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.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, June 17, 2013
1 Maccabees 6-9:22
The Lord strengthens those who believe in Him, and He delivers them from their enemies. This, in a nutshell, is the theme of this section (and the preceding section) of 1 Maccabees. Upon learning of the defeat of Lysias at the hands of the Maccabees, King Antiochus IV is grief-stricken and dies. But not before realizing that his evil treatment of the Israelites, and his desecration of their holy place, is what brought on his defeat. He appoints an heir, and a royal consul, Philip, to oversee his upbringing, and dies. Meanwhile, Lysias continues his pursuit of the Jewish people--until he hears that the king has died. He appoints his own heir to the king and fights on. But when he hears that Philip is returning with an army, he makes peace with the Jews, granting them the freedom to practice their own religion. He returns to fight and defeat Philip.
The scene shifts to the reign of Demetrius, an heir in the line of Antiochus. Spurred on by "impious men of Israel", he sends emissaries to the Jewish people to feign a desire for peace, but with the ultimate aim of conquering them. Judas and his brothers are not fooled, and they are victorious in the battles that follow. At least until Bacchides and Alcius are sent back again by Demetrius with an even larger army. Some of the troops under Judas' command flee in fear, but Judas takes his small band of men into battle. They fight valiantly for a time, but are ultimately overwhelmed and Judas is slain.
The scene shifts to the reign of Demetrius, an heir in the line of Antiochus. Spurred on by "impious men of Israel", he sends emissaries to the Jewish people to feign a desire for peace, but with the ultimate aim of conquering them. Judas and his brothers are not fooled, and they are victorious in the battles that follow. At least until Bacchides and Alcius are sent back again by Demetrius with an even larger army. Some of the troops under Judas' command flee in fear, but Judas takes his small band of men into battle. They fight valiantly for a time, but are ultimately overwhelmed and Judas is slain.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
1 Maccabees 1-5
After the reign of Alexander, the lands he conquered were divided among his officers. They and their offspring ruled the various lands. One of these leaders, Antiochus Epiphanes, becomes King of the Greeks and commences an era of aggressive attacks against the Jewish people across many cities. In some locations, the Jewish people respond meekly, unable or unwilling to fight back and in this way bringing shame upon the descendants of Jacob. The king goes so far as to forbid the practice of any religion other than that of the Gentiles. Again, some Jews acquiesce. But some, most prominently Mattathias and his five sons, openly challenge the edict and the prevailing political situation. They refuse to obey the edict; they refuse to run and hide, as some of the Jews did, but instead, they fight back bravely and successfully.
As Mattathias is dying, he gathers his sons together and instructs them to "be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers." He encourages them as follows:
Consider this from generation to generation, that none who hope in him shall fail in strength. Do not fear the words of a sinful man, for his glory ends in corruption and worms. Today he is exalted, and tomorrow he is not to be found, because he has returned to his dust, and his schemes have perished. Children! be courageous and strong in keeping the law, for by it you shall be glorified.
What a wonderful and hopeful idea, that no one who hopes in God shall fail in strength. The notion of being zealous for the law and strong in keeping the law takes me back again to the concept of faithfulness of heart. To reset, David is the paradigm of the Old Testament man who lives rightly--not because he was perfect, but because he was faithful of heart. He desired to do right, to honor God's commands, to do so lovingly and faithfully, and to hope and trust in God. It is just this sort of faithfulness of heart that Mattathias hopes to leave as his legacy in his sons.
What follows are many scenes (too many to describe) that essentially repeat the same chain of events: A Gentile leader persecutes Jews in the community or gathers an army to attack the Jews; the sons of Mattathias--the Maccabees--led by the warrior Judas, gather their own army and defeat the Gentiles, killing them and (often) plundering their belongings. At one point the victorious Jewish army recaptures Mount Zion and the desecrated temple. They rebuild, restore, and reconsecrate the temple and the altar, setting off eight days of celebration that are re-enacted today during the feast of Hannukah.
