n. pl. The name given later times to the Asmonaeans, a
family of Jewish patriots, who headed a religious revolt in the reign
of Antiochus IV., 168-161 B. C., which led to a period of freedom for
Israel.
n. pl. The name of two ancient historical books, which give
accounts of Jewish affairs in or about the time of the Maccabean
princes, and which are received as canonical books in the Roman
Catholic Church, but are included in the Apocrypha by Protestants. Also
applied to three books, two of which are found in some MSS. of the
Septuagint.
