Dr. Jodi Magness

So we have the introduction and we have some ancient sources that talk about what's going on in Jerusalem. And one of them is a work called Second Maccabees, which you would find in a Catholic Bible, but not in a Hebrew or Protestant Bible. And the author of Second Maccabees says,

So we have the introduction and we have some ancient sources that talk about what's going on in Jerusalem. And one of them is a work called Second Maccabees, which you would find in a Catholic Bible, but not in a Hebrew or Protestant Bible. And the author of Second Maccabees says,

So we have the introduction and we have some ancient sources that talk about what's going on in Jerusalem. And one of them is a work called Second Maccabees, which you would find in a Catholic Bible, but not in a Hebrew or Protestant Bible. And the author of Second Maccabees says,

obviously was completely opposed to these new innovations and is scandalized, describing how, for example, the priests serving in the temple would rush to finish the sacrifices before they would run off to watch the athletic competitions. And how the finest of the young Jewish men took to wearing the Greek hat and things like that. So this marks a real turning point.

obviously was completely opposed to these new innovations and is scandalized, describing how, for example, the priests serving in the temple would rush to finish the sacrifices before they would run off to watch the athletic competitions. And how the finest of the young Jewish men took to wearing the Greek hat and things like that. So this marks a real turning point.

obviously was completely opposed to these new innovations and is scandalized, describing how, for example, the priests serving in the temple would rush to finish the sacrifices before they would run off to watch the athletic competitions. And how the finest of the young Jewish men took to wearing the Greek hat and things like that. So this marks a real turning point.

But what's interesting is that even though, let's say, the author of 2 Maccabees obviously was scandalized by this, there's no indication in our sources of any sort of real Jewish opposition. to any of this. So there's no indication that, you know, some of the families of Jerusalem rose up against Jason and, you know, anything like that. So this is really an entirely internal thing.

But what's interesting is that even though, let's say, the author of 2 Maccabees obviously was scandalized by this, there's no indication in our sources of any sort of real Jewish opposition. to any of this. So there's no indication that, you know, some of the families of Jerusalem rose up against Jason and, you know, anything like that. So this is really an entirely internal thing.

But what's interesting is that even though, let's say, the author of 2 Maccabees obviously was scandalized by this, there's no indication in our sources of any sort of real Jewish opposition. to any of this. So there's no indication that, you know, some of the families of Jerusalem rose up against Jason and, you know, anything like that. So this is really an entirely internal thing.

And it does, again, highlight the fact that, especially among the elite, or at least many of the elite, there was no problem reconciling the adoption of, let's say, in this case, Greek culture with the continuing worship of the God of Israel.

And it does, again, highlight the fact that, especially among the elite, or at least many of the elite, there was no problem reconciling the adoption of, let's say, in this case, Greek culture with the continuing worship of the God of Israel.

And it does, again, highlight the fact that, especially among the elite, or at least many of the elite, there was no problem reconciling the adoption of, let's say, in this case, Greek culture with the continuing worship of the God of Israel.

Yeah, so here's where things get a little bit complicated.

Yeah, so here's where things get a little bit complicated.

Yeah, so here's where things get a little bit complicated.

But okay, so I'll try to explain. So I should point out that, you know, I just mentioned Jason, whose Hebrew name was Yeshua, which is actually Jesus. Oh, wow. Yeah, it's actually a variant of the name Joshua, Yeshua, Joshua, Yehoshua. And so it's actually a very common name among Jewish men at the time.

But okay, so I'll try to explain. So I should point out that, you know, I just mentioned Jason, whose Hebrew name was Yeshua, which is actually Jesus. Oh, wow. Yeah, it's actually a variant of the name Joshua, Yeshua, Joshua, Yehoshua. And so it's actually a very common name among Jewish men at the time.

But okay, so I'll try to explain. So I should point out that, you know, I just mentioned Jason, whose Hebrew name was Yeshua, which is actually Jesus. Oh, wow. Yeah, it's actually a variant of the name Joshua, Yeshua, Joshua, Yehoshua. And so it's actually a very common name among Jewish men at the time.

And interestingly to notice, by the way, that this high priest adopted also a Greek name, Jason, and he's known by his Greek name. But there's a little bit of background to Jason because Jason actually was not the official high priest in Jerusalem.

And interestingly to notice, by the way, that this high priest adopted also a Greek name, Jason, and he's known by his Greek name. But there's a little bit of background to Jason because Jason actually was not the official high priest in Jerusalem.