A zealot among zealots, all
that is known of the
fourth son of Mattathias
of Modein aside from his by-name is the story of his heroic death.
After Antiochus
IV Epiphanes
died (164
BCE) his son (Antiochus
V) prepared to retake the city of
Jerusalem
which had been freed from Syrian control by
Judah
Maccabee & his brothers.
As he approached the city with a large army including cavalry &
battle elephants, the outnumbered Jews tried to block his
advance near the small village of Beth Zechariah (east of
Bethlehem).
Instead of fleeing like many of the other defenders, Eleazar
grabbed a spear & charged the lead elephant. While he succeeded
in killing it, he was crushed by its fall. Though his sacrifice
did not prevent defeat in this battle, the story of his
resistance in the face of overwhelming odds has been retold at
Hanukkah to inspire Jews ever since.
References:
1
Maccabees
2:5;
6:43-47.
Josephus,
Antiquities
12.266,
367-374.
Other resource on
line:
Perspective on the
World of Jesus 