GORGIAS gôr’ jəs (Γοργίας). A general selected by Lysias (regent over Syria under Antiochus Epiphanes) along with Ptolemy and Nicanor to destroy Judah (1 Macc 3:38). He was a “man of experience in military service” (2 Macc 8:9), a friend of the king (1 Macc 3:38), and later a governor (2 Macc 10:14) of Idumea (2 Macc 12:32).

Guided by Jews opposing Judas Maccabeus (q.v.), Gorgias once took “five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry” and left camp by night to attack Judas by surprise (1 Macc 4:1ff.). But Judas learned of it and attacked the weakened gentile camp. Finding Judas gone, Gorgias’ men returned to their own camp, and seeing it in flames, they fled.

Gorgias defeated Joseph and Azariah because “they did not listen to Judas and his brothers” nor “belong to the family of those men through whom deliverance was given to Israel” (1 Macc 5:59-62).

Later, when governor of Idumea, Gorgias almost lost his life as one Dositheus, on horseback, seized him and started to drag him away. He was rescued by a Thracian horseman and escaped (2 Macc 12:32-35). Following this, Gorgias’ men were routed (v. 37). (The KJV with some Gr. MSS reads Gorgias in v. 36, in place of Esdris.)