Judas Iscariot: Part 1 Who Was He?

It’s now been a year since I started the Tower of Adam newsletter. I have very much enjoyed sharing what I have found with you and will be continuing ahead.

We will now start this new season by looking at Judas Iscariot, the most famous of betrayers.

Judas Iscariot is mentioned in all four Gospels, along with another Judas (or sometimes known as Thaddaeus).

Luke 6 v 16

Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Judas Maccabeus

Judas was a common name 1st Century AD. Another famous Judas was called Judas Maccabeus. In 160s BC, he led a violent revolt against the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This story is left out of most Protestant Bibles, but is included in the Orthodox and Catholic Biblical canon.

In BC 167, Antiochus banned Jewish practices. In response, Judas Maccabeus led a fighting force and defeated the Greek Seleucids and conquered the area around Jerusalem, reestablishing what looked like the Kingdom of Judah. In 161 BC, Judas made a treaty with Rome, but this was not enough to protect the new kingdom. The Seleucids sent 20,000 troops, who eventually killed Judas.

Not only was Judas a common name, but it was also the name of a Jewish mythic hero.

Judah, the Son of Jacob

The name Judas comes from Judah. Judah was a son of Jacob and is the name of the one of the tribes of Israel. In Hebrew, Judah means ‘praise’ or ‘thanksgiving’. To think the Betrayer’s name means ‘praise’ sounds dissonant.

In the story of Joseph in Genesis, we see Judah is the one who persuades his brothers to refrain from killing Joseph and sell him to the Ishmaelites for 20 silver coins. This reminds us of the 30 pieces of silver Judas is given for betraying Jesus. And also brings to mind how that Joseph is a type of Christ.

The Meaning of Iscariot

Iscariot has several potential meanings. Firstly, it could mean the ‘man of the city’. The Bible does not have a positive view of cities. Cain’s first action after being rejected from the First Family was to build a city. And from there, cities are associated with sin.

Iscariot could also mean the ‘man from Kerioth’. This was a town from southern Judea and was a mountainous region. Another Kerioth is mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah, where he prophecies against Moab and calls for the destruction oftheir towns and cities, and among them is Kerioth.

Jeremiah 48 v 21-25

Judgment has come to the plateau — to Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath, to Dibon, Nebo and Beth Diblathaim, to Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon, to Kerioth and Bozrah — to all the towns of Moab, far and near. Moab’s horn is cut off; her arm is broken,”

Another interpretation is that it is related to the Aramaic word ‘Skaryota’, which may mean ‘dagger man’. These ‘Skatyota’ or 'sicarius’ were a group of Jewish assassins who carried out acts of murder during 40-60 AD. This is a little late for Judas, but the title may have been given to him posthumously, as it was a good metaphor to explain how his betrayal felt to the other disciples.

Judas as an Apostles

What I find interesting with Judas was that he was sent out as one of the Twelve.

Luke 9 v 1 -2

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Along with the other disciples, he proclaimed the Gospel, performed miracles, saw healings and yet he still betrayed Jesus. How could anyone act like that, after spending time with God Incarnate? But I guess the same could be said of the Devil, who experienced the presence of God and yet still rebelled. Or the same said of Adam, who walked with God and still disobeyed by eating from the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Judas As A Symbol

Another point to note is there are two Judas amongst the 12 discples. One Judas is the son of James and the other is Iscariot.

James is the Greek version of the name Jacob, who became Israel and fathered the 12 sons who would give their names to the 12 tribes.

Symbolically speaking, we have one Judas who represents Judah, son of Jacob; who fathered the Jewish tribe and nation. And then Judas Iscariot who embodies the negative side of Judah. The son of Israel who sells Joseph to the caravan traders for a handful of silver coins.