13:5. “…Forty and two months….” (or “three and a half years”  see 11:2 for quote.)

 

13:8. “…from  the foundation of the world….”

2 Esdras 7:70: “…’When the Most High made the world and Adam and all who have come from him, he first prepared the judgment and the things that pertain to the judgment.”

 

13:11. “…Beast coming up out of the earth….“

2 Maccabees 4:23-50 tells of the beastly nature of the priests during this period.

 

13:16. “Mark“

Note on 1 Maccabees 16:23: “…. Afterward he [John Hyrcanus I] gained control of most of Palestine, and forced the Idumeans to adopt Judaism….”

 

3 Maccabees 2:28-30:  Ptolemy IV Philopater came to Jerusalem and intended to enter the Holy Place of the temple whereupon he was visited with divine punishment and was near to death.  Although he recovered, he did not, however, repent but issued severe demands against the Jewish religion: “‘None of those who do not sacrifice (to Dionysus) shall enter their sanctuaries, and all Jews shall be subjected to a registration involving poll tax and to the status of slaves.  Those who object to this are to be taken by force and put to death; those who are registered are also to be branded on their bodies by fire with the ivy-leaf symbol of Dionysus, and they shall also be reduced to their former limited status….  But if any of them prefer to join those who have been initiated into the mysteries, they shall have equal citizenship with the Alexandrians.'”

 

Footnote to 3 Maccabees 2:28-29: “Registration, a rare Greek word (laographia) which has been found in Greek papyri from Egypt, refers to a list of all people of the lower classes and of the slaves.  29.  Such branding in honor of a deity was not uncommon in ancient times (compare Rev.7.3;13.16-17).  According to 2 Macc.6.7 Antiochus introduced the worship of Dionysus into Jerusalem.”  (OAA p. 298).

 

13:18. “Wisdom:

Sirach 1:1, 4: “All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever….Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity.^c“  Note c: “Other authorities add as verse 5, The source of wisdom is God’s word in the highest heaven, and her ways are the eternal commandments.”