1 Machabees — Book front (modern spelling)

The shared proemial preface for both Bookes of Machabees, from the 1610 Second Tome (printed pages 889–891). Orthography modernized; vocabulary, -eth forms, word-order and British -our kept; Latinate proper names kept (Ierom→Jerome, Iewes→Jews, Iudas→Judas, Iohn→John, Iason→Jason). It shows why they are called Machabees, who wrote them, the four books (two canonical, two not), the canonicity affirmed by the Councils of Carthage, Florence and Trent and by the Fathers, the contents of the two books, and an order how to read them.

THE BOOKES OF MACHABEES

THE BOOKS OF MACHABEES PERTAINING TO THE HISTORICAL PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

The argument of the books of Machabees, with other proemial Annotations.

BEFORE we declare the contents, the reader perhaps will require to know, why they are called the Books of MACHABEES: how many they be; who wrote them; in what language; and especially whether all, or any, or which of them are Canonical Scripture? For satisfaction of all which demands, distinguishing between certain and uncertain, we shall briefly show that which seemeth more probable in the doubtful points; and the assured certainty of that which is decided by the Catholic Church of Christ. Concerning therefore the name and inscription. S. Jerome, very probably supposeth that these Books have their title of Judas MACHABEUS; the narration of whose heroical virtues, and noble Acts occupieth the greatest part of this whole history. And this surname Machabeus signifying valiant of strength (or by an usual Hebrew contraction, Mobi, more explicated, Milchamach Coach bihuda, that is, Force of battle, or Strength in Juda) was given him by his father Mathathias, when before his death disposing of his sons and exhorting them, he said to them all: You my sons take courage, and do manfully in the law, because in it you shall be glorious. And behold Simon your brother I know that he is a man of counsel: hear ye him always, and he shall be father to you. Next he addeth: And Judas Machabeus, valiant of strength from his youth, let him be to you the prince of warfare, and he shall manage the battle of the people. And from him this name was also ascribed to his brethren, and to all the rest that joined with them either in the holy wars, or otherwise showed their valour, professing God's law in spiritual combat even to death. As Nicetas writeth in Orat. 22. S. Greg. Nazian. Whereupon old Eleazarus and the seven young brethren, with their mother are also called Machabees.

There be in all, four books called Machabees. The first S. Jerome found in Hebrew, the second in Greek, as he testifieth Epist. 106. The third is also extant in Greek, and Latin in Bibliis Complutensibus. The fourth seemeth to be that which is mentioned in the end of the first book. And either the same, or another under that title, is also extant in Greek, as testifieth Sixtus Senensis, li. 1. Bibliothece. Who wrote them is more uncertain: but most probable every one had a divers author. Neither are the two last approved for Canonical by any authentical authority.

It resteth therefore to speak of the two first, which the Jews and Protestants deny, because they are not in the Hebrew Canon. The Protestants further alleging that they are not in the former Canon of the Church, before S. Jerome's time. Moreover objecting certain places of these books, which they say, are contrary to sound doctrine, and to the truth of other authentical histories; or contradictory in themselves. None of which things can proceed from the Holy Ghost, the principal author of all Divine Scriptures. All which texts we shall more conveniently explicate, according to their true sense, in *their proper places. As for the exception, that these books are not in the Canon of the Jews, it is answered already (Præf. Tobiæ.) that the Canon of the Christian Catholic Church is of sovereign authority, though the Jews' Canon have them not. Finally whereas these books were not canonized in the former General Councils, it sufficeth that they are since declared to be Canonical, and Divine Scripture, as some other parts have likewise been, which English Protestants do not deny. As the Epistle of S. James, the second of S. Peter, the second and third of S. John, and S. Jude's epistle: of all which Eusebius, and S. Jerome testify, that some learned Fathers doubted sometimes, whether they were Apostolical or no. But afterwards the same, with these two books of Machabees, and others were expressly declared to be Divine Scripture, by the third Council of Carthage, can. 47. By the Council of seventy Bishops under Gelasius, though by the name of one book, as also Esdras and Nehemias as but one book. Lastly by the Councils of Florence, and Trent.

If any further require the judgement of more ancient Fathers, divers do allege these books as Divine Scriptures. S. Dionyse, c. 1. celest. Hierar. S. Clemens Alexan. li. 1. Stromat. S. Cyprian li. 1. Epist. ep. 3. ad Cornelium. li. 4. ep. 1. & de exhort. ad Martyrium. c. 11. Isidorus li. 16. c. 1. Etym. S. Gregory Nazianzen hath a whole Oration of the seven Machabees Martyrs, and their mother. S. Ambrose li. 1. c. 41. Offic. But to omit others, albeit S. Jerome urged not these books against the Jews, yet he much esteemed them, as appeareth in his commentaries upon Daniel. c. 1. 11. & 12. S. Augustine most clearly avoucheth li. 2. c. 8. de doct. christ. & li. 18. c. 36. de civit. that notwithstanding the Jews deny these books, the Church holdeth them Canonical. And whereas one Gaudentius an heretic alleged for defence of his heresy the example of Razias, who slew himself. 2. Mac. 14. S. Augustine denieth not the authority of the book, but discusseth the fact, and admonisheth that it is not unprofitably received by the Church; si sobrie legatur, vel audiatur: if it be read, or heard soberly. Which was a necessary admonition to these Donatists: who not understanding the holy Scriptures, depraved them (as S. Peter speaketh of like heretics, ep. 2. c. 3.) to their own perdition.

