Apocrypha: 3 Maccabees

by Anonymous

"The book of the 3 Maccabees is found in most Orthodox Bibles as a part of the Anagignoskomena, while Protestants and Catholics consider it non-canonical, except the Moravian Brethren who included it in the Apocrypha of the Czech Kralicka Bible. It is also included in the Armenian Bible.

The book actually has nothing to do with the Maccabees or their revolt against the Seleucid Empire, as described in 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. Instead it tells the story of persecution of the Jews under Ptolemy IV Philopator (222–205 BC), some decades before the Maccabee uprising. The name of the book apparently comes from the similarities between this book and the stories of the martyrdom of Eleazar and the Maccabeean youths in 2 Maccabees; the High Priest Shimon is also mentioned."

Wikipedia

Genres: Religion

Unknown Binding

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se llama macabeos pero no tiene relación con los macabeos, es un relato histórico bastante rocambolesco pero entretenido e interesante, narra un intento de masacre tras fallar en la entrada del Sanctasanctórum de Ptolomeo IV contra los judíos. Interesante el hecho que las iglesias ortodoxas actuales lo consideren como canon.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, yet fascinating, this book is about whimsy and pride of Ptolemy Philopater. There is no mention of the Maccabees.
I was surprised by Ch2 v29 that the Jews were required to register with the Alexandrian greeks and "marked on their person by the ivy leaf symbol of Dionysus..."

[Parker Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little story about the supernatural rescue from execution of some Jews in Ptolemaic Egypt.

[Carolyn Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. Worthwhile reading.