2MA

2 Maccabees 1 - Summary

Summary

Read 2 Maccabees Chapter 1 Summary

The book opens with two letters from the Jews of Jerusalem and Judea to their brethren in Egypt. The first, dated in the reign of Demetrius, recalls the troubles that followed Jason's revolt and urges them to keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu. The second, sent by the council and Judas to Aristobulus, tells how Antiochus was slain by the priests of Nanea in Persia, then explains the feast of purification by the story of the sacred fire: hidden by the priests at the exile, it was found again as thick water and blazed up in the sun when Neemias offered sacrifice.

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Characters in This Chapter

Jeremiah
Jeremiah

Prophet remembered for hiding the tabernacle and the ark, who appears in Judas's dream praying for the people and giving him a golden sword

Nehemiah
Nehemiah

Leader who, in the opening letter, rekindles the hidden altar fire and founds a library of the sacred books

Judas Maccabeus
Judas Maccabeus

Hero of the book, who cleanses the Temple, prays for the fallen and defeats Nicanor after his dream of Jeremiah

Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Antiochus IV Epiphanes

King who plunders the Temple and persecutes the faithful, then dies of a plague after his flight from Persepolis

Abraham
Abraham

Father of Many Nations

Isaac
Isaac

Son of Abraham

Jacob
Jacob

Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

Jonathan
Jonathan

Faithful Friend of David

Moses
Moses

Prophet and Lawgiver

Places in This Chapter

Jerusalem
Jerusalem

Holy city at the centre of the story: plundered by Antiochus, freed by Judas, and the place where Nicanor's head is hung up

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The Temple
The Temple

Sanctuary defended against Heliodorus, profaned and dedicated to Jupiter, cleansed on the twenty-fifth of Casleu, then threatened by Nicanor

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Egypt
Egypt

Home of the Jews to whom the opening letters are written, and the land of Antiochus's campaigns

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Antioch (Syria)
Antioch (Syria)

Seleucid capital, near which Onias is murdered at Daphne, and to which Nicanor flees after his first defeat

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Persia
Persia

Land where the priests hid the altar fire at the exile, and from which Antiochus returns in disgrace before his death

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Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo

The mountain from which Moses saw the heritage of God, where Jeremiah is said to have hidden the tabernacle and the ark in a cave

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Judea
Judea

Judea was the southern region of Israel, centered on Jerusalem. It was the heart of the ancient kingdom of Judah. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, was crucified in Jerusalem, and the early church spread from Judea to the ends of the earth.

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Position in Book

Letters to the Jews of EgyptChapters 1-2

Two letters invite the Jews of Egypt to keep the purification of the temple, tell of the sacred fire and of Jeremy hiding the ark, and the author presents his abridgement of Jason of Cyrene.

Heliodorus and the Temple TreasuryChapters 3
Corrupt High Priests and the Sack of JerusalemChapters 4-5
Persecution and the MartyrsChapters 6-7
Judas's Rising and the Tyrant's EndChapters 8-9
The Temple Cleansed and the Wars under EupatorChapters 10-13
Nicanor, Razis and the Last VictoryChapters 14-15