John Gaddi[note 1] (Hebrew: Johanan or Yohanan) (d. c. 160–159 BCE) was a son of Mattathias the Hasmonean and brother of Judas Maccabeus.
[3] John's activities during the revolt are in general not directly recorded, although he is possibly indirectly referenced when the Hasmonean family as a whole does something, such as at the end of Chapter 2 which says "Then he [Mattathias] and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town."
The book 2 Maccabees includes an intriguing possible reference to John when discussing a battle in 165 or 164 BCE in chapter 8, although a garbled one if so: With these words he (Judas) filled them with good courage and made them ready to die for their laws and their country; then he divided his army into four parts.
Besides, he appointed Eleazar to read from the holy book, and gave the watchword, "God's Help"; then, leading the first division himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.
In general, the assumption is that something is poorly phrased or mistaken in this passage, and that 1 Maccabees as a dynastic history of the Hasmoneans is trustworthy as to John's name and the number of brothers.
After an unclear length of time, the Maccabee force crossed the Jordan River and sought shelter with the Nabateans (Arabs) of the region.
It is unclear whether John immediately died, or he perhaps was held in captivity or suffered mortal wounds, given that the narrative waits a bit to confirm his death.