Eupator, also known as Antiochus V Eupator, was a Seleucid king who reigned from 164 to 162 BC. He was the son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a ruler infamous for his persecution of the Jewish people and his desecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Eupator's reign is noted in the context of the Maccabean Revolt, a significant period in Jewish history that is documented in the books of the Maccabees, which are part of the Apocrypha.

Historical Context

Eupator ascended to the throne as a young boy following the death of his father, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His reign was marked by continued conflict with the Jewish people, who were fighting for religious freedom and autonomy under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus. The Maccabean Revolt was a response to the oppressive policies of Antiochus IV, which included the outlawing of Jewish religious practices and the imposition of Hellenistic culture.

Biblical References

While Eupator is not directly mentioned in the canonical books of the Bible, his actions and the events of his reign are detailed in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. These texts, though not part of the Protestant canon, provide valuable historical insights into the period between the Old and New Testaments.

In 2 Maccabees 13:1-2 , it is recorded: "In the one hundred and forty-ninth year, word came to Judas and his men that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great multitude against Judea, and with him Lysias, his guardian and chief minister, each having a Greek army of one hundred and ten thousand foot soldiers, five thousand three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes."

Military Campaigns

Eupator's reign was characterized by military campaigns aimed at reasserting Seleucid control over Judea. Under the guidance of his regent, Lysias, Eupator led a large army against the Jewish forces. Despite their numerical superiority, the Seleucid forces faced strong resistance from the Maccabees, who were motivated by their faith and desire for religious freedom.

The conflict reached a critical point at the Battle of Beth-zechariah, where the Jewish forces, though outnumbered, fought valiantly. The Seleucid army, with its war elephants and chariots, initially had the upper hand, but the Maccabees' strategic prowess and determination led to a series of victories that ultimately secured Jewish independence for a time.

Political Intrigue and Downfall

Eupator's reign was short-lived, as internal strife and political intrigue plagued the Seleucid Empire. In 162 BC, Eupator was captured and executed by Demetrius I Soter, a rival claimant to the throne who sought to consolidate power. This marked the end of Eupator's rule and further destabilized the Seleucid dynasty.

Legacy

Eupator's legacy is intertwined with the broader narrative of the Maccabean Revolt, a pivotal moment in Jewish history that underscored the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of persecution. His reign, though brief, serves as a backdrop to the struggle for religious freedom and the eventual rededication of the Second Temple, celebrated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.EUPATOR

u'-pa-tor (Eupator, "of noble father"):

The name given to Antiochus V who had succeeded his father Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), 164 B.C., while still a child under the guardianship of Lysias (APC 1Macc 3:32; 6:17). In the absence of Philip, a friend and foster-brother of the child's father, whom on his deathbed he had appointed guardian for his son, Lysias continued his duty as guardian, set the king upon the throne and named him Eupator. Shortly after his accession he collected a large army and marched against Jerusalem, accompanied by Lysias, for the relief of a Syrian garrison that was hard pressed by Judas Maccabeus (APC 1Macc 6:19). Judas was repulsed at Bethzacharias and after a severe struggle Bethsura was captured (APC 1Macc 6:31-50). The Jewish force in the temple was hard pressed and indeed reduced to the last extremity (APC 1Macc 6:53), when Lysias, hearing that his rival Philip had returned from Persia and had made himself master of Antioch (Josephus, Ant, XII, ix, 5), made a hasty peace and returned to meet Philip, whom he easily overpowered. In the following year (162 B.C.) Antiochus and Lysias were put to death by Demetrius Soter, son of Seleucus, in requital of wrongs inflicted upon himself by Antiochus Epiphanes (APC 1Macc 7:2-4 2Macc 14:1, 2; Josephus, Ant, XII, x, 1).

