The lecture deals with the political theology of the 1 Book of Maccabees. The book, composed in the middle of the second century BCE, reflects a unique and revolutionary stream of thought in ancient Judaism that would have an impact on later generations. Namely, God in the biblical books of Joshua 2 Kings is presented as reluctant to appoint a king (1 Samuel 8) and later when kings become active in the history of Israel, He blatantly intervenes in their rule one by one and most of the time. In contradistinction, the Maccabean family created a dynasty and ruled with hardly any intervention of God who remains passive throughout their rule. This was made possible since they perceived their regime as being a 'time of exception', mentioned in the 1 Book of Maccabees by the expression "until a true prophet should arise". Their liberation from a "competitive" God, a higher interventative authority, may be interpreted as a major achievements during their fight for freedom from Seleucid rule. The lecture will also deal with a significant streak of criticism on behalf of the author towards the too independent decision making procedures of the first Hasmoneans.