Day 30

I present to you, the Braveheart of the Apocrypha. That’s really what this book felt like. The main character, at least for the first 3/4 of it, is Judas Maccabeus — a warrior who, with his brothers, helps lead a revolt against the foreign powers occupying Israel and defiling their temple. The story goes back and forth like this often. There’s battles with the Egyptians, the Philistines (they never learn), the Greeks, and so on and so forth. It’s pretty fast paced, but also exhaustive in its detail.

I was so engrossed in the text that I missed the very first Hanukkah! More on that below. What’s interesting in this book is that now the Romans are making an appearance. This power beyond Greece that frightens all other nations with its growing might…but holds true to its treaties. There’s a strange bedfellows moment when the Israelites strike a truce with the Romans and reap the rewards of that relationship.

I was struck with my own trouble discerning what I should get out of this. Even the historical books often have a very clear set of virtues or lessons, but here it was one battle scene to another. Judas dies? Great. Next leader! He dies? Great. Next leader!

A few repeated lines in the text give a hint as to the broader lesson: Transforming innocence into honor. A group of people die quite brutally in chapter 2 because they want their innocence to be an example. Judas and his brothers vow to never let that happen again and, upon his own death, Judas charges into battle in the name of upholding honor. Again..Braveheart.

I’ll have to toil with that implication here. Is sacrificing yourself (not literally in our context) in the name of innocence a worthwhile avenue? Or was Judas right? Do we need to ensure it is honorable? I’m inclined to agree, but the illustration has me wondering.

One Word for First Maccabees: Braveheart

Parts of the Text That Stayed With Me

1. 1 Macc 1, Gentile Practices. Building and participating in a gymnasium was a gentile practice. Take note.
2. 1 Macc 3:18-22, A Rousing Speech. One of many Braveheart speeches we get in this book.
3. 1 Macc 4:36 – 5:2, First Hanukkah. I almost missed it! Why? The miracle narrative wasn’t in here. Is it in Second Maccabees? Third? Fourth? To be determined. It dawned on me about three chapters later that that was what I read. Anyway. The cleansing of the temple is a cause for more war. I guess the gentiles did not approve.
4. 1 Macc 8, Hail Caesar! Here’s both praise for Rome and an alliance with them. Is this where the seeds of occupation begin or was it all inevitable anyway?
5. 1 Macc 9, Judas’ Sacrifice. He dies in battle. He’s greatly outnumbered and declares, in another speech, that honor is the highest ideal. I can see it now…Mel Gibson charging into battle. For glory! For honor!

This post is part of a lager series where I read the entirety of Hebrew & Christian scriptures in 45 days. Take a look a the original post for more info, as well as links to other reflections on this journey.