Highly unusual and decorative engraving illustrating stories from the Bible.

The First Book of Maccabees, also called 1 Maccabees, is a book written in Hebrew by an anonymous Jewish author after the restoration of an independent Jewish kingdom by the Hasmonean dynasty, around the late 2nd century BC.

The engraving comes from a collection by Johannes Buno (1617-1697), a Lutheran school teacher from Lüneburg, Germany. Buno's scarce work, a "Picture Bible", was filled with engravings to illustrate virtually every chapter of the Bible. The engravings include miniature pictorial elements and were intended as mnemonic devices to help the reader better remember the bible.

Buno's imagery reflects real artistry and personality, however, they were not intended for veneration, as that would have run contrary to Lutheran attitudes of the time. They were intended as a didactic instrument and thus did not offend his intended audience's sensibilities.

Buno's engravings are very rich and reward close examination with new discoveries.