1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible which was written by a Jewish (pre-Christian) author, probably about 100 BC, after the restoration of an independent Jewish kingdom. It is accepted in the Catholic and Orthodox canons. Protestants and Jews regard it as generally reliable history, but not a part of Scripture. Some Protestants consequently regard 1 Maccabees as part of the Apocrypha, useful for reading in the church. 1 Maccabees - Form. The narrative is primarily prose text, but is interrupt ...

Including:

• 1 Maccabees - Form
• 1 Maccabees - Transmission language and author
• 1 Maccabees - External references

Read more here: » 1 Maccabees: Encyclopedia - 1 Maccabees

The text comes to us in three codices of the Septuagint, the Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Venetus, as well as some cursives. Though the original book was written in Hebrew, as can be deduced by a number of Hebrew idioms in the text, the original has been lost and the version which comes down to us is a pre-Christian Greek translation. Some authors date the original Hebrew text even closer to the events covered, while a few suggest a date even later. Because of the accuracy of the historical account, if the later date is taken, the author would have to have had acc ...

See also:

1 Maccabees, 1 Maccabees - Form, 1 Maccabees - Transmission, language and author, 1 Maccabees - External references

Read more here: » 1 Maccabees: Encyclopedia II - 1 Maccabees - Transmission, language and author

The text comes to us in three codices of the Septuagint, the Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Venetus, as well as some cursives. Though the original book was written in Hebrew, as can be deduced by a number of Hebrew idioms in the text, the original has been lost and the version which comes down to us is a pre-Christian Greek translation. Some authors date the original Hebrew text even closer to the events covered, while a few suggest a date even later. Because of the accuracy of the historical account, if the later date is taken, the author would have to have had acce ...

See also:

1 Maccabees, 1 Maccabees - Form, 1 Maccabees - Transmission language and author, 1 Maccabees - External references

Read more here: » 1 Maccabees: Encyclopedia II - 1 Maccabees - Transmission language and author

Jaffa - Name sources. Jaffa (or Yaffo) is one of the most ancient port cities in the world. Some claim that Jaffa was named after Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah, who built it after the Great Flood. A Hebrew etymology indicates that the city is called Jaffa because of its beauty (yofi in Hebrew). The Hellenist tradition links the name to "Iopeia", which is Cassiopeia, the mother of Andromeda. However the Hellenist accounting for the name dates from hundreds of years after the original naming. < ...

See also:

Jaffa, Jaffa - History, Jaffa - Name sources, Jaffa - Ancient period, Jaffa - Medieval period, Jaffa - The Ottoman period, Jaffa - Under the British mandate, Jaffa - The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jaffa - Modern Jaffa, Jaffa - Restoration of the Old City, Jaffa - Jaffa Beyond the Old City, Jaffa - Places to see, Jaffa - Footnotes

Read more here: » Jaffa: Encyclopedia II - Jaffa - History

Adonis | Anat | Asherah | Astarte | Ba'al | Berith | Dagon | El | Elyon | Elohim | Hadad | Mot | Salem | Shaddai | Yaw Adonai | El | Elohim | Elyon | Shaddai | Shekinah | YHWH Adad | Amurru | An/Anu | Anshar | Asshur | Abzu/Apsu | Enki/Ea | Enlil | Ereshkigal | Inanna/Ishtar | Kingu | Kishar | Lahmu & Lahamu | Marduk | Mummu | Nabu | Nammu | Nanna/Sin | Nergal | Ninhursag/Damkina | Ninlil | Tiamat | Utu/Shamash Dagon - The ancient god Dagon. Dagon was a major northwest Sem ...

Including:

• Dagon - The ancient god Dagon
• Dagon - Etymology
• Dagon - Non-Biblical sources
• Dagon - Dagon in Biblical texts and commentaries
• Dagon - Marnas
• Dagon - Fish-god tradition
• Dagon - References and external links
• Dagon - Dagon in fiction
• Dagon - References

Read more here: » Dagon: Encyclopedia - Dagon

The Bible (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Good Book, Word of God, The Word, or Scripture), from Greek (τα) βιβλια, (ta) biblia, "(the) books", is the classical name for the Hebrew Bible of Judaism or the combination of the Old Testament and New Testament of Christianity ("The Bible" actually refers to at least two different Bibles). It is thus applied to sacred scriptures. Many Christian English speakers refer to the Christian Bible as "the good book" (Gospel means " ...

