3 Maccabees

Basic Information

• Despite title, not about Maccabees/Hasmoneans
• Canonical for Eastern Orthodox, but not for western church
deuterocanonical, i.e., on lower level
• Set under Ptolemy IV (222-204 BCE)
• but uses legend associated with Ptolemy VII (145-117 BCE)
• [see Josephus Against Apion 2:53-56]

Structure

Beginning of work apparently missing.

1. Chapters 1-2 : Punishment in Egypt for Jerusalem "affront"
   • 1:1-7 : Battle of Raphia [Ptolemy IV Philopator vs Antiochus III the Great]
   • 1:8 - 2:24 : Ptolemey's visit to Jerusalem
   • 2:25-33 : Division among Egyptian Jews at Ptolemy's demands
2. Chapters 3-7 : Punishment taken away by God's action
   • 3 - 5 : Conspiracy of lies leads to imminent disaster for Egyptian Jewish community
   • 6 - 7 : Rescue from elephants through prayer - and vindication of Jews

Similarities

2 Maccabees

• 3 Macc 2 variant tradition of 2 Macc 3
  • also similar historical syle to 2 Macc
  • but note that Heliodorus was convinced by the miracle (2 macc 3:9-39), whereas Ptolemy after this episode still unrepentant (3 Macc 2:24)

Letter of Aristeas

The Letter of Aristeas is best known among Christian students as the work recounting the translation of the Septuagint, sponsored by Ptolemy II (283-247 BCE). Its main theme, however, is the compatibility of Judaism with Greek culture (without denial of Torah).

3 Maccabees shares with Letter of Aristeas the dual setting in Palestine and Egypt during Ptolemaic rule. Both deal with relationship between Jews and gentiles, with 3 Macc emphasizing the differences, but Aristeas emphasizing commonalities.

genre of tales of persecution and exaltation

• Dan 1-6 and Esther
  • close verbal parallels between 6:23-28; 7:2; 3:18; 5:20 with (Greek) Esther 16:3-6, 10-16 (with priority possibly to 3 Macc)
  • King who opposed God now proclaims him -- as in Daniel stories
  • Governmental authorization for Jews to execute a certain class of opponents -- as in Esther

notes

ptolemy IV philopator (221-204 bce)

cause of persecution
	1: ptolemy's punishment for their failure to apostasize  [2:32-3:1]
	2: conspiracy against jews by other unnamed people [3:2-7]

pseudo-aristeas' glowing portrait of ptolemy II

contra apion: ptolemy VIII (euergetes ii, 145-117 bce) physcon

dositheus - not mentioned by polybius
	role reminiscent of esth 2:21-23

collins: dependence on greek esther and daniel

combination of persecution of egyptian jews and threat to jewish temple
	parallels reign of caligula (37-41 ce) - cf philo embassy
		to gaius

note that alexandrians hostile, but greeks sympathetic

three threats
	1:1-2:24
	2:25-4:21  [failed registration - center of concentric reading]
	5:1-7:23

Comments to: gto@nashotah.edu

This page last modified 14 April 2001.