Back to the main page back to the holy bible the second book of maccabees also known as the the second book of machabees chapter 1 1. Maccabees, books of the eastons bible dictionary online. The second book has a more theological slant, advancing several doctrines followed by the orthodox and roman catholic churches. Second maccabees entire book alluded to in hebrews 11. Regarding the dates in 1 and 2 maccabees, see note on 1 mc 1. The second book of the maccabees opens with two letters written by jews resident in palestine to brethren dwelling in egypt. On the troubles caused by jason and his revolt against the kingdom, i. Unlike 1 maccabees, 2 maccabees was written in koine greek, probably in alexandria, egypt, c. 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 were encamped. Maccabees, books of, 35 definition and meaning bible.
The second book has a more theological slant, advancing several. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. I maccabees presents a historical account of political, military, and diplomatic events from the time of judaeas relationship with. The term mostly refers to two deuterocanonical books contained in various canons of the bible. The first and second books of maccabees, though regarded by jews and protestants as apocryphal, i. 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.
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 second book of machabees is not, as the name might suggest, a continuation of the first, but covers part of the same ground. The account concludes with the defeat of the syrian general nicanor in a revolt led by judas maccabeus and his brothers in 161 bc. Visit the new online stores that offer a very large assortment of religious goods. The first and second books of maccabees are reckoned as part of the old testament by catholics. These letters, it is thought by some, formed no part of the original work. In general, its chronology coheres with that of i maccabees. The books of maccabees are not included in the biblical canon, because these. Catholic bible outline of the second book of maccabees. The first two books only are part of canonical scripture in the septuagint and the vulgate hence are canonical to roman catholicism and eastern orthodoxy and. To makkabaika the things maccabean or maccabean histories was the designation for both 1 and 2 maccabees. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Many original prayers, speeches, and poems embedded in first maccabees reflect the strong religious feelings of the new rulers. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
This term originally applied only to judah, who led the group following the death of his father, matityahu, and is referred. Its design is to comfort the alexandrian jews in their persecution. The second book of maccabees, also known as the second book. In their respect for the holiness of that day, they refrained from defending themselves. 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. Page 1 apocrypha 2 nd maccabees of the king james bible 1611. The same title is used for a syriac version of 6th book of josephus jewish war. However, everybody should count them as fascinating jewish historical literature.
The second gives a history of the maccabees struggle from b. A reading from the second book of maccabees judas the ruler of israel, then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. The history of the second book of maccabees begins some years earlier than that of the first book. I maccabees is the main, and at times the only, historical source for the period. 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 1 mc 14. In contrast to first maccabees, the book of second maccabees is a summary of a history written originally in greek for diaspora hellenistic jews living in the greekspeaking area in egypt. The first book, although written from a biased perspective, does not directly mention god or divine intervention. Here are our bitesized pieces of the first book of maccabees.
First and second maccabees are part of the deuterocanonical books used by the roman catholic church, orthodox church, and anglican church. 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. Maccabees definition, the members of the hasmonean family of jewish leaders and rulers comprising the sons of mattathias and their descendants and reigning in judea from 167. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The books of 3 and 4 maccabees are ancient jewish writings included in various lists of the orthodox church canon. 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. Although 2 maccabees was included by luther and other early reformers in their bibles, they were rejected as being on the same level as canonical writings. Most greek manuscripts simply term the books of 1 and 2 maccabees makkabaion a and makkabaion b. May 30, 2016 so, i have been reading the book of maccabees and for the life of me, i cannot understand why it isnt included in our bible. The first and second books of maccabees relate the accounts of the jewish revolt against the syrian greek tyrant antiochus epiphanes. But the contents of the book do not agree with this view.
The catholic doors ministry presents an outline of the second book of maccabees. The book of 1 maccabees was written in hebrew and later translated into greek. Leadership of judas maccabeus after his fathers death. Maccabees, books of, 12 definition and meaning bible dictionary. The jews to whom the book was addressed were both loyal to their nation and its new hasmonean state and yet. The second book of the maccabees the second book of the maccabees the second book of the maccabees maccabees, the book of second maccabees is a summary of a history written originally in greek for diaspora hellenistic jews living in the greekspeaking area in egypt. Maccabees, books of, 12 international standard bible. First and second maccabees were jewish writings regarding the history of the jews during portions of the time period between the old and new testaments. Why isnt the book of maccabees in the jewish bible, the. Maccabees, second book of ii maccabees, known in greek as. The books of the maccabees, four books, none of which is in the hebrew bible but all of which appear in some manuscripts of the septuagint. The second book covers a much briefer time period, ending with judah the maccabees victory at the battle of nicanor in 161 bce.
