Books Jesus Read

Chapter 1: Spiritual Rebellion – Mattathias

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and raise unclean animals for sacrifice. They were to leave their children uncircumcised, and live in a manner abominable to their former way of life. The goal of all this was to encourage them to forget the holy law and replace its ordinances. And whoever dared refuse the king’s commandments would, by the same law, be put to death. The foreigners living in Israel conformed easily to the king’s commands and many Israelites also began to live by the new laws. In the same way, the king required sacrifices to himself be offered in every city throughout his kingdom. And he appointed overseers to make a record of those who offered sacrifice. Some Israelites committed evil in the land by obeying the king’s commands. Others refused and were driven into hiding. Now, on the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev, in the 145th year of the Greek kingdom, the Abomination of Desolation 7 was set up on the altar of the sanctuary in Jerusalem. This final act of desecrating the holy people followed on the building of idol altars throughout the city, and the burning of pagan incense in the streets and at the door of every house. Furthermore, they searched for copies of the book of the law, ripping them in pieces and burning them in the fire. Anyone found with a copy of the book, and anyone found practicing the law within it, would be put to death by command of the king. Each month thereafter, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, the people were called again to the pagan sacrifice. Once, some Israelite women were found to have circumcised

7 Abomination of Desolation – an object such as a false idol placed in the sanctuary which, by its very presence, desecrates or corrupts the holy place. Also referenced in Dan 12:11; Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14.