Asmoneus

ASMONEUS, or ASAMONAEUS (so Josephus), great-grandfather of Mattathias, the father of Judas Maccabaeus. Nothing more is known of him, and the name is only given by Josephus (not in .1 Mace. ii. i). But the dynasty was known to Josephus and the Mishna (once) as " the sons (race) of the Asamonaeans (of A.) "; and the Targum of i Sam. ii. 4 has " the house of the Hashmoneans who were weak, signs were wrought for them and strength." If not the founder, Asmoneus was probably the home of the family (cf. Heshmon, Jos. xv. 27). See Schurer, Geschichte des judischen Volkes, i. 248 N; art. " Maccabees," § 2, in Ency. Biblica. (J. H. A. H.)