This tightly focused collection of essays, from an invited seminar of international specialists, centres on the question of the apocalyptic worldview around the time of the Maccabean revolt. What was the nature of apocalyptic at this time? Did the Maccabees themselves have a distinct apocalyptic worldview? These questions lead to other, more specific queries: who of the various groups held such a view? Certain of the essays analyse the characteristics of the apocalypses and related literature in this period, and whether the apocalyptic worldview itself gave rise to historical events or, at least, influenced them.The collection begins with two introductory essays. Both the main and short papers have individual responses, and two considered responses by well-known experts address the entire collection. The volume finishes with a concluding chapter by the lead editor that gives a perspective on the main themes and conclusions arising from the papers and discussion.

Part I. INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS1 INTRODUCTION- Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK2 THE SELEUCID AND HASMONEAN PERIODS AND THE APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEW--AN OVERVIEW- Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK3 NON-APOCALYPTIC RESPONSES TO APOCALYPTIC EVENTS: NOTES ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF APOCALYPTICISM Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan, USAPart II. MAJOR PAPERS AND RESPONSES4 UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE APOCALPTIC WORLDVIEW AND JEWISH SECTARIAN VIOLENCE: THE CASE OF THE WAR BETWEEN ALEXANDER JANNAEUS AND DEMETRIUS III- Kenneth Atkinson, University of Northern Iowa, USARESPONSE TO ATKINSON, Albert I. Baumgarten, Bar-Ilan University, IsraelRESPONSE TO ATKINSON, Sandra Gambetti, City University of New York (CUNY), USA5 WAS THE MACCABEAN REVOLT AN APOCALYPTIC MOVEMENT?- Gerbern S. Oegema, Mcgill University, CanadaRESPONSE TO OEGEMA- Lorenzo DiTommaso, Concordia University, CanadaRESPONSE TO OEGEMA- John Kampen, Methodist Theological School, USA6 APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEWS--WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY SPREAD: INSIGHTS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES- Anathea E. Portier-Young, Duke Divinity School, USARESPONSE TO PORTIER-YOUNG-Edward Dabrowa, Jagiellonian University, Poland RESPONSE TO PORTIER-YOUNG-Torleif Elgvin, NLA University College, Norway7 OVERALL RESPONSE TO THE MAIN PAPERS- Erich Gruen, University of California, USA Part III. SHORT PAPERSPart IV. CONCLUSIONSPERSPECTIVES ON APOCALYPTIC IN THE HASMONAEAN PERIOD Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK.