Zealots
() were, in a technical Jewish sense, the followers of Judas the Gaulonite, or Galilsean (q.v.). Josephus speaks of them as forming the “fourth sect of Jewish philosophy,” and as distinguished from the Pharisees chiefly by a quenchless love of liberty and a contempt of death. Their leading tenet was the unlawfulness of paying tribute to the Romans, as being a violation of the theocratic constitution. This principle, which they maintained by force of arms against the Roman government, was soon converted into a pretext for deeds of violence against their own countrymen, and during the last days of the Jewish polity the Zealots were lawless brigands or guerrillas, the pest and terror of the land. After the death of Judas, and of his two sons, Jacob and Simon (who suffered crucifixion), they were headed by Eleazar, one of his descendants, and were often denominated Sicari, from the use of a weapon resembling the.Roman sica (Joseph. Ant. 18:1; War, 4:1-6; 7:8; see Lardner, Credibility, part 1, book 1, chapter 6, 9; Kitto, Palestine, pages 741, 751). SEE ZELOTES.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Zealots
a sect of Jews which originated with Judas the Gaulonite (Acts 5:37). They refused to pay tribute to the Romans, on the ground that this was a violation of the principle that God was the only king of Israel. They rebelled against the Romans, but were soon scattered, and became a lawless band of mere brigands. They were afterwards called Sicarii, from their use of the sica, i.e., the Roman dagger.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Zealots
Zealots, the followers of Judas the Gaulonite or Galilean [JUDAS]. Josephus speaks of them as forming the ‘fourth sect of Jewish philosophy,’ and as distinguished from the Pharisees chiefly by a quenchless love of liberty and a contempt of death. Their leading tenet was the unlawfulness of paying tribute to the Romans, as being a violation of the theocratic constitution. This principle, which they maintained by force of arms against the Roman government, was soon converted into a pretext for deeds of violence against their own countrymen; and during the last days of the Jewish polity, the Zealots were lawless brigands or guerillas, the pest and terror of the land. After the death of Judas, and of his two sons, Jacob and Simon (who suffered crucifixion), they were headed by Eleazar, one of his descendants, and were often denominated Sicarii, from the use of a weapon resembling the Roman Sica.