I. Background
· Written between 104-63BCE
·
Considered
most reliable source of information about Maccabean crisis
II. Concept of God
· Giver of strength in battle
(3:19)
· Helper of Israel (12:15)
III. Concept of Israel
· Covenant of greatest
importance, including food laws, sabbath observance (1:63)
· Value placed on “zeal for
the Law” (2:26-27,50,58,68)
· Special favor status of
Israel with God quite evident (e.g. 12:15)
IV. Concept of Sin/Salvation
· God’s wrath comes from sin
(3:8)
· Sin is violation of Jewish
law
·
Salvation
a matter of deliverance from enemies (e.g. 5:62)
V. Eschatology
· No prospect of afterlife
mentioned
·
Still
waiting for full restoration/waiting for a prophet to come (4:46); the notion
that prophecy had ceased for a time (9:27; 14:41)
·
Only
partially-deuteronomistic approach—Judas and Jonathan die not because of sin
but because of stronger opponents and trickery
VI. Ethic
· Keep the Jewish Law
VII. Special Features
· Institution of
Hanukkah/Feast of Dedication (4:59)
· Prayer a regular feature
(e.g. 5:33)
·
Mention
made of Hasidim (2:42; 7:13), probably a group of scribes, sometimes it is
suggested that they were the forerunners of the Pharisees
·
Alliances
with Rome frequently mentioned