1 maccabees summary shmoop1 maccabees summary shmoop
In the year 142 BCE, after more than 500 years of subjugation, the Jews were again masters of their own fate. And from the people were gathered together to them many, every one that had forsaken the law; and they did evil things in the land; VERSE 53. and they made israel to hide themselves in every place of refuge which they had. The big question from this period is the question of self-definition. 1:7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died. Finally, there is the issue of its revolutionary character. And if you like what you see, check out our complete Online Course about the first five books of the Bible, a.k.a. Another is that, while they were included by the Jews of Alexandria in the Septuagint, they may not have gained much popularity in Jerusalem. Though initially hailed as liberators, the Selucid family wasted no time in leaving their mark upon Judea. 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. The second book is not a sequel to 1 Maccabees; it partially covers the same history (176 - 160 b.c.). Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG. In general, its chronology coheres with that of I Maccabees. When Simon died he was succeeded by his son John Hyrcanus, who became the founder of the Hasmonean dynasty. 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. [ a] 2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; 3 Simon, who was called Thassi; 4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus; 5 Eleazar, who was called Avaran; and Jonathan, who was called . the hundred and forty and third year. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and slaughtered the kings of the earth. Read more . The second book is even more important from the doctrinal point of view. 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. 1 Maccabees 1. The history of the Maccabee family given in these books ends with the death of Simon and the succession of his son, John Hyrcanus. 1 The Simon mentioned above as the informer against the funds and against his country began slandering Onias, insinuating that the latter had been responsible for the assault on Heliodorus and himself had contrived this misfortune. Judas's Maccabee title is generally tied to the Aramaic word maqqaba ("makebet" in modern Hebrew), "hammer" or "sledgehammer", in recognition of his prowess in battle. ", The Church Father Origen relates that the title of the Hebrew original was Sarbeth Sarbanael, translated either as "the Book of the Prince of the House of Israel" or "the Book of the Dynasty of God's resisters.". 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 2:4, 66; 2 Mc 8:5, 16; 10:1, 16).Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of Judas, his supporters . And he took the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof on every side. On his journey, the son Tobias meets Sarah, who is afflicted by a demon. 2 He undertook many campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses, and put the local kings to death. He plays one faction off against the other, obtaining various benefits for the Jews in exchange for his military support. St. Augustine wrote in The City of God that they were preserved for their accounts of the martyrs. While Judas is eventually killed in battle, the Maccabees eventually achieve autonomy and then independence for Judea under the leadership of the Hasmonean family. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. ; and the Seleucids, who took over large parts of the Middle East and moved into Palestine in 200 B.C. Some even engage in foreskin restoration. VERSE 43. and many of Israel consented to his worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath. And they put there a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, and they strengthened themselves therein. 2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; 3 Simon, who And the saying was good in their eyes. put to shame and fled. 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. 01793 418222. 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. The Maccabees formed the Hasmonean dynasty. While he clearly portrays a divine providence behind the history he presents, the narrator refrains from the miracle stories and other legends found in 2 Maccabees, which deals with much of the same material. The narrative is primarily prose text, but is interrupted by seven poetic sections, which imitate classical Hebrew poetry. Greece. [23] Various historical documents are included as well, notably of negotiations and letters with the Roman Republic and Hellenistic Sparta. It also uses anachronistic terms at times to make explicit parallels between the exploits of the Hasmoneans and earlier Jewish heroes; for example, it refers to the coastal region of Palestine as the land of the Philistines, despite the Philistines no longer being a relevant cultural grouping in the era. At first, it was used to describe the martyrs described in 2 Maccabees. Antiochus makes Judaism illegal. VERSE 27. She, having offered God the lives of her sons, then offers herself in sacrifice, giving an example of fortitude and also of that faith in which she had reared her children. The original book was apparently written in Hebrew, as is indicated by a number of Hebrew idioms used by the author. Naturally, any account of the war of liberation led by Judas Maccabeus would have this effect and would show that victory was due to Gods powerful aid (2:19-22). 