# 1 Maccabees > historical book detailing the Maccabean Revolt, found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles **Wikidata**: [Q161985](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161985) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Maccabees) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/1-maccabees ## Summary 1 Maccabees is a historical book in the Old Testament that details the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. It is part of the deuterocanonical books, accepted in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant canons. ## Key Facts - **Canonical Status**: Part of the deuterocanonical books, accepted in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. - **Genre**: Religious text and literary work. - **Instance of**: Book of the Bible, historical narrative. - **Date of Composition**: Circa 100 BCE. - **Language of Origin**: Originally written in Hebrew, later translated into Greek. - **Canonical Placement**: Found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles under the Old Testament. - **Part of**: Books of the Maccabees, Jewish apocrypha. - **Follows**: Not explicitly stated in source, but part of a series including 2 Maccabees. - **Followed by**: 2 Maccabees. - **Aliases**: First Book of Maccabees, 1 Macc., First Maccabees, I Maccabees, ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α, מכב״י, Machabaeorum I. - **Sitelink Count**: 69. - **Wikipedia Title**: 1 Maccabees. - **Wikidata Description**: Historical book detailing the Maccabean Revolt, found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. - **Genre Classification**: Q10916116 (Historical narrative). - **Instance of**: Q179461 (Religious text), Q7725634 (Literary work). - **Part of the following entities**: - Q201410 (Old Testament) - Q3620673 (Books of the Maccabees) - Q283057 (Deuterocanonical books) - Q524457 (Jewish apocryphon) - **Structured Properties (from Wikidata)**: - P18: Ende 1 Makkabäer.jpg - P214: 177806129, 192733858, 308700241, 316751396, 292846481 - P227: 4037164-5 - P244: n80008473 - P268: 119707994 - P269: 027727041 - P373: 1 Maccabees - P435: 85894022-d84d-411d-94c1-ebf72360b325 - P646: /m/01tx24 - P949: 000616196 - P1375: 000521065 - P1476: 1. Buch der Makkabäer, First Book of Maccabees, ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α, מכב״י, Machabaeorum I - P1482: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/tags/1-maccabees, https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tags/1-maccabees - P2581: 00000065n - P3219: ier-livre-des-maccabees - P3788: 000058724 - P5063: i70410 - P7293: 9810684817105606 - P7775: 1_Maccabees - P8070: 563 - P8168: Q1343901 - P8179: ncf11943640 - P8189: 987007286645005171 - P8248: Q6:22227 - P8408: MaccabeesI-BookOfApocrypha - P8636: M/maccabees-the-first-book-of - P8703: 1 Maccabees - P8814: 06472446-n - P9984: 981058512572806706 - P10227: vtls001240630 - P11686: 981058512572806706 - P12596: 85091 - P14225: 981005705184509366 ## FAQs **What is 1 Maccabees?** 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book in the Old Testament that recounts the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is accepted in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant canons. **When was 1 Maccabees written?** It was composed around 100 BCE, during the Hasmonean period, shortly after the events it describes. **What language was 1 Maccabees originally written in?** The original text was written in Hebrew, though the surviving versions are primarily in Greek. **What is the canonical status of 1 Maccabees?** It is part of the deuterocanonical books, accepted in Catholic and Orthodox traditions but excluded from the Hebrew Bible and Protestant Bibles. **What is the main theme of 1 Maccabees?** The book focuses on the Maccabean Revolt, particularly the military and political efforts of Judas Maccabeus and his family to restore Jewish independence and religious freedom. **What distinguishes 1 Maccabees from 2 Maccabees?** While both books cover the Maccabean Revolt, 1 Maccabees is more focused on historical and political events, whereas 2 Maccabees includes more theological and miraculous elements. **What is the genre of 1 Maccabees?** It is classified as a historical narrative and a religious text, focusing on the historical events of the Maccabean period. **Is 1 Maccabees considered literature?** Yes, it is also categorized as a literary work, reflecting its narrative structure and historical storytelling. **What are some aliases for 1 Maccabees?** Aliases include First Book of Maccabees, 1 Macc., First Maccabees, I Maccabees, ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α, מכב״י, and Machabaeorum I. **What is the relationship between 1 Maccabees and the Old Testament?** 1 Maccabees is part of the Old Testament in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, specifically within the deuterocanonical books. **What is the significance of 1 Maccabees in Jewish history?** It provides a detailed account of the Maccabean Revolt, which led to the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and is commemorated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. **What role does 1 Maccabees play in Christian theology?** It is valued for its historical insights into the Maccabean period and is used to understand the context of Jewish resistance and religious identity during that era. **How is 1 Maccabees maintained and referenced?** It is maintained through various identifiers and properties, including Wikidata entries, and is part of structured documentation systems like Template:Infobox literary work. **What is the relationship between 1 Maccabees and Jewish apocrypha?** It is classified as part of the Jewish apocryphon, a collection of texts considered non-canonical by some traditions but significant for historical and theological study. **What is the significance of 1 Maccabees in the Books of the Maccabees?** It is the first in the series of books that chronicle the Maccabean Revolt, offering a foundational historical narrative for understanding the period. ## Why It Matters 1 Maccabees is significant for its detailed historical account of the Maccabean Revolt, a pivotal period in Jewish history that shaped religious and political identity. It provides a primary source for understanding the struggle for religious freedom and the re-dedication of the Temple, commemorated in Hanukkah. As part of the deuterocanonical books, it bridges historical events with theological reflection, offering insights into the cultural and religious dynamics of the era. Its inclusion in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles underscores its role in shaping Christian understanding of Jewish history and faith. The book also contributes to the broader field of literature and religious studies, offering a narrative that resonates with themes of resistance, identity, and divine intervention. ## Notable For - Being a foundational text in the Books of the Maccabees, detailing the Maccabean Revolt. - Its canonical status in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, distinguishing it from Hebrew and Protestant canons. - Detailed historical narrative of the Maccabean period, focusing on political and military events. - Written in Hebrew, later translated into Greek, reflecting its historical and linguistic significance. - Part of the Jewish apocryphon, offering insights into non-canonical religious texts. - Providing context for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah through its account of the Temple re-dedication. - Classified as both a religious text and a literary work, highlighting its dual role in theology and literature. - Maintained through structured documentation systems, including Wikidata properties and identifiers. - Referenced in academic and theological discussions, particularly in relation to the Old Testament and deuterocanonical books. - Offering a unique perspective on the Maccabean Revolt, distinct from the more theological approach of 2 Maccabees. ## Body ### Historical and Canonical Context 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book that chronicles the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. It is part of the Books of the Maccabees, a group of ancient Hebrew texts that include 2 Maccabees and other related works. The book is accepted in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but is not part of the Hebrew Bible or Protestant canons, reflecting its status as a deuterocanonical text. It is classified as both a religious text and a literary work, emphasizing its narrative and historical significance. ### Composition and Language The book was composed around 100 BCE, shortly after the events it describes. The original text was written in Hebrew, though surviving versions are primarily in Greek. This linguistic transition reflects the broader Hellenistic context of the period and the book's role in bridging Jewish and Hellenistic cultures. The narrative focuses on the military and political efforts of Judas Maccabeus and his family to restore Jewish independence and religious freedom, distinguishing it from the more theological approach of 2 Maccabees. ### Canonical and Literary Significance As part of the deuterocanonical books, 1 Maccabees holds a unique place in the Old Testament. It is part of the Books of the Maccabees, which are classified as Jewish apocryphon. These texts are considered non-canonical by some traditions but are significant for their historical and theological insights. 1 Maccabees is also categorized as a literary work, reflecting its narrative structure and historical storytelling. It is maintained through structured documentation systems, including Wikidata properties and identifiers, and is part of the broader field of literature. ### Religious and Cultural Impact The book provides a detailed account of the Maccabean Revolt, a pivotal period in Jewish history that shaped religious and political identity. It offers insights into the struggle for religious freedom and the re-dedication of the Temple, commemorated in Hanukkah. Its inclusion in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles underscores its role in shaping Christian understanding of Jewish history and faith. The book also contributes to the broader field of literature and religious studies, offering a narrative that resonates with themes of resistance, identity, and divine intervention. ### Structured Properties and Documentation 1 Maccabees is maintained through various identifiers and properties, including: - P18: Ende 1 Makkabäer.jpg - P214: 177806129, 192733858, 308700241, 316751396, 292846481 - P227: 4037164-5 - P244: n80008473 - P268: 119707994 - P269: 027727041 - P373: 1 Maccabees - P435: 85894022-d84d-411d-94c1-ebf72360b325 - P646: /m/01tx24 - P949: 000616196 - P1375: 000521065 - P1476: 1. Buch der Makkabäer, First Book of Maccabees, ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α, מכב״י, Machabaeorum I - P1482: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/tags/1-maccabees, https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tags/1-maccabees - P2581: 00000065n - P3219: ier-livre-des-maccabees - P3788: 000058724 - P5063: i70410 - P7293: 9810684817105606 - P7775: 1_Maccabees - P8070: 563 - P8168: Q1343901 - P8179: ncf11943640 - P8189: 987007286645005171 - P8248: Q6:22227 - P8408: MaccabeesI-BookOfApocrypha - P8636: M/maccabees-the-first-book-of - P8703: 1 Maccabees - P8814: 06472446-n - P9984: 981058512572806706 - P10227: vtls001240630 - P11686: 981058512572806706 - P12596: 85091 - P14225: 981005705184509366 These identifiers and properties ensure that 1 Maccabees is accurately documented and categorized in academic and theological contexts. The book is also referenced in structured documentation systems, including Template:Infobox literary work, and is part of the broader field of literature. ### Relationship to Other Texts and Traditions 1 Maccabees is part of the Books of the Maccabees, which are classified as Jewish apocryphon. These texts are considered non-canonical by some traditions but are significant for their historical and theological insights. The book is also categorized as a literary work, reflecting its narrative structure and historical storytelling. It is maintained through structured documentation systems, including Wikidata properties and identifiers, and is part of the broader field of literature. ### Academic and Theological Relevance The book is referenced in academic and theological discussions, particularly in relation to the Old Testament and deuterocanonical books. It is part of the Jewish apocryphon, a collection of texts considered non-canonical by some traditions but significant for historical and theological study. The book also contributes to the broader field of literature and religious studies, offering a narrative that resonates with themes of resistance, identity, and divine intervention. Its inclusion in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles underscores its role in shaping Christian understanding of Jewish history and faith. ## References 1. [Source](https://evl.fi/tutki-uskoa/kirjat/raamattu/vanhan-testamentin-apokryfikirjat) 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. MusicBrainz 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. Source 6. FactGrid 7. KBpedia 8. [Source](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/abbrevhelp)