Bible Dictionary
GAZARA
Gazara was a strongly fortified Judean city involved in the Maccabean wars. It is identified with ancient Gezer, where Simon Maccabeus built a palace and appointed his son John as military commander.
Definition
Gazara was a strongly fortified Judean city prominent in the Maccabean wars. It was captured by Simon Maccabeus, who expelled its inhabitants, purified it, built a palace there, and appointed his son John commander of the army.
Biblical Usage
The city appears in accounts of Judas’s pursuit of Gorgias and in later Maccabean campaigns. One account attributes its capture to Judas, while another attributes it to Simon.
Historical Background
Gazara is identified with ancient Gezer, or Tell Jezer. Excavations reported the remains of Simon’s palace.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ga-za'-ra (Gazara, Gazera):</p><p>A fortress of great strength in Judea, which figures often in the Maccabean wars. To this place Judas pursued Gorgias ( /APC 1Macc 4:15). It was fortified by the Greek general Bacchides ( /APC 1Macc 9:52; Ant, XIII, i, 3). It was captured by Simon Maccabeus, who turned out the inhabitants and purified the city. He built here a palace for himself, and appointed his son John commander of his army ( /APC 1Macc 13:43 ff). A different account of this occurrence is given in /APC 2Macc 10:32 ff, where the capture is attributed to Judas. The narrative here, however, is inspired by antagonism to Simon because he had assumed the high-priesthood.</p><p>The fortress is identical with Tell Jezer, the ancient GEZER (which see). It is interesting to note that recent excavations have uncovered the ruins of Simon's palace (PEFS, 1905, 26).</p><p>W. Ewing</p>