Alcimus, Enemy of the Maccabees

Benjamin Edidin Scolnic, a rabbi and scholar, has been the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden, Connecticut since 1983. Rabbi Scolnic is also the Biblical Consultant for the North Sinai Archaeological Expedition investigating the route of the Exodus in the Sinai Desert. Currently, he teaches at the Southern Connecticut State University. Rabbi Scolnic was the first person ever to receive a Ph.D. in Bible from the Graduate School of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is author of many books and articles including Chronology and Papponymy (University Press of America, 1999) and Theme and Context in Biblical Lists (University Press of America, 1995).

• Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 The Historical BackgroundChapter 3 The Sources: Maccabees; Maccabees; Josephus; Excursus: The Flight of Onias IV to Egypt: Are There Rabbinic Traditions that Refer to Alcimus?; The Importance of Yosi ben Yo ezer; Are There References to Alcimus in the Qumran Scrolls?; AreChapter 4 Did Alcimus Write Psalm 79?: The Dating of Psalms; When Was the Book of Psalms in Its Final Form?; The Psalms of Asaph; Psalm 79; ConclusionChapter 5 The Re-evaluation of Alcimus: Who Was Alcimus' Predecessor as High Priest?; When Did Alcimus Become High Priest? Who Was Alcimus?; Did Alcimus Voluntarily Defile Himself?; Was Alcimus a Religious Conservative or a "Hellenizer"?; Did Alcimus Write a Chapter 6 Alcimus: Prospects for Future StudyChapter 7 Appendix IChapter 8 BibliographyChapter 9 Index