Including:

• Bible - The Hebrew Bible
• Bible - Torah
• Bible - Nevi'im
• Bible - Ketuvim
• Bible - Translations and editions
• Bible - The Christian Bible
• Bible - The Old Testament
• Bible - The New Testament
• Bible - The canonization of Scripture
• Bible - Bible versions and translations
• Bible - The Introduction of chapters and verses

Read more here: » Bible: Encyclopedia - Bible

The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the Septuagint and in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian Old Testament of the Bible, but excluded by Jews and Protestants. The book's numerous historical anachronisms mean that few accept it now as reliable history — it has been considered a parable, or perhaps the first historical novel. The name Judith is Hebrew (יְהוּדִית "Praised" or "Jewess", Standard Hebrew Yəhudit, Tiberian Hebre ...

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History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denominations Chr ...

Including:

• Apocrypha - Non-religious usage
• Apocrypha - Religious usage
• Apocrypha - Apocrypha in Judaism
• Apocrypha - Apocrypha in Christianity
• Apocrypha - The term apocryphal
• Apocrypha - Old Testament apocryphal books
• Apocrypha - The Apocrypha Proper
• Apocrypha - References
• Apocrypha - Other Old Testament apocryphal literature
• Apocrypha - Historical
• Apocrypha - Legendary
• Apocrypha - Didactic or Sapiential
• Apocrypha - New Testament apocryphal literature
• Apocrypha - Gospels
• Apocrypha - Acts and Teachings of the Apostles
• Apocrypha - Epistles
• Apocrypha - The Council of Jamnia
• Apocrypha - Majority Christian usage
• Apocrypha - Protestant views
• Apocrypha - Latter Day Saint views

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2 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible which focuses on the Jews' revolt against Antiochus and concludes with the defeat of the Syrian general Nicanor in 161 BC by Judas Maccabeus, the hero of the work. Catholics and Orthodox consider the work to be canonical and part of the Bible. Protestants and Jews, while not considering it to be Scripture, consider it useful as a historical supplement to 1 Maccabees, but reject most of the doctrinal innovations present in the work. Some Protestants include 2 Maccabees as part of the ...

Including:

• 2 Maccabees - Author
• 2 Maccabees - Doctrine

Read more here: » 2 Maccabees: Encyclopedia - 2 Maccabees

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which generally is in December, or sometimes, late November. The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on. In Hebrew script, the word Hanukkah is written חנכה, ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה, Including:

• Hanukkah - Commemoration
• Hanukkah - Historical sources
• Hanukkah - In the Talmud
• Hanukkah - In the Septuagint
• Hanukkah - The story
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah rituals
• Hanukkah - Kindling the Hanukkah Lights
• Hanukkah - When to light the lights
• Hanukkah - Blessings over the candles
• Hanukkah - Additions to the daily prayers
• Hanukkah - Traditional Hanukkah foods
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah games: Dreidel and Gelt
• Hanukkah - Dreidel
• Hanukkah - Chanukkah Gelt
• Hanukkah - Interaction with other traditions
• Hanukkah - Alternative spellings based on transliterating Hebrew letters
• Hanukkah - Background
• Hanukkah - Chronology
• Hanukkah - Battles of the Maccabean revolt
• Hanukkah - When Hanukkah occurs
• Hanukkah - Hanukkah's dates in the Gregorian calendar

Read more here: » Hanukkah: Encyclopedia - Hanukkah

Christian views of Hanukkah. During the last few decades, some Christians (such as evangelical Christians and Messianic Judaism) have re-examined the Jewish roots of their faith. As a result, some have increasingly become aware of and adopted some aspects of some Jewish holiday, but within a Christian theological framework. In the case of Hanukkah, Christians began to recognize that Jesus, in fact, observed this holiday as noted in the twenty second and twenty third verse of the tenth chapter in the Gospel of John (“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it w ...

Read more here: » Christian views of Hanukkah: Encyclopedia - Christian views of Hanukkah

The Battle of Elasa was fought between Jewish and Syrian Forces during the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Kingdom. In 160 BC, the Seleucid King Demetrios, on campaign in the east, left his general Bacchides to govern the western portion of the kingdom. Bacchides led an army of 20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry into Judea intending to crush the rebellion with one swift stroke. He marched on Jerusalem, conducting a campaign of intimidation & devastation, in an attempt to draw out the rebel army of Judas Maccabeu ...

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Atargatis, in Aramaic ‘Atar‘atah, was a Syrian deity, more commonly known to the Greeks by a shortened form of the name, Derceto or Derketo (Strabo 16.785; Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.81), and as Dea Syria (the "Goddess of Syria, rendered in one word Deasura). She is often now popularly described as the mermaid-goddess. The name appears in the Talmud ("Ab. Zarah" 11b, line 28) as tr‘th. The full name ‘tr‘th appears on a bilingual inscription found in Palmyra and o ...