Now touching the contents, a great part of the same history, which is written in the former book, is repeated in the second, with such variety of some things added, some omitted, as in the books of Kings and Paralipomenon: and as the Gospel is written by the four Evangelists. Joining therefore these two books together, the Concordance thereof containeth four principal parts. The Preface; the History: an Appendix, and the Conclusion. But the three former parts are very extraordinarily disposed. For the writer of the second book (who doubtless was a distinct person from him that wrote the former) first of all added an Appendix to the history (written before) making mention of two Epistles, and reciting the sum of one of them, in the first chapter and part of the second, as though he meant to have wrote no more of the same matter. But then, as it may seem upon new resolution, intending to abridge the historical books of Jason, maketh a preface to his work, in the rest of that second chapter. And so prosecuteth his purpose: and finally maketh a brief conclusion in the three last verses of the same second book. The main history containeth two special parts. The first showeth the state of God's peculiar people, the Jewish nation, from the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy, parted after the death of Alexander amongst his followers: of which some did exceedingly persecute the Jews, by divers both subtle and cruel means, to the ruin of many, and even to death and martyrdom of some most constant observers of God's Laws, and true Religion, till the wars of the Machabees, in the first chapter of the first book, and in the 3. 4. 5. 6. and 7. chapters of the second book. In the other fifteen chapters of the former book, and other eight of the second, are described the battles, victories, and triumphs of the valiant Machabees. Of which holy wars Mathathias was the beginner and first captain: Judas the second: the third Jonathas: and Simon the fourth: after whose death his son John Hyrcanus succeeded Duke and High priest.

But because these books are intermixed the one with the other, whosoever please to read them in order of the history, may follow the direction of the Alphabet letters, set in the inner margin, beginning with A. at the twentieth verse of the second chapter of the second book, to the end of the same chapter. Thence proceed as the sign of a star directeth to the next letter B. which is at the beginning of the first book, the first chapter first verse. And so in the rest. And when the capital letters are ended, the smaller will direct you.

Marginal topic-labels and Scripture-references (anchored to the body, both margins; topic-glosses and citation-keys as printed):

⟦right-margin topic-label (at BEFORE we declare the contents)⟧ Proemial questions touching these books.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at Concerning therefore the name and inscription)⟧ They are called Machabees of Judas Machabeus. Judas had this surname for his strength and valour.

⟦left-margin reference (at You my sons take courage, and do manfully in the law)⟧ li. 1. c. 2. v. 64. 65. & 66.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at And from him this name was also ascribed to his brethren)⟧ Others also called Machabees.

⟦left-margin reference (at old Eleazarus and the seven young brethren, with their mother)⟧ li. 2. c. 6. & 7.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at There be in all, four books called Machabees)⟧ There be four books.

⟦left-margin topic-label (at Who wrote them is more uncertain)⟧ Written by uncertain authors. The two last are not Canonical.

⟦left-margin topic-label (at It resteth therefore to speak of the two first)⟧ Jews & Protestants deny also these two first. Their arguments.

⟦left-margin topic-label (at As for the exception, that these books are not in the Canon)⟧ Answers.

⟦right-margin reference (at *we shall more conveniently explicate … in their proper places)⟧ li. 1. c. 1. v. 1. 7. 11. & 57. ch. 4. v. 52. ch. 6. v. 16. ch. 8. v. 16. li. 2 ch. 1. v. 19. ch. 2. v. 25. ch. 12 v. 43. ch. 14. v. 41. ch. 15. v. 39.

⟦right-margin reference (at of all which Eusebius, and S. Jerome testify)⟧ Euseb. li. 3 c. 25. hist. S. Jerome de viris illustrib.

⟦left-margin topic-label (at declared to be Divine Scripture, by the third Council of Carthage)⟧ Approved by Councils.

⟦left-margin topic-label (at If any further require the judgement of more ancient Fathers)⟧ And by Ancient Fathers.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at Now touching the contents, a great part of the same history)⟧ The same contents of both the books.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at the Concordance thereof containeth four principal parts)⟧ Four principal parts.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at But the three former parts are very extraordinarily disposed)⟧ The occasion of so extraordinary disposition.

⟦left-margin reference (at intending to abridge the historical books of Jason)⟧ li. 2. c. 2. v. 14.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at The main history containeth two special parts)⟧ The history containeth two parts.

⟦right-margin topic-label (at But because these books are intermixed the one with the other)⟧ An order how to read these books.