| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 Arrival of Heliodorus in Jerusalem (3:1-40) While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed (3:1) | The Law | 5 The suppression of Judaism (6:1-7:42) Not long after this the king sent an Athenian senator to force the Jews to abandon the customs of their ancestors and live no longer by the laws of God (6:1) |
| 2 Jason introduces Greek customs (4:1-22) Onias' brother Jason obtained the high priesthood by corrupt means (4:7) | Jason | 4 Pillage of the temple (5:1-27) Death of Jason |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 5 The suppression of Judaism (6:1-7:42) see 1-1 | see 1-1 | 9 Lysias makes peace with the Jews (11:1-38) see 1-1 |
| 6 Judas defeats Nicanor (8:1-36) see 1-1 | see 1-1 | 8 Judas defeats Timothy (10:9-38) see 1-1 |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 9 Lysias makes peace with the Jews (11:1-38) Victory against Lysias | Victory of Judas | 13 The defeat and death of Nicanor (15:1-37) Victory against Nicanor |
| 10 Combats of Judas (12:1-46) The defeated nomads begged Judas to make friends with them and promised to supply the Jews with cattle and to help them in every other way. (12:11) | Wars and reconciliation | 12 Dispatch of Nicanor (14:1-46) So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement. (14:19) |