2 Maccabees is harder to date but many scholars locate it in the early first century bc. After his death in battle c. 161 B.C.E., his brother Jonathan succeeds him. 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. As a surname it was also applied to his brothers and, by extension, to the seven martyred brothers (2 Macc.7). Snow Crash Summary. VERSE 27. [38] Various passages call back to Biblical passages such as Joshua's conquests or the battle of David and Goliath and equate the Hasmoneans' deeds with the earlier stories. And they put there a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, and they strengthened themselves therein. 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. According to the text, some Jewish men even engaged in foreskin restoration in order to pass as fully Greek. And they stored up arms and food, and gathering together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and they became a sore snare: VERSE 36. and it became a place to lie in wait in against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel continually. VERSE 1. 2He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. 2:4), the third son of Mattathias, the hero of the war of Jewish independence against Syria. III Maccabees has no relation to the other three books of Maccabees, all of which deal with the revolt of Judaea against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. each should forsake his own laws. It is not in the Codex Vaticanus. [63], The Jewish historian Josephus of the 1st century AD almost certainly read 1 Maccabees. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. It is not known whether Josephus's copy of 1 Maccabees was missing the final three chapters, or he simply found a better source for that era of history. Even in stories set during the Maccabean period, references to Judas by name were explicitly removed to avoid hero-worship of the Hasmonean line. Both Origen and Jerome claim to have seen a Hebrew text of 1 Maccabees. VERSE 64. And it was the chief propaganda instrument of those non-practicing Jews who were trying to introduce Gentile customs into Israel. The setting of the book is about a century after the conquest of Judea by the Greeks under Alexander the Great, when the country was part of the Greek . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Here are 8 handy tips to get your book club up and running. And if you like what you see, check out our complete Online Course about the first five books of the Bible, a.k.a. Book of Daniel. 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. 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. 2 Maccabees, instead of covering later years, shines a microscope on the first fifteen years of the same period, drawing its own lessons (which I . Corrections? perhaps even Sadducean, tendency interpenetrates the entire work" (Fischer, 4:441) and the "author of 1 Maccabees identifies unreservedly with the rebels and their leaders." (Efron, 47; Sievers, 2). Reflect on whether you think that Mattathias and his sons were right to rebel against their Greek oppressors.We are challenged about how we should behave towards our enemies and how we should act as Gods agents, wherever we live in the world. He either used or reconstructed primary sources such as letters, poetic accounts, and possibly court histories. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 20 And now we have . Maccabees , (fl. It is considered one of the most accurate accounts of Jewish history for the period which it covers. Flavius Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, carries the story forward; only he gives the surname Hasmoneus, which applies to the successors of the early Maccabees up to Aristobulus II. The 1643 Westminster Confession says that the books "are of no authority in the Church of God, not to be any otherwise approved", for example. When we first meet Hiro Protagonist, he delivers pizzas for the mob in L.A.; he's also a brilliant hacker and sword-wielding genius, but his plays-poorly-with-others personality means he needs a day job. Antiochus then tries to suppress public observance of Jewish laws, in an attempt to secure control over the Jews. Chapter 14 also features a long panegyric praising Simon as a worthy leader.[10]. Jonathan becomes high priest (1 Maccabees 10:20). They are in the Public Domain. Alternatively, Maccabee also might have been derived from the battle cry of the revolt, Mi Kamocha B'elim, YHWH ("Who is like you among the heavenly powers, YHWH!! British and Foreign Bible Society operates in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.We also work with a network of local Bible Societies around the world. Jonathan is eventually captured by the Seleucid Greek ruler Diodotus Tryphon. VERSE 24. These include four laments and three hymns of praise. When Mattathias died (c. 166 bc), his son Judas Maccabaeus recaptured Jerusalem and reconsecrated the temple, an event celebrated in the holiday Hanukkah. The army of Judas at Bethsura consists of 10,000 according to 1 Macc 4:29, but of 80,000 