Simon Thassi
Son of Mattathias and last of the Maccabee brothers. He freed Judea from Seleucid tribute, took the citadel of Jerusalem, and was confirmed by a national assembly as high priest and ruler. The Hasmonean dynasty descends from him.
Simon, “who was called Thassi”, was one of the five sons of Mattathias, who on his deathbed called him a man of counsel and told his brothers to listen to him (1 Maccabees 2:3, 65). He commanded in Galilee under Judas Maccabeus (1 Maccabees 5:17–23) and became leader when Jonathan was taken prisoner (1 Maccabees 13:1–9).
Under him the Seleucid king gave up his claim to tribute, the foreign garrison left the citadel of Jerusalem, and an assembly of the people made him leader and high priest “until there should arise a faithful prophet” (1 Maccabees 13:36–42, 49–51) (1 Maccabees 14:41). He built a monument over the family tomb at Modein (1 Maccabees 13:27–30). He was murdered with two of his sons by his son-in-law Ptolemy in the 177th year of the Seleucid era (1 Maccabees 16:11–16). Josephus gives him a rule of eight years (Josephus, Antiquities 13.213–214, 228). See Judea Gains Independence under the Hasmoneans.
In the timeline
- 142 BC, firm dateJudea Gains Independence under the Hasmoneans
Simon, the last of the Maccabee brothers, wins freedom from Seleucid tribute and is made high priest and ruler by a national assembly. His son John Hyrcanus enlarges the state by conquest. Judea is ruled by its own priest-princes for some eighty years.