As Mattathias is dying, he gathers his sons together and instructs them to "be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers." He encourages them as follows:
Consider this from generation to generation, that none who hope in him shall fail in strength. Do not fear the words of a sinful man, for his glory ends in corruption and worms. Today he is exalted, and tomorrow he is not to be found, because he has returned to his dust, and his schemes have perished. Children! be courageous and strong in keeping the law, for by it you shall be glorified.
What a wonderful and hopeful idea, that no one who hopes in God shall fail in strength. The notion of being zealous for the law and strong in keeping the law takes me back again to the concept of faithfulness of heart. To reset, David is the paradigm of the Old Testament man who lives rightly--not because he was perfect, but because he was faithful of heart. He desired to do right, to honor God's commands, to do so lovingly and faithfully, and to hope and trust in God. It is just this sort of faithfulness of heart that Mattathias hopes to leave as his legacy in his sons.
What follows are many scenes (too many to describe) that essentially repeat the same chain of events: A Gentile leader persecutes Jews in the community or gathers an army to attack the Jews; the sons of Mattathias--the Maccabees--led by the warrior Judas, gather their own army and defeat the Gentiles, killing them and (often) plundering their belongings. At one point the victorious Jewish army recaptures Mount Zion and the desecrated temple. They rebuild, restore, and reconsecrate the temple and the altar, setting off eight days of celebration that are re-enacted today during the feast of Hannukah.
Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival
It was a week of strong, loyal, clever, and beautiful women. Judith and Esther, to be specific. Love for their people and trust in God enable them to save the Jewish people from powerful enemies bent on their destruction. Their stories are quite amazing and inspiring. All this, and cameos from Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Cinderella, This is Spinal Tap!, and more...
Please check in on the other contributors on Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival.
Enjoy and have a great week!
John
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Esther 6-F
Prior to Esther's second banquet, King Ahasuerus is unable to sleep. He orders a servant to read to him the book recording the past events of his reign. One of the events is about a man who informed the king that two of his servants were plotting the king's murder; the plot was thwarted and the servants executed. The king learns that the man who saved him, Mordecai, was never properly rewarded. He sends Haman, who unbeknownst to the king despises Mordecai and his people, to honor Mordecai in a manner that Haman himself has unwittingly prescribed. Humiliated, Haman obeys the king and then returns home.
But soon after, Haman and the king attend Esther's second banquet. The king is again so moved that he offers to grant Esther anything she asks. She asks that the king spare her life and the life of her people. She explains that they have been targeted for destruction by an enemy. At the king's prompting, Esther reveals that she is Jewish and that this enemy she peaks of is Haman. The king is enraged and orders that Haman be put to death, hanged from the fifty-foot gibbet that Haman had built to execute Mordecai. The king gives to Esther the house of Haman, in which she establishes Mordecai. Mordecai becomes a powerful man within the royal household.
Esther and Mordecai work together to reverse the original decree permitting the slaughter of the Jews throughout Ahasuerus' empire. Instead, many of the enemies of the Jews are killed on the date originally set for the pogrom, inclding Haman's ten sons. Two days of celebration are established, and for generations after, down to today, the feast of Purim is observed to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies led by Haman. More broadly, it is a celebration of God's favor and love and watchfulness for those who are faithful to him.
But soon after, Haman and the king attend Esther's second banquet. The king is again so moved that he offers to grant Esther anything she asks. She asks that the king spare her life and the life of her people. She explains that they have been targeted for destruction by an enemy. At the king's prompting, Esther reveals that she is Jewish and that this enemy she peaks of is Haman. The king is enraged and orders that Haman be put to death, hanged from the fifty-foot gibbet that Haman had built to execute Mordecai. The king gives to Esther the house of Haman, in which she establishes Mordecai. Mordecai becomes a powerful man within the royal household.
Esther and Mordecai work together to reverse the original decree permitting the slaughter of the Jews throughout Ahasuerus' empire. Instead, many of the enemies of the Jews are killed on the date originally set for the pogrom, inclding Haman's ten sons. Two days of celebration are established, and for generations after, down to today, the feast of Purim is observed to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies led by Haman. More broadly, it is a celebration of God's favor and love and watchfulness for those who are faithful to him.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Esther A-5
Yes, A-5. My translation of the Bible (New American New Catholic translation) talks about various versions of the Book of Esther, Greek and Hebrew, and seems to cobble them together, producing a narrative that overlaps, doubles back occasionally, and can be difficult to follow at times. The lettered and numbered sections reflect the different versions spliced together.
