Books Jesus Read

60

Books Jesus Read

Jonathan’s brother Simon also provides strategic leadership throughout this final chapter. Both brothers’ successes follow on their brother Judas’ reputation as a warrior who was both loved and feared. When Jonathan is killed, the mantle of leadership falls on Simon, and finally on Simon’s son, John. Thus, three generations of the family of Mattathias (from chapter one) are remembered as zealous protectors of Judah’s independence from the Seleucid 1 kingdom. The birth of Simon’s son, John Hyrcanus, marks the beginning of the Hasmonean dynasty which ruled Israel until it was occupied by Roman forces in 63 BC. In the 160th year of the Greek kingdom, Alexander, the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, entered Ptolemais, where the people welcomed him and he began to rule. When King Demetrius heard about this, he assembled his legions and moved against Alexander. Demetrius also sent a message of peace to Jonathan, honoring him. For he thought, “Let us make peace with Jonathan. For, if he remembers the evil we have done to him and his brothers and his people, he may join Alexander and oppose us. Demetrius therefore gave Jonathan authority to assemble an army and to supply them with weapons, so that Jonathan could support him in battle. Demetrius also decreed that the hostages of Israel, imprisoned in the Akra, were to be released and returned to Jonathan. When Jonathan returned to Jerusalem, he read the king’s letter in the hearing of all the people, including those at Text 1 Maccabees 10

1 Seleucid – Syrian.