Read & explore together
The Closing Source Notice of 1 Maccabees
These closing verses end 1 Maccabees by pointing readers to a written record about John. They name several parts of his public life and say where fuller information was written.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this record
This is the editorial conclusion of 1 Maccabees, one of the Catholic additional books. Rather than adding another event, it briefly summarises areas connected with John and gives a source notice about a record tied to his high priesthood.
1 Maccabees 16:23–24Main takeaway
The ending of 1 Maccabees presents itself as a summary that points to another written record about John’s work and high priesthood.
Explore the record
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A summary instead of a new episodeVerse 23 begins, “the rest of the acts of John”, showing that this is a closing summary statement.
Explanation
Verse 23 begins, “the rest of the acts of John”, showing that this is a closing summary statement. It gathers parts of his public life, including “his wars”, “his valiant deeds”, “the building of the walls which he built”, and “his achievements”. The verse lists subjects rather than narrating them in detail.
02What the notice highlightsThe wording includes more than one kind of activity. “His wars” refers to military matters.
Explanation
The wording includes more than one kind of activity. “His wars” refers to military matters. “His valiant deeds” points to notable deeds. “The building of the walls which he built” names construction work. “His achievements” is broader language, showing that the summary reaches beyond one single area.
03A pointer to another written recordVerse 24 says, “behold, they are written”, directing readers to another source instead of expanding this book further.
Explanation
Verse 24 says, “behold, they are written”, directing readers to another source instead of expanding this book further. That source is called “the chronicles of his high priesthood”. The passage presents written documentation as the place where more detail about John was recorded.
04High priesthood and the time mentionedThe final words connect that record to John’s office and to a stated beginning point. The chronicles belong to “his high priesthood”, and they are linked to “the time that he was made high priest after his father”.
Explanation
The final words connect that record to John’s office and to a stated beginning point. The chronicles belong to “his high priesthood”, and they are linked to “the time that he was made high priest after his father”. The notice identifies the period covered by that record.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which parts of John’s life are named in the summary?
Look at verse 23 and list each item named there: wars, valiant deeds, wall-building, and achievements.
02Does this passage give the details of those acts, or point somewhere else for them?
Verse 24 says these things “are written” in another record, so the passage works as a source notice.
03How does the passage connect the written record to John’s role?
Notice the phrases “his high priesthood” and “after his father”, which tie the record to his office and when it began.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Maccabees 16:23–24
23And the rest of the acts of John and of his wars and of his valiant deeds which he did, and of the building of the walls which he built, and of his achievements,
24behold, they are written in the chronicles of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.