I can't help, as I read this, thinking about Home for Purim, the movie within the movie For Your Consideration. FYC is a comedy by Christopher Guest/Eugene Levy, the brains behind This is Spinal Tap!, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind, among others. If you haven't seen any of them, you should--laughter is a gift from God.
Esther, like Judith, is a strong, beautiful Jewish woman who plays a pivotal role in rescuing her people from a strong enemy, bent on their extermination. Esther is an orphan who is adopted by her uncle, Mordecai, a devout Jew. They live in Susa, a city in the Persian empire. Ahasuerus, King of Persia, is in search of a queen, having disposed of the previous one, Vashti, in anger, when she refused his command to come into his presence. The search proceeds like something out of Cinderella, as numerous young virgins are presented to the king, well, for his consideration. No mice, no pumpkin, no fairy godmother, and no evil stepmother. But there are court eunuchs who prepare Esther for the fateful meeting, during which the king is smitten by her. And there is her kind stepfather, Mordecai, who encourages her to hide her Jewishness from the king. She does, and she becomes the queen.
Meantime, Haman appears on the scene. Haman is the king's second in command, leader of his forces. Think Holofernes, with a mean, anti-Semitic streak and a very large ego. Haman grows enraged that Mordecai will not kneel in homage to him, an act Mordecai refuses only out of respect for God. He believes it is wrong to kneel to anyone but God. In his anger at Mordecai, and notwithstanding that Mordecai had saved the king's life by thwarting a plot to kill him, Haman convinces the king to agree to issue an edict directing leaders of all lands under the king's authority to kill all the Jews in their countries on the same day.
Mordecai goes to Esther to seek her help. Both she and he pray to God for help and guidance. Esther fasts and mourns for three days, and then goes to see the king, who is moved by the state Esther is in. At her request, the king agrees to attend a banquet she prepares, and offers to grant any wish she might have. Esther's only wish is that the king attend a second banquet she will prepare the next day, and that he bring Haman with him. The king agrees.
I can't help, as I read this, thinking about Home for Purim, the movie within the movie For Your Consideration. FYC is a comedy by Christopher Guest/Eugene Levy, the brains behind This is Spinal Tap!, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind, among others. If you haven't seen any of them, you should--laughter is a gift from God.
Esther, like Judith, is a strong, beautiful Jewish woman who plays a pivotal role in rescuing her people from a strong enemy, bent on their extermination. Esther is an orphan who is adopted by her uncle, Mordecai, a devout Jew. They live in Susa, a city in the Persian empire. Ahasuerus, King of Persia, is in search of a queen, having disposed of the previous one, Vashti, in anger, when she refused his command to come into his presence. The search proceeds like something out of Cinderella, as numerous young virgins are presented to the king, well, for his consideration. No mice, no pumpkin, no fairy godmother, and no evil stepmother. But there are court eunuchs who prepare Esther for the fateful meeting, during which the king is smitten by her. And there is her kind stepfather, Mordecai, who encourages her to hide her Jewishness from the king. She does, and she becomes the queen.
Meantime, Haman appears on the scene. Haman is the king's second in command, leader of his forces. Think Holofernes, with a mean, anti-Semitic streak and a very large ego. Haman grows enraged that Mordecai will not kneel in homage to him, an act Mordecai refuses only out of respect for God. He believes it is wrong to kneel to anyone but God. In his anger at Mordecai, and notwithstanding that Mordecai had saved the king's life by thwarting a plot to kill him, Haman convinces the king to agree to issue an edict directing leaders of all lands under the king's authority to kill all the Jews in their countries on the same day.
Mordecai goes to Esther to seek her help. Both she and he pray to God for help and guidance. Esther fasts and mourns for three days, and then goes to see the king, who is moved by the state Esther is in. At her request, the king agrees to attend a banquet she prepares, and offers to grant any wish she might have. Esther's only wish is that the king attend a second banquet she will prepare the next day, and that he bring Haman with him. The king agrees.
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