Maccabeus, Jonathan

Jonathan Maccabeus, also called Apphus, Maccabeus also spelled Maccabaeus, (died 143/142 bce), Jewish general, a son of the priest Mattathias, who took over the leadership of the Maccabean revolt after the death of his elder brother Judas. A brilliant diplomat, if not quite so good a soldier as his elder brother, Jonathan refused all compromise with the superior Seleucid forces, taking advantage of their internal troubles to free Judaea again from external rule. In 143/142, however, he was lured into a trap and killed; he was then succeeded as leader of the revolt by his youngest brother, Simon.