Book of Maccabees

The Book of Maccabees refers to a collection of texts that recount the history of the Maccabean Revolt (circa 167-160 BCE), where a Jewish group led by the Maccabee family fought against Seleucid Empire control and the imposition of Hellenistic culture. The most notable texts, First and Second Maccabees, detail the struggle for religious freedom, the rededication of the Second Temple, and the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty. These books are significant in Jewish history and are included in the deuterocanonical books of the Bible, valued for their historical and religious insights.