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| == Defection to Demetrius II == | == Defection to Demetrius II == | ||
| In 147 BCE, while Alexander Balas was addressing ], Apollonius Taos defected to ]. This defection was supported by the Hellenized ] cities, which aligned with Apollonius against Alexander. Apollonius challenged Jonathan Maccabeus, a Jewish leader and ally of Alexander, to battle, suggesting that the Jews might leave the mountains and venture into the plain. <ref>{{cite book |last=Fischer-Bovet |first=Christelle |chapter=The Machinations of the Ptolemaic State in Its Relationship with Judea (160–104 BCE) |editor-last=Berlin |editor-first=Andrea M. |editor2-last=Kosmin |editor2-first=Paul J. |title=The Middle Maccabees: Archaeology, History, and the Rise of the Hasmonean Kingdom |publisher=Society of Biblical Literature |year=2021 |pages=293–310 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1k531p8.21 |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> | In 147 BCE, while Alexander Balas was addressing ], Apollonius Taos defected to ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jonathan Maccabeus |url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8773-jonathan-maccabeus |website=Jewish Encyclopedia |access-date=January 12, 2025}}</ref> This defection was supported by the Hellenized ] cities, which aligned with Apollonius against Alexander. Apollonius challenged Jonathan Maccabeus, a Jewish leader and ally of Alexander, to battle, suggesting that the Jews might leave the mountains and venture into the plain. <ref>{{cite book |last=Fischer-Bovet |first=Christelle |chapter=The Machinations of the Ptolemaic State in Its Relationship with Judea (160–104 BCE) |editor-last=Berlin |editor-first=Andrea M. |editor2-last=Kosmin |editor2-first=Paul J. |title=The Middle Maccabees: Archaeology, History, and the Rise of the Hasmonean Kingdom |publisher=Society of Biblical Literature |year=2021 |pages=293–310 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1k531p8.21 |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> | ||
| == Conflict with Jonathan Maccabeus == | == Conflict with Jonathan Maccabeus == | ||
Revision as of 15:58, 12 January 2025
Governor of Coele-Syria under the Seleucid Empire| Apollonius Taos | |
|---|---|
| Era | 2nd century BCE |
| Known for | Governor of Coele-Syria under the Seleucid Empire; defection to Demetrius II Nicator; military conflict with Jonathan Maccabeus |
Apollonius Taos was a governor of Coele-Syria under the Seleucid Empire during the 2nd century BCE.
Background
Apollonius served as governor under Alexander Balas, who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 150 to 142 BCE.
This period was marked by internal strife and external threats, creating instability within the empire. A few years earlier, in 175 B.C., Antiochus IV Epiphanes had set a violent precedent by seizing the throne from his brother, Seleucus IV Philopator, and having him assassinated.
This event initiated a pattern of violent succession crises within the Seleucid dynasty. Rival claimants to the throne often relied on foreign powers and internal factions to assert their claims, further destabilizing the empire until its eventual decline and conquest by the Roman Empire.
Defection to Demetrius II
In 147 BCE, while Alexander Balas was addressing northern invasions, Apollonius Taos defected to Demetrius II Nicator. This defection was supported by the Hellenized Philistine cities, which aligned with Apollonius against Alexander. Apollonius challenged Jonathan Maccabeus, a Jewish leader and ally of Alexander, to battle, suggesting that the Jews might leave the mountains and venture into the plain.
Conflict with Jonathan Maccabeus
In response, the Maccabean Jonathan Apphus and his brother Simon Thassi led a force of 10,000 men against Apollonius's forces stationed in Jaffa . The city, unprepared for an attack, opened its gates to them out of fear. Apollonius then received reinforcements from Azotus and confronted Jonathan with 3,000 men, relying on his superior cavalry. Despite being outnumbered, Jonathan's forces successfully resisted and ultimately defeated Apollonius's army. Jonathan pursued the fleeing forces to Azotus, capturing and burning the city along with the temple of Dagon. In reward for his victory, Alexander Balas granted Jonathan the city of Ekron with its surrounding territory.
References
- "Jonathan Maccabeus". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- Fischer-Bovet, Christelle (2021). "The Machinations of the Ptolemaic State in Its Relationship with Judea (160–104 BCE)". In Berlin, Andrea M.; Kosmin, Paul J. (eds.). The Middle Maccabees: Archaeology, History, and the Rise of the Hasmonean Kingdom. Society of Biblical Literature. pp. 293–310. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews, 13.91. Translated by William Whiston. Lexundria
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Gottheil, Richard; Krauss, Samuel (1901–1906). "Jonathan Maccabeus". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
- 1 Maccabees 10:69–89.
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