Judas (Jude)

The name Judas, and its English variant Jude, attaches to several figures across the in-scope UPDV: a half-brother of Jesus, an apostle distinguished from the traitor, the writer of the short epistle, and the Hasmonean general Judas Maccabeus. The Gospel writers and Luke take pains, when more than one Judas can be in view, to mark the difference; the Maccabean Judas appears in 1 Maccabees as the warrior son who succeeds his father Mattathias.

Judas, Brother of Jesus

In the Nazareth report at Mark, the townspeople list the names of Jesus' physical relations: "Isn't this the son of the carpenter and Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him" (Mr 6:3). Judas stands among the named brothers, alongside James and Simon and Joses.

Jude, Brother of James, Author of the Epistle

The opening of the short epistle identifies the writer by relation rather than by independent standing: "Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, who have been loved in God the Father and have been kept in Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:1). The self-designation as "brother of James" is the same identifier used of the apostolic Judas son of James in Luke's list of the twelve (Lu 6:16), and the writer of the epistle is traditionally taken to be the brother of James named in Mr 6:3.

Judas, the Other Apostle

Luke's catalogue of the twelve names "Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor" (Lu 6:16) — distinguishing the apostle Judas son of James from his namesake. John records this same apostle by name at the upper room, with the parenthetical the evangelist evidently considered necessary: "Judas (not Iscariot) says to him, Lord, and what has come to pass that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" (Joh 14:22). Mark's catalogue of the twelve does not name a "Judas son of James" but lists "Thaddaeus" in the corresponding slot (Mr 3:18), so this apostle is identified by some with the figure named Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus.

Judas Maccabeus

In 1 Maccabees, Judas is the third son of the priest Mattathias and the figure on whom the resistance against the Seleucids turns. The household is introduced at the outset: "And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis: And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi: And Judas, who was called Maccabeus: And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron: and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus" (1Ma 2:2-5). Mattathias' deathbed charge designates Judas as the next leader of the army: "And Judas Maccabeus Who is valiant and strong from his youth up, Let him be the leader of your⁺ army, And he will manage the war of the people" (1Ma 2:66). The succession is taken up at the head of the next chapter: "Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his place" (1Ma 3:1).

Campaigns

Judas' campaigns are reported in a sequence of short narrative summaries. He attacks the Seleucid forces stationed at Emmaus: "And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus" (1Ma 4:3). He turns south against the Edomites and on the eastern frontier: "Then Judas fought against the sons of Esau in Idumea, and those who were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites round about, and he made a great slaughter of them" (1Ma 5:3). Under the high-priesthood of Alcimus he sees the betrayals among his own people: "And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and those who were with him, did to the sons of Israel, much more than the nations" (1Ma 7:23).

Embassy to Rome

Judas opens diplomatic relations with Rome by sending an embassy: "[Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were powerful and received all who came to them.] So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance with them" (1Ma 8:17).

Death and Succession

The end of Judas is reported flatly: "And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away" (1Ma 9:18). The leadership passes to his brother Jonathan, and later, when the people come to Simon, they recall the line: "And they answered with a loud voice, saying: You are our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan your brother" (1Ma 13:8).