J. Hutchinson

Concerning the Death of Antiochus Epiphane. How Antiochus Eupator ...
... How Antiochus Eupator Fought Against Juda And Besieged Him In The Temple And
Afterwards Made Peace With Him And Departed; Of Alcimus And Onias. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the death.htm

The Maccabees.
... His son, Antiochus Eupator, was only nine years old, and his affairs were managed
by a governor named Lysias, who continued the persecution, and led an army to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xviii the maccabees.htm

Chapter i.
... VI. Eupator (BC182). VII. ... IX. Euergetes II., also known as Physkon (BC146"117). Of
the brief reigns of Eupator and the younger Philopator nothing is known. ...
/.../an introduction to the old testament in greek additional notes/chapter i.htm

At that Time Judah Besieged the Syrians who were Posted in the ...
... Accordingly, Eupator came to their aid with a hundred thousand infantry and twenty
thousand cavalry, while elephants marched in front of his line, causing ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxiii at that time.htm

Judah, on the Defeat of the Enemy, Returned to Jerusalem...
... Then, after a few days, he died, having reigned eleven years. He left the kingdom
to his son Antiochus, to whom the name of Eupator was given. Footnotes: ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxii judah on the.htm

An Enumeration of the High Priests.
... Now he and his posterity, who were in all fifteen, until king Antiochus Eupator,
were under a democratical government for four hundred and fourteen years; and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 an enumeration of.htm

Book 12 Footnotes
... [24] No wonder that Josephus here describes Antiochus Eupator as young, and wanting
tuition, when he came to the crown, since Appian informs us [Syriac. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 12 footnotes.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... How Antiochus Eupator Fought Against Juda And Besieged Him In The Temple And Afterwards
Made Peace With Him And Departed; Of Alcimus And Onias. CHAPTER 10. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Eupator
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia EUPATOR. u'-pa-tor (Eupator, "of noble
father"): The name given to Antiochus V who had succeeded ...
/e/eupator.htm - 7k

Menelaus
... and left him as one of his agents to keep the Jews in subjection (2 Maccabees
5:1;). He appears next and for the last time in the reign of Eupator in 162 BC ...
/m/menelaus.htm - 9k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... After the death of Epiphanes, Eupator and Lysias (the last two at the hands of
Demetrius (1 Maccabees 7:2)), Nicanor appears again under King Demetrius in the ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Jason (5 Occurrences)
... Jewish wars of liberation. He must have written after 162 BC, as his books
include the wars under Antiochus Eupator. (4) Jason the ...
/j/jason.htm - 12k

Gennaeus
... us, ge-ne'-us (Gennaios): Father of Apollonius, one of the Syrian generals who troubled
the Jews while Lysias was governor for Antiochus Eupator (2 Maccabees 12 ...
/g/gennaeus.htm - 6k

Gerrenians
... ge-re'-ni-anz (heos ton Gerrenon): The name indicates the southern limit of the
territory assigned by Antiochus Eupator to the government of Judas Maccabeus ...
/g/gerrenians.htm - 7k

Genneus
... us, ge-ne'-us (Gennaios): Father of Apollonius, one of the Syrian generals who troubled
the Jews while Lysias was governor for Antiochus Eupator (2 Maccabees 12 ...
/g/genneus.htm - 6k

Ivory (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Maccabees 6:28-47 has a detailed account of a battle between Antiochus Eupator
and Judas Maccabeus at Bethsura (Beth-zur). There were 32 elephants. ...
/i/ivory.htm - 17k

Famine (99 Occurrences)
... 5:10; Baruch 2:25); a "dearth" is also mentioned after the return from Captivity
(Nehemiah 5:3); when the city was besieged by Antiochus Eupator (1 Maccabees 6 ...
/f/famine.htm - 49k

Rhodocus
... rod'-o-kus (Rhodokos): A Jewish traitor who disclosed the plans of Judas to Antiochus
(Eupator) (2 Maccabees 13:21) 162 BC Of his fate nothing more is known. ...
/r/rhodocus.htm - 6k

What happened in the Maccabean Revolt? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Judas Maccabeus? | GotQuestions.org

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