The record in 2 maccabees begins one year earlier than that of 1 maccabees, but as the latter reaches down to 5 bc and probably below 105 bc. No mention is made in 1 maccabees of the second expedition to egypt a year later. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. The books of 1 and 2 maccabees are not recognized as divinely inspired scripture by either the jewish community or the protestant christians. This history includes battles with antiochus iv and his son. The first book of the maccabees book of the maccabees book of 1 maccabees online. Harrington sets the stage for both compositions by addressing the maccabean revolt, underscoring its importance in a time of great crisis. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica.
He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. Many original prayers, speeches, and poems embedded in first maccabees reflect the strong religious feelings of the new rulers. Apocrypha 1st maccabees of the king james bible 1611. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. 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. He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. Holy war, liberation war the book of maccabees shows us a people who desire to live but for whom faith is.
First maccabees written circa 4104 bce and describing the period of 1665 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 and second maccabees new collegeville bible commentary. First book of maccabees, pt 1 of 3, new american bible. The first book, although written from a biased perspective, does not directly mention god or divine intervention. Nov 06, 20 the name maccabee, probably meaning hammer, is actually applied in the books of maccabees to only one man, judas, third son of the priest mattathias and first leader of the revolt against the. Unlike 1 maccabees, 2 maccabees was written in koine greek, probably in alexandria, egypt, c. Maccabees, books of, 12 international standard bible. It tells the story of how the greek ruler antiochus iv epiphanes attempted to suppress temple worship and to destroy the practice of jewish law. The books of first and second maccabees are also important for christians, as in them is told how the jewish people established the political and religious culture into which jesus was born. Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of judas, his supporters. In contrast, jason of cyrene, the author of the second book of maccabees, believed that martyrs were heroes and had power. However, second maccabees seeks to explain to diaspora jews and greeks alike that the maccabean revolt was not the result of an inevitable clash of two cultureshellenism and judaismor of two peoples, hellenes and jews. First maccabees is in a way reminiscent of the book of judges the maccabees are those men into whose hand the salvation of israel was given i maccabees 5. His attention to explaining the historical context and potentially obscure aspects.
First and second maccabees were jewish writings regarding the history of the jews during portions of the time period between the old and new testaments. A reevaluation of the structure and function of 2 maccabees 7 and. The first and second books of the maccabees fairweather, william on. But the evidence given by these scholars is unconvincing, though the 1st letter is certainly more. The first book of maccabees acknowledged as one of the most perfect books of ancient history relates the events in the war and the deeds of the five maccabean brothers, from the year 170 to b. These jewish historical works, the two books of the maccabees, were written to describe the struggles of the jews in the second century bc against encroachment of the greek way of life and against the political. After a general introduction to the book as a whole, the text is given in short passages, with a commentary directly following each. Abstract 2 maccabees, the first work to pose an opposition between judaism and. The name maccabee, probably meaning hammer, is actually applied in the books of maccabees to only one man, judas, third son of the priest mattathias and first leader of the revolt against the seleucid kings who persecuted the jews 1 mc 2. In contrast to first maccabees, the book of second maccabees is a summary of a history written originally in greek for diaspora hellenistic jews living in the greekspeaking area in egypt. The books of the maccabees are books concerned with the maccabees, the leaders of the. Alexander the great 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.
The book of 2 maccabees consists of a greek synopsis of a fivevolume history of the maccabean revolt written by jason of cyrene. The author of 1 maccabees dates political events by the syrian calendar but religious. First and second maccabees were jewish writings regarding the history of the. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign over. Dentan, the second book of maccabees, inthe interpreters onevolume. Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and clement is. The first book of maccabees all chapters the bible. 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. The first book of the maccabees maccabees is the concept of praying on behalf of the dead 2 maccabees 12. One concerning theological teaching from 2 maccabees is the concept of praying on behalf of the dead 2 maccabees 12. Mr bartletts volume, like the others in the series, contains the text in the new english bible. The same title is used for a syriac version of 6th book of josephus jewish war. After the prologue, the first section of 4 maccabees sets forth the philosophical thesis, and the second section illustrates the points made using examples drawn from the maccabees principally, the martyrdom of eleazer and the maccabean.
Both books are part of the canon of scripture in the greek orthodox, roman catholic, coptic, and russian orthodox churches, but they are not recognized as canon by protestants and jews. The first book of maccabees also gives a list of jewish colonies scattered elsewhere through the mediterranean at the time. Jan 02, 2020 the book of 2 maccabees consists of a greek synopsis of a fivevolume history of the maccabean revolt written by jason of cyrene. The martyr stories inform the early christian martyrdoms, and the books are written in greek, the language in which the jews of jesus time read the. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. The book of 3 maccabees tells the story of persecution of the jews under ptolemy iv philopator 222205 bc prior to the maccabean uprising. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. This work no longer exists, but is the basis for 2 maccabees. In contrast with its title, the book does not describe the. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign.
The author of first maccabees, who wrote for judeans, sought to promote the legitimacy of the hasmonean priesthood and its political rule. The books of the maccabees are books concerned with the maccabees, the leaders of the jewish rebellion against the seleucid dynasty and related subjects the term mostly refers to two deuterocanonical books contained in various canons of the bible. What i feel is worth mentioning about maccabees, particularly in the second book, is that this is really the first point in the the reason its considered apocrypha by some is because it is not found in the palestinian canon, likely due to the very flattering portrayal of rome in the second and first centuries of b. The book is held as canonical scripture by the catholic, orthodox, and oriental orthodox. The second book has a more theological slant, advancing several. Maccabees, second book of ii maccabees, known in greek as. The books of 1 and 2 maccabees are early jewish writings detailing the history of the jews in the first century bc.
The first two books only are part of canonical scripture in the septuagint and the vulgate hence are canonical to roman. Jan 02, 2020 the book of 4 maccabees is a philosophic discourse extoling the supremacy of pious reason over passion. It is included in the catholic and eastern orthodox canons. The title of 1 and 2 maccabees is taken from the surname of judas 1 mace. They were written in the second century bc likely date of 1 maccabees or first century bc likely date of 2 maccabees, probably originally in hebrew for 1 maccabees and greek for 2 maccabees, though the surviving manuscripts are in greek. The letter from judah maccabee to aristobulus is 2. The first and second books of the maccabees paperback may 14, 2012 by william fairweather author. These jewish historical works, the two books of the maccabees, were written to describe the struggles of the jews in the second century bc against encroachment of the. In first maccabees, pious jews martyrdom does not stimulate god to act in the maccabean revolt. The third book of the maccabees iii maccabees, chapter 1 1 when philopator learned from those who returned that the regions which he had controlled had been seized by antiochus, he gave orders to all his forces, both infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister arsinoe, and marched out to the region near raphia, where antiochuss supporters. What i feel is worth mentioning about maccabees, particularly in the second book, is that this is really the first point in the the reason its considered apocrypha by some is because it is not found in the palestinian canon, likely due to the very flattering portrayal of rome in. First book of maccabees, pt 1 of 3, new american bible duration. Librivox recording of the first book of maccabees, from the douayrheims version.