The Four Books of the Maccabees

The setting of 1st and 2nd Maccabees is about a century and a half after the conquest of Judea by the Greeks under Alexander the Great. It tells how the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to suppress the Jewish religion, resulting in the Maccabean Revolt from 175 to 134 BCE. Originally included in the King James Bible, 1st and 2nd Maccabees is a thrilling historical account of the guerrilla warfare in which, with God's help, the Maccabean brothers, Judas, Jonathan and Simon were empowered to win extraordinary victories against vastly superior armies and restore an independent Jewish kingdom and religion. The Third Book of the Maccabees is recognised as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. It is also included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. It is considered to be apocrypha by most other church traditions. It tells the story of persecution of the Jews under Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopater (222–205 BC) whose plans to annihilate the Jews in Egypt are thwarted by God. This was some decades before the Maccabee uprising in Judea, as chronicled in 1 and 2 Maccabees.

The Fourth Book of Maccabees is a philosophical and theological treatise that explores the supremacy of reason over passion, particularly in the context of Jewish faith and martyrdom. While not part of the Hebrew Bible, it is included in some versions of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Unlike the earlier Maccabees books, which focus on historical events, this text emphasizes the strength of faith and the power of rational thought in overcoming emotional and physical suffering. It uses the story of the martyrdom of Eleazar, a Jewish scribe, and the seven Maccabean brothers, who were tortured and killed by King Antiochus IV for refusing to abandon their religious practices, as its central narrative. Through these examples, Fourth Maccabees illustrates how devout adherence to God’s law can empower believers to resist even the most extreme forms of temptation and suffering, making it a profound reflection on virtue, faith, and moral courage.

British narrator, Christopher Glyn, brings these epic stories to life with an inspired and professional reading.

© 2025 Whitestone Media (Audiobook): 9781917311328

Release date

Audiobook: 30 September 2025