Category:Alcimus (subject)
Alcimus (2nd century BCE) was the Jewish High Priest, 162-159 BCE.
Overview
Alcimus was appointed High Priest by Antiochus V Eupator and Lysias to succeed Menelaus, who was blamed by the Seleucids for all trouble in Jerusalem and executed as a traitor. Alcimus somehow managed to be reconfirmed under Demetrius I Soter.
Alcimus was not a member of the House of Zadok) (though he was an Aaronite). He was pro-Seleucid and fiercely anti-Hasmonean. He must have appeared as a moderate leader of the Hellenistic party in the eyes of many Aaronites, who at least initially, welcomed his appointment. During his tenure, Judas Maccabeus after his victory over Nicanor, was defeated and killed by Bacchides. At this point Alcimus and the Hellenistic party thought they could restart some reforms in the Temple. The attempt to demolish a wall in the Temple raised a lot of opposition. The sudden death of Alcimus appeared as a sign of displeasure by God, the work was interrupted and the high priesthood remained apparently vacant for some years, until the victory of the Maccabean party marked the defeat of the Hellenistic party and opened a new page in the history of the Jewish priesthood.
The possibility that the writing of 1 Baruch be connected to Alcimus' appointment, would shed more light on an otherwise obscure figure.
Alcimus in ancient sources
Alcimus is mentioned in 1 & 2 Maccabees and in Josephus' Jewish Antiquities. All sources are hostile to him. They all agree that Alcimus was appointed by Antiochus V and Lysias after Menelaus was removed from office and executed. According to the Books of Maccabees Judas Maccabeus was killed in battle before the death of Alcimus. In Ant XII Josephus puts the death of Alcimus first, and claims that Judas Maccabeus became the new High Priest before dying in battle, a notion that however he himself later contradicts in Ant XX. Josephus also maintains that Menelaus was a member of the House of Zadok and Onias IV fled to Egypt only when Alcimus took the High Priesthood.
- See Alcimus (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
Alcimus in scholarship
- Alcimus (research) -- survey of scholarly works
References
- Alcimus / Uriel Rappaport / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:145
Related categories
External links
Pages in category "Alcimus (subject)"
This category contains only the following page.