3 replies to this topic

[torah613]

Being that's it's Chanukah time, I wanted to know, is one allowed to read the Book of Macabees (1 and 2)? It's not part of Tanach, but it has the history of Chanukah - was it written by Jews and is it kosher to read? Also, what about "megilas Antiyochus" - I saw it in the Birnbaum siddur - who wrote it and it it ok?

[taon]

Artcroll Chanuka talks about each, Antiochus and the first volume or more of Macabbees were written by religious Jews. Though sour copies of Macabee have probably been distorted by Christian translators as per ususal. If I recall correctly, the Macabbees may have been written by descendants of the Chashmonaim, or someone who lived near that time. The Geonim held megillas antiochus was by Hillel and Shammai (or their talmidim, I dont recall which).

[Menorah]

So are the versions of the Macabbees extant today all corrupted or do we have a faithful version of it?

[Rabbi Shapiro]

The books of Macabees are not reliable. See my post of 7:55 PM today here.