Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63) is an oratorio in three acts composed in 1746 by George Frideric Handel based on a libretto written by Thomas Morell.

The oratorio was devised as a compliment to the victorious Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland upon his return from the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746).

The events depicted in the oratorio are from the period 170–160 BC when Judea was ruled by the Seleucid Empire which undertook to destroy the Jewish religion.

Simon's brother, Judas Maccabaeus, assumes the role of leader and inspires the people with thoughts of liberty and victory through the power of Jehovah.

When news arrives that the Seleucid commander Gorgias is preparing to enact revenge, the people's joyous mood gives way to wailing and dejection (Ah!

With a New Concerto Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Person to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered that Day, at the Office at Covent-Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each.

It has been suggested that this version of Judas Maccabaeus represents one of the projects instigated by Mozart's patron Gottfried van Swieten, who promoted the revival of baroque music.

As a hymn tune, Handel's melody is most frequently associated with two texts: the German Advent song "Tochter Zion, freue dich" by Friedrich Heinrich Ranke (first published in 1826); and as an Easter hymn based on a French-language text by the Swiss writer Edmond Louis Budry ("À toi la gloire, O Ressuscité!

A Hebrew language version of the hymn was composed by Levin Kipnis in 1936, titled "Hava Narima " [he] (הבה נרימה, "Let us raise").

This version maintains the theme of Judas Maccabaeus and his victories against the Seleucid Empire, and due to its subject matter is popularly sung during Hanukkah by Jewish communities in Israel and elsewhere.