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. A supporter of the Hasmonean dynasty. He imposes a tax and establishes a fortress for his soldiers in Jerusalem. Editor's note: The following homily delivered by the Reverend Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D, S.T.D., on 1 August 2017, commemoration of the Holy Maccabees (Extraordinary Form) at the Church of . The Hasmoneans were not an obvious choice to be rulers; they did not descend from the priestly line of Zadok that had taken the office of High Priest for generations at the point of the Maccabean Revolt. After Jesus redeemed mankind by dying on the cross, the just of the Old Testament were enabled to enter heaven, and thus the ancient people of God became the new Israel, which is the Church. the king sent letters. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It frequently imitates biblical phraseology and directly cites biblical precedents. The origin of 2 Maccabees is debated. 1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated[ a] King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. Many Christians base their moral decisions on outcomes. Friend and confederate. First Maccabees can be divided as follows: Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Books-of-the-Maccabees, The Catholic Encyclopedia - The Books of Machabees. The author is anonymous, but he probably wrote in the newly independent Hasmonean kingdom after the success of the Maccabean Revolt in the late 2nd century BC. 1-2 Thessalonians. VERSE 5. VERSE 8. 1 Samuel. He also forbids circumcision and possession of Jewish scriptures, imposing the death penalty for those who disobey. 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 achieves semi-independence from the Seleucid Empire and gains recognition of his rulership from the Roman Senate in 139. VERSE 32. Related to this is the issue that including 1 Maccabees in the canon may have given legitimacy to other texts in the Septuagint that were more problematic for the rabbis. The Maccabees books were preserved only by the Christian church. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He and his three sons begin a military campaign against them, the vicissitudes of which are described in detail. [5] The entire work is generally considered to be a unity composed by a single author on both philological and thematic grounds, although there are occasional short passages sometimes contested as potentially being added at a later date. I Maccabees is the only contemporary source for the civil wars in Judaea, and the only surviving one for Judaean-Syrian relations after the reign of Antiochus IV. Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. 2 Maccabees interprets the misfortunes of the Jews as God's punishment for their own sins; the author of 1 Maccabees depicts the problems as due to the external evil of Antiochus IV and his generals, not as a cleansing ordeal that was in some sense divine will. Compare 1 Maccabees 10:65. The First Book of Maccabees, originally written in Hebrew during the last part of thesecond century b.c.e.,1 can be read, among other things, as the story of the 1 CarlL.W. They establish a gymnasium, where men socialized in the nude. He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. Maccabees , (fl. ISBN links support NWE through referral fees. VERSE 39. Uriel Rappaport calls it emblematic of Hasmonean politics in general: that the Hasmonean state was an explicitly Jewish one that sought to separate itself from polytheism, yet was pragmatic and sought allies where they could be found.[9]. He even attempts to force Jewish leaders to sacrifice to pagan idols. 1 Maccabees is best known for its account of the recapture of Jerusalem in the year 164 BC and rededication of the Second Temple: the origin behind the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Updates? First Maccabees was written about 100 B.C., in Hebrew, but the original has not come down to us. Alternatively, Maccabee also might have been derived from the battle cry of the revolt, Mi Kamocha B'elim, YHWH ("Who is like you among the heavenly powers, YHWH!! While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. What did it mean to be Jewish in a predominantly Greek culture? The contest which he describes is a struggle, not simply between Jew and Gentile, but between those who would uphold the law and those, Jews or Gentiles, who would destroy it. When Mattathias died, the revolt was led by his son Judas, or Judah Maccabee, as he is often called. The author was an enthusiastic a supporter of the Maccabees who shows little sympathy with either their Jewish or Greek opponents. Protestants and Jews regard it as generally reliable historically, but not a part of holy scripture.. 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. [62], The book was never included in the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh and is not canonical in Judaism. 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