Biblical Chronology of the Machabees R. J. M. I. By The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, The Grace of the God of the Holy Catholic Church, The Mediation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel and Crusher of Heretics, The Protection of Saint Joseph, Patriarch of the Holy Family, The Intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel and the cooperation of Richard Joseph Michael Ibranyi To Jesus through Mary Júdica me, Deus, et discérne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab hómine iníquo, et dolóso érue me Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 2 ―There came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king‘s commandment. And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar. Moreover, the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time and pulled down the altar and shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi. And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.‖ (1 Machabees 2:23-27) Original version: 4/2011; Current version: 4/2011 Mary’s Little Remnant 302 East Joffre St. TorC, NM 87901-2878 Website: www.JohnTheBaptist.us (Send for a free catalog) 3 4 CHARTS AND TABLES Table: Seleucid Rulers ................................................................................................................................ 12 Chart: Comparison of Hebrew Sacred, Hebrew Civil, and Gregorian Years ............................................... 15 Table: Macedonian, Hebrew, and Gregorian Months ............................................................................... 15 Table: Machabean Rulers Mentioned in the Bible ..................................................................................... 18 Chart: All of the Machabean Rulers ........................................................................................................... 19 Table: Biblical Chronology of the Books of Machabees ............................................................................. 84 5 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ..........................................................................................................................................11 GENERAL NOTES..........................................................................................................................................11 Biblical account of the Machabees is the only infallible source .............................................................. 11 Josephus and Eusebius were off by several years regarding death of Judas Machabeus .................................. 11 The Seleucid Era ...................................................................................................................................... 11 The Seleucid Era began in October 312 BC when Seleucus I Nicator won the Battle of Gaza and ruled over Babylon .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 The Seleucid Line ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Table: Seleucid Rulers ................................................................................................................................ 12 How to calculate the BC years for the Seleucid Era ............................................................................................ 12 The First Book of Machabees dates the Seleucid Era by the Hebrew sacred calendar ...................................... 12 (1 SE – Nisan 1, 311 BC) Post-dating method with Nisan 1 as the New Year ............................................... 12 The Second Book of Machabees dates the Seleucid Era by the Hebrew civil calendar ...................................... 13 (1 SE – Tishri 1, 311 BC) Post-dating method with Hyperberetaios 1 (Tishri 1) as the New Year................. 13 Apparent contradiction when two dates for same event conflict ...................................................................... 13 The First Event (149 SE-n/148 SE-t) – The death of Antiochus Epiphanes ................................................... 14 Chart: Comparison of Hebrew Sacred, Hebrew Civil, and Gregorian Years ............................................... 15 Table: Macedonian, Hebrew, and Gregorian Months ............................................................................... 15 The Second Event (150 SE-n/149 SE-t) – Judas besieges castle; Eupator prepares for war ......................... 16 The Third Event (151 SE-n/150 SE-t) – Demetrius makes Alcimus high priest ............................................. 17 The Fourth Event (170 SE-n/169 SE-t) – Simon makes pact with Demetrius II ............................................ 17 Machabean or Asmonean Era ................................................................................................................ 18 Table: Machabean Rulers Mentioned in the Bible ..................................................................................... 18 Chart: All of the Machabean Rulers ........................................................................................................... 19 Beginning of Herod the Great’s reign and the end of Machabean Line ............................................................. 19 rd Epiphanius of Salamis places the 33 year of Herod in 2 BC ....................................................................... 21 Lysias’ second battle and loss against Judas is recorded in 2 Machabees 11 but not in 1 Machabees .. 22 Machabees’ Bible verses that are out of chronological order ................................................................ 23 (2 Mac. 10:10-38) follows (2 Mac. 11) and goes with (2 Mac. 12) ..................................................................... 23 (2 Mac. 9) follows (2 Mac. 10:1-8) and (1 Mac. 5) follows (1 Mac. 6) ................................................................ 23 Judas rededicates the Temple and Antiochus Epiphanes dies about three months later ........................... 23 BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE MACHABEES ..........................................................................................24 Pre-Machabean period ........................................................................................................................... 24 (2 Mac. 2:1-7) Jeremias hides the sacred fire and the Ark ................................................................................. 24 (2 Mac. 1:18-36) Nehemias finds the sacred fire ............................................................................................... 24 (2 Mac. 3) The holy High Priest Onias confronts Heliodorus sent by King Seleucus ........................................... 25 (2 Mac. 4:1-6) Onias goes to King Seleucus IV Philopator to counteract Simon the betrayer ............................ 26 (1 Mac. 1:11) (2 Mac. 4:7) K/SE - Seleucus dies and Antiochus IV Epiphanes comes to power in 137 SE-n [175- 174 BC] ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 (2 Mac. 4:7, 10) Antiochus IV Epiphanes gives high priesthood to Jason, brother of Onias .............................. 27 (1 Mac. 1:12-16) (2 Mac. 4:7-16) Antiochus Epiphanes allows Jason to bring in heathen ways among the Jews in 173 BC ............................................................................................................................................................ 27 (2 Mac. 4:23-28) Y - Antiochus Epiphanes makes Menelaus high priest and Jason flees in 170 BC ................... 28 (2 Mac. 4:29) Antiochus Epiphanes makes Lysimachus high priest .................................................................... 28 (2 Mac. 4:32-35) Menelaus murders Onias ........................................................................................................ 28 (2 Mac. 4:47-50) Menelaus made high priest again ........................................................................................... 28 (1 Mac. 1:17-22) (2 Mac. 5:1-10) SE - Antiochus takes kingdom of Egypt in 143 SE-n [169-168 BC], ominous signs in Jerusalem, and Jason is killed ................................................................................................................ 29 (1 Mac. 1:22-29) (2 Mac. 5:11-23) Antiochus Epiphanes takes Jerusalem, slaughters Jews, and robs the Temple on way home from Egypt ................................................................................................................................... 29 (1 Mac. 1:30-67) (2 Mac. 6:1-8) SE/Y - Antiochus Epiphanes orders slaughter of Jews; desecration of the Temple on Casleu 25, 145 SE-n in December 167 BC; and the outlawing of Judaism ........................................ 30 (2 Mac. 6:9-31; 7:1-42) Persecution and martyrdom of good Jews ................................................................... 32 7 Women who circumcised infants were murdered ....................................................................................... 32 The holy Eleazar was tortured and killed for not eating swine flesh offered to idols .................................. 32 The mother