Where the menorah comes in hails from a Babylonian Talmud account of during the events of the Maccabean revolt an oil jar burned for eight days straight, miraculous considering it probably wouldnt have lasted more than a day. He created it. ", This page was last edited on 8 April 2023, at 18:09. Explore Hanukkahs history, global traditions, food and more withMy Jewish Learnings All About Hanukkah email series. 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 are included in the Protestant Apocrypha. 7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died. On his death in battle in 160BCE, Judah was succeeded as army commander by his younger brother, Jonathan, who was already High Priest. When is Hanukkah 2023? Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. to 63 b.c. Therefore, the Maccabees would have been unable to light the Menorah for seven days before the completion of new pure oil. After Mattathias' death about one year later in 166BCE, his son Judah Maccabee led an army of Jewish dissidents to victory over the Seleucid dynasty in guerrilla warfare, which at first was directed against Hellenizing Jews, of whom there were many. Unsure of the meaning of a word or phrase in the Bible? He was familiar with the traditions and sacred books of his people and had access to much reliable information on their recent history (from 175 to 134 B.C.). The revolt involved many battles, in which the Maccabean forces gained notoriety among the Seleucid army for their use of guerrilla tactics. When this happened, its authoritative nature was rejected by the Jewish community. After the death of Judas, Jonathan his brother succeeded to the command, and later assumed the high-priestly office. If youve heard of Hanukah, you mightve heard of the Maccabees. The three Ethiopian books of Meqabyan (quite distinct works from the other four books of Maccabees), which are canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, also refer to the Maccabee martyrs. 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.C. 25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were; 26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed. 2nd Maccabees and Revelation both have instances of the dead interceding for the living" 23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found. Menelaus' brother Lysimachus stole holy vessels from the Temple; the resulting riots led to the death of Lysimachus. According to rabbinic tradition, the victorious Maccabees could only find a small jug of oil that had remained uncontaminated by virtue of a seal, and although it only contained enough oil to sustain the Menorah for one day, it miraculously lasted for eight days, by which time further oil could be procured.[30]. Antiochus IV ruled Syria from 175 to 164/163 bce. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Many Jews succumbed to the Hellenistic culture. 19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof. Previous chapter Previous chapter; Chapter 2; . Judea at that time had been affected by the Hellenization initiated by Alexander the Great. Jesus rejects Maccabees and the whole of the Apocrypha as Scripture. They reasserted the Jewish religion, expanded the boundaries of Judea by conquest, and reduced the influence of Hellenism and Hellenistic Judaism. The miracle of the one-day supply of oil miraculously lasting eight days is first described in the Talmud, committed to writing about 600 years after the events described in the books of Maccabees.[37]. Here is an example of one of the heresies taught in 2 Maccabbees 12. His Bible was the first major edition to have a separate section called Apocrypha. Pagination. From B.C. Mattathias killed a Hellenistic Jew who stepped forward to offer a sacrifice to an idol in Mattathias' place. Zecharias is mentioned in Chronicles, but Chronicles, in the Hebrew arrangement of the OT, is the last book. It purports to be a historical account of the repression and miraculous salvation of Egyptian Jewry during the reign (221205 bce) of Ptolemy IV Philopator. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. [10][22] What began as a civil war took on the character of an invasion when the Hellenistic kingdom of Syria sided with the Hellenizing Jews against the traditionalists. Judea had initially come under Ptolemaic rule, but fell to the Seleucids around 200BCE. The family of the Maccabees won two decisive battles against the Syrians (Antiochus Epiphanes IV) which led the Syrians to pull out of the holy land. This policy exacerbated the divide between the Pharisees and Sadducees under later Hasmonean monarchs such as Alexander Jannaeus. Ironically, the Books of Maccabees survived because they became part of the Christian canon, for otherwise they most certainly would have been lost during the centuries. Most theologians equate the abomination to the Zeus idol Antiochus placed in the temple. All Rights Reserved, Embark on a Jewish Journey of Transformation, My Jewish Learnings All About Hanukkah email series. One explanation of the name's origins is that it derives from the Aramaic maqqa, "the hammer", in recognition of Judah's ferocity in battle. Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December. Both Maccabees books essentially break down the history from Antiochus IVs desecration to the Jewish revolt. Satan only attacks what is of God. Throughout the 2nd century bce the city-state of Jerusalem-Judah lay between the two great powers of Egypt and Syria. In true Deuteronomic tradition, the author insists on fidelity to the law as the expression of Israels love for God. 22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. The term Maccabee (Maccabeus), which originated with Mattahias' son Judah, is frequently applied to his four brothers. 