2 Maccabees: The True Meaning

2 Maccabees: Jewish Revolt Against Persecution And Faithfulness

The Book of 2 Maccabees takes us back to a tumultuous period in ancient Judea’s history, around 124-63 BCE. This region was heavily influenced by the powerful Seleucid Empire, which had gained control after Alexander the Great’s conquests.

It was a time of political upheaval and religious tensions. Judea, a small province within the Seleucid realm, was ruled by High Priests appointed by the Seleucid monarchs. This often led to conflicts between the Jewish population and their foreign rulers, as the Seleucids tried to impose Hellenistic culture and practices on the traditionally-minded Jews.

The people of Judea were deeply divided. On one side were the staunchly traditionalist Jews, fiercely guarding their religious and cultural identity. On the other, the Hellenized Jews who embraced the language, customs, and even pagan religions of their Seleucid overlords. This clash came to a head under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who attempted to forcibly convert the Jews to Greek paganism, sparking the Maccabean Revolt.

The significance of 2 Maccabees for Christianity lies in its account of the historical events that paved the way for the Hasmonean dynasty – a Jewish royal family who ruled Judea for nearly a century. This period of Jewish independence and self-governance is seen as a precursor to the eventual rise of Christianity, setting the stage for the nation’s spiritual and political resurgence. The book’s emphasis on religious freedom and the preservation of Jewish identity also resonates with Christian themes of faith, resistance, and the pursuit of divine purpose.

The Author of 2 Maccabees

The author of 2 Maccabees is believed to be an anonymous Jewish writer, possibly a Hellenistic Jew living in the 2nd century BCE. This book was likely written in Greek, as it was directed towards a Greek-speaking audience. The author was not directly involved in the events described in the book but compiled and recorded the accounts to preserve the history of the Jewish people during the Maccabean revolt.

The motivation behind the writing of 2 Maccabees was to encourage and inspire the Jewish community by recounting the stories of the heroism and faithfulness of their ancestors. The author sought to provide a theological interpretation of the events, emphasizing the importance of loyalty to God and resistance against Hellenistic influences. Despite the suffering and persecution faced by the Jewish people, the author wanted to convey a message of hope and perseverance, urging his readers to remain steadfast in their faith even in the face of adversity. Personal circumstances of the author are not explicitly known, but it can be inferred that he held a deep commitment to preserving the history and religious traditions of his people.

Overview of 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees is an important deuterocanonical book that provides a historical account of the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BC. Divided into 15 chapters, it continues the events described in 1 Maccabees.

The book begins with a letter explaining that it is an abridgment of a larger work by Jason of Cyrene. It then recounts the persecution of the Jewish people under King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who sought to Hellenize Judea and suppress Jewish religious practices. The narrative focuses on the Maccabean family, particularly Judas Maccabeus, who led the revolt against the Seleucid forces.

Throughout, there are accounts of courageous acts of faith and martyrdom, such as the story of Eleazar who chose death over eating pork. The book also emphasizes the importance of praying for the dead and making atonement for their sins, a practice still observed in some Christian traditions.

2 Maccabees serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God in the face of persecution and adversity. It highlights the concept of martyrdom and the belief in the resurrection of the dead, which are central themes in Christianity. The book also underscores the idea of divine intervention in human affairs and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

While not included in the Protestant canon, 2 Maccabees is considered canonical by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. It is valued for its historical account of the Maccabean revolt and its theological insights into faith, martyrdom, and the afterlife. The book continues to inspire believers to stand firm in their faith and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of persecution.

Important Verses in 2 Maccabees:

2 Maccabees 2:21: ²¹ And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism and for their nation, the Lord being gracious unto them.

2 Maccabees 4:7: ⁷ But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,

2 Maccabees 6:18-31: ¹⁸ Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well-favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine’s flesh.
¹⁹ But he that had spoken to him before, and that had come to the city with many horses and a great army, was destroyed in the city.
²⁰ But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
²¹ But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
²² That in no case they might be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.
²³ But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereunto he was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.
²⁴ For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;
²⁵ And so through the exceeding cruelty of those that seemed to have the charge of his punishment, many of the Israelites were made to apostatize, and to eat things forbidden.
For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.
²⁷ But he being in a strait place, after many considerations went of his own accord to the torment:
²⁸ And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws.
²⁹ Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.
³⁰ But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.
³¹ And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.

2 Maccabees 7:1-42: ¹ It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine’s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.
² And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son.
³ And when he was in a great strait, he counselled her to return unto the land of her fathers, and to take her to wife.
⁴ But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.
⁵ Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,
⁶ And said, O thou like a fury, take us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.
⁷ And when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?
⁸ And said to him, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.
⁹ And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.
¹⁰ After him was the third made a mockingstock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully.
¹¹ And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.
¹² Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,
¹³ Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.
¹⁴ So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.
¹⁵ And when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?
¹⁶ Then the mother of the seven sons said to him, “I do not know how you came into my womb; for I did not give you breath and life, nor was it I who set in order the elements within each of you.”
¹⁷ But abide with a good courage, and hope for the help of heaven.
¹⁸ After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvellous things are done unto us.
¹⁹ But think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God, that thou shalt escape unpunished.
²⁰ But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.
²¹ Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits, and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,
²² I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;
²³ But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws’ sake.
²⁴ Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.
²⁵ And when the first brother was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?
²⁶ And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son.
²⁷ But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.
²⁸ I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.
²⁹ Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.
³⁰ Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the king’s commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.
³¹ And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.
³² For we suffer because of our sins.
³³ And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants.
³⁴ But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hand against the servants of God.
³⁵ For I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.
³⁶ For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God’s covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.
³⁷ I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation, and by afflictions and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God;
³⁸ I am now dying in bitter pain under these blows, but I am content in my soul because of my awe of him.
³⁹ For we suffer because of our sins.
⁴⁰ But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
⁴¹ Yea, they brought the five sons one after another, and offered them up, beginning at the eldest.
⁴² I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;

2 Maccabees 10:1-8: ¹ Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
² And upon the day of the dedication of the temple, on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu.
³ Now when they had done this, and had made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.
⁴ Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu.
⁵ Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu.
⁶ And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.
⁷ And when they had sought the matter, they found a written decree of the heathen, that the Jews should not be allowed to build a synagogue, nor to dwell in their cities and countries:
⁸ And they ordained all their days of thanksgiving to be kept in like manner as the days of the Feast of Tabernacles, according as the law commanded:

2 Maccabees 12:39-45: ³⁹ And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.
⁴⁰ Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law.
⁴¹ Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword.
⁴² Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
⁴³ And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection.
⁴⁴ For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.
⁴⁵ And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.

2 Maccabees 15:12-16: ¹² And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.
¹³ And gave him a vision of the glorious holy God, who told him how the enemies would be defeated, the sanctuary restored, and the Gentiles would be punished.
¹⁴ And when they had done this, and had made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.
¹⁵ Thus Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six thousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen who came wrongly against them; but to fight manfully,
¹⁶ Thus Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six thousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen who came wrongly against them; but to fight manfully,