1 Maccabees 13-16

In Jonathan's absence, his brother Simon assumes leadership of the Jewish people. Jonathan is ultimately killed while a captive of the treacherous Trypho. The years pass with more battles, alliances, betrayals, and victories. In the end, Simon and some of his sons are murdered by Ptolemy, governor of Jericho. John, son of Simon, learns of the murders, and is prepared when Ptolemy's men arrive to do him in. As this book closes, it is clear that John has become the new leader.

Although, as I previously noted, this is not my favorite book, there is a beautiful passage in this section worth pausing on. There is a hymn to the glory of Simon, and the time of peace and prosperity that he oversaw.  It reads, in part:

The land was at rest all the days of Simon, who sought the good of his nation. . . . The people cultivated their land in peace; the land yielded its produce and the trees of the field their fruit. Old men sat in the squares, all talking about the good times, while the young men wore the glorious apparel of war.

That image of the old men sitting in the square reminiscing about the good times is so poetic, so evocative. 

Finally, a note on the news of the day. James Gandolfini, the actor who portrayed Tony Soprano, passed away suddenly yesterday. The Sopranos was a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, I know, it showed Italian-Americans, Catholics, and New Jersey in a bad light--all of them are things close to my heart. But the writing was brilliant. Tony Soprano was a captivating and charismatic anti-hero. He was callous, selfish, violent, evil. He was the opposite of King David in a sense--anything but faithful of heart. He honored himself first and always. But I, for one, couldn't look away. He remains one of the most complicated and compelling characters in the history of television.  May James Gandolfini, who brilliantly brought him to life, rest in peace.

1 Maccabees 9:23-12

Confession time: I am not really enjoying 1 Maccabees. At all. There's not much of my favorite "character"--God. Where did He go? Lots of political intrigue, geopolitical trategy and maneuvering, alliances made and broken, and war. Cleopatra even makes an appearance. It's an HBO miniseries, perhaps. But inspiring? Well, no. Not for me.

This section revolves around Jonathan, the brother of the great warrior, Judas. Jonathan succeeds to leadership after Judas' death. He leads well. The Israelites fortunes wax and wane--but mostly wax. Ptolemy, Alexander, Cleopatra, Rome, Sparta, Persia all cross the  stage. In the end, Jonathan is apparently undone--his men killed and Jonathan captured--by   the cunning of Trypho, who aspires to be king of Asia. The Israelites are thrown into deep mourning, realizing that once again they are alone, fearful, and surrounded by enemies bent on their destruction.