2 Maccabees

A deuterocanonical Jewish work recounting events in Judea during the second century BCE, especially persecution under Antiochus IV and the Maccabean revolt. It emphasizes divine intervention, martyrdom, and the Jerusalem Temple.

Second Temple Judaism: Jewish religious life and thought during the period of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, from its rebuilding to its destruction in 70 CE. The book expresses Jewish beliefs and practices amid the political upheavals of this period.
Maccabean Revolt: A Jewish uprising against Seleucid rule and religious repression in Judea, beginning in 167 BCE. The book narrates the revolt’s battles and presents them as aided by divine intervention.
Jason of Cyrene: A Jewish historian whose five-volume account of the Maccabean revolt is summarized in 2 Maccabees. The author identifies Jason’s work as the principal source for the narrative.
Eleazar (2 Maccabees): An elderly Jewish scribe in 2 Maccabees who accepts death rather than eat forbidden pork. His refusal exemplifies the book’s ideal of public fidelity under coercion.
Jewish canon: The collection of sacred writings recognized as scripture in Judaism, commonly called the Tanakh. 2 Maccabees is not included in the Jewish scriptural canon.
Seleucid Empire: A Hellenistic kingdom founded after Alexander the Great’s death, ruling much of western Asia from Syria. Seleucid rule provides the imperial setting for the events narrated.
Judas Maccabeus: A Jewish leader who organized resistance to Seleucid forces during the Maccabean Revolt. His military leadership carries the narrative from persecution toward the Temple’s recovery.
Septuagint: The ancient Greek translation of Jewish scriptures, produced over several centuries before the Common Era. 2 Maccabees survives as part of the Greek biblical tradition.
Seven sons and their mother: A family in 2 Maccabees who endure torture and death rather than violate Jewish law. Their deaths provide the book’s fullest testimony to resurrection hope and steadfastness.
Protestant biblical canon: The collection of biblical books recognized as scripture by most Protestant traditions. Most Protestant traditions classify 2 Maccabees as apocryphal rather than canonical.

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