Stelae, Elephants, and Irony: The Battle of Raphia and Its Import as Historical Context for 3 Maccabees

in Journal for the Study of Judaism
Author: Patrick J. O’Kernick 1
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1 Marquette University, Milwaukee, wi, USA
Online Publication Date:
12 Dec 2018
Volume/Issue:
Volume 49: Issue 1
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/15700631-12481190
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Abstract

The opening verses of 3 Maccabees set the story in the aftermath of the Battle of Raphia (217 bce); the significance of this historical setting has been overlooked. The Battle of Raphia is intimately related to the narrative at large in at least three ways. First, 3 Maccabees advocates for a counter-tradition to a stele tradition that arises out of Ptolemy’s victory at Raphia. Second, the story reworks the famous incident of Ptolemy’s elephant retreat at Raphia into a tale of praise for the God of the Jews. And finally, the book is invested with the irony already present in the historical realities of Ptolemy’s short-lived victory.

Stelae, Elephants, and Irony: The Battle of Raphia and Its Import as Historical Context for 3 Maccabees

in Journal for the Study of Judaism
E-ISSN:
1570-0631
Print ISSN:
0047-2212
Publisher:
BRILL
Cover Journal for the Study of Judaism

Sections

References

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Index Card

Page Count:
49–67
Subjects:
General, Jewish Studies
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands 2017

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