These two books tell you a lot about Jewish self-definition in the second and first century bc. Thus 1 Maccabeesas well as the other books of this genrefaced a major political obstacle to their acceptance. He relented after angels intervened on behalf of the Jews. Judas's brother Simon Thassi is declared High Priest by will of the Jewish people. Snow Crash Summary. 1 and 2 Maccabees are set during the reign of the Seleucid Greek empire (the part of the Greek empire that found its roots in Syria). Greece. They are Jewish people who do not observe the Law. Reading time: Around 4 hours for both books or 2 hours for one. the Torah. In the book itself, "Maccabee" is used solely as a personal title for Judah Maccabee (Latinized as Judas Maccabeus). The revolt is also known by the name Maccabee, after the most renowned of Mattathias's sons . Thus did they in their might to Israel, to those that were found month by month in the cities. . 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.The rebellion began under the leadership of the Jewish priest Mattathias after Antiochus sought to stamp out Judaism by forbidding all Jewish practices and desecrating the temple (167 bc). First and Second Maccabees help us to realize that God watches over his own, and they show that Israel always wins victory over its enemies when it stays true to the Covenant. If the consequences are good, they say is OK to do anything that is necessary. 4:59). [21][22] The English equivalent would be writing new books in the style of the King James Version. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt. In the first chapter, Alexander the Great conquers the territory of Judea, and is later succeeded by the Seleucid Antiochus IV Epiphanes. And the women that had circumcised their children they put to death according to the commandment. Attempts to discredit the work as essentially fiction have been discounted even by strongly critical scholars today. His brother Simon succeeds him in 142 B.C.E., receiving the double office of high priest and ruler of Israel (1 Maccabees 14:41). VERSE 64. After his death in battle c. 161 B.C.E., his brother Jonathan succeeds him. VERSE 31. The Maccabees formed the Hasmonean dynasty. This history includes battles with Antiochus IV and his son. The book 2 Maccabees, preserved right next to 1 Maccabees in the Septuagint, provides a striking contrast in theology, and the works are often compared. Journey through the Bible, one book at a time, with the 2nd edition of our Books of the Bible journal. First Maccabees gives a detailed account of the struggle in Palestine over a period of fifty years, from the time Antiochus IV Epiphanes came to the throne up to the death of Simon, the last of the Maccabee brothers (134 B.C.). [44] Notably, the author makes no reference to the idea of a bodily resurrection, which the Sadducees opposed. An unknown editor, the Epitomist, used the factual notes of a historian, Jason of Cyrene, to write this historical polemic. These translations have no copyright restrictions. 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. Although the author of the first book devotes a lot of space to wars and political intrigues extending over a period of forty years, his primary purpose is a religious one. VERSE 33. [49]He argues that the author was likely an eyewitness to at least some of the battles described given his great accuracy and plausibility in describing terrain and troop movements, and was able to obtain firsthand accounts from others in interviews. Many scholars suggest that these Church Fathers may have had access to a Biblical Aramaic paraphrase of the workmost Christians writers of the time did not distinguish between Hebrew and Aramaic. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. 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. 1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the Purpose of The Book of 1 Maccabees: The purpose in writing 1 Maccabees Book is to record the deliverance of Israel that God worked through the family of Mattathias (5:62) - especially through his three sons, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, and his grandson, John Hyrcanus. VERSE 46. and pollute the sanctuary and those who were holy; VERSE 47. that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should sacrifice swines flesh and unclean beasts: VERSE 48. and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation; VERSE 49. so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. [14][15] Various reconstructions have been proposed: Gustaf Dalman, meanwhile, suggests that the title is a corruption of the Aramaic "The Book of the House of the Hasmoneans". VERSE 21. and entered presumptuously into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar, and the candlestick of the light, and all that pertained thereto. 16:2 And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them: I and my brethren, and my father's house, have fought against the enemies of Israel from our youth even to this day: and things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered . Judas victory over Nicanor ensures the liberation of the Jewish people and guarantees the proper worship of the true God. 2He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. Modin. Unlike the Second Book of Maccabees, there is no doctrine of individual immortality except in the survival of ones name and fame, nor does the book express any messianic expectation, though messianic images are applied historically to the days of Simon (1Mc 14:417). It became part of the deuterocanon in early Christianity. The book's author is unknown, but is assumed to have been a devout Jew from the Holy Land who may have even taken part in the events described in the book, or at least knew older people who participated in them. At first, it was used to describe the martyrs described in 2 Maccabees. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. He may also have consulted it for Book 1 of The Jewish War. This work no longer exists, but is the basis for 2 Maccabees.) As the Bible says, "On the eighth day, God created Shmoop and saw that it was good." Or something like that. 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). many in Israel were fully resolved. The big question from this period is the question of self-definition. Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of Judas, his supporters, and even to other Jewish heroes of the period, such as the seven brothers (2Mc 7). [22], The narrative is primarily prose text, but is interrupted by seven poetic sections, which imitate classical Hebrew poetry. 1 Maccabees follows this story until the death of Simon (the third son of Mattathias to rule over Israel) at the hands of the some Egyptian Greeks (from about 175-134 bc). And they did all put diadems upon themselves after that he was dead, and so did their sons after them many years: and they multiplied evils in the earth. The people of Israel have been specially chosen by the one true God as covenant-partner, and they alone are privileged to know and worship God, their eternal benefactor and unfailing source of help. The narrative reports that news of the desolation reaches Mattathias and his five sons, a priestly family who live in Modein. 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. VERSE 32. 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and slaughtered the kings of the earth. by Daniel R. Schwartz. The writer compares their virtues and their exploits with those of Israels ancient heroes, the Judges, Samuel, and David. The title of 1 and 2 Maccabees is taken from the surname of Judas (1 Mace. Its name in the Septuagint and in the writings of the Church Fathers (Eusebius and Clement) is , i.e . The success of the Jewish campaigns he attributes to Gods protection, but he makes it clear that faithfulness to the Covenant is, as was the case with their forebears, the ground on which Israel must totally rely. Were there any parts of the book that you particularly liked or which inspired you? When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand). Chapter 16. 1 Maccabees was probably written in Jerusalem, but 3 and 4 Maccabees derive from the diaspora. Proverbs 16:18. It has traditionally been considered highly trustworthy, although it is to some extent the "official" version of history according to the Hasmoneans and from the Maccabean point of view. He refuses to comply with Antiochus' officers and, in an act of utter defiance, murders a Jew who attempts to offer pagan sacrifice, killing the officer as well. VERSE 37. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes eventually comes to rule over Syria. [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]. Antiochus was determined to impose hellenic religion and civilization in Palestine as elsewhere, and naturally this was anathema to the Jews, who at this time were quite faithful to the Covenant with Yahweh. And the saying was good in their eyes. 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book written by a Jewish author and included in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons of the Bible. It includes such fundamental texts as that which states that God created all thingsex nihilo, out of nothing, not out of things which existed (7:28), and those which make it clear that the sacrifice of martyrs is a voluntary form of atonement which placates Gods anger (7:36, 8:5). "[45][46] Even if "heaven" is merely shorthand for "God in heaven", 1 Maccabees is remarkably secular in its depiction of the conflict. 2 Maccabees is harder to date but many scholars locate it in the early first century bc. As a part of the revolt, the Temple was freed from the control of the Greek empire and rededicated (an act that is still commemorated yearly in the festival of Hanukkah). VERSE 7. In any case, the name later came to be used for Judah's brothers as as a family name, as well as to each of the books of "Maccabee. Jerome likewise claims "the first book of Maccabees I have found to be Hebrew, the second is Greek, as can be proved from the very style" (per Prologus Galeatus). And the kingdom was well ordered in the sight of Antiochus, and he thought to reign over Egypt, that he might reign over the two kingdoms. And if you like what you see, check out our complete Online Course about the first five books of the Bible, a.k.a. hanged their babes about their necks. (Das erste Buch der Maccaber [Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zu The Greeks recognize him as high priest, but like Judas, he finds himself caught between competing Greek kings who are engaged in their own civil war for control of the Seleucid Empire. 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. While Judas is eventually killed in battle, the Maccabees eventually achieve autonomy and then independence for Judea under the leadership of the Hasmonean family. The history of the Maccabee family given in these books ends with the death of Simon and the succession of his son, John Hyrcanus. Elephants were an important part of the army of Antiochus. Unlike most of the Books of the Maccabees, 1 Maccabees was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek as part of the . The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. VERSE 29. He even attempts to force Jewish leaders to sacrifice to pagan idols. If it really was originally written in Greek, then the author was intentionally imitating Hebrew style in Greek. When Mattathias died, the revolt was led by his son Judas, or Judah Maccabee, as he is often called. Series: The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. Updates? 1 Maccabees 1. VERSE 9. [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. came there forth out of Israel. This page was last edited on 16 October 2020, at 19:27. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=1_Maccabees&oldid=1044072, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. He wrote in the post-independence Hasmonean kingdom, probably during the reign of High Priest John Hyrcanus (reigned ~134104 BC), with a few scholars suggesting that early in the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (reigned 10376 BC) is also a possibility. Friend and confederate. Book of Deuteronomy. And he took the silver and the gold and the precious vessels; and he took the hidden treasures which he found. [9][10] The author appears to be very familiar with Judea and its geography, but appears less well-informed about the wider Hellenistic world. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In either case, only the Greek text has survived, and this only through its inclusion in the Christian canon. 1 Kings. Registered charity 232759. 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