The books of 3 and 4 Maccabees are two texts that are included in some eastern Orthodox and eastern Catholic Bibles, but are not considered canonical by most Protestant Christians or Jews. They recount additional stories related to the Maccabean revolt in the 2nd century BC against the Seleucid Empire.
3 Maccabees is set in Egypt during the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–204 BC). It describes the conflict between the king and the Jews living in Egypt after the king’s failed attempt to enter the temple in Jerusalem. The king becomes enraged and attempts to have the Jews in Alexandria registered as slaves. However, God miraculously intervenes to save the Jews from this fate.
4 Maccabees has a very different tone and purpose than the other three books. It is a philosophical discourse on the supremacy of pious reason over passion. It uses the martyrdom of Eleazar and the Maccabean martyrs as examples to illustrate this principle. The book emphasizes the courageousness of the martyrs and their determination to uphold the Jewish law even in the face of death.
Here is a more detailed summary of each book:
3 Maccabees
3 Maccabees is made up of 7 chapters that recount the struggle of Egyptian Jews against the repression of Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–204 BC).
Chapter 1 describes how Ptolemy IV initially was merciful toward the Jews after defeating Antiochus III in 217 BC at the Battle of Raphia. However, after being prevented from entering the temple in Jerusalem by the Jews, he vowed revenge against the Jews upon his return to Alexandria.
Chapter 2 recounts how the king attempted to have the Jews in Egypt registered as slaves upon his return. The Jews resisted this registration, so the king ordered the Jews to be rounded up and crushed to death by 500 elephants. However, God caused the elephants to turn against the king’s men instead, resulting in a great victory for the Jews.
Chapter 3 describes how the king became even more enraged after this failed attempt. He ordered the Jews to be chained and put to work until he could decide upon a suitable punishment. The Jews continued to pray for deliverance.
Chapter 4 tells how the king decided to have the Jews executed in the arena by intoxicated elephants. But God caused the king to fall asleep and have a dream that made him change his mind. When he awoke, he was astounded by what he had planned to do and released the Jews.
Chapters 5-7 recount the king calling together his advisers and issuing a letter declaring the Jews to be free to follow their own laws. The king recognized God’s power in protecting the Jews and warned that anyone who sought to mistreat the Jews would face severe judgment. The Jews then established an annual celebration to commemorate their deliverance.
3 Maccabees emphasizes God’s sovereign protection of his people. The book does not recount any specific heroism by the Jews themselves. Instead, it highlights God miraculously intervening when his people are helpless and unable to save themselves from destruction.
4 Maccabees
4 Maccabees contains a philosophical discourse praising the supremacy of pious reason over passion. It uses stories from 2 Maccabees to illustrate this principle.
Chapters 1-3 present the thesis that devout reason is master over the passions. The author argues that this was demonstrated through the martyrdom of Eleazar and the Maccabean martyrs.
Chapters 4-7 recount the torture and death of Eleazar. He refused to violate Jewish dietary laws, even under threat of death. The king’s men could not get Eleazar to compromise his beliefs because his reason ruled over his passions.
Chapters 8-18 describe the torture and execution of the seven Maccabean brothers and their mother. The brothers endured horrible pain and suffering rather than violate God’s law. The author praises their use of holy reasoning to conquer their human emotions and appetites.
Some key aspects of 4 Maccabees:
- It has a very different purpose than 1-3 Maccabees, focusing on philosophical argument rather than historical accounts.
- The supremacy of reason over passion is proposed as the key to virtue.
- The suffering of the martyrs is seen as vindication of this principle.
- There are lengthy speeches by the martyrs as they are being tortured.
- The work was likely written by an Alexandrian Jew sometime in the 1st century AD.
In contrast to the historical books of 1-3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees is a philosophical treatise praising the courageous martyrs for their triumph of reason over emotion in holding fast to the Jewish law.
Authorship and Canonicity
Like 1-2 Maccabees, 3-4 Maccabees exist today only in Greek, although they may have been composed originally in Hebrew or Aramaic. There is uncertainty about the authorship of these books:
- 3 Maccabees is anonymous, but may have been written in Alexandria.
- 4 Maccabees is also anonymous. Some attribute it to Flavius Josephus, but this is uncertain.
- Neither book was accepted into the Tanakh (the Jewish scriptures).
- 3 Maccabees was included in early Septuagint editions, but 4 Maccabees was not.
- They are considered canonical only in eastern Orthodox and eastern Catholic traditions.
- Most Protestant Christian Bibles do not contain 3-4 Maccabees.
So in summary, 3-4 Maccabees provide additional perspectives on the Maccabean era, but have a questionable scriptural status. 3 Maccabees recounts God’s protection of Egyptian Jews against a repressive Seleucid ruler, while 4 Maccabees contains a philosophical treatise praising the Maccabean martyrs for their reasoned devotion to the Jewish law.
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