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.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Disagreement among the Israelites, a Reflection on 1 Maccabees 7:1-25


More internal dispute within the Seleucid Empire. Demetrius from Rome had Antiochus (the child king) and his guardian Lysias killed. Also dissension within the Israelites. Aleimus, an aspirant for high priest, went to the king to accuse Judas and his brothers of disloyalty. An accusation that would have been true.

The king made Aleimus the high priest and commanded him to take vengeance against the Israelites. He did. Judas saw that the damage being done was greater than what had happened to Judea by the Gentiles before. So Judas led vengeful attacks.

Aleimus reported back to the king.

Questions raised by The Oxford Bible Commentary, The Apocrypha, edited by Martin Goodman:
Did the Hasideans desert Judas? Did the cancellation of religious persecution affect their attitude toward the revolt? Did it change the purpose of the revolt? Why were the Hasideans butchered?
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