The book is invaluable as a history of the times, despite the space he devotes to battle and political intrigue, the author means to write a religious history. For him the nation's distress is a punishment for sin and the successes of his leading figures are won by the help of God. The author is concerned more with his religious intention than with historical precision. There is a same approach between the Books of Samuel or Kings and the Books Chronicles. This notwithstanding there is material exclusive to Second Maccabees that has a historical basis while the fact that the two books are independent of each other lends weight to the many points on which they are agreed.
1 Maccabees - (1) Alexander and the Diadochoi. Israel infected with hellenism, Antiochus Epiphanes despoils the Temple and persecutes Jews remaining faithful to the Law - Chapter 1 - (2) Mattathias Unleases the Holy War. Judas Maccabaeus, leader of the Jews (166-160 B.C.) Jonathan, leader of the Jews and High Priest (160-142 B.C.) Simon, High Priest and Ethnarch of the Jews (142-134 B.C.) - Chapter 2 to 16 - In summary : The background is the fight of the resistance movement against the hellenisation of the Jewish nation by the Seleucid kings. An uncompromising foe of hellenisation and an ardent admirer of the heroes who fought for the Law and Temple, winning first religious liberty and next national independence. It tells how Judaism, the trustee of revelation was preserved to the world. 1 Maccabees covers the forty years from 175 to 134 B.C. and must have been written before 63 B.C.
2 Maccabees - (1) First and Second Letters to the Jews of Egypt - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) The story of Heliodorus - Chapter 3 - (3) Hellenistic propaganda and persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes - Chapter 4 to 7 - (4) The Victory of Judaism and the death of the persecutor and purification of the Temple - Chapter 8 to 10 - (5) The struggle of Judas against the neighbouring peoples and against Lysias, Eupator's High Commissioner - Chapter 10 to 13 - (6) The conflict with Nicanor, General of Demetrius 1. The day of Nicanor - Chapter 14 to 15 -
In summary : 2 Maccabees is important for its affirmation of the resurrection of the dead, 7:9; 14:46; sanctions in the afterlife, 6:26; prayer for the dead, 12:41-46; spiritual fruits of martyrdom, 6:18-7:41; the intercession of the saints, 15:12-16. Other Old Testament writings had left these teachings vague: but the latter justify the authority accorded to Second Maccabees by the Church. 2 Maccabees was completed after 124 B.C. These books provide the setting in which the Book of Daniel was written.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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