2 Maccabees is, according to Catholics and Orthodox Christians, a book of the Bible that succeeds the events of 1 Maccabees and focuses on the Jews' revolt against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and on the Syrian general Nicanor’s defeat by Judas Maccabeus; Protestant Christians and Jews, however, do not recognize 2 Maccabees, along with other works, to be part of the Judeo-Christian Bible, but still regard it as an integral text within Christianity and Judaism. 2 Maccabees can be divided into three sections: chapters 1-3, chapters 4-7, and chapters 8-15, based on its content. Chapters 1-3 serve as a preface to chapters 4-15, which, as a whole, are the body of the work (Coogan, Zvi, Brettler, Newsom, & Pheme). Chapters 1-2 are “Palestinian letters…show more content… In chapter 3, the governor Apollonius sent his official, Heliodorus to expropriate the wealth of the Temple, but the people essentially ran him out. For example, he was attacked by a horse and even flogged by two men until he had to be carried out on a stretcher. In chapter 4, the high priest Onias is murdered. The office of priesthood went to the highest bidder, which shows that the priests were corrupt. According to the author, this sinful neglect of true Judaism was brought about by the introduction of Hellenized institutions into Jerusalem. In response, God “disregarded” Jerusalem by allowing bad things to happen, such as Antiochus’ decrees against Judaism, which led to the martyrdom of those who refused to obey in chapters 6-7. Also, the gold vessels of the Temple were stolen. In…show more content… In chapter 6, Antiochus attempts to force new rituals upon the Jews. Chapter 7 presents the story of an old man named Eleazar, seven brothers, and their mother who each underwent gruesome tortures and even death for the sake of their faith. In chapter 8, Judas begins a revolt and defeats the Seleucid general Nicanor. Chapter 8 also marks a shift in the book because God’s anger changes to mercy, and things seem to go uphill for the Jews: Judas wins battle after battle, Antiochus dies, Judas retakes Jerusalem and restores proper worship in the temple, further victories bring about the repeal of Antiochus’ decrees against Judaism, and the Seleucid army, and thus Nicanor, is finally and decisively defeated. In chapter 9, Antiochus retreats and falls ill, then writes a letter to the Jews promising them certain rights. He eventually dies around the same time as the rededication of the temple. In chapter 10, the Temple is rededicated and Antiochus V Euapator ascends to throne. The Jews also fight the Idumeans and Timothy. In chapter 11, the Jews fight against Beth-zur. Additionally, there are a series of four letters written in this chapter: Lysis writes a letter to the Jews, the Romans write a letter to the Jews, and Antiochus writes a letter to the Jews