The big question from this period is the question of self-definition. The Hasmoneans were not an obvious choice to be rulers; they did not descend from the priestly line of Zadok that had taken the office of High Priest for generations at the point of the Maccabean Revolt. In either case, only the Greek text has survived, and this only through its inclusion in the Christian canon. 1:9). An unknown editor, the Epitomist, used the factual notes of a historian, Jason of Cyrene, to write this historical polemic. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. Series: The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. 2nd century bc) Priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Palestine and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem. As noted above, if ancient manuscripts of the hypothesized original Hebrew version existed, they have been lost. Antiochus forbids both circumcision and possession of Jewish scriptures on pain of death. 3He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. The writer compares their virtues and their exploits with those of Israel's ancient . VERSE 31. 2 He fought many battles, captured fortresses, and put the kings of the earth to death. The first two books only are part of canonical scripture in the Septuagint and the Vulgate (hence are canonical to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy) and are included in the Protestant Apocrypha. And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, with strong towers, and it became to them a citadel. Origen of Alexandria (253),[52] Augustine of Hippo (c.397AD),[53] Pope Innocent I (405),[54][55] Synod of Hippo (393),[56] the Council of Carthage (397),[57] the Council of Carthage (419),[58] the Apostolic Canons,[59] the Council of Florence (1442)[60] and the Council of Trent (1546)[61] listed the first two books of Maccabees as canonical. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Compare 1 Maccabees 10:65. Several theories have emerged regarding the exclusion of 1 from the Jewish biblical canon. The rise of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. As a surname it was also applied to his brothers and, by extension . Corrections? VERSE 64. [48] Bezalel Bar-Kochva praises it as among the better military historiography of the period. (He had previously become king of Greece.) 1:9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth. VERSE 2. VERSE 32. Why do you think the story of the Maccabees remains so important for Jews even today? II Maccabees focuses on the Jews' revolt against Antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the Syrian general Nicanor in 161 bce by Judas Maccabeus, the hero of the work. The contest which he describes is a struggle, not simply between Jew and Gentile, but between those who would uphold the law and those, Jews or Gentiles, who would destroy it. 1.12.70 The rise of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and subsequent crisis3.19.22 The leadership of Judas Maccabeus in the revolt against the Greeks9.2312.53 The leadership of Jonathan (Judas brother)13.116.24 The leadership and subsequent assignation of Simon (also a brother of Judas), 1.12.32 Letters from Jews in Jerusalem to those in Egypt3.16.31 The conquest of Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes7.1-42 The torture and murder of seven brothers and their mother8.19.29 The victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Greeks10.1-38 The purification of the Temple11.115.39 Ongoing conflict and the eventual victory of Judas. John R. Bartlett argues for somewhere between 11090 BCE. 1 and 2 Maccabees tell the same story in two different ways. 2 Maccabees is a summary of Jason's five-volume work. Help me reach the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. This might mean the women were forcibly tattooed. Ptolemy, a loyal general of Alexanders, was made satrap of Egypt in 323 when Alexander died, and in 304 he assumed the title of king, annexing Cyprus, Palestine, and the Lebanon. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. VERSE 60. He imposes a tax and establishes a fortress for his soldiers in Jerusalem. Antiochus persecutes the Jewish people. Uriel Rappaport calls it emblematic of Hasmonean politics in general: that the Hasmonean state was an explicitly Jewish one that sought to separate itself from polytheism, yet was pragmatic and sought allies where they could be found.[9]. In fact, it is "a thoroughgoing pro-Hasmonean . It is not in the Codex Vaticanus. 2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; 3 Simon, who The books had separate authors. The Septuagint was preserved by early Christians as the basis for the Christian Old Testament. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. Despite this, the book is not included as canon in the Tanakh. the king sent letters. Nothing is known about the author of 1 Maccabees other than that the attention to detail and knowledge of events suggests that he was an eye witness or had access to eyewitness accounts. 1 Maccabees was probably written in Hebrew originally. [32] Ultimately the relationship between Jonathan and Demetrius breaks down: Maccabees' opinion is that Demetrius "broke his word about all that he had promised; he became estranged from Jonathan and did not repay the favors that Jonathan had done him, but treated him very harshly". It also asserts the resurrection of the just and tells us what we need to know about the fate of the unjust (7:9, 14,23,29; 14:46). After a short introduction the book describes the Jewish uprising against Antiochus, whose persecution led to the desecration of the Temple. Instead, we have an early, pre-Christian, Greek translation full of Hebrew idioms. The book of Tobit tells the story of Tobit and his family, who are living as exiles from Israel after the Assyrian conquest. And they led captive the women and the children, and the cattle they took in possession. VERSE 4. and he gathered together an exceedingly strong army, and ruled over countries and nations and principalities, and they became tributary to him. Did you read anything in the book that touched you, expanded your faith or made you think more deeply about your life and how you live it. The words "God" and "Lord" never occur in the text, always being replaced by "Heaven" or "He.". 