PaRDeS and the Books of the Maccabees

The Four Levels and the Four Books of the Maccabees

In Jewish scriptural understanding it is maintained that a passage may be understood on any of four levels of understanding.

The first level of understanding is called PASHAT. Pashat means “simple” is the literal, simple meaning of the text.

The second level of understanding is called REMEZ. Remez means “hint” is the implied meaning of a passage”

The third level of understanding is called DRASH. Drash means “search” and is the homiletical or allegorical meaning of the text.

The fourth level of understanding is called SOD. Sod means “mystery” and is the hidden, secret or mystical meaning of the text.

The first letter from each of these words spells in Hebrew PaRDeS meaning “paradise”.

The four Gospels are each written on each of the four levels of understanding of the life and teaching of Yeshua.

Mark gives the PASHAT, a short, simple, basic account of Yeshua’s life with few details.

Luke gives the REMEZ and digs into the details and covers matters only hinted at in Mark.

Matthew gives the DRASH and presents the story as a narrative given as a narrative understanding of several cited passages from the Tanak.

Yochanan gives the SOD level understanding ad presents Messiah as the incarnate “Word”.

In the same way the four books of the Maccabees are each written on each of these four levels.

1Maccabees gives the PASHAT, a short, simple account of the exploits of the Maccabees.

2Maccabees gives the REMEZ, digging into the details of the story not explored by 1Maccabees. The fifteen chapters of 2Maccabees cover the same material as the first seven chapters of 1Maccabees, but with much more information.

3Maccabees gives the DRASH level. 3Maccabees does not actually discuss the oppressions at the time of the Maccabees at all, but instead gives a related story of another oppression which took place some 50 years earlier, but which illustrates the same points as 1 & 2 Maccabees.

4Maccabees gives the SOD level. 4Maccabees uses the story of the Maccabees to demonstrate the supremacy of Torah as “divine reason” and as the “logos” (the “word” or “reason”).

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