Simon (1)
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Simon (1) in the Bible?
Simon Thassi, a son of Mattathias and brother of Judas Maccabeus and Jonathan Apphus, was appointed ethnarch and high priest by the Jewish assembly in 141 BC. He consolidated Hasmonean power by capturing the Acra fortress in Jerusalem, fortifying key strongholds, and negotiating a treaty with Rome that secured Judea's political autonomy from the Seleucid Empire.
SIGNIFICANCE
Simon's establishment of an independent Hasmonean dynasty fulfills the prophetic vision of a restored Jewish state under its own leadership, providing the historical context for the Maccabean revolt narratives found in the Apocrypha and setting the stage for the subsequent political tensions in the New Testament era.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Simon (1) in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Simon (1) clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.