I Maccabees

Question 1

Background of I Maccabees

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

Overview of I Maccabees Chapters

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Author of I Maccabees

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

Date of I Maccabees

Answer 4

Approximately 100BC (around end of Hyrcanus’s reign)

Question 5

Biblical Genre of I Maccabees

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Maccabees

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Hasmonean Dynasty

Answer 7

accomplishments included
=> Maccabees saved Jews form persecution
=> Restored observance of the Torah
=> Initiated peace and prosperity

Question 8

Reasons for Exclusion from the Canon

Answer 8

Mainly due to the date it was written

Question 9

Tim’s comments on I Maccabees

Answer 9

• 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