Jonathan Son of Absalom

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JONATHAN SON OF ABSALOM

JONATHAN SON OF ABSALOM , one of the army commanders of *Simeon the Hasmonean. Jonathan was sent to Jaffa in 135 b.c.e. by Simeon, who feared that the local population might surrender to *Tryphon. Jonathan succeeded in holding the city after having driven out the gentile population. Some identify him with Mattathias b. Absalom, but it seems more likely that Jonathan and Mattathias were brothers who belonged to the Hasmonean family.

bibliography:

Jos., Ant., 13:202; i Macc. 13:11; Klausner, Bayit Sheni, 3 (19502), 65.

[Edna Elazary]

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