Publisher's Synopsis
The Books of 1 & 2 Maccabees, with names restored. While the canonocity of these books are disputed, no one can deny their immense historical value. For this version, we have restored the names of those involved to their original transliteration. That is, "Judas" has been restored to "Yehudah" and "Simon" to "Shimon" and so on. Names that are originally Hebrew were restored to their Hebrew pronunciation, while names that are originally Greek have been restored to their Greek pronunciation. What sets this version of 1 & 2 Maccabees apart even further, is that this version has been checked against not only the manuscripts of the Greek Septuagint, but also the manuscripts of the Syriac Aramaic Peshitta, and Codex Ambrosianus in particular. Dozens of footnotes and multiple appendices assist in giving the reader more historical and geographical information, as well as noting variations in the texts. This helps when difficult or strange readings are encountered. Many of the footnotes are dedicated to explaining the difference between how the Greek reads, vs. how the Aramaic reads. The Shem Qadosh Version of Maccabees also takes into account the Name and Titles of The Almighty, and has sought to restore them as Hebraically as possible. Thus, the Name of our Heavenly Father has not been transliterated at all, but has rather been written in the Hebrew block print letters "yod-hey-vav-hey." This was done for the sake of accuracy, as well as to avoid debates and dogmas regarding the pronunciation of the Divine Name. This gives the reader the freedom to pronounce (or not pronounce) the Name however they desire. Other titles that have changed include "God" restored to "Elohim" and "Lord" changed to the more accurate "Master." We pray this book assists the reader in study, and in granting a further understanding of the historical importance of the Maccabees, and the institution of the Festival of Dedication, or "Hanukkah" when they purified the Temple. The word "Maccabeaus" or, in Hebrew, "Maqabi" is the Hebrew word for "hammer." Thus the surname of Yehudah, Maqabi, means that he was called "Yehudah the Hammer." Hence the image of the hammer on the cover.
