Battle of Beth Horon (166 BC)

The Battle of Beth Horon was fought in 166 BC,[1] between Maccabee forces led by Judah Maccabee and an army of the Seleucid Empire under the command of Seron,[2] described as "commander of the Syrian army" in 1 Maccabees 3:13.

This article is about the battle between Hasmoneans and Hellenic Seleucid Empire. For
the battle between Judean rebels and the Syrian Legion of the Roman Empire, see Battle of Beth Horon (66).
Battle of Beth Horon
Part of Maccabean Revolt

Mina of Antiochus IV.
Date166 BC
Location
Beth-horon, ascent of Beit Horon
Result Decisive Jewish victory
Belligerents
Judean rebels Seleucid army
Commanders and leaders
Judah Maccabee Seron
Strength
1,000 men 4,000 men
Casualties and losses
Unknown 800

Beth-Horon, or Bethoron, was a strategic mountain pass leading from the coastal plain to the Judean hill country where, according to Joshua 10:10–11, Joshua had won an important battle.[3]

The Jewish army, led by Judah Maccabee, had just won a battle at Ma'aleh Levona against the Seleucid General Apollonius.[4][5] Seron spread out his force in anticipation of the Maccabees' guerrilla warfare tactics. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Maccabees, who ultimately defeated the general's leading unit, killing Seron himself.[5] The rest of the Seleucid force retreated shortly afterwards.

Another force was soon sent against the Maccabees, which led to the Battle of Emmaus.

See also

References
  1. Mattis Kantor, "The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia," (1989: Jason Aronson, Inc., NJ), p.83
  2. Josephus, Antiquities Book 12 Chapter 7 paragraph 1
  3. Footnote b in New American Bible, Revised Edition at 1 Maccabees 3:16
  4. The Apocrypha: First Book of the Maccabees 3:15-26 [trans. Goodspeed (1959), p. 384-385]
  5. "Judas Maccabeus, Hammer of the Jews", Military Heritage Magazine, February 2009, pg. 49-50

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