Hermeneia: 2 Maccabees: A Critical Commentary (Herm)

by Robert Doran

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 2012

Overview

The second-century BC Maccabean revolt against Seleucid oppression was a watershed event in early Jewish history and 2 Maccabees is an important testimony to the revolt and its aftermath. Robert Doran’s commentary on 2 Maccabees explores the interplay between history and historiography in the document. Providing detailed philological analysis of the elegant Greek of the text, Doran carefully sifts the evidence for the historicity of the events recounted, while giving full attention to the literary and rhetorical qualities that mark this dramatic narrative.

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Key Features

• Includes a number of valuable insights
• Presents a detailed and authoritative interpretation
• Provides a fantastic commentary for students, teachers, scholars, and professors

Contents

Top Highlights

“If the genitive is objective, these are deposits on behalf of widows and orphans that the temple authorities can dispense when needed. If the genitive is subjective, that is, widows and orphans deposit the money, this could be either a rhetorical ploy to suggest how heinous taking the money would be and that it will be avenged (Exod 22:22–24; Deut 10:18; Ps 68:5) or evidence of widows inheriting their husband’s wealth as, for example, had Judith, who had been left gold and silver, male and female slaves, livestock, and fields (Jdt 8:7; Sir 22:4).³¹ Job 24:3 presupposes that an orphan could own a donkey, and a widow an ox.” (Page 82)

“The first part of the high priest’s answer is that part of the money in the temple consists of deposits of widows and orphans—money was placed in a temple for safekeeping. For Heliodorus to abscond with such a temple deposit would be a serious affront to Jewish tradition (Philo Spec. leg. 4.30–32; Josephus Ant. 4.285).²⁸ Since widows and orphans are frequently portrayed as the neediest in society²⁹ and most in need of protection,³⁰ it is surprising that they have deposits in the temple large enough to be noticed.” (Page 82)

“The author is not concerned to go into details about the origins of the strife, and so one has only the cryptic reference to Simon’s position and to the debate. That the strife was fierce is shown by the language of v. 5–Simon could not prevail, literally ‘conquer’—and the quarrels noted in 4:3. The term for ‘administrator’ (προστάτης) is a general term for someone in charge of some work or group.” (Page 79)

Product Details

• Title: 2 Maccabees: A Critical Commentary
• Author: Robert Doran
• Series: Hermeneia
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Print Publication Date: 2012
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 388
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. 2 Maccabees › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:HRMNEIA2MA
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:01:09Z

About Robert Doran

Robert Doran is Samuel Williston Professor of Greek and Hebrew at Amherst College. Born in Australia, he holds advanced degrees from Harvard Divinity School, The Pontifical Biblical Institute, and the Angelicum in Rome. His professional specialties are works from Late Second Temple Judaism, particularly those written in Greek, and Christian holy men and women in Late Antiquity.