Alcimus

Alcimus (from Alkimos, "valiant" or Hebrew אליקום Elyaqum, "God will rise"), also called Jakeimos, Jacimus, or Joachim, was High Priest of Israel for three years from 162–159 BCE. He was a moderate Hellenizer who favored the ruling government of the Seleucid Empire (Greek Syria) and opposed the Maccabean Revolt which was in progress at the time. Original sources What is known of Alcimus comes from records found in 1 Maccabees; 2 Maccabees; and Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews Book 12, Chapters 9-11. All of these sources are hostile to Alcimus; no sources from his faction's perspective survived. Alcimus is described as a leader of the Hellenizing faction of Hellenistic Judaism that favored more enthusiastic adoption of Greek practices and less adherence to Jewish law. Biography The office of high priest was recently vacant in 163 BCE after despised High Priest Menelaus was executed by Regent Lysias. It is not clear if Menelaus was of the high priestly line, but he most likely was not, which partially explains the troubles his time had. Alcimus was a descendant of the Biblical Aaron, brother of Moses, and possibly himself was in the high-priestly line. Being ambitious for the office of high priest, he traveled to Antioch to secure the appointment from new Seleucid king Demetrius I Soter, who had just overthrown young king Antiochus V Eupator and Lysias. Alcimus was of the Hellenizing party, and therefore bitterly opposed by the Maccabees. Alcimus received his appointment as high priest at some point from 163–162 BCE: 2 Maccabees suggests 163 BCE, under the reign of Antiochus V, while 1 Maccabees suggests only after the trip to Antioch in 162 BCE. It is also possible that Alcimus had been made High Priest on some sort of interim arrangement by Lysias in 163 BCE and was confirmed by Demetrius I in 162 BCE. Demetrius sent an army under Bacchides to establish Alcimus in the high priesthood at Jerusalem. The favor with which Alcimus was received by the Jews at Jerusalem on account of his Aaronic descent was soon turned to hate by his cruelties. Alcimus ordered the arrest and execution of 60 Jews, apparently members of the Hasideans. When Bacchides and his army returned to Antioch, the rebel forces under Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee) remained active in the countryside, where they attacked Greek-friendly Jews. Alcimus returned to Demetrius I to ask for more troops to fight the rebels. Demetrius sent another army, led by Nicanor.