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in 1867 – U.S.A. buys Alaska
Introduction
Although this book, like the preceding one, receives its title from its protagonist, Judas Maccabee (or Maccabeus), it is not a sequel to 1 Maccabees. The two differ in many respects. Whereas the first covers the period from the beginning of the reign of Antiochus IV (175 B.C.) to the accession of John Hyrcanus I (134 B.C.), this book treats of the events in Jewish history from the time of the high priest Onias III and King Seleucus IV (ca. 180 B.C.) to the defeat of Nicanor’s army (161 B.C.).
The book is not without genuine historical value in supplementing 1 Maccabees, and it contains some apparently authentic official documents. Its purpose, is to give a theological interpretation to the history of the period. The major concern is the Jerusalem Temple. There is less interest in the military exploits of Judas Maccabeus and more in God’s marvelous interventions on behalf of the Jews and their Temple. These divine actions direct the course of events, both to punish the sacrilegious and blasphemous pagans and to purify and restore the Temple.
The beginning of 2 Maccabees consists of two letters sent by the Jews of Jerusalem to their coreligionists in Egypt. They deal with the observance of the feast commemorating the central event of the book, the purification of the Temple (Hanukkah). It is uncertain whether the author or a later scribe prefixed these letters to the narrative proper. If the author is responsible for their insertion, the book must have been written some time after 124 B.C., the date of the more recent of the two letters. A date of composition in the late second century B.C. is likely.
The main divisions of 2 Maccabees are:
- I. Letters to the Jews in Egypt (1:1–2:18)
- II. Compiler’s Preface (2:19–32)
- III. Heliodorus’ Attempt to Profane the Temple (3:1–40)
- IV. Profanation and Persecution (4:1–7:42)
- V. Victories of Judas and Purification of the Temple (8:1–10:9)
- VI. Renewed Persecution (10:10–15:36)
- VII. Epilogue (15:37–39)
source: 2 Maccabees Introduction – New American Bible (Bible Hub)
2 Maccabees 1
Letter 1: 124 BC
1 The Jews in Jerusalem and in the land of Judea send greetings to their kindred, the Jews in Egypt, and wish them true peace!
2 May God do good to you and remember his covenant with his faithful servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
3 give to all of you a heart to worship him and to do his will wholeheartedly and with a willing spirit,
4 open your heart to his law and commandments and grant you peace,
5 hear your prayers, and be reconciled to you, and never forsake you in time of adversity.
6 Even now we are praying for you here.
7 In the reign of Demetrius, the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you during the height of the distress that overtook us in those years after Jason and his followers revolted against the holy land and the kingdom,
verse 7: Demetrius: Demetrius II, king of Syria (145–139, 129–125 B.C.).
The one hundred and sixty-ninth year: i.e., of the Seleucid era, 143 B.C.
Regarding the dates in 1 and 2 Maccabees, see note on 1 Mc 1:10.
1 Maccabees 1:10 note
The one hundred and thirty-seventh year: Antiochus IV seized the throne in September, 175 B.C. Dates are given in this book according to the beginning of the Seleucid era, which however was reckoned in two different ways. Antiochians considered this date to be October, 312 B.C. (Syrian calendar), while Babylonians and Jewish priests accepted April, 311 B.C. as the commencement of the era (Temple calendar). The author of 1 Maccabees dates political events by the Syrian calendar but religious events by the Temple calendar. Accordingly, the civil New Year occurred variously in September or October, the religious New Year in March or April.
8 set fire to the gatehouse and shed innocent blood. But we prayed to the Lord, and our prayer was heard; we offered sacrifices and fine flour; we lighted the lamps and set out the loaves of bread.
verse 8: Our prayer was heard: in the victory of the Maccabees.
9 We are now reminding you to celebrate the feast of Booths in the month of Kislev.
verse 9: Feast of Booths in the month of Kislev:
really the feast of the Dedication of the Temple, Hanukkah,
celebrated on the twenty-fifth of Kislev (Nov.–Dec.).
Its solemnity resembles that of the actual feast of Booths
(Lv 23:33–43), celebrated on the fifteenth of Tishri (Sept.–Oct.)
Leviticus 23:33-43
{1599 Geneva Bible)
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
34 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say,
In the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be for seven days
the feast of Tabernacles unto the Lord.
35 In the first day shall be an holy convocation:
ye shall do no servile work therein.
36 Seven days ye shall offer sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord,
and in the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you,
and ye shall offer sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord:
it is the solemn assembly, ye shall do no servile work therein.
37 These are the feasts of the Lord
(which ye shall call holy convocations)
to offer sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, as burnt offering,
and meat offering, sacrifice, and drink offerings, every one upon his day,
38 Beside the Sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts,
and beside all your vows, and beside all your free offerings,
which ye shall give unto the Lord.
39 But in the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land,
ye shall keep an holy feast unto the Lord seven days: in the first day shall be a Sabbath: likewise in the eighth day shall be a Sabbath.
40 And ye shall take you in the first day the fruit of goodly trees,
branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.
41 So ye shall keep this feast unto the Lord seven days in the year,
by a perpetual ordinance through your generations:
in the seventh month shall you keep it.
42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days:
all that are Israelites born, shall dwell in booths,
43 That your posterity may know that I have made
the children of Israel to dwell in booths,
when I brought them out of the land of Egypt:
I am the Lord your God.
10 Dated in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.
verse 10: The one hundred and eighty-eighth year: 124 B.C.
The date pertains to the preceding, not the following letter.
Senate: the council of Jewish elders of Jerusalem;
King Ptolemy: Ptolemy VI Philometor, ruler of Egypt from 180 to 145 B.C.
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