Alcimus
Alcimus
(Alkimos, “brave,” probably a Græcized form of the Heb. Eliacim).
High-priest, the leader of the hellenizing party in the time of Judas Machabeus. By antagonizing the religious and national sentiments of his countrymen, he won favour at court, and though not of high-priestly stock, he was appointed high-priest by Lysias, the regent of Antiochus Eupator (162 B.C.); but the opposition to the Machabean party prevented him from exercising the office. He therefore went to Demetrius Soter, who in the meanwhile had overthrown Eupator and denounced Judas and his adherents as rebels and disturbers. Demetrius reappointed him to the high-priesthood and send Bacchides with an army to install him. But the perfidious slaughter of sixty prominent Assideans, the cruelties of Bacchides, and the excesses of Alcimus’s followers strengthened the Machabean party, and Bacchides had hardly left the country when Alcimus was forced to appeal to the king for help. Demetrius first sent Nicanor with an army, and, after his defeat and death, Bacchides, in fighting against whom Judas died a heroic death at Laisa (Eleasa), 160 B.C. Alcimus now set to work to carry out his hellenizing policy and to persecute those faithful to the law. But that same year he was stricken with paralysis and died in great suffering.
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I Mach. VII, 5-ix, 56; II Mach. XIV, 13-xv, 35; Josephus, Antiq., XII, ix, 7-xi, incl.; Schürer, History of the Jewish People, (New York, 1891) I, I, 227-236.
F. BECHTEL Transcribed by Michael Christensen
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume ICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Alcimus
(, strong, or perh. only a Graecized form of the Hebrew Eliakim), called, also, Jacimus, i e. Joakim (, Josephus, Ant. 12, 9, 7), a Jewish priest (1Ma 7:14) who, apostatizing to the Syrians, was appointed high-priest (B.C. 162) by King Demetrius, as successor of Menelaus (1Ma 7:5), by the influence of Lysias, though not of the pontifical family (Josephus, Ant. 12, 9, 7; 20:10; 1Ma 7:14), to the exclusion of Onias, the nephew of Menelaus, having already been nominated by Antiochus Eupator (Josephus, Ant. 12, 9, 7; comp. Selden, De success. in pontyf. p. 150), and instated into office by force of arms by the Syrian general Bacchides (1Ma 7:9 sq.). According to a Jewish tradition (Bereshith R. 65), he was sister’s son of Jose ben-Joeser,” chief of the Sanhedrim, whom he afterward put to death (Raphall, Hist. of Jews, 1, 245, 308). At first he attached many of the patriots to his cause by fair promises (1Ma 7:18 sq.), but soon alienated by his perfidy not only these but his other friends, so that he was at length compelled to flee from the opposition of Judas Maccabeus to the Syrian king (1Ma 7:25; 2Ma 14:3 sq.). Nicanor, who was sent with a large army to assist him, was routed and slain by the Jewish patriots (1Ma 7:43; 2Ma 15:37), B.C. 161. Bacchides immediately advanced a second time against Jerusalem with a large army, routed Judas, who fell in the battle (B.C. 161), and reinstated Alcimus. After his restoration, Alcimus seems to have attempted to modify the ancient worship, and, as he was engaged in pulling down “the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary” (i.e. which separated the court of the Gentiles from it; yet see Grimm, Comment. on 1Ma 9:54), he was plagued” (by paralysis), and
died at that time,” B.C. 160 (Josephus, Ant. 12, 9, 5; 12:10; 1 Maccabees 7, 9; comp. 2 Maccabees 14, 15; see Ewald, Gesch. des Volkes Isr. 4, 365 sq.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Alcimus
ALCIMUS (the Greek for valiant, suggested by the Hebrew Eliakim, God sets up) was son or nephew of Jose ben-Joeser, pupil to Antigonus of Socho (b.c. 190). Antiochus V. (Eupator), king of Syria, appointed him high priest (b.c. 162). Either because he was not of high priestly family (though of the stock of Aaron, 1Ma 7:14), or, more probably, from his Hellenizing tendencies, his appointment was stoutly opposed by Judas Maccabus, and received hut scanty recognition at Jerusalem. Demetrius Soter, cousin and successor to Antiochus, in response to Alcimuss solicitations, reinstated him by the means of Nicanor, the Syrian general. He now received, moreover, considerable local support from the Hellenizing party. It was not, however, till the defeat and death of Judas at Elasa that he was in a position to commence his Hellenizing measures, and shortly afterwards he died of paralysis (b.c. 160).
A. W. Streane.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Alcimus
alsi-mus (, ‘elyakum, God will rise; , Alkmos, valiant): A high priest for three years, 163-161 bc, the record of whose career may be found in 1 Macc 7:4-50; 9:1-57; 2 Macc 14; see also Ant, XII, 9-11; XX, 10. He was a descendant of Aaron, but not in the high-priestly line (1 Macc 7:14; also Ant, XX, 10); and being ambitious for the office of high priest, he hastened to Antioch to secure the favor and help of the new king, Demetrius, who had just overthrown Antiochus Eupator and made himself king. Alcimus was of the Grecianizing party, and therefore bitterly opposed by the Maccabees. Demetrius sent a strong army under Bacchides to establish him in the high-priesthood at Jerusalem. The favor with which Alcimus was received by the Jews at Jerusalem on account of his Aaronic descent was soon turned to hate by his cruelties. When Bacchides and his army returned to Antioch, Simon Maccabeus attacked and overcame Alcimus, and drove him also to Syria. There he secured from Demetrius another army, led by Nicanor, who, failing to secure Simon by treachery, joined battle with him, but was defeated and killed. A third and greater army, under Bacchides again, was dispatched to save the falling fortunes of Alcimus. Now Simon was overwhelmed and slain, Alcimus established as high priest and a strong force left in Jerusalem to uphold him. But he did not long enjoy his triumph, since he died soon after from a paralytic stroke.