The account presented in 1st Maccabees is widely recognized for its detailed chronicle of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire and the events leading up to the rededication of the Second Temple, which became the basis for the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. First Maccabees, also referred to as the First Book of Maccabees and abbreviated as 1 Macc., is a deuterocanonical book that provides an extensive history of the Hasmonean dynasty, from the formation of a rebellion led by Mattathias against King Antiochus IV to the establishment of autonomy and independence under the ruling of the Hasmonean family. The rebellion led by Judas Maccabeus, the successor of Mattathias, culminated in the death of Judas, and the eventual declaration of Simon Thassi as High Priestכֹּהֵן
kôhên, ko-hane’ Kohen = priest, principal officer or chief ruler For more info click here by the Jewish people. The author, although unknown, is believed to have written the account in Hebrew originally, but the work now survives only in translation in Koine Greek in the Septuagint. The book is currently considered canonical scripture in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches, and is regarded as biblical apocrypha1: writings or statements of dubious authenticity
2 a: books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate but excluded from the Jewish and Protestant canons of the Old Testament
b: early Christian writings not included in the New Testament by some Protestant denominations.
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5
Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10
Chapter 11 || Chapter 12 || Chapter 13 || Chapter 14 || Chapter 15
Alexander and his successors – The alliance between the Jews and the Romans
- Alexander and his successors
- Antiochus Epiphanes: Israel infected with Helenism
- First Egyptian campaign and pillage of the Temple
- Intervention of the Mysarch and construction of the Acra
- Installation of the gentile cults
- Matthathias and his sons
- The ordeal of the sacrifice at Modein
- The ordeal of the Sabbath in the desert
- The activity of Mattathis and his associates
- The eulogy of Judas Maccabaeus
- Initial successes of Judas
- Antiochus prepares to invade Persia and Judaea
- Gorgias and Nicanor lead the Syrian army into Judaea
- The Jews gather at Mizpah
- The Battle of Emmaus
- First Campaign of Lyias
- Purification and dedication of the Temple
- The expedition against the Idumaeans and Ammonites
- Preliminaries to campaigns in Galilee and Gilead
- The expeditions in Galilee and Gilead
- Reversal at Jamnia
- Successes in Idumaea and Philistia
- The last days of Antiochus Epiphanes
- The access of Antiochus V
- The siege of the Citadel of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus
- Campaign of Antiochus V and Lysias
- Capture of Beth-Zur and siege of Mount Zion by the Syrians
- The king grants the Jews religious freedom
- Demetrius I becomes king, and sends Bacchides and Alcimus to Judaea
- Nicanor in Judaea and battle of Caphar-Salama
- Threats against the Temple
- The Day of Nicanor at Adasa
- A eulogy of the Romans
- The alliance between the Jews and the Romans
Battle of Beer-Zaith and death of Judas Maccabaeus – Simon’s son John succeeds him
- Battle of Beer-Zaith and death of Judas Maccabaeus
- Funeral of Judas Maccabaeus
- The Triumph of the Greek Party Jonathan Lead the resistance
- Jonathan in the desert of Tekoa.
- Bloody encounters around Medeba
- Crossing the Jordan
- Bacchides builds fortifications.
- The Death of Alcimus
- The siege of Beth-Bassi
- Alexander Balas competes for Jonathan’s support and appoints him high priest
- A letter from Demetrius I to Jonathan
- Jonathan rejects the offers of Demetrius – death of Demetrius
- Alexander’s marriage to Cleopatra. Jonathan as commander-in-chief and governor-general
- Demetrius II. Apollonius, governor of Coele-Syria, defeated by Jonathan
- Ptolemy VI supports Demetrius but dies as does Alexander Balas
- Early relations between Demetrius and Jonathan
- A new charter favoring Jews
- Demetrius II rescued by Jonathan’s troop at Antioch
- Jonathan opposes Demetrius II.
- Simon retakes Beth-Zur.
- Jonathan’s relationship with Rome and Sparta
- Jonathan in Coele-Syria.
- Simon in Philista
- Building work in Jerusalem
- Jonathan falls into the hands of his enemies
- Simon takes command
- Simon turns back Trypho from Judaea
- Jonathan is buried in the sepulchre built by Simon at Modein
- The favors of Demetrius II to Simon
- The Capture of Gaza by Simon
- Simon occupies the tower in Jerusalem
- Eulogy of Simon
- Renewal of the league with Sparta and with Rome
- Official Honors decreed for Simon
- Letter of Antiochus VII and siege of Dora
- The Ambassadors return from Rome to Judea
- The league with Rome
- Antiochus VII besieging Dora, become hostile to Simon and sends him a reprimand
- Cendebaues, governor of the coastal region, harasses Judea
- The Victory of Simon’s Sons over Cendebareus
- Simon’s tragic Death at Dok.
- Simon’s son John succeeds him