according to 2 Macc 11:2. The name Maccabee probably means "hammer" and was the nickname given in the book to the first leader of the revolt, Judas, third son of Mattathias. Alternate titles: The Books of the Machabees. [43] Rather, the author interprets events as God using the military genius of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers as the instrument to achieve the liberation of Judea. Series: The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. And at the doors of the houses and in the streets they burned incense. It describes the promulgation of decrees forbidding traditional Jewish practices by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the formation of a rebellion against him by Mattathias of the Hasmonean family and his five sons. INTRODUCING MATTATHIAS. The rabbinical sages of this period had learned from experience that revolt against the Gentiles (in this case the Romans) brought disaster. 1 Alexander of Macedon son of Philip had come from the land of Kittim and defeated Darius king of the Persians and Medes, whom he succeeded as ruler, at first of Hellas. He then calls forth the people to holy war against the Gentiles and their Jewish collaborators. The surviving Greek script has Hebraisms and Hebrew idioms. For some more Biblical back history about the Exile and return of the Jews from Babylonian Exile, please read 2 Kings (Chapter 20:12-18), 2 Kings (Chapter 25), Jeremiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Finally, he desecrates the Temple by setting up an "abomination of desolation" there, apparently either a pagan idol or a bust of himself. he shall die. Ancient manuscripts of the text include the Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Venetus, as well as several scrolls. 1 Kings. 2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; 3 Simon, who Its name in the Septuagint and in the writings of the Church Fathers (Eusebius and Clement) is , i.e . And there came great mourning upon Israel, in every place where they were; the beauty of the women was changed. Simon is succeeded by his son, John, referred to by Josephus as John Hyrcanus. The works main religious theme is that the martyrs sufferings vicariously expiated the sins of the entire Jewish people. 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. Protestants and Jews regard it as generally reliable historically, but not a part of holy scripture. Scholarly estimates for the date of authorship include: Roman Missal, Lectionary, Revised Edition approved for use in the dioceses of England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, published by Collins, Geoffrey Chapman and Veritas, 1981, 1982, volumes 2 and 3, The Revolt of the Maccabees: The True Story Behind Hanukkah, "The date of the first Book of Maccabees", "MACCABEES, THE - JewishEncyclopedia.com", "The Original Language of 1 Maccabees: A Reexamination,", "1 Maccabees, the first book of Maccabees", Session IV Celebrated on the eighth day of April, 1546 under Pope Paul III, The First Book of Machabees Liber I Machaborum, Erran Baron Cohen Presents: Songs in the Key of Hanukkah, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1_Maccabees&oldid=1141777926, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 3:1 to 9:22, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, 9:23 to 12:53, under the leadership of Jonathan, Chapters 1316, under the leadership of Simon. The revolt is also known by the name Maccabee, after the most renowned of Mattathias's sons . The first and second Books of Maccabees, though regarded by Jews and Protestants as apocryphal, i.e., not inspired Scripture, because not contained in the Jewish list of books drawn up at the end of the first century A.D., have always been accepted by the Catholic Church as inspired and are called deuterocanonical to indicate that they are canonical even though disputed by some. Greece. The book covers the whole of the revolt, from 175 to 134 BC, highlighting how the salvation of the Jewish people in this crisis came through Mattathias' family, particularly his sons, Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan Apphus, and Simon Thassi, and Simon's son, John Hyrcanus. Compare 1 Maccabees 10:65. [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. 63 Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished. They establish a gymnasium, where men socialized in the nude. VERSE 1. These heroes of the faith will not forsake the One God. That is, about 168 BC. (1 Maccabees 2.62-64). Talk about how this story might have inspired the Jews of Jesus day in the light of their oppression by the Romans. More wars involving Judas and his brothers Simon and Jonathan are reported in chapters 5, 6 and 7. The Greek text is extant in two of the three oldest codices of the Greek Septuagint: the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus. Unlike most of the Books of the Maccabees, 1 Maccabees was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek as part of the . He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. Many observant Jews flee from the capital, but others readily accept Antiochus' policies. After the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.) Because of the accuracy of the historical account, if a later date is accepted, then the author must have had access to first-hand reports of the events. He interprets the Maccabean victory not as a miraculous intervention by God, but rather as God's using the instrument of the military genius of the Maccabees to achieve his divine ends. The title of 1 and 2 Maccabees is taken from the surname of Judas (1 Mace. Look out for what you might learn about the Judaism of the period from the story. From the time of Alexander onward Greek culture spread throughout the Middle East. This is a terrible punishment. 