Guide
What Is the Second Book of Maccabees?
Late 2nd Century BCE
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The second book of Maccabees (2 Maccabees) was written in Greek, likely in Alexandria, in the late second century BCE, shortly after the composition of 1 Maccabees. Its structure is similar to 1 Maccabees but incorporates theological and eschatological ideas such as resurrection of the dead and includes stories that were preserved and reimagined in the Talmud centuries later. Second Maccabees is included in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons and in the Protestant Apocrypha.
Related Primary Sources
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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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The Gerousia Sends Representatives to Antiochus IV Epiphanes
2 Maccabees 4:44
When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate [gerousia] presented the case before him.
Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.…
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Letter from Antiochus V to the Gerousia and the Jews
2 Maccabees 11:27
To the nation the king’s letter was as follows:
“King Antiochus to the senate [gerousia] of the Jews and to the other Jews, greetings.”
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Collectors of Books
2 Maccabees 2:13–14
The same things [Solomon’s sacrificial service] are reported in the records and in the memoirs of Nehemiah, and also that he founded a library and collected the books about the kings and prophets, and…
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Eleazar, Scribe and Martyr
2 Maccabees 6:18–23
Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather…
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The Struggle between Jason and Onias III
2 Maccabees 4:7–10
When Seleucus died and Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood by corruption, promising the king at an interview three…
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Prayer Salutation in Letter
2 Maccabees 1:1–6
The Jews in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea,
To their Jewish kindred in Egypt,
Greetings and true peace.…
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Priestly Prayer for Israel’s Restoration
2 Maccabees 1:23–29
And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer—the priests and everyone. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as did Nehemiah. The prayer was to this effect:…
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The Martyrdom of a Mother and Her Seven Sons
2 Maccabees 7:1–41
It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful swine’s flesh. One of them…
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Mordecai’s Day and Nicanor’s Day
2 Maccabees 15:30–36
Then the man who was ever in body and soul the defender of his people, the man who maintained his youthful goodwill toward his compatriots, ordered them to cut off Nicanor’s head and arm and carry…
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Resurrection as Reward for the Righteous
2 Maccabees 7:9–14
And when he was at his last breath, he said, “You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we…
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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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Seleucus Tries to Confiscate the Temple Treasure
2 Maccabees 3:13–40
But Heliodoros, because of the orders he had from the king, said that this money must in any case be confiscated for the king’s treasury. So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of…
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Rival High Priests Leave Jerusalem Vulnerable
2 Maccabees 5:11–6:16
When news of what had happened [i.e., infighting between Jason and Menelaus] reached the king, he took it to mean that Judaea was…
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Jerusalemites Become Citizens of Antioch
2 Maccabees 4:7–10
When Seleucus died and Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood by corruption, promising the king at an interview three…
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A Pause in Fighting to Observe Shavuot
2 Maccabees 12:29, 31–32
In this passage, Judah Maccabee and his forces go to Jerusalem to observe Shavuot before heading to battle in Idumea.
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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…