n. group of Hasmoneans who rose up in rebellion against the Syrians in the first century (led by Mattathias and his son Judah, they defeated the Syrians under Antiochus Epiphanes and rededicated the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (which is the origin of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah)
THE MACCABEES
Meaning of THE MACCABEES in English
Explanatory English dictionary bed edition. Толковый словарь английского языка Редакция bed. 2012