1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated[ a] King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. [64], The Roman Catholic Lectionary makes use of texts from 1 Maccabees 1 to 6, along with texts from 2 Maccabees 6 and 7, in the weekday readings for the 33rd week in Ordinary Time, in year 1 of the two-year cycle of readings, always in November, and as one of the options available for readings for the dedication of an altar and as one of the suggested readings at a Mass celebrated to honour persecuted Christians.[65]. An unknown editor, the "Epitomist," used the factual notes of a historian . 1 Maccabees,[note 1] also known as the First Book of Maccabees, First Maccabees, and abbreviated as 1 Macc., is a deuterocanonical book which details the history of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire as well as the founding and earliest history of the independent Hasmonean kingdom. VERSE 39. The book of Tobit tells the story of Tobit and his family, who are living as exiles from Israel after the Assyrian conquest. The second book is even more important from the doctrinal point of view. for the second, on the basis of the information given in the first letter they refer to (2 Mace. VERSE 58. First Maccabees (written circa 134-104 BCE and describing the period of 166-135 BCE) is devoted to presenting the Maccabean dynasty, from Mattathias through his son Judah, to Jonathan and Simon who became high priests and gained political independence.. First Maccabees was written in Hebrew (though it is only preserved today in Greek) for a Judean audience in a Biblical style that emphasizes . The later Jewish historian Josephus most likely used some form of this text in writing his account of the Maccabean revolt. Though initially hailed as liberators, the Selucid family wasted no time in leaving their mark upon Judea. [47] No angels or miracles come to save the Jews; rather, it is the divinely-approved firm leadership of the Hasmoneans that leads to victory.[9]. He also confirms alliances with both Rome and Sparta (1 Macc. It is not permitted to do evil that good may result. 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. Omissions? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He shows intimate and detailed geographical knowledge of the Judea, Galilee, and their environs, but is inaccurate in his information about foreign countries. According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning. The school of philosophy seen in 1 Maccabees is often thought to be a predecessor to the philosophy of the Sadducees in later eras. Maccabees , (fl. Acts of the Apostles. The first book was written in Hebrew, although what we have is only a Greek translation; the second, written in Greek, shows that the author had a good grasp of Greek rhetoric and the Greek language, which suggests he may have been from Alexandria. To keep the Law of Moses would mean being put to death. There is a faithful remnant. Were there any parts of the book that you disliked or which troubled you? Mattathias and His Sons. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The same fate overtakes another persecutor, Nicanor, who dies because he threatened to destroy the Temple. That is, about 170 BC. On his journey, the son Tobias meets Sarah, who is afflicted by a demon. hanged their babes about their necks. [9][10] The author appears to be very familiar with Judea and its geography, but appears less well-informed about the wider Hellenistic world. And king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people. And they tore in pieces the books of the law which they found, and set them on fire. When war broke out between these two brothers the Romans intervened, took Jerusalem and brought the monarchy to an end. Another explanation concerns the different origins of the books. Updates? VERSE 28. Hardcover; 9780300159936; Published: Tuesday, 26 Apr 2022; $85.00. It was probably written sometime in the second century bc, in other words very shortly after the events it described. St. Augustine wrote in The City of God that they were preserved for their accounts of the martyrs. This usage of "Maccabees" as a group-term may have originated in Greek, as no usage of it in Hebrew to refer to the rebels survives from any era earlier than the 19th century.