42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king. From this point onwards, Antiochus pursued a zealous Hellenizing policy in the Seleucid satrapies of Coele Syria and Phoenicia. According to one tradition, their individual names are Habim, Antonin, Guriah, Eleazar, Eusebon, Hadim (Halim), Marcellus, their mother Solomonia, and their teacher Eleazar.[38]. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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 (1Mc 14:417). 64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel. Omissions? Regarding the dates in 1 and 2 Maccabees, see note on 1 Mc 1:10. The author, probably a Palestinian Jew, is unknown. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 . He and his five sons fled to the wilderness of Judah. I do not accept maccabees either but I do not remember where He rejected maccabees. 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 bce. Please select which sections you would like to print: Also known as: The Books of the Machabees. The Compiler's Preface In Daniel 3, only Daniels friends dont bow to Nebuchadnezzars statue. against Hellenism and Syrian rule and reigning over Palestine from 142 b.c. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place. One Jew, Mattathias, refused to conform to pressure. Like Daniel, they refused to defile themselves (Daniel 1), and they often faced death or severe punishment for not conforming (Daniel 3, Daniel 6). Study the meaning with multiple Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and find scripture references of Maccabees, Books Of, 1-2 throughout the Bible. Simon was murdered in 134BCE by his son-in-law Ptolemy, and was succeeded as high priest and king by his son John Hyrcanus I. Antiochus conquered the entire district of Judea, but refrained from attacking the Temple or interfering with Jewish observances. Esther4:14 Yahweh was utterly other than humanthat is to say, he was holy. It was God who had created humanity, not man the gods, and Israel was Gods chosen instrument to be a light to lighten the nations (Isaiah). [16] A Diaspora perspective with an emphasis on martyrdom, 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. 135. Ptolemy supposedly threatened the Jews with loss of citizenship after Palestinian Jews refused to permit him to enter the sanctuary of the Temple of Jerusalem. He carried the substitute name Epiphanes, a Greek word meaning god manifest. A conqueror of overweening pride, as he is described in the Book of Daniel in the Bible, he set out to seize Judaea (or Judah), which until then had been a province of Egypt. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. 1999 - 2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A Division of Worthy Ministries. 59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. Nicanor was defeated, first at Capharsalama, and again in a decisive battle at Adasa B.C. [16] As a result, one explanation of the name Maccabees is based on the Aramaic word for "hammer", because they "strike hammer blows against their enemies".[29]. 43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. 44For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. Following the re-dedication of the temple, the supporters of the Maccabees were divided over the question of whether to continue fighting or not. Simon is considered the founding ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty that will govern Israel until 37 B.C. Finally, in 168 bce, Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and desacralized the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Updates? 34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein. A circumcised Jew taking part in the games in a gymnasium could not therefore hide where his loyalty lay. [11], When Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ca. Throughout the early Christian period, IV Maccabees was wrongly attributed to Josephus. (a hammer ), The. 20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude. 39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt. If you have a Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox background you may also recognize the books 1 and 2 Maccabees as part of Scripture canon, but if you hail from any other denomination, you likely do not. We will face a figure quite like Antiochus. The Maccabees destroyed pagan altars in the villages, circumcised boys and forced Jews into outlawry. and Hyrcanus III. Would the rabbis at Jamnia have been inclined to canonize a document that so clearly praised the priestly Hasmonean family? 57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death. Pressures to conform to the paganistic culture, instead of their monotheistic origins, had reached an all-time peak when Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled over the region. [33] Although the Maccabees won autonomy, the region remained a province of the Seleucid Empire and Simon was required to provide troops to Antiochus VII Sidetes, the brother of Demetrius II. Maybe I misread what you were trying t, because its message is contradicting to Biblical texts. Get all the details on the holiday here. The Maccabees were a family of Jews who resisted the authority of Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria and his successors who had usurped authority over the Jews, conquered Jerusalem, and strove to introduce idolatrous worship. [35] Both books are included in the Old Testament used by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches,[36] since those churches consider the books deuterocanonical. Yet even this is difficult within a traditional Jewish context, due to another historical layer.
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