or Chasidæans, (from the Hebrew

chafidim, "merciful, pious") those Jews who resorted

to Mattathias to fight for the law of God and the libe-

ties of their country. They were men of great valour

and zeal, having voluntarily devoted themselves to a

more strict observation of the law than other men. For

after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish capi-

tivity, there were two sorts of men in their church; those

who contented themselves with that obedience only

which was prescribed by the law of Moses, and who

were called Zadikim, i.e. the righteous; and those who,

over and above the law, superadded the constitutions

and traditions of the elders, and other rigorous obser-

vances: these latter were called Chafidim, i.e. the

pious. From the former sprung the Samaritans, Saddu-

cees, and Caraites; from the latter, the Pharisees and

the Essenes.