Date of composition

• The the events described date from c. 225-200 BC, before the events of I Maccabees.
• The book was written from 100 BC to AD 70.

Type of book

• Deuterocanonical (means "secondary or less sacred scripture")only for Orthodox churches.
• Catholic and Protestant churches consider it Apocrypha.

Length

• 18 double-spaced pages with 7 chapters.

Summary

• The Egyptian ruler Ptolemy IV Philopator won a battle against the Seleucid king Antiochus III in 217 BC. On his way back to Egypt, he wanted to visit Jerusalem. He was impressed and desired to enter the Temple sanctuary. He was told that only the High Priest could only enter once a year; nevertheless, he was determined to enter. Many Jews came out to protest. After the High Priest prayed a long prayer and Ptolemy still attempted to enter the Temple's Holy of Holies, God struck him with paralysis. His soldiers took him away, and they returned to Egypt, where he recovered.
• This produced a hatred of Jews. A lengthy passage follows describing Ptolemy's anger poured out on the Jews, including a desire to have them crushed by elephants in the arena. With the Jews forcibly gathered there, an elderly priest prayed a long prayer. God sent two angels who protected the Jews. Ptolemy repented and released the Jews, then ordered a banquet. The Jews asked Ptolemy for permission to punish Jews who had been unfaithful to God, which Ptolemy granted.