BACCCHIDE («son of Bacchus»). – A general and later regent of the Seleucid kingdom, who took part on three occasions in the struggle against the Maccabees in Palestine. Sent by Demetrius I Soter to Jerusalem to install the high priest Alcimus (q.v.) and to support the Hellenizing party (161 BC), he killed many faithful Jews and partly succeeded, by cunning, in breaking up the party of Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 7:8–25). Returning to Judaea with an army to avenge the defeat of Nicanor at Elasa (perhaps near el-Birêh), he overcame the small force (800 men) of Judas, who fell in the battle (1 Macc. 9:1–18). After re-establishing Syrian rule, Bacchides had to endure a long and wearing guerrilla war against the nationalists who rallied around Jonathan Maccabaeus in the southern hills. On the death of Alcimus he returned to Antioch, leaving garrisons in fortified strongholds; but in 157 BC he was again in Judaea, where, unable to overcome Jonathan, who always eluded him, he came to an accommodation (1 Macc. 9:37–73).
Perhaps to be distinguished from him is the Bacchides, general of Antiochus IV, mentioned in 2 Macc. 8:30.