Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-328) and indexes.
Contents:
Introduction -- The letters and the narrative -- The narrative -- The goals of the author -- The date and place of composition -- A suggested time line from 2 Maccabees -- The text -- Commentary -- 1:1-10a The first prefixed letter -- 1:10b-17 The second prefixed letter: greetings and well wishes -- 1:18-36 The second prefixed letter: the body of the letter I -- 2:1-18 The second prefixed letter: the body of the letter 2 -- 2:19-32 Prologue -- 3:1-39 Heliodorus comes to the temple -- 3:40--4:6 Transition to chaos -- 4:7-22 Jason as high priest -- 4:23-50 The death of Onias -- 5:1--6:9a Antiochus assaults the temple -- 6:9b-7:42 Righteous martyrs -- 8:1-36 Judas Maccabeus leads a revolt -- 9:1-29 The end of Antiochus IV Epiphanes -- 10:1-8 The purification of the temple -- 10:9-38 Events under Antiochus V Eupator -- 11:1-38 Relations with Lysias -- Excursus The letter in 2 Maccabees 11-16-38 -- 12:1-45 Battles with local commanders -- 13:1-26 Struggles with Antiochus and Lysias -- 14:1-25 Final assault on the temple: the approach of Nikanor and his treaty -- 14:26-46 Final assault on the temple: the persecution -- 15:1-36 The defeat of Nikanor -- 15:37-39 Epilogue.
Summary:
"The second-century (B.C.E.) Maccabean revolt against Seleucid oppression was a watershed event in early Jewish history and Second Maccabees is an important testimony to the revolt and its aftermath. Robert Doran's commentary on 2 Maccabees explores the interplay between history and historiography in the document. Providing detailed philological analysis of the elegant Greek of the text, Doran carefully sifts the evidence for the historicity of the events recounted, while giving full attention to the literary and rhetorical qualities that mark this dramatic narrative."--Publisher's description.
Series:
Hermeneia--a critical and historical commentary on the Bible
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.