It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Success in battle, a reflection on 1 Maccabees 10:67-89

About five years later, Demetrius, son of the defeated Demetrius, assembled an army to avenge his father's losses. He challenged Jonathan to meet him in battle. Jonathan was successful.

After routing the enemy, Jonathan burned the city and the surrounding towns and the temple of their god, Dagon. The number of those killed by sword or by fire was 8,000. He returned with his army to Jerusalem with a large amount of booty. King Alexander sent him a golden buckle, a visible acknowledgement of being one of the King's Kinsmen.

In order to resist the aggressors, Jonathan had to leave the hill country, suitable to the tactics of his army, and instead, in response to taunts from the enemy general, to go down to the plain. What motivates us to try something different that is also something difficult?

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