or Chasidæans, (from the Hebrew chasidim, "merciful, pious") those Jews who resorted to Mattathias to fight for the law of God and the liber- 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 capti- vity, 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 Chasidim, i.e. the piots. From the former sprung the Samaritans, Saddu- cees, and Caraites; from the latter, the Pharisees and the Essenes.