Battle of Beth Zur

Battle of Beth Zur
Part of the Maccabean Revolt
Ruins of medieval tower at Khirbet Burj as-Sur, biblical Beth-zur, 1920s
Date 164 BC[1] Location near Beth Zur, just north of Hebron Result Jewish victory
Belligerents
Maccabean rebels	Seleucid army
Commanders and leaders
Judas Maccabeus	Lysias
Strength
10,000	20,000 Infantry, 5,000 Cavalry, 300 Chariots and 22 War elephants
Casualties and losses
Unknown	5,000

The Battle of Beth Zur was fought between the Maccabees led by Judas Maccabeus and a Seleucid Greek army led by Viceroy Lysias in 164 BC.^[1] Maccabeus won the battle, and was able to recapture Jerusalem soon after. The Jews did not fight in open terrain; they used guerrilla and hit and run tactics to slowly beat back the Seleucid army and eventually rout it.

According to 1 Enoch chapters 83-90 (the Animal Apocalypse), the battle was joined on the side of the Maccabees by an angel who had been recording the event. ^[2]

References

1. This date may be disputed since the Maccabean revolt was not until 140 BC according to Jewish reckoning and information with Jewish sources (Talmud). [Mattis Kantor, "The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia," (1989: Jason Aronson, Inc., NJ), p.83] See the article Missing Years (Hebrew calendar) for further clarification.
2. Collins, John. The Apocalyptic Imagination. WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998, p. 71.