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In 1 Maccabees, Nicanor's peace overture to Judas is a plot to kidnap him, contrasting with 2 Maccabees where Nicanor genuinely befriends Judas and urges him to marry and settle down, turning hostile only when the king forces his hand.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
2 Maccabees 14:24
Deuterocanon
18 Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the valor of those who were with Judas, and their courage in fighting for their country, shrank from bringing the matter to the decision of the sword. 19 Therefore he sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to give and receive pledges of friendship. 20 So when these proposals had been long considered, and the leader had made the troops acquainted with them, and it appeared that they were all of like mind, they consented to the covenants. 21 They appointed a day on which to meet together by themselves. A chariot came forward from each army. They set up seats of honor. 22 Judas stationed armed men ready in convenient places, lest perhaps there should suddenly be treachery on the part of the enemy. They held a conference as was appropriate. 23 Nicanor waited in Jerusalem, and did nothing to cause disturbance, but dismissed the flocks of people that had gathered together. 24 He kept Judas always in his presence. He had gained a hearty affection for the man. 25 He urged him to marry and have children. He married, settled quietly, and took part in common life.
Date: 160–63 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Maccabees 7:27
Deuterocanon
26 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honorable princes, a man who hated Israel and was their enemy, and commanded him to destroy the people. 27 Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army. He sent to Judas and his kindred deceitfully with words of peace, saying, 28 “Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I may see your faces in peace.” 29 He came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. The enemies were ready to seize Judas by violence. 30 This was known to Judas, that he came to him with deceit, and he was very afraid of him, and would see his face no more.
Date: 134–63 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Compare 1 Maccabees 7:27, which suggests that Nicanor behaved treacherously from start to finish. However, according to 2 Maccabees, Nicanor not only befriended Judas but even served as his mentor or guide and urged him to marry, have children, and settle down in peace ..."
Daniel Durken, ed., The New Collegeville Bible Commentary: In One Volume (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2017), 868.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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