Maccabees n. pl. : The name given later times to the Asmonaeans, a family of Jewish patriots, who headed a religious revolt in the reign of Antiochus IV., 168-161 B. C., which led to a period of freedom for Israel.

Maccabees n. pl. : The name of two ancient historical books, which give accounts of Jewish affairs in or about the time of the Maccabean princes, and which are received as canonical books in the Roman Catholic Church, but are included in the Apocrypha by Protestants. Also applied to three books, two of which are found in some MSS. of the Septuagint.

Example:
What is the theological message of 1 and 2 Maccabees?

Taxonomy
Maccabees, Antiochus, Judea, Maccabean Revolt, High Priest, Mattathias, Jews, Seleucid Empire, feast, Menelaus, Seleucid, Simon, conflict, death, revolt, king, Hasmonean kingdom, Judah Maccabee.

Defination from the web:
Maccabees, i, 15. ... Although the Maccabees won autonomy, Judea remained a province of the Seleucid empire and Simon was required to provide ...