1 maccabees summary shmoop
The [] [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]. According to all these words wrote he to his whole kingdom; and he appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, city by city. in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. Both Origen and Jerome claim to have seen a Hebrew text of 1 Maccabees. . 1 and 2 Maccabees tell the same story in two different ways. Prefixed to the book are two "festive" letters (1.1 - 10a and1.10b - 2.19), sent from the Jews in Jerusalem to the Jews in Egypt. Alexander the Great. Gentile forces still hold a fortress in Jerusalem, however, as well as many towns in Judea and Galilee. The author, probably a Palestinian Jew, is unknown. VERSE 59. The same fate overtakes another persecutor, Nicanor, who dies because he threatened to destroy the Temple. Mattathias's son Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee) takes over the revolt and the rebels as a group are called the Maccabees; the book chronicles in detail the successes and setbacks of the rebellion. The book draws a sharp contrast between Jews and Gentiles, similar to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Pre-modern translations of the work were made in Latin, Syriac, and Armenian. Shortly before his death, he divides his kingdom among his generals. 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 (1Mc 2:4, 66; 2Mc 8:5, 16; 10:1, 16). Rabbinic Judaism generally disapproved of the rule of the Hasmonean dynasty, but the book is openly pro-Hasmonean, one of several factors for a lack of enthusiasm for the book within later Judaism. Unsure of the meaning of a word or phrase in the Bible? 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. An unknown editor, the Epitomist, used the factual notes of a historian, Jason of Cyrene, to write this historical polemic. Other texts lay stress on the intercession of the saints and the value of prayers for the dead (12:43-46), which are the basis of the dogma of the communion of saints. Chapter 6 reports the last days of Antiochus Epiphanes and the accession of his young son Antiochus V Eupator to the throne. They are Jewish people who do not observe the Law. Proverbs 16:18. 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). 2 Maccabees, curiously, says nothing about thisdespite its . In 1 Maccabees, those dissatisfied with the Hasmoneans "hated their nation"[39] as a whole; the Hasmoneans were equated with Judea itself. VERSE 23. Given its exactness of dates, places and documents and its enthusiasm for the Jewish cause, 1 Maccabees must have been written by a Palestinian Jew who witnessed the events he describes; the author of 2 Maccabees was more likely an Alexandrian Jew and a Pharisee, given what he has to say about resurrection. He shows intimate and detailed geographical knowledge of the Judea, Galilee, and their environs, but is inaccurate in his information about foreign countries. Jonathan becomes high priest (1 Maccabees 10:20). But they did not belong to the family of those men through whom deliverance was given to Israel. Reading time: Around 4 hours for both books or 2 hours for one. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt. by Daniel R. Schwartz. 17 And he wrote letters, and sent them to him, according to these words, saying, 18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting: 19 We have heard of you, that you are a mighty man of valour, and meet to be our See 1 Maccabees 2:18. The Septuagint was preserved by early Christians as the basis for the Christian Old Testament. And his servants bare rule, each one in his place. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. 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. It describes the refusal of Mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing Jewish revolt against Syrian hegemony, the political machinations whereby Demetrius II of Syria granted Judaea its independence, and the election of Simon as both high priest and secular ruler of the Judaean Jews. View all posts by todd. His son, Ptolemy III Euergetes, extended his empire into Persia. Both books, which Protestants regard as apocryphal, were recognized by the Fathers as inspired [and canonical at the Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397, 419)] and were later [again] defined as canonical by the Council of Trent (1546). VERSE 2. 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. A Greek version of the text was printed for the first time in 15141517 in the Complutensian Polyglot Bible. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. According to 1 Maccabees, there were some early groups of Jewish rebels who refused to fight on the Sabbath, and perished accordingly (1 Maccabees 2:29-38) until the Maccabean patriarch Mattathias decided to change the law and permit defensive warfare on the Sabbath (2:39-41). It became part of the deuterocanon in early Christianity. He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. We will be talking about events that happened in the second century, which took place in Judea located in the Syrian empire. VERSE 31. New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article [43], While the book holds all the Hasmoneans in high regard, it praises Simon Thassi in particular, the person who would pass the High Priesthood to his sons and establish the dynasty. Despite this, the book is not included as canon in the Tanakh. 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 . It purports to be a historical account of the repression and miraculous salvation of Egyptian Jewry during the reign (221205 bce) of Ptolemy IV Philopator. 1 Maccabees . [21][22] The English equivalent would be writing new books in the style of the King James Version. "Exodus ch. Probably written about 100 B.C.E., the book was included as scripture in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible and later included in Christian scripture until the Protestant Reformation, when the apocrypha of the Old Testament were generally rejected by Protestants. As far as the dates of composition are concerned, these can be taken as approximately 100 B.C. 1 Maccabees 1:54. Mattathias and His Sons. And he called his servants, which were honorable, which had been brought up with him from his youth, and he divided to them his kingdom, while he was yet alive. 