NICANOR. — A Syrian general, son of Patroclus, and later commander-in-chief of the army of the Seleucid kings (*1 Macc. 3:38; 7:26–47; 2 Macc. 8; 14–15*). In 165 B.C., together with Gorgias and Ptolemy son of Dorimenes, he was commissioned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 B.C.) to suppress the Maccabean revolt against Syria. After being defeated at Emmaus, he fled in disguise to Antioch (*2 Macc. 8:9–35*).
From Antiochus’ successor, Demetrius I Soter (162–160 B.C.), Nicanor received command of the forces intended to capture Judas Maccabeus. Nicanor first tried cunning, then engaged Judas in battle. The final clash on the 13th of *Adar* (March 161 B.C.), near Adasa, marked Nicanor’s tragic end, recognized as divine retribution for his sacrilegious insults against the Temple and God (*2 Macc. 14:33; 15:3*).
His head and right arm were cut off: the arm was hung on a pole before the Temple, and his skull was affixed to the city walls. From then on, the 13th of *Adar*—which was also the eve of the Feast of Mordecai (Purim)—was observed by the Jews as the *Day of Nicanor*. With Nicanor’s death, the *Second Book of Maccabees* concludes. Cf. Flavius Josephus, *Antiquities of the Jews*, XII, 10, 5.