CHAPTER VII

THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 411

I. Title and Authorship of the Book 411

II. The Date of the Book 413

III. The Original Language and Literary Character of the Book 414

IV. The Sources of the Book 415

V. The History of the Maccabæan Struggle 423

(_a_) The Conquests of Alexander the Great, and the division of his Empire 424

(_b_) The original cause of the struggle; the leadership of Mattathias 424

(_c_) The leadership of Judas Maccabæus; religious liberty secured 427

(_d_) The leadership of Jonathan; the establishment of the Hasmonæan high-priesthood 431

(_e_) The leadership of Simon 436