From the intro: "The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs were written in Hebrew in the later years of John Hyrcanus-in all probability after his final victory over the Syrian power and before his breach with the Pharisees-in other words, between 109 and 106. Their author was a Pharisee who combined loyalty to the best traditions of his party with the most unbounded admiration of Hyrcanus. The Maccabean dynasty had now reached the zenith of its prosperity,...