Date of composition

• Mid-100's BC

Type of book

• Deuterocanonical for Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and some Anglican and Lutheran churches.
• Apocrypha for most Protestant churches.
• Although not in the Hebrew Bible, Jews view it as a primary historical source describing Israel defeating the Seleucids around 170 BC and regaining their land.

Length

• 88 double-spaced pages in 16 chapters.

Summary

• This is a straightforward historical account of the Jews from c. 180 BC to c. 150 BC. Antiochus IV, ruler of Seleucid (Syria), conquered Egypt. He then attacked and defeated Israel, removing much of the treasure from the Temple. Two years later, he returned and inflicted more punishment on the Jews, plus decreed that everyone should worship his idols only. Many Jews relented and stopped worshiping Yahweh, including circumcision, and began worshipping Seleucidian idols. The Seleucids burned all copies of Hebrew scriptures they found, offered sacrifices to their idols in the Temple (including offering pigs as sacrifices), killed babies that had been circumcised, and hung them around their mothers' necks.
• The Seleucids came to the town where Mattathias lived. They demanded that Mattathias, as local leader, be the first to sacrifice to the idols. Mattathias refused, but another Jew stepped forward to sacrifice. Mattathias killed him and began the rebellion. He, his five sons, and others traveled throughout Israel, destroying idol altars and circumcising baby boys. Mattathias' son Judas Maccabees (perhaps from the Aramaic meaning "hammer") became the rebellion's leader. After many battles, the Jews regained their land, including Jerusalem.
• They rededicated the Temple with new furnishings and built a high wall around it. Nevertheless, war with the Seleucids continued; at one point, Judas died in battle and was replaced by his brother Jonathan, who eventually brought peace through conquest and treaties with the surrounding kingdoms. War was renewed, and Jonathan was killed, after which his brother Simon became the leader of the Jews. Simon eventually brought peace throughout Israel. Simon was not the king but was considered a High Priest.