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. No mention is made in 1 maccabees of the second expedition to egypt a year later, described in 2 mc 5. Iv maccabees, chapter 1 1 the subject that i am about to discuss is most philosophical, that is, whether devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. Two things characterize the greek civilization of the syrians. A divine command theory of ethics is sometimes rejected on the grounds that such a theory is incompatible with human moral autonomy. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign. The first book of maccabees in order that he might reign over. The book is held as canonical scripture by the catholic, orthodox. Administrative assistant to the secretary of the army 22, page. Thus he burned with zeal for the law, just as phinehas did against zimri son of salu. The books of the maccabees are books concerned with the maccabees, the leaders of the jewish rebellion against the seleucid dynasty, or related subjects. Mattathias, a priest of the first 24 courses and therefore of the noblest who dwelt at modin, a city of judah, was the first to strike a blow.
The presence of the desolating sacrfice, the tearing up of the books of the law, and the killing of circumcised boys and their mothers. Apocrypha 1st maccabees of the king james bible 1611. Fourth maccabees also differs from 1 and 2 maccabees in that it doesnt focus. The first book of the maccabees chapters 1 4 chapter 1 1. With his own hand he slew a jew at modin who was willing to offer the idolatrous sacrifices ordered by the king, and also apelles, the leader of the kings. You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. The rise of the rule and reign of antiochus iv epiphanes or the little horn as daniels says 1 maccabees 1.
The first book of the maccabees chapters 14 chapter 1 1. Uniform and insignia wear and appearance of army uniforms. The early church father clement of alexandria second century a. The command to forbid burnt offerings, marry greek women, build altars to idols, sacrifice swine, and leave their boys uncircumcised d. It is included in the catholic and eastern orthodox canons. John and eleazar literature the name maccabeus was first applied to judas, one of the sons of mattathias generally called in english the maccabees, a celebrated family who defended jewish rights and customs in the 2nd century bc 1 macc 2. The title of 1 and 2 maccabees is taken from the surname of judas 1 mace. Both 1 and 2 maccabees offer an important history that forms the background of the jewish hannukah holiday that celebrates the cleansing and restoration of the temple.
Although maccabee meaning hammer was originally the nickname of the hero judah, the use of the title maccabean. Pdf the two books of maccabees contain important and actual moral teachings. When mattathias saw it he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. So it is right for me to advise you to pay earnest attention to philosophy. Librivox recording of the first book of maccabees, from the douayrheims version. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. All the gentiles conformed to the command of the king, 43and many israelites. The principal feature that it shares with 12 maccabees is that it is a story about a situation in which the jewish people, this time in egypt, were in danger of being annihilated by a hellenistic monarch, in part for their. To the brethren the jews that are i throughout egypt, the brethren, the jews that are in jerusalem, and in the land of judea, send health, and good peace. The title of 3 maccabees is curious because the book has nothing to do with the maccabees who are never mentioned in it. He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. Jonathan, another of mattathias sons, became new high priest after the rededication of the temple and also became commander of the army.
The name maccabee, probably meaning hammer, is actually applied in the books of maccabees to only one man, judas, third son of the. Pdf moral teaching of 1 and 2 maccabees researchgate. Then judas his son, who was called maccabeus, took command in his place. Protestants, jews, and some others regard it as generally reliable historically, but not a part of scripture. Beginning in chapter three, judas, who is called maccabeus, takes command of. He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. He seems also to have made use of the works of josephus, but shows no. At the close of the sixteenth chapter, the remark is found. Page 1 apocrypha 2 nd maccabees of the king james bible 1611. The rest of the book 5 maccabees 20 through 59 follows josephus closely and deals with events from the history of hyrcanus, the son of simeon, up to the deaths of herods sons. Stephen westerholm 4 makkabees to the reader 234mcnets4. Pdf the metatexts of 1 and 2 maccabees researchgate. And all israel mourned for him with great lamentation. Alexander the great 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.
In 2 macc 35 we have details concerning the maccabean revolt not found in 1 maccabees, and in treatment of episodes or incidents with which 1 maccabees deals it is often fuller and more specific, as in 2 macc 10. Maccabees international standard bible encyclopedia. History tells us that these three were seleucus taking command of syriamesopotamia, ptolemy taking egypt, and antigonus taking macedonia. He gave vent to his righteous anger and he ran and killed him on the altar. The death of alexander the great or male goat as daniel put it 1 maccabees 1.
The book traces the struggle of the judean jews against the cruel oppression of the seleucid rulers who had taken control of judea away from the ptolemaic egyptian kings shortly after 200 b. Sheffield academic press, 1998, with bibliographies of other studies. It is a chapter based on persecution by antiochus, the tyrant of syr ia, whom some called epiphanes, the madman. First book of maccabees, pt 1 of 3, new american bible. A divine command theory of ethics is sometimes rejected on the grounds. The term mostly refers to two deuterocanonical books contained in various canons of the bible. The first book of maccabees is an excellent and reliable historical source on the period of the maccabean revolt and its aftermath, 1754 b.
May god be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with abraham, and isaac, and jacob, his faithful servants. Pdf the physical placement of maccabees within translations provides. As a surname it was also applied to his brothers and, by. Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and clement is. Apocrypha 2ndmaccabees of the king james bible 1611.
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