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The Hasmonean Kingdom (pronunciation) in ancient Judea and its ruling dynasty from 140 BCE to 37 BCE was established under the leadership of Simon Maccabaeus, two decades after Judah the Maccabee defeated the Seleucid army in 165 BCE. Hasmonean - Recorded history. The origin of the Hasmonean dynasty is recorded in the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. These books are not part of the Hebrew Bible, but are part of the deuterocanonical historical and religious material from the Septuagint; th ...

Including:

• Hasmonean - Recorded history
• Hasmonean - Hanukkah and the origins of the Hasmonean Dynasty
• Hasmonean - Etymology of Hasmonea
• Hasmonean - Leadership and succession
• Hasmonean - Reputation of the dynasty

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This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897. Abomination in the Biblical sense of the word refers to: Every shepherd was "an abomination" unto the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34). This aversion to shepherds, such as the Hebrews, arose probably from the fact that Upper and Lower Egypt had formerly been held in oppressive subjection by the Hyksos (a tribe of nomad shepherds), who had only recently been expelled, and partly also perhaps from this other f ...

Read more here: » Abomination Bible: Encyclopedia - Abomination Bible

The book of 4 Maccabees is a homily or philosophic discourse praising the supremacy of pious reason over the passions. While once accepted as a deuterocanonical book by the Orthodox, it is increasingly relegated to an appendix of apocryphal works, due to its use of pagan thought. 4 Maccabees - Synopsis. The work consists of a prologue and two main sections. The first advances the philosophical thesis, while the second illustrates the points made using examples drawn from 2 Maccabees (principally, the martyr ...

Including:

• 4 Maccabees - Synopsis
• 4 Maccabees - Authorship and criticism
• 4 Maccabees - Doctrinal content

Read more here: » 4 Maccabees: Encyclopedia - 4 Maccabees

The Biblical book 3 Maccabees is found in most Orthodox Bibles as a part of the deuterocanonical books. Protestants and Catholics regard it as apocryphal. The book actually has nothing to do with the Maccabees or their revolt against the Greek empire, as described in 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. Instead it tells the story of persecution of the Jews under Ptolemy IV Philopator (222-205 BC). The name of the book apparently comes from the similarities between this book and the stories of the martyrdom of ...

Including:

• 3 Maccabees - Synopsis
• 3 Maccabees - Authorship and historicity

Read more here: » 3 Maccabees: Encyclopedia - 3 Maccabees

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denominati ...

Read more here: » Deuterocanonical books: Encyclopedia - Deuterocanonical books

Adonis | Anat | Asherah | Astarte | Ba'al | Berith | Dagon | El | Elyon | Elohim | Hadad | Mot | Salem | Shaddai | Yaw Adonai | El | Elohim | Elyon | Shaddai | Shekinah | YHWH Adad | Amurru | An/Anu | Anshar | Asshur | Abzu/Apsu | Enki/Ea | Enlil | Ereshkigal | Inanna/Ishtar | Kingu | Kishar | Lahmu & Lahamu | Marduk | Mummu | Nabu | Nammu | Nanna/Sin | Nergal | Ninhursag/Damkina | Ninlil | Tiamat | Utu/Shamash In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title. It represents the Jewish conception ...

Including:

• Names of God in Judaism - Names of God
• Names of God in Judaism - The Tetragrammaton
• Names of God in Judaism - Other names of God
• Names of God in Judaism - Miracles of the divine names
• Names of God in Judaism - Kabbalistic use
• Names of God in Judaism - Laws of writing divine names
• Names of God in Judaism - The tradition of seven divine names
• Names of God in Judaism - Bibliography

Read more here: » Names of God in Judaism: Encyclopedia - Names of God in Judaism

The Septuagint (LXX) is the name commonly given in the West to the Koine Greek Alexandrine text of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament) produced some time between the third to first century BC. The Septuagint Bible includes additional books of the old Jewish canon beyond those contained in the Hebrew Bible, including the books of the Maccabees, much beloved and revered by Jews today. These additional books were composed in Greek with small portions in Aramaic, and in most cases only the Greek version has survived to the present. Th ...

Including:

• Septuagint - Naming and designation
• Septuagint - Dating and critical scholarship
• Septuagint - Use of the Septuagint
• Septuagint - Jewish use
• Septuagint - Christian use
• Septuagint - Language of the Septuagint
• Septuagint - Books of the Septuagint
• Septuagint - Translations of the Septuagint

Read more here: » Septuagint: Encyclopedia - Septuagint