Guide
What Is the First Book of Maccabees?
Mid- to Late 2nd Century BCE
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The first book of Maccabees (1 Maccabees) was written by an unknown Jewish author in the mid- to late second century BCE. Its original language was likely Hebrew, but the only surviving manuscripts are in Greek. This book discusses the attempted suppression of Jewish law by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the subsequent Jewish revolt led by Mattathias’ sons Judah, Jonathan, and Simon. The text is included in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons and the Protestant Apocrypha and is one of the main historical sources for the holiday of Hanukkah.
Related Primary Sources
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The Death of Judah
1 Maccabees 8–9 (selections)
Now Judah heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to…
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Simon as High Priest and Ethnarch
1 Maccabees 14:47–15:2
So Simon accepted and agreed to be high priest, to be commander and ethnarch of the Jews and priests, and to be protector of them all. A…
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Mention of the Gerousia in Official Letters
1 Maccabees 12:5–6|2 Maccabees 1:10
This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: “The high priest Jonathan, the senate [gerousia] of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to…
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Hasmoneans Send Emissaries to Rome
1 Maccabees 8:17–32; 12:1–4
So Judah chose Eupolemus son of John son of Accos, and Jason son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance, and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw…
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Hasmonean Champions of Torah
1 Maccabees 1:52–57; 2:19–22
Many of the people, everyone who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land; they drove Israel into hiding in every…
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Scribes Slain by Seleucids
1 Maccabees 7:5–17
Then there came to him [Demetrius son of Seleucus] all the renegade and godless men of Israel; they were led by Alcimus, who wanted to be high priest. They brought to the king this accusation…
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The Hasmoneans Claim the High Priesthood
1 Maccabees 14:25–48
When the people heard these things they said, “How shall we thank Simon and his sons? For he and his brothers and the house of his father have stood firm; they have fought and repulsed Israel’s…
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Judah’s Prayer for Victory
1 Maccabees 4:30–33
When he saw that their army was strong, he prayed, saying, “Blessed are you, O Savior of Israel, who crushed the attack of the mighty warrior by the hand of your servant David, and gave the camp of…
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Fighting on the Sabbath
1 Maccabees 2:29–41
At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to live there, they, their sons, their wives, and their livestock, because troubles pressed heavily upon…
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Antiochus’ Prohibition of Circumcision
1 Maccabees 1:44–50
And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in…
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The Greek Way of Life
1 Maccabees 1:10–15|2 Maccabees 4:7–17
From them [the successors of Alexander the Great] came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He…
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Mattathias’s Uprising according to 1 Maccabees
1 Maccabees 2:1–4:35
In those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modiin. He had five sons, John surnamed…
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Hasmonean Military Exploits
1 Maccabees 9–10 (selections)
After the death of Judah, the renegades emerged in all parts of Israel; all the wrongdoers reappeared. In those days a very great famine occurred, and the country…
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Simon's Leadership according to 1 Maccabees
1 Maccabees 13–14 (selections)
Simon heard that Trypho had assembled a large army to invade the land of Judah and destroy it, and he saw that the people were trembling with fear. So he went up to Jerusalem, and…
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Our Friends and Allies, the Jews
1 Maccabees 15:15–23
Then Numenius and his companions arrived from Rome, with letters to the kings and countries, in which the following was written: “Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greetings. The…
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The Establishment of Hanukkah
1 Maccabees 4:36–59|2 Maccabees 1–10 (selections)
Then Judah [Maccabee] and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” So all the army assembled and went up to…