The First and Second Books of the Maccabees

After a general introduction to the book as a whole, the text is given in short passages, with a commentary directly following each.

J. R. Bartlett (Author)

9780521097499, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 July 1973

376 pages
20.3 x 12.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.41 kg

Mr Bartlett's volume, like the others in the series, contains the text in the New English Bible. After a general introduction to the book as a whole, the text is given in short passages, with a commentary directly following each. These Jewish historical works, the two books of the Maccabees, were written to describe the struggles of the Jews in the second century BC against encroachment of the Greek way of life and against the political domination of the Syrians. The particular purpose of this commentary is to bring out the political and religious motives of the various parties to the struggle.

The world of the Maccabees
The dating of events in 1 and 2 Maccabees
The Syrian administration
Ancient writers who describe this period
The First Book of the Maccabees
The original text and its date
The author's approach to the work
The historical value of I Maccabees
The author
Antiochus and the Jewish revolt
The war under Judas and Jonathan
Jonathan rules the nation
The high-priesthood of Simon
The Second Book of the Maccabees
The original text and its date
The author's approach to the work
The historical value of 2 Maccabees
The author.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]