Battle of Emmaus

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Emmaus
partof=the Maccabean Revolt
date=166 BC
place=near Emmaus
result= Jewish victory
combatant1=Maccabees
combatant2=Seleucid Empire
commander1=Judas Maccabeus
commander2=Gorgias, Nicanor and Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes
strength1=c. 3000
strength2=At least 5000
casualties1=
casualties2=c. 3000
The Battle of Emmaus took place in 166 BC between the Hasmonean forces of Judea, led by Judas Maccabeus, also spelled Machabeus, or Maccabaeus, known to history as Judas the Hammer, and the third expedition of Greek forces given by Antiochus IV Epiphanes to Lysias. The generals for the expedition were Gorgias, Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes and Nicanor. [Machabeus 1 ch 3 verse 38]

Battle

Gorgias established his base camp at the town of Emmaus, along the western border of Judea, while Judas Maccabeus' camp was located in the town of Mitzpah, north of Jerusalem. Word reached Maccabeus that Gorgias was leading 5,000 troops on a march against his camp and was planning to surprise the Jewish rebels in a night-time attack, Judas abandoned his camp and led his forces to Emmaus, to attack the Hellenic base camp that remained there. Gorgias found the camp at Mizpah empty and deserted. The only obvious place in the area to hide was the mountains. So Gorgias and his men scoured the hills for Jewish soldiers. They were unsuccessful.

Judas Maccabeus organized his men, to attack the Emmauscamp, into units resembling a regular army, with units of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. They set up a fortified camp on the south side of Emmaus. Judas addressed his men, urging them to fight valiantly, "for it is better for us to die in battle than to see the evils of our nation, and of the holies. Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of God in heaven, so be it done." Though he spoke these words, Judas Maccabeus was seeking victory, not death and glory through martyrdom.

Gorgias returned to Emmaus, only to find his camp destroyed with the rebel army in possession of the camp and in position against his troops. Gorgias did not give battle after the destruction of his base but fled to the coastal plains with Judas' pursuing his army. It was considered one of Judas Maccabeus' most important victories in the war for Judean independence.

Footnotes

Bibliography

*cite book |author=Weir, William |title=50 Battles That Changed the World: The Conflicts That Most Influenced the Course of History |publisher=Barnes and Noble Books |location=Savage, Md |year= |pages= |isbn=0-7607-6609-6 |oclc= |doi=

External links

[http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4219672 1 Maccabees]

See also

Emmaus Nicopolis