Eleazar Avaran: Difference between revisions
Image update |
m Dating maintenance tags: {{Cn}} |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Little is known about Eleazar, except his heroic death as was told. According to the scroll of Antiochus, his father saw in him a [[Kanai (Judaism)|Zealot]] among zealots, like [[Pinhas]]. In {{Bibleverse|2|Maccabees|8:21-23|NRSV}} it is told that Eleazar read from the [[Tanakh]] in front of the people just before the last battle began in {{Bibleverse|3|Maccabees|6:1-15|NRSV}}. |
Little is known about Eleazar, except his heroic death as was told. According to the scroll of Antiochus, his father saw in him a [[Kanai (Judaism)|Zealot]] among zealots, like [[Pinhas]]. In {{Bibleverse|2|Maccabees|8:21-23|NRSV}} it is told that Eleazar read from the [[Tanakh]] in front of the people just before the last battle began in {{Bibleverse|3|Maccabees|6:1-15|NRSV}}. |
||
==Death== |
==Death and legacy== |
||
According to {{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|6:43-46|NRSV}}, during the [[Battle of Beth Zechariah|Battle of Beit Zechariah]], Eleazar identified a [[war elephant]] that he believed to carry the [[Seleucid]] King [[Antiochus V]], due to the special armor the elephant wore. He decided to endanger his life by attacking the elephant and thrusting a spear into its belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well.<ref>{{cite book|last=Scullard|first=Howard Hayes|title=The Elephant in the Greek and Roman World|year=1974|publisher=Cornell Univ Press|isbn=978-0801409318|pages=186|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zzNoAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> |
According to {{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|6:43-46|NRSV}}, during the [[Battle of Beth Zechariah|Battle of Beit Zechariah]], Eleazar identified a [[war elephant]] that he believed to carry the [[Seleucid]] King [[Antiochus V]], due to the special armor the elephant wore. He decided to endanger his life by attacking the elephant and thrusting a spear into its belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well.<ref>{{cite book|last=Scullard|first=Howard Hayes|title=The Elephant in the Greek and Roman World|year=1974|publisher=Cornell Univ Press|isbn=978-0801409318|pages=186|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zzNoAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> |
||
Despite this heroic effort, the smaller Jewish army was defeated in the battle. [[Josephus]] wrote that Eleazar, though killing many enemy soldiers, did not gain any real effect besides the name he made for himself. In another variation of this story which appears in the [[Scroll of Antiochus|Megillat Antiochus]], Eleazar's body is discovered after sinking in the excrement of an elephant.<ref>{{cite book|title=Megillat Antiochus|date=1851|publisher=Jewish Antiquarian Society|location=London|url=https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=33150&st=&pgnum=22&hilite=}}</ref> |
Despite this heroic effort, the smaller Jewish army was defeated in the battle. [[Josephus]] wrote that Eleazar, though killing many enemy soldiers, did not gain any real effect besides the name he made for himself. In another variation of this story which appears in the [[Scroll of Antiochus|Megillat Antiochus]], Eleazar's body is discovered after sinking in the excrement of an elephant.<ref>{{cite book|title=Megillat Antiochus|date=1851|publisher=Jewish Antiquarian Society|location=London|url=https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=33150&st=&pgnum=22&hilite=}}</ref> |
||
==Avaran== |
|||
[[File:Death of Eleazer.jpg|thumb|Death of Eleazer (illustration by [[Gustave Doré]] from the 1866 ''La Sainte Bible'')]] |
[[File:Death of Eleazer.jpg|thumb|Death of Eleazer (illustration by [[Gustave Doré]] from the 1866 ''La Sainte Bible'')]] |
||
All of the members of the family of [[Mattathias]] were given nicknames in addition to their [[personal names]] as can be seen in {{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|2:1-5|NRSV}} (For example, [[Judas Maccabeus|Judas]] was given the name 'ha'Makabi', meaning 'the Hammer'.) Eleazar was given the name 'Avaran' ("Sauran" in the Alexandrian version of the book of 1 Maccabees), which has been taken to mean 'the Piercer' (in reference to his death) or 'to be white' (referring to his light complexion).<ref>{{cite web|title=Avaran|url=https://net.bible.org/#!l/dictionary%3Aavaran__search%3Aavaran|work=Net Bible|publisher=Bible.org|access-date=18 November 2012}}</ref> Other versions are "Horan", possibly derived from "Hor"="hole", similar to the "piercer" designation; and "Eran" (alert, vigorous).<ref>* {{cite book |last=Bar-Kochva |first=Bezalel |authorlink=Bezalel Bar-Kochva |date=1989 |title=Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521323525 |page=334}}</ref> |
