Maccabees, books of, 12 definition and meaning bible. Antiochus epiphanes had been a hostage in rome before he became king of syria in the year 7. The books outline the history of the maccabees, jewish leaders who led a rebellion of the jews against the seleucid dynasty from 175 bc to 4 bc. Thefourthbookofthe maccabees thefourthbookofthemaccabees appearsinanappendix tothegreekseptuagint. It presents a revised version of the historical events. The first book of the maccabees thefourthbookofthemaccabees appearsinanappendix tothegreekseptuagint. It describes the refusal of mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing jewish revolt. The name 3 maccabees, though occurring in the oldest manuscripts and vss, is quite unsuitable, because the book refers to events which antedate the maccabean age by about half a century, and also to events in which the maccabees took no part. The same title is used for a syriac version of 6th book of josephus jewish war. Rather, it is another book about the maccabean era. Jan 02, 2020 the first book portrays the effort by the jews to regain their cultural and religious independence from antiochus iv epiphanes after his desecration of the jewish temple. Book of maccabees antiochus of epiphanes,type of antichrist, soon to come.
Books of the maccabees paperback april 9, 2014 by king james bible author, douay rheims author 4. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica. This gives the best clue to the anachronisms, inconsistencies and loose phrasing which characterize the book. The fourth book of the maccabees this book is like a fearful peal of thunder echoing out of the dim horrors of an cient tyranny. Apr 09, 2014 books of the maccabees paperback april 9, 2014 by king james bible author, douay rheims author 4. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. Ii maccabees focuses on the jews revolt against antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the syrian general nicanor in. First maccabees describes the jewish struggle for independence from the tyranny of antiochus epiphanes in 175 b. Itisconsideredtobeapocrypha by most church traditions. 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 book of 1 maccabees in the apocrypha describes vividly some of the atrocities committed to the jewish people under the regime of antiochus iv.
Maccabees, first book of i maccabees, a historical work extant in greek, covering the period of 40 years from the accession of antiochus epiphanes 175 b. An indepth view of the grecosyrian emperor in the story of hanukkah. Antiochus an opponent, the name of a number of kings of syria who lived during the interval between the old and new testaments, and had frequent connection with the jews during that period. Antiochus epiphanes was a ruthless and often capricious ruler. Ii maccabees, chapter 1 1 the jewish brethren in jerusalem and those in the land of judea, to their jewish brethren in egypt, greeting, and good peace. Aug 29, 2019 english bible according to the catholic and orthodox canons. A theological treatise such as 2 maccabees differed widely from the unadorned, factual approach found in 1 maccabees. Antiochus epiphanes was a greek king of the seleucid empire who reigned over syria from 175 bc until 164 bc.
He is famous for almost conquering egypt and for his brutal persecution of the jews, which precipitated the maccabean revolt. As did many rulers, he appended the title epiphanes god manifest to his name. In the second book, foreign leaders are not only moral, they make donations to the temple, wish for the welfare of the jewish people. Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and. I maccabees is the main, and at times the only, historical source for the period. They are referred to in the apocrypha especially in the books of the maccabees. 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. The doctrine expressed in the book is the customary belief of israel, without the new developments which appear in 2 maccabees and daniel.
Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and clement is. 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. Does the book of maccabees claim a different origin for purim. Books of maccabees encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. English bible according to the catholic and orthodox canons.
It tells how the greek ruler antiochus iv epiphanes attempted to suppress the practice of basic jewish law, resulting in the maccabean revolt a jewish. Dates are given in this book according to the beginning of the seleucid era. The books of mccabees tend to be most interesting to us for telling the story of the origin of hanukkah and of antiochus epiphanes fulfilling prophecies presumed to be about him from daniel. It is a chapter based on persecution by antiochus, the tyrant of syr ia, whom some called epiphanes, the madman. Antiochus came to the place together with his friends, to secure most of its treasures as a dowry. 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. In view of these questions and the fact that the books of maccabees do not. A resurrection for tortured jews 2 maccabees the bart. 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. However, the first book of the maccabees places jasons failed coup at a later date and says that antiochus came to jerusalem to collect 1800. Indeed, so distinct are these two works that one must not label the epitome the second book of maccabees, as if it were a continuation of 1 maccabees. Hanukkah in the book of maccabees galilee of the nations.
The ancient israelites, led by judas maccabeus, did vanquish the oppressor antiochus but greek rule would only be shaken off 20 years later under judas younger brother. Books of the maccabees kindle edition by douay rheims. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Predictably, antiochus began reprisals, but in 167 bce the jews rose up behind mattathias and his five sons and fought for their liberation. Antiochus, for example, uses whips and thongs to force the brothers to eat pork. The syrian king was set on hellenizing all of his conquered territories and the people therein. The book of 2 maccabees consists of a greek synopsis of a fivevolume history of the maccabean revolt written by jason of cyrene. The first book of maccabees also gives a list of jewish colonies scattered elsewhere through the mediterranean at the time. The first contains a history of the war of independence, commencing b. May 21, 2017 book of maccabees antiochus of epiphanes,type of antichrist, soon to come.
The first book portrays the effort by the jews to regain their cultural and religious independence from antiochus iv epiphanes after his desecration of the jewish temple. The second book of maccabees all chapters the bible. 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. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign over. Son and successor to antiochus epiphanes, ascended the throne as a mere boy 163161 b. In 175 bce, amid this socialpolitical unrest, a new ruler, antiochus iv, ascended to the throne of grecosyria. Now king antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city.
The book of daniel and the maccabean thesis up until. The family of mattathias became known as the maccabees, from the hebrew word for hammer, because they were said to strike hammer blows against their enemies. The name maccabee was a title of honour given to judas, a son of mattathias and. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign. 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. The first book of the maccabees antiochus camped above dora with a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen.
At least that is what it says in first book of the maccabees. Conversely, the second book of the maccabees describes the decree as being issued in response to the revolt. Maccabees, books of, 35 international standard bible. 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. According to the authors of the books of the maccabees, while antiochus was busy in egypt, a. 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.