Apocrypha Part 5: Maccabees

The books of the Maccabees chart the history of the Maccabean Revolt in the 160s BC. It covers the period leading up to the Revolt and the history afterwards, culminating in the reign of Simon Thassi.

The Protestant canon stops at the Book of Malachi (c500 BC) and then starts up again at the birth of Jesus. Whereas the other biblical canons provide books which cover this period, the Protestants miss out on the important history of the Maccabees.

The first three Maccabees books cover the history from 180BC to 50BC, while the 4th book (which is outside Biblical canons) discusses how wisdom relates to martyrdom.

History of the Maccabees

After Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, his kingdom was split. The Persian throne was given to Seleucus I Nicator. This led to the Seleucid dynasty and the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BC). Epiphanes means “God Manifest”, though his critics called him Epimanes, meaning “The Mad”. He had an erratic persona, acting with generosity in one moment and then with unnecessary cruelty the next.

Antiochus installed his own high priest at the Temple in Jerusalem, removing the incumbent. This led the former high priest, Jason, to organise an army to take the position back. This angered Antiochus, and after a campaign in Egypt, he attacked Jerusalem and reinstalled his choice for high priest.

In prefer to help establish his rule, he decided to syncretise the Jewish religion to the Greeks, forming a Jewish-Zeus cult. Pigs were sacrificed in the Temple, and the blood was sprinkled over the images, the altar and scrolls. The lamp, which was always kept alight, was snuffed out.

Soon after, Antiochus met with a local Jewish leader, called Mattathias. He tried to persuade him to sacrifice to the Greek gods. He would not, but another Jew chose to do so instead. Mattathias became enraged and immediately attacked the Jew and killed him, running with his five sons into the wilderness. In the following years, he carried on fighting the king’s armies, but died soon after.

He was succeeded by his son Judas Maccabees, meaning ‘Judas the Hammer’. In 164 BC, Judas reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem and reinstated the correct sacrifices. This is celebrated as Hanukkah.

Judas continues to gain ground throughout the region and dies in battle in 160 BC. His brother Jonathan succeeds him and stabilises the territory.

The Importance of these Books

The first three books of Maccabees provide an important background for understanding the New Testament. Without this, some references are lost on the reader. Especially on how some Jews were looking for the return of a freedom fighter like Judas Maccabees.

The books talk about the alliance between the Jews and the Romans. 1 Maccabees writes in admiration of how the Romans organised themselves and their exploits against the Gauls, Spain and the Greeks. It’s strange to think that within 150 years, Jerusalem would be part of the Roman Empire.

In Luke’s Gospel we read about the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. In 1 Maccabees we find that Emmaus was a great victory for the Jews in the Revolt.

1 Maccabees 4 v 3-4

But Judas heard of it, and he and his mighty men moved out to attack the king's force in Emmaus while the division was still absent from the camp.

By mentioning Emmaus, Luke is saying that Christ’s death and resurrection was a great victory.

Another moment is found in John’s Gospel. Here Jesus comes to the Temple for the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) and is asked directly whether he is the Christ, God’s Anointed One. The one who would militarily defeat the Romans and establish Jerusalem forever.

John 10 v 22-24

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus says he has told them he is not, but they do not listen. He then proceeds to say, He is the Son of God and not their rebel leader.

The Doctrine of Purgatory

Protestants criticise the doctrine of purgatory for not being in the Bible. They are correct from their canon, but purgatory can be developed from the Catholic canon.

In 2 Maccabees (12 v 32-45), we read how some of the Jews were killed in a battle. Under the bodies they found idols and assumed this was the reason why they had failed. Judas Maccabees then calls the people to pray for those who died and made a sacrifice for them.

Catholic tradition uses this as a foundation for the purification of the person after death, or purgatory. The other Orthodox traditions and some traditional Protestant movements do not accept purgatory, but do practice praying for the souls of the dead.

Wisdom is the Highest Form of Reason

4 Maccabees does not appear in any canon, but it is still worth reading.

The first part of the book explains the importance of wisdom in controlling emotions. It then goes on to describe the martyrdom of several Jews.

4 Maccabees

I could prove to you from many and various examples that reason is dominant over the emotions, but I can demonstrate it best from the noble bravery of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brothers and their mother. All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated that reason controls the emotions.

The descriptions of the tortures are gruesome to read, but it was likely great encouragement for those who experiencing similar fates in the early Church.

I found the writings around wisdom to be personally encouraging too. Right at the beginning of the book, it explains how knowledge or knowing about the World comes from wisdom.

4 Maccabees

For religious reason (wisdom) is necessary to everyone as a step to science (knowledge).

It seems to me that our Western secular cultures have dismissed wisdom as old fashioned and based on superstitions, and then places ‘The Science’ above it. Rather than allow wisdom to guide us to ‘good science’, we run full speed ahead to gain as much knowledge without thinking of the consequences.

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

Dr. lan Malcom (Jurassic Park)

This quote from Jurassic Park echoes the sentiments in 4 Maccabees. When wisdom is disregarded, the lust for knowledge goes wild and confusion eventually reigns.

4 Maccabees

Religious reasoning (Wisdom) appears to hold the mastery over the emotions which stand in the way of temperance, such as gluttony and lust.

4 Maccabees also speaks of self-control as the highest virtue.

4 Maccabees

In addition, it embraces the praise of self-control, the highest virtue.

Wisdom brings self control. Our cultures have abandoned this virtue, thinking it restricts freedom. But their definition of boundless freedom, in reality, it binds us more to our lusts and carnal desires.

True freedom comes when we walk in the way of Christ. Not when we have no boundaries and therefore can become easily get lost.