All of the members of the family of [[Mattathias]] were given nicknames in addition to their [[personal names]] as can be seen in {{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|2:1-5|NRSV}} (For example, [[Judas Maccabeus|Judas]] was given the name 'ha'Makabi', meaning 'the Hammer'.) Eleazar was given the name 'Avaran' ("Sauran" in the Alexandrian version of the book of 1 Maccabees), which has been taken to mean 'the Piercer' (in reference to his death) or 'to be white' (referring to his light complexion).<ref>{{cite web|title=Avaran|url=https://net.bible.org/#!l/dictionary%3Aavaran__search%3Aavaran|work=Net Bible|publisher=Bible.org|access-date=18 November 2012}}</ref> Other versions are "Horan", possibly derived from "Hor"="hole", similar to the "piercer" designation; and "Eran" (alert, vigorous).<ref>* {{cite book |last=Bar-Kochva |first=Bezalel |authorlink=Bezalel Bar-Kochva |date=1989 |title=Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521323525 |page=334}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | Eleazar's death was a popular subject for art in the [[Middle Ages]], where it was given a [[typology (theology)|typological]] significance as prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speculum Woodcuts and Miniatures|url=http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft7v19p1w6&chunk.id=d0e4325|work=UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004|access-date=18 November 2012}}</ref> The chance to portray an elephant was also welcomed by artists, although as most had never seen one, the results are often very strange.{{cn|date=August 2024}} It is also portrayed in a painting of 19th century French artist [[Gustave Doré]].{{cn|date=August 2024}} The [[Israeli settlement]], [[Elazar (village)|Elazar]], in [[Gush Etzion]], near the site of the [[battle of Beth-zechariah]], is named after him. Streets are named after him in [[Jerusalem]] and in [[Tel Aviv]].{{cn|date=August 2024}} |
||
==Commemoration== |
|||
| ⚫ | Eleazar's death was a popular subject for art in the [[Middle Ages]], where it was given a [[typology (theology)|typological]] significance as prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speculum Woodcuts and Miniatures|url=http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft7v19p1w6&chunk.id=d0e4325|work=UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004|access-date=18 November 2012}}</ref> The chance to portray an elephant was also welcomed by artists, although as most had never seen one, the results are often very strange. It is also portrayed in a painting of 19th century French artist [[Gustave Doré]]. |
||
The [[Israeli settlement]], [[Elazar (village)|Elazar]], in [[Gush Etzion]], near the site of the [[battle of Beth-zechariah]], is named after him. Streets are named after him in [[Jerusalem]] and in [[Tel Aviv]]. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Latest revision as of 20:49, 27 August 2024
Eleazar Avaran, also known as Eleazar Maccabeus, Eleazar Hachorani/Chorani (Hebrew: אלעזר המכבי Eleazar HaMakabi, אלעזר החורני Eleazar HaChorani; died 162 BC) was the fourth son of Mattathias and the younger brother of Judas Maccabeus. He was killed at the Battle of Beth-zechariah (1 Maccabees 6:32–33) during the Maccabean revolt.
Little is known about Eleazar, except his heroic death as was told. According to the scroll of Antiochus, his father saw in him a Zealot among zealots, like Pinhas. In 2 Maccabees 8:21–23 it is told that Eleazar read from the Tanakh in front of the people just before the last battle began in 3 Maccabees 6:1–15.
Death and legacy
[edit]According to 1 Maccabees 6:43–46, during the Battle of Beit Zechariah, Eleazar identified a war elephant that he believed to carry the Seleucid King Antiochus V, due to the special armor the elephant wore. He decided to endanger his life by attacking the elephant and thrusting a spear into its belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well.[1] Despite this heroic effort, the smaller Jewish army was defeated in the battle. Josephus wrote that Eleazar, though killing many enemy soldiers, did not gain any real effect besides the name he made for himself. In another variation of this story which appears in the Megillat Antiochus, Eleazar's body is discovered after sinking in the excrement of an elephant.[2]
All of the members of the family of Mattathias were given nicknames in addition to their personal names as can be seen in 1 Maccabees 2:1–5 (For example, Judas was given the name 'ha'Makabi', meaning 'the Hammer'.) Eleazar was given the name 'Avaran' ("Sauran" in the Alexandrian version of the book of 1 Maccabees), which has been taken to mean 'the Piercer' (in reference to his death) or 'to be white' (referring to his light complexion).[3] Other versions are "Horan", possibly derived from "Hor"="hole", similar to the "piercer" designation; and "Eran" (alert, vigorous).[4]
Eleazar's death was a popular subject for art in the Middle Ages, where it was given a typological significance as prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.[5] The chance to portray an elephant was also welcomed by artists, although as most had never seen one, the results are often very strange.[citation needed] It is also portrayed in a painting of 19th century French artist Gustave Doré.[citation needed] The Israeli settlement, Elazar, in Gush Etzion, near the site of the battle of Beth-zechariah, is named after him. Streets are named after him in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ Scullard, Howard Hayes (1974). The Elephant in the Greek and Roman World. Cornell Univ Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0801409318.
- ^ Megillat Antiochus. London: Jewish Antiquarian Society. 1851.
- ^ "Avaran". Net Bible. Bible.org. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ * Bar-Kochva, Bezalel (1989). Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids. Cambridge University Press. p. 334. ISBN 0521323525.
- ^ "Speculum Woodcuts and Miniatures". UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
External links
[edit]