Background of I Maccabees
- written first century BC
- in Hebrew as official court history for Hasmonean dynasty
- the only surviving contemporary source after Antiochus 4th’s reign for relations of Judea and Syria, the civil wars of Judea
- Made of oral tradition, official documents, eyewitnesses, used by Josephus uncritically, absence of relations from Hellenistic rhetorical school of historiography
Overview of I Maccabees Chapters
1: Antiochus Epiphanes takes over Jerusalem
=> Force Jews
2: Mattathias sparks a rebellion
3: Judas Maccabeus takes control of the revolutionaries
4: The temple is cleansed
5: Judas’ forces continue to raid Gentile settlements
6: Antiochus dies of grief
7: Nicanor is sent to kidnap Judas, but fails and dies in a later struggle
8: Jews form an alliance with Rome
9: Judas dies in battle; Jonathan succeeds him and then ends the war
10: Alexander and Demetrius both try to gain Jonathan’s favor; Alexander succeeds
11: After a bunch of betrayals, Antiochus Jr. takes over
12: Jonathan is betrayed by Trypho (put Jr. in charge)
13: Simon takes the lead and Judea gains independence
14: The Jews are more respected by the world
=> By gaining independence
15: Antiochus Jr. made nice promised to the Jews but soon goes back on them
16: Simon’s son, John takes over
Author of I Maccabees
- Unknown
- Evident Jew
- Educated well in the Law and the Temple practices
- Advised to seek guidance from the Law and the books of the Law and also practice tithing, praying, and fasting
- Draws much attention to the historical books as well as Psalms
- Concerned about preservation and keeping of the Law
Date of I Maccabees
Approximately 100BC (around end of Hyrcanus’s reign)
Biblical Genre of I Maccabees
- Prose Text
- Historical Narrative
=> Main source for Jewish history in Palestine in the middle of the 2nd century BC
=> More than simple series of events, the author excites the significance of the events
=> It’s purpose was to show the legitimacy of the Hasmonean-dynasty rule based on their ancestor achievements
Maccabees
- Derived from Hebrew word Hammer
- Nickname for Judas who led the Jewish revolt against Antochus (The Seleucid leader in 175-164bc)
- Nickname stayed for his family who succeeded him in leading the revolt
- “Maccabean” became the name for this period in Jewish history when the Jews revolted against and conquered the Seleucid empire
- The Maccabees immersed themselves politically and religiously and eventually became known as the Hasmonean dynasty
Hasmonean Dynasty
accomplishments included
=> Maccabees saved Jews form persecution
=> Restored observance of the Torah
=> Initiated peace and prosperity
Reasons for Exclusion from the Canon
Mainly due to the date it was written
Tim’s comments on I Maccabees
- Helped to get a holistic view
- Part of history in exile: maybe reason for exclusion
- Righteousness: reminded him of book of Judges
=> What can we learn from this behavior
=> Pacifism vs. peacemaking? - Respect others ideas
- Author: probably male Jew
=> Only some observances can only be done by a male - Value of Maccabees
=> Internal vs External evidence
