Apocrypha
Ben Sira
Poetic book of guidance for living a wise and ethical life, composed in the second century BCE
Book of Jubilees
Retelling of biblical stories from creation through Exodus, as told to Moses by an angel.
Book of Judith
Tale of a heroic woman named Judith who seduces and kills an enemy general.
Book of Tobit
Story of two families living in the First Temple period and their devotion to the commandments.
Letter of Aristeas
Story of the Septuagint translation of the Torah into Greek from the 2nd century BCE.
Megillat Antiochus
Accounts of the Maccabees’ victories over the Syrian Greeks, told centuries later.
Prayer of Manasseh
15-verse prayer of repentance attributed to Manasseh ben Hezekiah, the 14th king of Judah.
Psalm 151
10-verse psalm attributed to King David after he slayed the giant Goliath.
Psalm 154
20-verse psalm of praise to God composed sometime before the 1st century CE.
The Book of Maccabees I
Accounts of the Maccabees’ revolt against the Syrian Greeks, the story behind Chanukah.
The Book of Maccabees II
Accounts of hellenization, persecution of Jews under Antiochus, and battles of Judah Maccabee.
The Book of Susanna
Story of attempted rape included in Greek versions of the Book of Daniel.
The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Final speeches of the 12 sons of Jacob, reflecting on their lives and blessing their descendants.
The Wisdom of Solomon
Philosophical discussions about wisdom likely composed in Egypt in the 1st century BCE.
About Apocrypha
“Apocrypha” refers to biblical-style books from the Second Temple period that were not included in the canonization of Tanakh, including historical works, didactic wisdom literature, and apocalyptic texts, among others. Traditional Jewish approaches to these works have varied throughout the ages, but they are generally viewed as helpful sources of information and literature without much religious significance. Many of these books are considered canonical by the Ethiopian Jewish community known as Beta Yisrael.
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