Judah Maccabee

Death of Mattathias - appoints son Judah Maccabee ('The Hammer') as military leader, Simon as counselor

Battle of Beth Horon - Judah defeats and kills Apollonius, takes his sword, uses guerrilla tactics against larger force

Battle of Emmaus - Judah's 3,000 defeat 40,000 through brilliant night tactics, enemy flees leaving rich camp

Battle of Beth Zur - Judah defeats Lysias's army with war elephants, path to Jerusalem opens

Temple rededicated - exactly three years after desecration, one day's oil burns eight days (tradition), Hanukkah established

Death of Judah Maccabee at Elasa - fights against overwhelming odds rather than flee, dies heroically, brothers escape