Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

1,329 texts · Page 136 of 148

The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha: ancient Jewish texts composed during the Second Temple period that, while not included in the canonical Hebrew Bible, preserve invaluable traditions about angels, the afterlife, and the end of days.

Second Book of Maccabees

Apocrypha The Book of Maccabees II 10:9

The story of the Maccabees, as told in the Second Book of Maccabees, wrestles with that feeling—that plea for divine mercy even when we know we've messed up. Chapter 10 opens with ...

Hanukkah Before the Altar

Apocrypha The Book of Maccabees II

The Book of Maccabees II gives us a glimpse into that moment. After years of fighting against oppression, against those who sought to defile their most sacred space, they finally p...

TemplePrayer

Wanderings of Jehoiakim

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:1

Stories whispered in the synagogues, tales traded around kitchen tables, adventures too good to be lost… Well, pull up a chair, because today we're diving into one of those almost-...

Exile

Righteousness of Hilkiah

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:6

That feeling, that unsettling awareness, is at the heart of the story we're about to dive into: the tale of Susanna. Our story opens with Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah. The text tel...

MosesTorahExile

Jehoiakim in Heaven

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:11

That's the unsettling beginning of the story of Susanna, a tale found in the Book of Daniel, specifically in what's often called "The Book of Susanna." The scene is set in the hous...

HeavenTorah

Innocence of Susanna

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:16

The story of Susanna, found in some versions of the Book of Daniel, plunges us right into that unnerving experience. It's a tale of beauty, betrayal, and ultimately, vindication. I...

Shoshana's Transgression

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:22

The story unfolds in a time of exile, a time of vulnerability for the Jewish people. Shoshana, a woman renowned for her beauty and piety, becomes the target of unwanted attention. ...

Soul

Faith of Shoshana

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:27

That’s exactly where Shoshana found herself. The story, tucked away in the Book of Daniel (though some versions place it separately), throws us right into the middle of a drama in ...

Tale of Jehoiakim

Apocrypha The Book of Susanna 1:32

Her story, found in The Book of Susanna, is a powerful one. It all unfolds with a chilling simplicity. The text tells us "the people of the house heard her cry and ran to the viney...