The documents in the first book of the Maccabees and the foreign policy of the Maccabees

Abstract

This thesis is a re-examination of the documents in 1 Maccabees, which have been the subject of much previous comment. Section 1 is a survey of previous work followed by a discussion of methods. Section 2 deals with the historic background and Section 3 contains detailed commentaries on the texts of the documents. The conclusion is arrived at that, except for the letter of Jonathan to the Spartans, the documents are genuine, and that, when allowance is made for Hebraisms they conform to the pattern of Hellenistic documents. The Seleucid documents provide valuable information on the status of Judaea under Seleucid rule and the issues in the conflict between the Maccabees and the Seleucids. The Roman letters are shown to be designed partly to support the Maccabees1 aspirations for independence, partly to consolidate their rule among the Jewish communities of the Diaspora. The Spartan letter is of minor importance. The decree in honour of Simon illustrates the nature of the new Maccabean High Priesthood. Taken together, the letters serve as a valuable guide to the policy, especially the foreign policy of the Maccabees.