--- title: "2 Maccabees: Summary & All 15 Chapters · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/ description: "The Second Book of Maccabees, a theological history in 15 chapters. Bp. Challoner’s summary of all 15 chapters, and the full text free." --- Old Testament · Deuterocanonical # The Second Book of Maccabees The Second Book of Maccabees is the forty-sixth of the 46 books of the Old Testament, and one of its 7 deuterocanonical books: 15 chapters and 558 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 2 Machabees. [Start reading: 2 Maccabees 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/1/) Chapters 1–15: [1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/1/) … [15](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/15/) ## About 2 Maccabees About 2 Maccabees · Theological history The second book of Maccabees retells the same persecution independently, condensing a longer work by Jason of Cyrene, and it cares less for campaigns than for meaning: the martyrdoms of the aged Eleazar and of seven brothers with their mother are its heart. A deuterocanonical book of the Catholic canon, it was written to strengthen faith under persecution with the clearest Old Testament teaching on resurrection, and its scenes of prayer and sacrifice for the dead ground the Church's practice of praying for the departed. *2 Maccabees in Bless* | | | |---|---| | Testament | Old Testament — book 46 of 46, 46 of 73 in the Bible | | Canon | Deuterocanonical | | Chapters | 15 | | Verses | 558, as Bless numbers them | | In the Douay-Rheims | 2 Machabees | | Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter | | Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 15 chapters · 36 notes | | Catechism | 5 paragraphs cite it | Chapter by chapter ## All 15 chapters, *in brief.* Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text. 1. ### [2 Maccabees 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/1/) 36 verses Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire. 2. ### [2 Maccabees 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/2/) 33 verses A continuation of the second letter. Of Jeremias' hiding the ark at the time of the captivity. The author's preface. 3. ### [2 Maccabees 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/3/) 40 verses Heliodorus is sent by king Seleucus to take away the treasures deposited in the temple. He is struck by God, and healed by the prayers of the high priest. 4. ### [2 Maccabees 4](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/4/) 50 verses Onias has recourse to the king. The ambition and wickedness of Jason and Menelaus. Onias is treacherously murdered. 5. ### [2 Maccabees 5](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/5/) 27 verses Wonderful signs are seen in the air. Jason's wickedness and end. Antiochus takes Jerusalem, and plunders the temple. 6. ### [2 Maccabees 6](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/6/) 31 verses Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar. 7. ### [2 Maccabees 7](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/7/) 42 verses The glorious martyrdom of the seven brethren and their mother. 8. ### [2 Maccabees 8](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/8/) 36 verses Judas Machabeus gathering an army gains divers victories. 9. ### [2 Maccabees 9](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/9/) 29 verses The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus. 10. ### [2 Maccabees 10](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/10/) 38 verses The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His victory over Timotheus. 11. ### [2 Maccabees 11](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/11/) 38 verses Lysias is overthrown by Judas. He sues for peace. 12. ### [2 Maccabees 12](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/12/) 46 verses The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead. 13. ### [2 Maccabees 13](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/13/) 26 verses Antiochus and Lysias again invade Judea. Menelaus is put to death. The king's great army is worsted twice. The peace is renewed. 14. ### [2 Maccabees 14](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/14/) 46 verses Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him to be made high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his threats. The history of Razias. 15. ### [2 Maccabees 15](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/15/) 40 verses Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The conclusion. Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries Coming up ## Read at *Mass.* From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 2 Maccabees is read at the principal Mass on 0 days in the US calendar. The next 3 readings: | Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation | |---|---|---|---| | [Tue, Nov 16, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/11/16/) computed | Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [2 Maccabees 6:18-31](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/6/) | | [Wed, Nov 17, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/11/17/) computed | St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious | First Reading | [2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/7/) | | [Sun, Nov 12, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/11/12/) computed | Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-maccabees/7/) | Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish. [Previous book The First Book of Maccabees](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-maccabees/) [Next book The Gospel of Matthew](https://blessbible.app/bible/matthew/)