Books Jesus Read

Chapter 1: Spiritual Rebellion – Mattathias

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time as a signal for Israel to cry out to heaven. Everyone put on sackcloth and ashes, and fasted. Judas sent a squad of warriors to root out the Gentiles who were hiding in the Akra. He then assembled a company of the most trusted priests to restore the sanctuary by undoing the sacrilege that had spoiled it in the first place. They rebuilt the gates and the priests’ quarters, and decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and miniature shields. They demolished the altar upon which Antiochus Epiphanes had erected his pagan altar, and built a new one with unhewn stones as directed by the law. They burned the soiled curtains and linens, and wove new ones. They crafted new vessels of worship, a new lampstand, a new altar of incense, and a new table of shewbread. Finally, they cleaned and refinished the inside of the sanctuary, hung the newly woven curtains, laid out freshly baked bread for the table, and lit the incense and the lamps. Light once again shone from the temple famous the world over. This was the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month—the month of Chislev—in the 148th year of rule of the Greek kingdom. It was the same season and, indeed, the very same day, on which the Gentile sacrilege had first been committed. 8 Israel rose and offered sacrifices on the newly dedicated altar according to the law. There was much rejoicing among the people as the shame that had been heaped on Israel now lifted, and as they sang, accompanied by the music of harps, lutes, and cymbals.

8 The rededication of the temple falls exactly three years after it was profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes.