Manahem

Also known as: the Galilean · Family: seditious · Role: leader of the sedition · First appears: Book II, Chapter 17

In Book II, Chapter 17, Manahem, the son of Judas called the Galilean, took notable men to Masada, broke open King Herod’s armory, and armed his own followers and other robbers. He returned to Jerusalem “in the state of a king,” became “the leader of the sedition,” and ordered the siege to continue. The overthrow of strongholds and death of the high priest Ananias made him cruel and tyrannical; Apsalom was among the captains under him and the principal instrument of his tyranny.

At Jerusalem, Eleazar (son of Ananias) and his party opposed Manahem, arguing that those who had revolted for liberty should not submit to one of their own people. They attacked him in the temple, and when Manahem and his followers resisted and fled, those captured were killed. Manahem hid at Ophla, but he was taken alive, tortured, and slain; Eleazar, the son of Jairus, who was related to him, escaped to Masada.

Relationship record

Life events

Manahem armed followers at Masada, returned to Jerusalem, and became leader of the sedition.(Book II, Chapter 17 · 📍 Jerusalem)
- “In the mean time, one Manahem, the son of Judas, that was called the Galilean, [who was a very cunning sophister, and had formerly reproached the Jews under Cyrenius, that after God they were subject to the Romans,] took some of the men of note with him, and retired to Masada, where he broke open king Herod's armory, and gave arms not only to his own people, but to other robbers also. These he made use of for a guard, and returned in the state of a king to Jerusalem; he became the leader of the sedition, and gave orders for continuing the siege;”
Eleazar’s faction attacked, captured, tortured, and killed Manahem.(Book II, Chapter 17 · 📍 Ophla)
- With: Eleazar (son of Ananias)
- “But Eleazar and his party fell violently upon him, as did also the rest of the people; and taking up stones to attack him withal, they threw them at the sophister, and thought, that if he were once ruined, the entire sedition would fall to the ground. Now Manahem and his party made resistance for a while; but when they perceived that the whole multitude were falling upon them, they fled which way every one was able; those that were caught were slain, and those that hid themselves were searched for. A few there were of them who privately escaped to Masada, among whom was Eleazar, the son of Jairus, who was of kin to Manahem, and acted the part of a tyrant at Masada afterward. As for Manahem himself, he ran away to the place called Ophla, and there lay skulking in private; but they took him alive, and drew him out before them all; they then tortured him with many sorts of torments, and after all slew him,”

Book II, Chapter 17

parent: Judas (unresolved ch050) “one Manahem, the son of Judas, that was called the Galilean”
rivals with Eleazar (son of Ananias) “Now the overthrow of the places of strength, and the death of the high priest Ananias, so puffed up Manahem, that he became barbarously cruel; and as he thought he had no antagonist to dispute the management of affairs with him, he was no better than an insupportable tyrant; but Eleazar and his party, when words had passed between them, how it was not proper when they revolted from the Romans, out of the desire of liberty, to betray that liberty to any of their own people, and to bear a lord, who, though he should be guilty of no violence, was yet meaner than themselves; as also, that in case they were obliged to set some one over their public affairs, it was fitter they should give that privilege to any one rather than to him; they made an assault upon him in the temple”
with Eleazar, the son of Jairus (They were kin.) “A few there were of them who privately escaped to Masada, among whom was Eleazar, the son of Jairus, who was of kin to Manahem”
with Apsalom (Apsalom was the principal instrument of Manahem's tyranny.) “and after all slew him, as they did by those that were captains under him also, and particularly by the principal instrument of his tyranny, whose name was Apsalom”
enemies with Eleazar (son of Ananias) (Eleazar and Manahem's factions violently attack one another.) “But Eleazar and his party fell violently upon him, as did also the rest of the people; and taking up stones to attack him withal, they threw them at the sophister”
servant: Apsalom (Apsalom was a captain under Manahem.) “and after all slew him, as they did by those that were captains under him also, and particularly by the principal instrument of his tyranny, whose name was Apsalom.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Wars of the Jews; Or, The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem. Made with Rho MD.