Battle of Beth Zur
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| Battle of Beth Zur | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Maccabean Revolt | |||||||
Ruins of medieval tower at Khirbet Burj as-Sur, biblical Beth-zur, 1920s |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Maccabean rebels | Seleucid army | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Judas Maccabeus | Lysias | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000 | 60,000 Infantry, 5,000 Cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 5,000 | ||||||
The Battle of Beth Zur was fought between the Maccabees led by Judas Maccabeus and a Seleucid Greek army led by Viceroy Lysias in 164 BC.[1] Maccabeus won the battle, and was able to recapture Jerusalem soon after. The Jews did not fight in open terrain; they used guerrilla and hit and run tactics to slowly beat back the Seleucid army and eventually rout it.
According to 1 Enoch chapters 83-90 (the Animal Apocalypse), the battle was joined on the side of the Maccabees by an angel who had been recording the event. [2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b This date may be disputed since the Maccabean revolt was not until 140 BC according to Jewish reckoning and information with Jewish sources (Talmud). [Mattis Kantor, "The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia," (1989: Jason Aronson, Inc., NJ), p.83] See the article Missing Years (Hebrew calendar) for further clarification.
- ^ Collins, John. The Apocalyptic Imagination. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998, p. 71.
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