1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. View all posts by todd. 1 a After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip's son, who came from the land of Kittim, * had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece. In the first chapter, Alexander the Great conquers the territory of Judea, and is later succeeded by the Seleucid Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This text explicitly states that there is an interim stage where souls are purified and that they can be helped by suffrages offered by the living. As the Bible says, "On the eighth day, God created Shmoop and saw that it was good." Or something like that. From the time of Alexander onward Greek culture spread throughout the Middle East. They are Jewish people who do not observe the Law. The First Book of Maccabees (I Maccabees) is historical work extant in Greek, covering the period of 40 years from the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes (175 B.C.E.) [30], After the death of Judas and a period of lawlessness,[31] he is succeeded by his brother Jonathan Apphus, whose battles with the Greek general Bacchides are recounted in chapter 9. Jonathan is eventually captured by the Seleucid Greek ruler Diodotus Tryphon. Many Jews adopt a policy of accommodation with him in the interest of maintaining peace with the Gentiles, and others openly embrace the Hellenistic culture he introduces. In 168 BC, he desecrates the Temple by setting up an "abomination of desolation" (establishing rites of pagan observance in the Temple, or sacrificing an unclean animal on the altar in the Holy of Holies). He also forbids circumcision and possession of Jewish scriptures, imposing the death penalty for those who disobey. The time period described is from around 170 BC to 134 BC. And when he had taken all, he went away into his own land, and he made a great slaughter, and spoke very presumptuously. The author of I Maccabees, likely the Hasmonean court historian, wrote his history during the high priesthood (135/134104 bce) of John Hyrcanus I, son and successor of Simon. The victory of the Jews over their Greek oppressors loomed large in the popular imagination of the Jews of Jesus day. However, the original has been lost and the version which comes down to us is the Septuagint. In 285 he abdicated in favor of his son Ptolemy II, who became involved in a struggle with the Seleucid kings. (2) 1 Maccabees 1:11-16:24: History of the Jews from 175 to 135 BC. He claims to have used and condensed a five-volume work by someone called Jason of Cyrene (which no longer exists) and appears to have introduced theological reflections onto the events as he went. [20], During the Crusades, Pope Urban II and other church leaders used 1 Maccabees 2 to justify the concept of holy war against the Muslim kingdoms controlling the holy city of Jerusalem. Read more . One of the most notable and unusual aspects of the book of 1 Maccabees by absence is the lack of any direct mention of God. He forbids observance of the sabbath and the offering of sacrifices at the Temple. Unlike, the writer of 2 Maccabees, he evidences no Pharisaic theology and may have written in order to justify the Maccabeean dynasty against criticism that they were corrupt and were ruling illegitimately as Jewish kings since they were not of the Davidic lineage. Reading time: Around 4 hours for both books or 2 hours for one. At Explore the Faith, I share insights into the Bible and theological writings. [26] Mattathias calls upon people loyal to the traditions of Israel to oppose the invaders and the Jewish Hellenizers, and his sons begin a military campaign against them. Proverbs 16:18. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. But he also wants to show that Gods purpose in permitting persecution is to discipline the Jews in order that he may not take vengeance on us afterwards when our sins have reached their height (6:12-17). And it was the chief propaganda instrument of those non-practicing Jews who were trying to introduce Gentile customs into Israel. VERSE 2. The following is a brief analysis of 1 Maccabees: (1) 1 Maccabees 1:1-10: An account of the rise of the Seleucid Dynasty. According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning. It became part of the deuterocanon in early Christianity. [50] He also cites the fact that it makes various "admissions against interest" such as openly describing rebel military defeats, unlike 2 Maccabees which obscures or omits such matters. When Mattathias died (c. 166 bc), his son Judas Maccabaeus recaptured Jerusalem and reconsecrated the temple, an event celebrated in the holiday Hanukkah. The same fate overtakes another persecutor, Nicanor, who dies because he threatened to destroy the Temple. After the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., Judaism regrouped under the leadership of the rabbis. Alexander the Great. Unsure of the meaning of a word or phrase in the Bible? The author is unknown. He shows intimate and detailed geographical knowledge of the Judea, Galilee, and their environs, but is inaccurate in his information about foreign countries. When war broke out between these two brothers the Romans intervened, took Jerusalem and brought the monarchy to an end. [19], The book was probably originally written in Hebrew. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy.