The Maccabees
The Books of the Maccabees fall in the intertestamental period, between the Old and New Testaments, roughly 167–63 BCE, about 160–200 years before Jesus was born.
Timeline Placement
167 BCE – Maccabean Revolt Begins
- The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrates the Jewish Temple, banning Torah observance and forcing idol worship.
- The Jewish priest Mattathias and his sons (the Maccabees) lead a rebellion.
164 BCE – The Temple Is Rededicated (Hanukkah)
- Judas Maccabeus and his forces defeat the Seleucids and cleanse the Temple.
- This event leads to the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which Jesus later acknowledges in John 10:22-23.
140 BCE – The Hasmonean Dynasty Established
- The Maccabees’ descendants rule Israel as priest-kings, restoring Jewish independence.
63 BCE – Rome Conquers Judea
- The Hasmonean kingdom weakens due to internal conflicts.
- The Roman general Pompey invades Jerusalem, beginning Roman rule.
- This sets the stage for Herod the Great (a Roman-appointed king) to rule when Jesus is born.
4 BCE – Jesus Is Born
- By the time of Jesus, Rome controls Judea, and the Maccabean legacy remains in Jewish expectations of a Messiah who would overthrow foreign oppressors.
the Books of Maccabees discuss major religious and cultural changes that shaped the Jewish world Jesus later spoke about. The Maccabean period introduced Hellenization, religious legalism, and conflicts over the true faith, which directly influenced Pharisees, Sadducees, and Jewish expectations of the Messiah.
Maccabees
The Books of the Maccabees are important to the lineage of Abraham and Judah because they preserve the covenant, defend the faith, and shape Messianic prophecy. The Maccabean revolt ensured that Abraham’s descendants—especially those from the tribe of Judah—could continue their divine mission, leading to the fulfillment of the Messiah in Jesus Christ.
1. Protecting the Covenant of Abraham
🔹 Abraham’s covenant (Genesis 17:7-9) established his descendants as God’s chosen people with the responsibility to keep His commandments.
🔹 The Seleucid Greeks tried to destroy this covenant by forcing Jews to abandon the Torah and adopt Greek customs (1 Maccabees 1:41-49).
🔹 The Maccabees fought to restore the law, circumcision, and Temple worship, ensuring that Abraham’s lineage remained faithful.
➡️ Without the Maccabees, Abraham’s covenant could have been erased by Hellenization.
2. Defending the Royal Line of Judah
🔹 God promised kingship to the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).
🔹 The Greeks appointed corrupt high priests and rulers, threatening Judah’s rightful leadership (2 Maccabees 4:7-16).
🔹 The Maccabees overthrew foreign rule, restoring Jewish self-governance under the Hasmonean dynasty, a priestly family with royal authority.
➡️ Their resistance preserved Jewish identity and paved the way for the true King—Jesus, from the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
3. Preserving the Temple for the Coming of the Messiah
🔹 The Temple in Jerusalem was central to Jewish worship and prophecy.
🔹 Antiochus IV defiled the Temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar (1 Maccabees 1:54).
🔹 The Maccabees purified and rededicated the Temple, leading to the festival of Hanukkah (1 Maccabees 4:36-59).
➡️ Without this restoration, the Temple would not have been standing for Jesus to later cleanse (Matthew 21:12-13) and fulfill prophecy (John 2:19-21).
4. Foreshadowing the End-Times Struggle for Abraham’s Descendants
🔹 The war between the Maccabees and Antiochus IV foreshadows the future battle between the righteous and the Antichrist.
🔹 Jesus referred to the Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15), an event first described in Maccabees and expected to happen again before His return (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
➡️ The descendants of Abraham and Judah will face persecution again, just as in Maccabees, but the faithful will endure.
