Eleazar Avaran

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Eleazar Maccabeus
)
The Heroism of Eleazar, engraved plate in the Macklin Bible after a painting by Philip James de Loutherbourg, 1815.

Eleazar Avaran, also known as Eleazar Maccabeus, Eleazar Hachorani/Chorani (

Maccabean revolt
.

Little is known about Eleazar, except his heroic death as was told. According to the scroll of Antiochus, his father saw in him a

Tanakh in front of the people just before the last battle began in 3 Maccabees 6:1–15
.

Death

According to 1 Maccabees 6:43–46, during the

Antiochus V, due to the special armor the elephant wore. He decided to endanger his life by attacking the elephant and thrusting a spear into its belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well.[1]
Despite this heroic effort, the smaller Jewish army was defeated in the battle.
Megillat Antiochus, Eleazar's body is discovered after sinking in the excrement of an elephant.[2]

Avaran

Death of Eleazer (illustration by Gustave Doré from the 1866 La Sainte Bible)

All of the members of the family of

personal names as can be seen in 1 Maccabees 2:1–5 (For example, Judas was given the name 'ha'Makabi', meaning 'the Hammer'.) Eleazar was given the name 'Avaran' ("Sauran" in the Alexandrian version of the book of 1 Maccabees), which has been taken to mean 'the Piercer' (in reference to his death) or 'to be white' (referring to his light complexion).[3] Other versions are "Horan", possibly derived from "Hor"="hole", similar to the "piercer" designation; and "Eran" (alert, vigorous).[4]

Commemoration

Eleazar's death was a popular subject for art in the Middle Ages, where it was given a typological significance as prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.[5] The chance to portray an elephant was also welcomed by artists, although as most had never seen one, the results are often very strange. It is also portrayed in a painting of 19th century French artist Gustave Doré.

The

battle of Beth-zechariah, is named after him. Streets are named after him in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv
.

References

  1. ISBN 978-0801409318
    .
  2. ^ Megillat Antiochus. London: Jewish Antiquarian Society. 1851.
  3. ^ "Avaran". Net Bible. Bible.org. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. ISBN 0521323525
    .
  5. ^ "Speculum Woodcuts and Miniatures". UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004. Retrieved 18 November 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eleazar Maccabeus.
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