Maccabees definition and meaning collins english dictionary. 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 doctrine expressed in the book is the customary belief of israel, without the new developments which appear in 2 maccabees and daniel. The book proper ii, 20xv, 40 is preceded by two letters of the jews of jerusalem to their egyptian coreligionists. More chapters will be added each week until the books are complete. Its object is to encourage and admonish the jews to be faithful to the religion of their fathers. Ii maccabees, chapter 5 1 about this time antiochus made his second invasion of egypt. Why the maccabees arent in the bible my jewish learning. It was this title which gave the title to the other books of the apocrypha bearing the same name. Occurring in 1 maccabees, this term means the desecration of the second temple herods temple by the erection of a zeus statue in its sacred precincts by antiochus iv epiphanies abomination a word describing the reaction of the city when the temple was being destroyed by the greeks. Rather, it is another book about the maccabean era. 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. Lessons from the holy maccabees catholic world report.
These jewish historical works, the two books of the maccabees, were written to describe the struggles of the jews in the second century bc against encroachment of the greek way of life and against the political. Back to the home page back to the bible outlines catholic doors ministry. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The canon of orthodox deuterocanonical books and the armenian bible list 3 maccabees, while 4 maccabees is listed in the canon of the georgian orthodox bible. The creators of the septuagint, an early greek translation of the old testament created about 200 to 300 years before jesus, called 1 and 2 maccabees useful. The book of 2 maccabees consists of a greek synopsis of a fivevolume history of the maccabean revolt written by jason of cyrene. King james version and douay rheims versions kindle edition by unknown, bible, king james, rheims, douay. Maccabees, priestly family of jews who organized a successful rebellion against the seleucid ruler antiochus iv and reconsecrated the defiled temple of jerusalem.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading books of the maccabees illustrated. First maccabees is in a way reminiscent of the book of judges the maccabees are those men into whose hand the salvation of israel was given i maccabees 5. The fourth book of the maccabees, so called, is a semiphilosophic discourse, or sermon, on the supremacy of the pious reason ch. Books of maccabees encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign. The second book of maccabees all chapters the bible youtube. Why isnt the book of maccabees included in the bible. The second book of maccabees all chapters the bible. Apocrypha 2ndmaccabees of the king james bible 1611. Ii maccabees focuses on the jews revolt against antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the syrian general nicanor in 161 bc by judas maccabeus, the hero of the work.
In contrast to first maccabees, the book of second maccabees is a summary of a history written originally in greek for diaspora hellenistic jews living in the. These books include within them the earliest references to the story of hanukkah and the rededication of the temple, in addition to the famous story of the mother and her seven sons. The second book of maccabees is a more rambling account that parallels the first seven chapters of the first book but covers only fifteen years. Internet archive contributor princeton theological seminary library language english.
The name maccabee was a title of honour given to judas, a son of mattathias and the hero of the jewish wars of independence, 168164. The second book of maccabees, also known as the second. The author tells us that he is summarizing a 5volume work by jason of cyrene 2. Books of the maccabees kindle edition by douay rheims. The vigorous reaction to this attempt established for a time the religious and political independence of the jews. 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.
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. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica. Although the first book of maccabees is firmly planted in an old testament ambience in terms of thoughts on the afterlife, the second book looks resolutely toward the new testament. 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 third does not hold a place in the apocrypha, but is read in the greek church. The book is held as canonical scripture by the catholic, orthodox, and oriental orthodox. The book proper ii, 20xv, 40 is preceded by two letters of the jews of jerusalem to their egyptian coreligionists i, 1ii, 19. After a general introduction to the book as a whole, the text is given in short passages, with a commentary directly following each. The five books of maccabees in english henry cotton on.
So, i have been reading the book of maccabees and for the life of me, i cannot understand why it isnt included in our bible. The word maccabee has become synonymous with the small band of jewish freedom fighters who freed judea from the syriangreek occupiers during the chanukah saga in the second temple period read about the maccabees here. Introducing mattathias 1 maccabees continue reading outline of the. English bible according to the catholic and orthodox canons. In true deuteronomic tradition, the author insists on fidelity to. Back to the home page back to the bible outlines catholic doors ministry presents an outline of the second book of maccabees.
Perhaps the term maccabees was generalized so as to denote all who suffered for their faith. Like other rulers before him, antiochus underestimated the will and strength of his jewish. Maccabees, books of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The main reason is that modern day judaism comes from the phariseee sect which believes in rabbinic interpretation and the oral tradition, whereas the hasmonean dynasty and the maccabees represented the sadducee sect, a break away sect that sought. Jews refer to the maccabees, but the family is more commonly known as the hasmoneans. I am thoroughly struck by how profound the life of christ was in the light of the book of 1 and 2 maccabees. Nov 12, 2015 the second book of machabees makkabaion b. The five books of maccabees in english internet archive. A theological treatise such as 2 maccabees differed widely from the unadorned, factual approach found in 1 maccabees. Outline of the first book of maccabees explore the faith.