Cendebaeus

CENDEBAEUS, CENDEBEUS sĕn’ də be’ əs (Gr. Κενδεβαὶος) a general of the Hel. King Antiochus VII who was put in charge of the coast lands of Syria-Palestine (c. 138 b.c.). He fortified Kedron, a city on the coastal plain mid-way between Joppa and Ashkelon, the modern Qâtra. From this defensive position he raided the hill country until Simon sent his son John Hyrcanus and Judas against him with 20,000 soldiers. They came upon the Syrians at Modin NW of Jerusalem, modern el’-’Arab ’în. There the Jews were victorious although Judas was wounded. They pursued Cendebeus and his army to Kedron and then returned to Jerusalem. The narrative is told in 1 Maccabees 15:37ff.; 16:8, 9.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

A general of Antiochus VII who was appointed "captain of the seacoast" of Palestine (1 Macc 15:38 ff) after the defeat of Tryphon by Antiochus 138 BC. He fortified Kedron and harassed the Jews in various ways. As Simon Maccabeus was too old to attack Cendebaeus in person he sent his two eldest sons, Judas and John, who defeated him with great loss at Modin (1 Macc 16:1-10).