the Macabees have to take from non-canonical texts for their version of Hanukah, they also have to be very selective in their use of apocryphal texts because the general thrust of these texts is consistent with the downplaying of the use of force in the Talmudic account. Macabees II and IV attribute the victory to substitutionary atonement of Israel's sins through the martrydom of Hannah and her sons. It is implicit in the retelling of Macabees II (compare the events in I and II and you will see how the significance of the martyrdom is enhanced in II) and very explicit in Macabees IV. Shalom Rav -- The Book! Welcome My posts on "Shalom Rav" explore the intersection between Judaism and social justice, with a particular emphasis on Israel/Palestine. Please check in regularly and feel free to share your comments. I'm the Rabbi of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, IL. The opinions I share here, however, are mine alone. They don't reflect the positions of my congregation or any other organization with which I am affiliated. Subscribe to Shalom Rav! Enter your email address below to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.