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 ...

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• 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 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

The narrative is primarily prose text, but is interrupted by seven poetic sections, which imitate classical Hebrew poetry. These include four laments and three hymns of praise. The history presented is very good, comparing favorably to pagan historians such as Livy or Tacitus. The author exhibits a personal interest in the events, but presents them accurately. Josephus most likely used some form of this text (very likely the Hebrew original) in writing ...

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 - Form