Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

Aramaic Literature - Part 4

Following the Prayer of Manasseh in the AV Apocrypha are 1 and 2 Maccabees. 1 Maccabees is an essentially historical account of the Maccabean revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes and the events subsequent to the success of that revolt. For the reader lacking knowledge of this period, any of the Bible encyclopedias, or a good Bible dictionary will give a brief overview. In essence, Antiochus IV came to power in 175 BC, and attempted to impose a Hellenization of culture on the Jews in Palestine. This was done in a very heavy-handed fashion including, among other desecrations, sacrificing a pig on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem. The severity of Antiochus’s impositions eventually provoked a rebellion, led by the priest Mattathias and carried forward by his sons Judas and Jonathan and others.

The only extant copies of 1 Maccabees are in Greek, though it is supposed that it was composed in Hebrew. The character of the Greek is very close to that of the Septuagint of the books of Samuel and Kings.

2 Maccabees relates stories of attacks against Jerusalem and the temple, overlapping to a certain extent with 1 Maccabees. It claims to be a condensation of a five-volume work by a certain Jason of Cyrene (2:23). It appears to have been written in Greek without a Hebrew original. The style of the Greek differs quite a bit from that of 1 Maccabees.

In addition to these works, there are others that are generally considered to be apocryphal, though they are not included in the AV Apocrypha, nor are they included in the Roman Catholic canon. These books include Psalm 151, which is found (surprise!) after Psalm 150 in the Septuagint. This is actually attested in four languages—Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Syriac. The Hebrew form was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in Cave 11 at Qumran (it is designated 11QPsa). Both the Latin and Syriac forms appear to have been translated from the Greek. It is even numbered as Psalm 151 in the Sinaiticus manuscript, as well as in some later Syriac Psalters. The best way to see this in English is in the Harper-Collins Study Bible, as they give not only the Greek form, but indicate where the Hebrew text differs, and give a translation of that differing Hebrew text. An English translation of the Hebrew text from Qumran is also found on p. 448 of The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation, by Michaels Wise, Martin Abegg, and Edward Cook.

Another of these works is the so-called 3 Maccabees, which has nothing to do with the Maccabean revolt, or anything about the Maccabean family. In some manuscripts it follows 1 and 2 Maccabees, and is considered canonical by the Eastern Orthodox church. It describes several events from the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopater, who was the king of Egypt from about 221-204 BC.

Finally, there is 4 Maccabees. It is found as an appendix in some Septuagint manuscripts, but has never been considered canonical by any branch of the Christian church. It is primarily devoted to telling the story of the torture and martyrdom of a number of Jews

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