Jason of Cyrene

Jason of Cyrene (Greek: Ἰάσων ὁ Κυρηναῖος) was a Hellenistic Jew who lived around 100 BC and wrote a history of the times of the Maccabees down to the victory over Nicanor (175-161 BC).[1]

Influence on the Bible

His work is said to have been in five books, originally written in Greek,[2] which formed the basis of the present 2 Maccabees.[1] See 2 Maccabees 2:19-32, especially:

“All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.”

—  2 Maccabees 2:23, KJV.

The original work is lost and known only in the epitome made by the author of 2 Maccabees. The author of 2 Maccabees has confessedly exercised much freedom. Not only was Jason's work abridged, but also added to and probably altered.[3] Five parts may still be distinguished in 2 Maccabees, possibly corresponding to the five books of Jason's work, which end respectively with verses 3:40, 7:42, 10:9, 13:26, and 15:37.[2]

References
  1. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Jason of Cyrene". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. Gigot, Francis (1913). "Jason" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Jason of Cyrene" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.

Bibliography


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