Is 1 Maccabees in the King James Bible?
Yes — it was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 KJV. Most modern KJV editions omit the Apocrypha, but full 1611-style editions still contain it.
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1 Maccabees — Free PDF Study Guide
A clear, scholarly introduction to 1 Maccabees — the sober sixteen-chapter Jewish history of the Maccabean revolt (167–134 BC), the priestly Hasmonean family's war against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes after he desecrated the Jerusalem temple, and the origin of Hanukkah. This free guide walks through its narrative, its key figures, and its essential place in the 'silent years' between the Testaments.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The full 1611 KJV text of 1 Maccabees is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
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- Mattathias, Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan, Simon — the four Hasmonean leaders
- The desecration and cleansing of the temple — origin of Hanukkah
- How 1 Maccabees lights up the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herods
- Daniel 11 from the other side — prophecy and history side by side
- Five passages every reader should know
What you get
Mattathias, Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan, Simon — the four Hasmonean leaders
The desecration and cleansing of the temple — origin of Hanukkah
How 1 Maccabees lights up the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herods
Daniel 11 from the other side — prophecy and history side by side
Five passages every reader should know
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What is 1 Maccabees?
1 Maccabees is a sober sixteen-chapter Jewish history of the Maccabean revolt (167–134 BC) — the priestly Hasmonean family's war against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes after he desecrated the Jerusalem temple. It was written in Hebrew around 100 BC and preserved in Greek in the Septuagint. The book is the primary historical source for the events behind Hanukkah and is written in the style of the Old Testament historical books of Samuel and Kings.
Is 1 Maccabees in the King James Bible?
1 Maccabees was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 King James Bible, alongside its companion 2 Maccabees. It is canonical Scripture for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. The Hebrew Bible does not include it, and Protestants follow the Hebrew canon — though the Westminster Confession explicitly permits its use as historical literature.
Why this book matters for Bible readers today
1 Maccabees is the only contemporary, sober historical narrative covering the four hundred 'silent' years between the Old and New Testaments. Without it the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herods, Zealots, and Jewish nationalism of the gospels is almost incomprehensible. John 10:22 ('And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication') refers directly to Hanukkah, the festival that 1 Maccabees 4:36–59 records being established. Daniel 11 prophesies the same events from the other direction, making the two books indispensable companions.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 Maccabees historically reliable?
Yes — historians generally regard 1 Maccabees as a careful and sober source, written within living memory of the events it describes.
What is Hanukkah?
The eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Jerusalem temple in 164 BC, as recorded in 1 Maccabees 4:36–59. Jesus himself attends the festival in John 10:22.
Who was Antiochus Epiphanes?
Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the Seleucid Greek king (175–164 BC) who outlawed Jewish religion, desecrated the Jerusalem temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar, and triggered the Maccabean revolt. He is the 'little horn' of Daniel 8 and 11.
Who were the Maccabees?
The Maccabees were the priestly family of Mattathias and his five sons (Judas, Jonathan, Simon, John, and Eleazar) who led the revolt and founded the Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea until the Roman conquest.
Why isn't 1 Maccabees in the Protestant Old Testament?
The Hebrew canon was effectively closed before 1 Maccabees was composed, and the Reformers chose to follow the Hebrew canon rather than the longer Greek Septuagint.
Where can I read the full text of 1 Maccabees?
The complete 1611 KJV translation of 1 Maccabees is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
Can I share this study guide?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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