Eleazar Maccabeus

Eleazar Maccabeus

Eleazar Maccabeus, also known as Eleazar Hachorani/Choran(or Horani) (b. ???BC - d. 162 BC; Hebrew: אלעזר המכבי, אלעזר החורני "Eleazar HaMakabi") was the youngest son of Mattathias and the younger brother of Judas Maccabeus. He was killed at the Battle of Beth-zechariah during the Maccabean revolt. (1 Macc. 6:43-46)

Very little is known About Eleazar, except his heroic death as was told. According to the scroll of Antichus, his father saw in him a Zealot among zealots, like Pinhas. In the book of 2 Maccabees is it told that Eleazar read from the Tanakh in front of the people before going into his last battle

Death

According to 1 Maccabees, during the Battle of Beth-zechariah, Eleazar identified a war elephant that he believed to carry the Seleucid King Antiochus V, due to the special armor the elephant wore. He decided to endanger his life by attacking the elephant and thrusting a spear into its belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well. [Scullard, H.H "The Elephant in the Greek and Roman World" Thames and Hudson. 1974 pg 186] Despite this heroic effort, the smaller Jewish army was defeated in the battle. Josephus wrote that Eleazar, though killing many enemy soldiers, did not gain any real effect besides the name he made for himself. Another version of this story appears on the scroll of Antiochus, in which it is told that Eleazar was stamped on by a horde of elephants.

Commemoration

Eleazar's death was a popular subject for art in the Middle Ages, where it was given a typological significance as prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind [ [http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=ft7v19p1w6&chunk.id=d0e4325 Speculum & commentary] .] The chance to portray an elelphant was also welcomed by artists, although as most had never seen one, the results are often very strange. It is also portrayed in a painting of 19th century French artist Gustave Doré.

The Israeli settlement Elazar in Gush Etzion, near the site of the battle of Beth-zechariah, is named after him. Also there are streets named after him in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv.

References

External links

* [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/fortitude/whoswho.asp Tapestry with Eleazer killing the elephant]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Eleazar (disambiguation) — Eleazar ( he. אלעזר, lit. God s assistance ) is a common Hebrew name. It may refer to:People*Eleazar, son of Aaron and second High Priest of Israel *Elezar Ben Aminadab, who was entrusted as a keeper of the Ark of the covenant *Eleazar (son of… …   Wikipedia

  • Judas Maccabeus — Infobox Military Person name= Judas Maccabeus lived= caption= nickname= placeofbirth= Modiin, Judea placeofdeath= Elasa, near modern day Ramallah allegiance= Hasmonean branch= Maccabees serviceyears= 167 BCE 160 BCE rank= unit= commands= battles …   Wikipedia

  • Jonathan Maccabaeus — was leader of the Hasmonean Dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. He is called also Apphus (Ἀπφοῦς (Syriac, image )) = the dissembler or the diplomat , in allusion to a trait prominent in him; 1 Maccabees ii. 5).Leader of the JewsJonathan… …   Wikipedia

  • Cultural depictions of elephants — See also Elephant The founder of the Indo Greek Kingdom in Bactria, Demetrius I (205 171 BC), wearing the scalp of an elephant, symbol of his conquest of India[citation needed] …   Wikipedia

  • List of unusual deaths — This article provides a list of unusual deaths ndash; unique or extremely rare circumstances ndash; recorded throughout history. The list also includes less rare, but still unusual, deaths of prominent people.Antiquity Note: Many of these stories …   Wikipedia

  • List of unusual animal anecdotes — This article provides a list of unusual animal anecdotes ndash; unique or particularly absurd circumstances involving animals ndash; recorded throughout history. This bestiary focuses mainly on exotic animals such as tigers, lions, crocodiles and …   Wikipedia

  • Speculum Humanae Salvationis — Jacob s Ladder from a Speculum of ca. 1430, pre figuring the Ascension, right …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

  • Hanukkah — For other uses, see Hanukkah (disambiguation). Hanukkah A Hanukkiya or Hanukkah Menorah Official name Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה or חנוכה English translation: Establishing or Dedication (of the Temple in Jerusalem) …   Wikipedia

  • Woman with seven sons — Antonio Ciseri s Martyrdom of the Seven Maccabees (1863), depicting the woman with her dead sons. The woman with seven sons was a Jewish martyr described in 2 Maccabees 7 and other sources. Although unnamed in 2 Maccabees, she is known variously… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”