2 He fought many battles, captured fortresses, and put the kings of the earth to death. The author was an enthusiastic a supporter of the Maccabees who shows little sympathy with either their Jewish or Greek opponents. Acts 4 (King James Version) 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Though initially hailed as liberators, the Selucid family wasted no time in leaving their mark upon Judea. 2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; 3 Simon, who To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here: The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia: Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed. Some even engage in foreskin restoration. 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 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). 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). 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). VERSE 32. 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 hundred and thirty and seventh year. A supporter of the Hasmonean dynasty. 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. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. The sacred writers purpose is to build up the morale of the Jews. ; and the Seleucids, who took over large parts of the Middle East and moved into Palestine in 200 B.C. The two Books of Maccabees contain independent accounts of events (in part identical) that accompanied the attempted suppression of Judaism in Palestine in the second century B.C. The book of 1 Maccabees is the most thorough account of the deeds of the sons of Mattathias and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire; 2 Maccabees is a more sensationalized account that focuses on a briefer period of time and adds cool stuff like flying ghost armies; 4 Maccabees is a homily rather than a narrative, focusing on the . Maccabees does not mention the involvement of the mercenaries who are mentioned in other accounts, whereas other accounts do not mention the Jewish involvement. However, we believers CANNOT do evil that good may result. 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. [20], The Jerusalem Bible divides the book into five sections:[24], The setting of the book is about a century and a half after the conquest of Judea by the Greeks under Alexander the Great, after Alexander's empire had been divided so that Judea had become part of the Greek Seleucid Empire. Friend and confederate. The history presented is very accurate, comparing favorably to pagan historians such as Livy or Tacitus. 1 In those days Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib, left Jerusalem and settled in Modein. [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". And wherever was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the law, the kings sentence delivered him to death. Ps 119:89-90). The Ptolemy kingdom was founded by Ptolemy I, the son of a Macedonian nobleman. If you like what I write, become my partner by donating. Maccabees , (fl. [7][4] He was likely a court historian or equivalent. And he had five sons, John, who was surnamed Gaddis; VERSE 3. And if you like what you see, check out our complete Online Course about the first five books of the Bible, a.k.a. Protestants and Jews regard it as generally reliable historically, but not a part of holy scripture.. More. "[42][43] All of this makes clear that God has specifically chosen a new dynasty to rule Judea, the Hasmoneans. VERSE 28. VERSE 22. and the table of the show bread, and the cups to pour withal, and the bowls, and the golden censers, and the veil, and the crowns, and the adorning of gold which was on the face of the temple, and he scaled it all off. If this is all new to you, don't worrywe're here to help. Antiochus captures Egypt. The Books of the Maccabees, Maccabees also spelled Machabees, four books, none of which is in the Hebrew Bible but all of which appear in some manuscripts of the Septuagint. 2 Maccabees is a summary of Jason's five-volume work. 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. hanged their babes about their necks. His severest condemnation goes, not to the Seleucid politicians, but to the lawless apostates among his own people, adversaries of Judas and his brothers, who are models of faith and loyalty. (Das erste Buch der Maccaber [Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zu 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. many in Israel were fully resolved. [35] Simon fortifies Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 13:10) and secures the reoccupation of Joppa (1 Maccabees 13:11), leading the people in peace and prosperity until he is murdered by agents of Ptolemy, son of Abubus, who had been named governor of the region by the Macedonian Greeks. Collins 2000 discusses 2, 3, and 4 Maccabees in this study of Jewish identity constructions in the diaspora in the Hellenistic period. 12:1-23). In true Deuteronomic tradition, the author insists on fidelity to the law as the expression of Israels love for God. 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. [19], The book was probably originally written in Hebrew. VERSE 1. Finally, there is the issue of its revolutionary character. VERSE 24. [11][12], The title "1 Maccabees" is not the original title of the work. 2He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. These heroes of the faith will not forsake the One God. 1 and 2 Maccabees reflect on this question in slightly different ways. The other Jews then reason that, when attacked, they must fight even on the holy day. If the consequences are good, they say is OK to do anything that is necessary. Matthew 24:15. VERSE 40. The Maccabees formed the Hasmonean dynasty. Acts of the Apostles. Ptolemy IIs court at Alexandria was famed for its learning. That is, about 176 BC. Christian tradition venerates these seven brothers as martyrs, and churches were dedicated to them in Antioch, Rome, Lyons, and Vienne. It is probably a Greek translation of a Hebrew account of Israel's independence struggle between 174 and 134 bc.Similarly little is known about the author of 2 Maccabees, although it is clear that he was not the same person as the author of 1 Maccabees. Journey through the Bible, one book at a time, with the 2nd edition of our Books of the Bible journal. 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