Category Archives: II Maccabees

II Maccabees and the Afterlife

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

I finished the Deutero-canonical book of II Maccabees last night.  I was not planning to read II Maccabees during Hanukkah, which commemorates some of the historical events that II Maccabees is about.  It just happened that way.  I started the … Continue reading →

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Enoch, Jubilees, and the Mosaic Torah

Posted on November 12, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

I read two essays that I really enjoyed in Enoch and the Mosaic Torah: The Evidence of Jubilees.  The first one was Gabriele Boccaccini’s “From a Movement of Dissent to a Distinct Form of Judaism: The Heavenly Tablets in Jubilees … Continue reading →

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Oniads Vs. Hasmoneans, Part 2

Posted on October 5, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

I finished Jonathan Goldstein’s Anchor Bible commentary on II Maccabees.  In this post, I’d like to elaborate upon the topic that I discussed yesterday: the rivalry between the Oniads and the Hasmoneans for the priesthood. On page 542, Goldstein states: … Continue reading →

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Oniads Vs. Hasmoneans

Posted on October 4, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

On page 498 of his Anchor Bible commentary on II Maccabees, Jonathan Goldstein speculates that the break between Onias IV and the Hasmoneans occurred after their battle with Nicanor. When Alcimus was installed as high priest, the Oniads and the … Continue reading →

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Annihilation; Partially Fulfilled

Posted on October 3, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

I have two items for my write-up today on Jonathan Goldstein’s commentary on II Maccabees. 1.  On pages 305-306, Goldstein in his comment on II Maccabees 7:9 contends that Jason (the author of II Maccabees) interprets Daniel 12:2 to mean … Continue reading →

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Two (or Three) Epistles Commencing II Maccabees

Posted on October 1, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

For my write-up today on Jonathan Goldstein’s Anchor Bible commentary on II Maccabees, I’ll discuss Goldstein’s treatment of the two (or, technically, three) epistles at the beginning of the book. Epistle 1 is in II Maccabees 1:1-10a.  According to Goldstein, … Continue reading →

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Some Interesting Points in Goldstein’s II Maccabees

Posted on September 28, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

I started Jonathan Goldstein’s Anchor Bible commentary on II Maccabees. Goldstein dates I Maccabees to 90 B.C.E., Jason of Cyrene’s work to 86 B.C.E., and the abridgement of Jason’s work that we recognize as II Maccabees to 78/7-63 B.C.E.  Goldstein … Continue reading →

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A Good Impression; Life-Saving Transgressions; Women Learning Torah

Posted on May 3, 2012 by jamesbradfordpate

I have three items for my write-up today on Joseph Telushkin’s A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You Shall Be Holy. 1.  Telushkin talks about how Jews are supposed to make a good impression on Gentiles so as to … Continue reading →

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Targum Psalms in the New Testament; the Samaritans and Antiochus IV

Posted on December 19, 2011 by jamesbradfordpate

I finished The Cambridge History of Judaism, Volume Two: The Hellenistic Age, and I have two items: 1.  One source that I have been using in my weekly quiet times on the Book of Psalms has been the Targum of … Continue reading →

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Scattered Ramblings on II Maccabees

Posted on December 15, 2011 by jamesbradfordpate

For my write up today on The Cambridge History of Judaism, Volume Two: The Hellenistic Age, I’ll focus on the book of II Maccabees. On pages 294-295, Jonathan Goldstein defines a difference between I Maccabees and II Maccabees: “The author … Continue reading →

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