First Book of Ethiopian Maccabees

<p>Meqabyan also referred to as Ethiopian Maccabees or Ethiopic Maccabees (Amharic: ????? which is also transliterated as Makabian) are three books found only in the Ethiopian Orthodox Old Testament and Beta Israel Mä??afä Kedus Biblical canon. These books are completely different in content and subject from the more commonly found books of Maccabees in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles. The account of the Maccabees described in these sacred texts are not those of the advent of political dealings of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea nor are they an account of the Five Holy Maccabean Martyrs or the woman with seven sons who were also referred to as Maccabees and are revered throughout Orthodoxy as the Holy Maccabean Martyrs. The Maccabees who are referenced do not correspond to known martyrology and their identity is never full clarified by the ancient author. However they do assume the familiar moniker of being a Maccabee the etymological origins of which remain disputed.</p>