Another rule of Jewish rhetoric is that all prophecy was prophesied only for the days of the Messiah. After the victories of Beth-horon and Beth-zur, many probably held Judas the Maccabee, unofficially, as the new Messiah, just as twentieth century Jews called the prime minister Menahem Begin, “Menahem the king” (méhn-ah-khem hah-méh-lehk, מנחם המלךְ). Judas’ older brother, Simon, at least was later called the prince of the people of Israel (ah-sáhr-ahm-áyl, ασαραμελ = שר עם אל) (1Macc 14:27). Jews