Alexander Balas
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Alexander BALAS . A low-born youth called Balas, living in Smyrna, was put forward by the enemies of Demetrius I. as son of Antiochus IV., king of Syria. In their struggle for the throne the rivals sought to outbid each other for the support of Jonathan Maccabæus, who elected to side with Alexander, and was appointed high priest by him (b.c. 153). Jonathan defeated Apollonius, one of the generals of Demetrius, and received still further honours ( 1Ma 10:1-89 ). But Alexander Balas cared more for sensual pleasures than for kingly duties: his father-in-law Ptolemy turned against him, and Alexander, fleeing to Arabia, was assassinated there ( 1Ma 11:17 ).
J. Taylor.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
Alexander bā´las ( Ἀλεξανδρος ὁ Βάλας λεγόμενος , Aléxandros ho Bálas legómenos ): He contended against Demetrius I of Syria for the throne and succeeded in obtaining it. He was a youth of mean origin, but he was put forth by the enemies of Demetrius as being Alexander, the son and heir of Antiochus Epiphanes. He received the support of the Roman Senate and of Ptolemy Vi of Egypt, and on account of the tyranny of Demetrius, was favored by many of the Syrians. The country was thrown into civil war and Demetrius was defeated by Alexander Ii took up the cause of his father and in 147 bc, Alexander fled from his kingdom and was soon after assassinated.
Our chief interest in Alexander is his connection with the Maccabees. Jonathan was the leader of the Maccabean forces and both Alexander and Demetrius sought his aid. Demetrius granted Jonathan the right to raise and maintain an army. Alexander, not to be outdone, appointed Jonathan high priest, and as a token of his new office sent him a purple robe and a diadem ( Ant. , Xiii , ii, 2). This was an important step in the rise of the Maccabean house, for it insured them the support of the Chasidim. In 153 bc, Jonathan officiated as high priest at the altar (1 Macc 10:1-14; Ant , Xiii , ii, 1). This made him the legal head of Judea and thus the movement of the Maccabees became closely identified with Judaism. In 1 Macc 10:1, he is called Alexander Epiphanes.
