WHO WERE THE MACCABEES?

The Maccabees (Hebrew: מכבים‎ or מקבים, Makabim or Maqabim; Greek Μακκαβαῖοι, /makav'εï/) were a Jewish rebel army who took control of parts of the Land of Israel, which had been a client state of the Seleucid Empire. They founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled from 164 BCE to 63 BCE, reasserting the Jewish religion, expanding the boundaries of Israel and reducing the influence of Hellenism.

Revolt of the Maccabees
Date 167–160 BCE Location Judea Result Jewish sovereignty Territorial changes Expansion of Judea
Belligerents
Jews	Seleucid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mattathias Judas Maccabeus   (K.I.A.) Jonathan Apphus Eleazar Avaran   (K.I.A.) Simon Thassi John Gaddi   (K.I.A.)

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees