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.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

More on Dor and a look at variation between conquest and reacquisition, a reflection on 1 Maccabees 15:25-41

After defeating Typho, Antiochus no longer needed the support of Simon. He refused gifts that Simon sent and broke agreements he had made.

He sent Athenobius, one of the Friends of the King to Jerusalem to deliver a letter to Simon, claiming that Jappa, Gaza, and the citadel in Jerusalem belonged to the Seleucids and demanded tribute be paid. Otherwise, war.

When the Friend got to Jerusalem, he was stunned by the display of gold and silver. Moreover, Simon asserted that none of their possessions or land belonged to any foreigners. It was originally owned by their ancestors and had been wrongly taken by foreigners. He made an exception for Joppa and Gaza, offering to pay 100 talents to Greece for them. Athenobius didn't bother to answer him. In anger, he reported to the king who also got very angry.

Meanwhile, Typho escaped. The king pursued him but sent a commander to attack Judea.

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