[10]. It also uses anachronistic terms at times to make explicit parallels between the exploits of the Hasmoneans and earlier Jewish heroes; for example, it refers to the coastal region of Palestine as the land of the Philistines, despite the Philistines no longer being a relevant cultural grouping in the era. VERSE 60. Pre-modern translations of the work were made in Latin, Syriac, and Armenian. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Demetrius' death is reported in 1 Maccabees 10:50, and Ptolemy VI Philometor and Alexander Balas, claimant to the Seleucid throne, enter into an agreement under which Alexander marries Cleopatra Thea, Ptolemy's daughter (1 Maccabees 10:58). I Maccabees presents a historical account of political, military, and diplomatic events from the time of Judaeas relationship with Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria (reigned 175164/163 bce) to the death (135/134 bce) of Simon Maccabeus, high priest in Jerusalem. Related to this is the issue that including 1 Maccabees in the canon may have given legitimacy to other texts in the Septuagint that were more problematic for the rabbis. Werner Kappler[de] published a critical edition of the Greek text in 1936, an eclectic compilation of the various surviving manuscripts and the best construction of the original text. 1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the 13-16). It is a deuterocanonical work in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, and apocryphal in Protestant tradition. Rather, the book refers to "heaven" (ourans) instead, such as Judas saying in a speech that "It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. And after two full years the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. This book also tells us more about atonement beyond the grave by asserting the existence of purgatory (12:38ff). In 285 he abdicated in favor of his son Ptolemy II, who became involved in a struggle with the Seleucid kings. The kingdom began to decline under Ptolemy IV Philopator, who was a bad administrator and led a dissolute life. First Maccabees was written about 100 B.C., in Hebrew, but the original has not come down to us. Ptolemy IIs court at Alexandria was famed for its learning. If this is all new to you, don't worrywe're here to help. 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. Second Maccabees includes a different edition of the first seven chapters of 1 Maccabees and was written at a later date, likely in Alexandria, Egypt. In this connection it gives a very moving account of the martyrdom of seven brothers, whose names are unknown but who are popularly called the Maccabees (2 Mac 7:1 ff). 1-2 Thessalonians. The following is a brief analysis of 1 Maccabees: (1) 1 Maccabees 1:1-10: An account of the rise of the Seleucid Dynasty. The First Book of Maccabees also gives a list of Jewish colonies scattered elsewhere through the Mediterranean at the time.[25]. VERSE 55. they chose to die. 2 Maccabees - Chapter 4. According to the first book of Maccabees, one of the Hellenistic kings defiled the temple, forbade circumcision, and even set up altars to his gods. (He had previously become king of Greece.) 1 Maccabees 10, Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, One of over 125 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary was originally compiled by priest and biblical scholar Rev. Alexander the Great. VERSE 5. In the Church of England's lectionary of 1922 in the Book of Common Prayer, 1st Maccabees is appointed annually to be read in late summer/early autumn. The victors had apparitions from heaven. Proverbs 16:18. In the town of Modein, the priest Mattathias finds the situation intolerable. In an effort to enforce unity, he attempts to suppress the public observance of Jewish religious laws. And he took the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof on every side. When Mattathias died, the revolt was led by his son Judas, or Judah Maccabee, as he is often called. Note: 1 and 2 Maccabees are not included in most Protestant and Jewish Bibles. One is that it was simply "too new," dealing with a period several centuries after the traditional end of Jewish prophecy. He reports the calamities the Jewish people experience on account of their sins, while also stressing the role played by God in his providence, who watches over them as he promised he would (cf. were recognized by the Fathers as inspired, there is an interim stage where souls are purified. The early Seleucid rulers were tolerant of the political and religious cultures of the territories they controlled, but things changed when Antiochus IV Epiphanes came to power, and the scene in Palestine became one of persecution and war. He even attempts to force Jewish leaders to sacrifice to pagan idols. More recent English language versions of the Bible which contain 1 Maccabees include the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Good News Translation (GNT), New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE). They will not sin in order to save their lives. 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