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23 July 2022
1 Maccabees is a book found in some Bibles, but not in others. It is canonical in Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but not in Protestantism.
Jerusalem fell, its temple was destroyed, and key members of its elite were exiled by Babylonia in 587 BCE. Upon the return of some exiles and the rebuilding of the Temple, we enter the era known as Second Temple Judaism, which was to last from about 516 BCE[1] to 70 CE. The temple was rebuilt as Judah was a province within the Persian Empire. In the fourth century, Persia fell to Alexander the Great, and from 332 onward Judah was under Hellenistic rule: first under Alexander the Great (332-323), then under the Ptolemies (305-201). After this, it came under the sway of the Seleucids, with whom 1 Maccabees is concerned.
Under Hellenistic rule, Judea, like many areas in the Greek-ruled world, was increasingly affected by Greek culture. Judeans varied in how they reacted, with a major rift opening up as the 160's approached between the Hellenists and the traditionalists in Judea. When the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes began to harshly suppress traditional Jewish practices, this tension exploded into open revolt and civil war within Judea. This war is the primary concern of 1 Maccabees, just as it is a major concern of the book of Daniel.
Direct quotes are from the KJV.
Alexander the Great conquers much of the known world, but dies young, leaving his kingdom divided between several successors. One of these successors was the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes, who allied himself with the Hellenistic elements within Judean society. Returning from a military campaign against Ptolemaic Egypt, Antiochus attacks Jerusalem, loots the Temple, and massacres Judeans. Two years later, Seleucid forces again attack Jerusalem, razing houses and walls, and establish a fortress within the city. Antiochus issues decrees forbidding many Jewish practices and requiring the breaking of Jewish law, including by requiring the sacrifice of swine and forbidding circumcision (1 Maccabees 1).
A priest named Mattathias and his five sons, the "Maccabees", refuse to engage in pagan worship. Mattathias, seeing a Jew about to engage in pagan sacrifice, kills both him and the Seleucid official who was supervising the forced sacrifices. The Maccabees flee to the mountains, where they are joined by others. The Seleucids massacre some of the Maccabean forces on a Sabbath, enjoying an advantage as these Jews refuse to fight on the Sabbath. Mattathias decides that he will not refuse to fight on the Sabbath, and with various supporters, begin destroying altars, circumcising infants, and killing their opponents. Mattathias gives a parting speech and dies (1 Maccabees 2).
Leadership of his movement falls to Judah Maccabee, who begins defeating local enemies. This comes to the attention of Antiochus, who prepares an army, but, distracted by a war with Persia, leaves the Judean matter in the hands of his deputy Lysias (1 Maccabees 3). By ambush, Judas wins against Lysias' general Gorgias. The next year, Lysias tries again, and once again is repelled. In celebration, the Maccabees renovate and rededicate the Temple, reestablishing sacrifices, and instituting a new holiday (Hanukkah) to celebrate their victory (4).
After the rededication of the Temple, the Maccabees defeat a variety of enemies, with campaigns against Idumeans, Ammonites, and enemies in the Gilead and Galilee. Maccabee forces are, however, defeated at Jamnia (1 Maccabees 5). Antiochus, still preoccupied with Persia, dies, but not before giving a surprisingly apologetic speech in which he regrets his evil deeds against Jerusalem. Immediately prior to passing, he appoints a friend named Philip to rule the Seleucid Empire as regent while his young son Antiochus Eupator is still growing up.
He is succeeded by his son Antiochus Eupator. Meanwhile, the Maccabees are working on besieging pro-Seleucid holdouts, who appear to Eupator for aid. Eupator assembles a massive army, complete with elephants. Initially, the Jews are put to flight, and ill-equipped to withstand sieges. They make peace with Eupator, on the condition that they be allowed to continue living under Jewish law. Eupator immediately reneged on his promise by tearing down the walls of Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 6).
The Seleucid Empire was seized by Demetrius I Soter, who killed Antiochus Eupator and Lysias. One Alcimus, who urges Demetrius to attack the Maccabees, is appointed high priest. Alcimus gains the support of the Hasideans ("Assideans"), but then kills sixty of them. Military conflict ensues between Judas and Alcimus, who is aided by the Seleucid general Nicanor. The Maccabees are victorious, and Nicanor's head is displayed in Jerusalem, which enjoys a brief period of peace (1 Maccabees 7).
Judas is aware of the awesome power of the Roman Empire, which has had many victories, treats its friends with loyalty, and is well-governed and modest.
KJV. The King James Version of the Bible, or as it is known in England, the Authorised Version, which was for three hundred years the de facto standard Bible of the English-speaking world.
As with other pages migrated from biblicalambiguities.net, this page may contain material paraphrased or even outright copied without direct attribution from the KJV, RV, ASV, JPS (1917), WEB, NHEB, Kittel's BH, the pre-1923 volumes of the ICC series, or the commentaries on Genesis of Dillmann, Skinner, and Driver. More details on this policy can be found here: biblicalambiguities-general-disclaimer and biblicalambiguities-translation-disclaimer.
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