish kingdom. ... 2 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible which focuses on the Jews revolt against Antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the Syrian general Nicanor in 161 BC by Judas Maccabeus, the hero of the work. ...