1 Maccabees -
Introduction
The textual tradition of 1 Maccabees is in general similar to that of the other books included in the Septuagint. 1 Maccabees is also known in other versions of the Holy Scriptures, such as the Syriac and Latin, which derive from the Greek version, which itself is a translation of a lost Hebrew original. This is evident from its style, which reveals Hebrew idiom (cf. ABD iv. 439–40). The original was probably known up to the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, but has not survived even in fragmentary form.