NT Characters: The Mother & The 7 Brothers

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/2macc77/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Hebrews 11:35</strong></p><ul><li>The "Hall of Fame of Faith" of Hebrews 11 mentions a number of men and women by name, yet many persons are only alluded to (Hebrews 11:32-38). Some are known from Bible, others from extrabiblical sources.<ul><li>The courageous martyr who was sawn in two was Isaiah, who traditionally was executed by Manasseh (Martyrdom of Isaiah 1:10, 5:1; also recorded in the Talmud).</li><li>Probably the best known, and most colorful, instance the Hebrew writer refers to is found in verse 35.</li></ul></li><li>Hebrews 11:35 refers to 2 Maccabees 7, the moving story of a family of 8 who take their stand on the God of Israel, refusing to be released so that they might "attain a better resurrection."</li><li>The story has been a constant source of inspiration for devout Jews ever since the second century BC.</li></ul><p><strong>The context</strong></p><ul><li>2nd century BC</li><li>Antiochus Epiphanes IV (foretold in Daniel 11) insists on divine honors. He has no sensitivity to or tolerance for Judaism.</li><li>Heavy pressure to conform to pagan (Greek) society<ul><li>Greek language, fashion, sports, culture, idolatry.</li><li>Prohibition of circumcision.</li><li>Violation of Sabbath and kosher laws.</li></ul></li><li>Some Jews refused, and this led to a revolution, the Maccabean revolt.<ul><li>Judas the Hammer (Judas Maccabee) leads the revolt. The revolution was successful, and for the period of about a century the Jews enjoyed political autonomy.</li><li>The Seleucids and Ptolemies, heirs to the fractured kingdom of Alexander the Great, could not hold on to Judea. The Jewish Hasmonean dynasty now sits on the throne.</li><li>This comes to and end when the Romans, who were eclipsing the Greeks from the 2nd to 1st centuries BC, seize control of the region in 63 BC. They rule Jerusalem until 614 AD (when it is captured by the Persians). The Muslims seize Jerusalem in 6