At the close of the book of daniel comes a passage of four verses in which a group within israel, called the wise, are promised an extraordinary deliverance 12. Unlike 1 maccabees, 2 maccabees was written in koine greek, probably in alexandria, egypt, c. The fourth book of the maccabees, so called, is a semiphilosophic discourse, or sermon, on the supremacy of the pious reason ch. The second book of maccabees is regarded as an apocryphal book of the old testament by less than onethird of christian believers. Apocrypha 1st maccabees of the king james bible 1611. The designation 5 maccabees was first given to the book now commonly so called by cotton the five books of maccabees english, 1832, and it has been perpetuated by dr. The maccabees books were preserved only by the christian church. The maccabean story is preserved in the books of the first and second maccabees, which describe in detail the rededication of the temple in jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah. Maccabees, also spelled machabees, flourished 2nd century bce, palestine, priestly family of jews who organized a successful rebellion against the seleucid ruler antiochus iv and reconsecrated the defiled temple of jerusalem historical context of the maccabees. These books were better known among greek speaking jews in the mediterranean world around the time of jesus. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. 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.
The two books, 1 maccabees and 2 maccabees are both included in the catholic bible. Ginsburg kittos cycyclopedia of biblical literature. 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 175164163 bc to the death 54 bc of simon maccabeus, high priest in jerusalem. However, the book of daniel, although included within the canon, is to a large extent written in aramaic. The author of 1 maccabees dates political events by the syrian calendar but religious events by the temple calendar. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The author tells us that he is summarizing a 5volume work by jason of cyrene 2. Church historian eusebius named jewish historian josephus as the author, but critics have since disputed that claim. The first book, although written from a biased perspective, does not directly mention god or divine intervention. It is an abridgment of a larger work of five books written by a jason of cyrene who is otherwise unknown see 2. The author of i maccabees, likely the hasmonean court historian, wrote his history during the high priesthood 54104 bc of john hyrcanus i, son and successor of simon. This book tells the story of a family which became very important in jewish history. The name maccabee was a title of honour given to judas, a son of mattathias and.
The book of 5 maccabees is also known as the arabic 2 maccabees and was written much later in history. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica. Samuel davidson introduction to the old testament, iii, 465. Chapter one 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. Critics agree that the author of this book was an alexandrian jew who wrote in greek. The second book of the maccabees opens with two letters written by jews resident in palestine to brethren dwelling in egypt. 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. 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 maccabees in order that he might reign over. After the debate is over, nobody will disagree the book was included in the sacred canon of the hebrew bible, and has always been so fixed.
The book is held as canonical scripture by the catholic, orthodox, and oriental orthodox. Jul 01, 2010 this book tells the story of a family which became very important in jewish history. Most protestant churches and denominations do not consider any of the five maccabees books to be canon, or part of the inspired word of god. 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, probably a palestinian jew, is unknown. It describes the refusal of mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing. Instead, we have an early, prechristian, greek translation full of hebrew idioms. Some hold that the book was written originally as a kind of introduction to the books of maccabees, which it precedes as book i in cottons five books of maccabees. Among the historical writings are 1 and 2 maccabees and 1 and 2 esdras. Augustine wrote in the city of god that they were preserved for their accounts of the martyrs. The third book of the maccabees has in reality nothing to do either with the maccabees or with their times. The same title is also used for a syriac version of 6th book of josephus jewish war.
And all nations consented according to the word of king antiochus. Maccabees, books of, 12 definition and meaning bible. In style, the author is prone to rhetorical constructs and a somewhat bombastic style, and the themes of the book are very similar to those of the epistle of aristeas. 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. Jan 02, 2020 the book of 5 maccabees is also known as the arabic 2 maccabees and was written much later in history. Jan 02, 2020 the book of 1 maccabees was written in hebrew and later translated into greek. I and my brothers and my fathers house have fought the wars of israel from our youth until today, and many times we succeeded in saving israel. But the contents of the book do not agree with this view. Maccabees, books of, 12 international standard bible. The author opposed the hellenization of the jews and clearly supported and admired the jewish revolutionaries led by judas maccabeus and his brothers. Even more problematic is the fact that scholars believe that the first book of maccabees was indeed written originally in hebrew, therefore meeting the language criterion for inclusionand yet it is absent from the biblical canon. First maccabees covers the efforts of the jewish people to regain their freedom following the desecration of the temple by antiochus iv epiphanes. These letters, it is thought by some, formed no part of the original work. Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and clement is.
And many of israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath. The book of 1 maccabees was written in hebrew and later translated into greek. Whereas 1 maccabees attempts to be a straightforward history of the maccabaean period of the second century bce. Maccabees, also spelled machabees, flourished 2nd century bce, palestine, priestly family of jews who organized a successful rebellion against the seleucid ruler antiochus iv and reconsecrated the defiled temple of jerusalem. 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. It received its name probably because it is a fiction concerning the persecution of the jews by a foreign king. The people of israel have been specially chosen by the one true god as covenantpartner, and they alone are privileged to know and worship god, their eternal benefactor and unfailing source of help. The two books of maccabees contain accounts of the maccabean wars written from different points of view. The second book has a more theological slant, advancing several. Why the maccabees arent in the bible my jewish learning.
Perhaps the term maccabees was generalized so as to denote all who suffered for their faith. As a surname it was also applied to his brothers and, by. The other maccabees, 5 maccabees, is also known as the arabic 2 maccabees, and was written much later. Books of maccabees encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
The first book of the machabees is a history of the struggle of the jewish people for religious and political liberty under the leadership of the machabee. The title of 1 and 2 maccabees is taken from the surname of judas 1 mace. Old testament of the bible cliffsnotes study guides book. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. Antiochians considered this date to be october, 312 b. The name maccabee was a title of honour given to judas, a son of mattathias and the hero of the jewish. The book of 4 maccabees is more philosophical rather than historical. 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. Maccabees, second book of ii maccabees, known in greek as. Books of the maccabees paperback april 9, 2014 by king james bible author, douay rheims author 4. Schwartz of the hebrew university discusses the the first and second books of maccabees. These books are not part of the tanakh hebrew bible which came from the jewish canon. Scholars believe that the author was a palestinian jew who was intimately familiar with the events described. The title of this book is a misnomer since it treats of the sufferings of the egyptian jews under ptolemy iv philopator 221203 b.
Many have interpreted the saying as an early reference to the maccabees, but that identification is by no means certain. The first book of the maccabees the first book of the maccabees 1. The doctrine expressed in the book is the customary belief of israel, without the new developments which appear in 2 maccabees and daniel. It is listed as canon in the georgian orthodox bible. This suggests that in antiquity, iv maccabees, dealing almost exclusively with martyrdom, may have been the most highly regarded. The writers of the septuagint, a greek translation of the old testament, placed the books of the maccabees though not 5 maccabees, which was written much later in the category of useful writings rather than inspired scripture. One narrative records that antiochus and his company were cut to pieces in the temple of nanaea by the treachery of nanaeas priests 2 maccabees 1. Whether the book was originally in the section called the prophets or the writings is irrelevant. It was this title which gave the title to the other books of the apocrypha bearing the same name. Books of the maccabees kindle edition by douay rheims. In it, the idea that pious reason trumps passion is illustrated by the martyrdom of eleazer and the maccabean youths under antiochus iv epiphanes. Why does the catholic bible include the maccabees and the. Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of judas, his.
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