1 Maccabees 4:36-61 ~ Behold

John 10:9 

I am the door. 

If anyone enters by me, he will be saved 

and 

will go in and out 

and 

find pasture.

1 Maccabees 4:36-61

36 Then Judas and his brothers said: 

“Behold, 

our enemies have been crushed; 

let us go up to purify the sanctuary 

and 

rededicate it.” 

37 And so the entire army assembled, and they went up to Mount Zion. 38 There they found the sanctuary desolate, the altar desecrated, the gates burned to the ground, the courts overgrown with weeds as in a thicket or on some mountain, and the chambers of the priests in ruins. 39 Then they tore their garments and uttered loud cries of mourning; they sprinkled their heads with ashes 40 and fell prostrate, with their faces to the ground. And when the signal was given with the trumpets, they cried out to Heaven.

41 Then Judas designated men to engage in combat with those in the citadel while he purified the sanctuary. 42 He appointed blameless priests who were devoted to the law; 43 these purified the sanctuary and carried off the stones of the Abomination to an unclean place. 44 They discussed what should be done about the altar of burnt offerings that had been desecrated, 45 and they made the proper decision to demolish it so that it would not be a source of lasting shame to them inasmuch as the Gentiles had defiled it.

Therefore, they tore down the altar 46 and stored the stones in a suitable place on the temple hill until a prophet should appear on the scene to determine what should be done with them. 

47 They took unhewn stones, according to the law, and built a new altar fashioned after the former one. 48 They also repaired the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and purified the courts. 

49 They made new sacred vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the Temple. 50 Then they burned incense on the altar, and they lit the lamp on the lampstands to illuminate the temple. 51 Finally, they placed loaves of bread on the table and hung the curtains, thereby bringing to completion all of the work they had undertaken.

52 Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, 53 they arose and offered sacrifice, in accordance with the law, on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had constructed. 54 On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was dedicated with hymns, harps, flutes, and cymbals. 55 All the people prostrated themselves in adoration and praised Heaven, who had granted success to their endeavors.

56 They celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. 57 They decorated the front of the Temple with gold crowns and shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests and furnished them with doors. 

58 There was great rejoicing among the people inasmuch as the disgrace inflicted by the Gentiles had been removed. 59 Then Judas, his brothers, and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days marking the rededication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days every year on the anniversary, beginning on the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

60 At that time they fortified Mount Zion, encircling it with high walls and strong towers to prevent the Gentiles from coming and trampling over it as they had done in the past. 61 Judas stationed a garrison there to guard it, and he also fortified Beth-zur so that the people would have a stronghold facing Idumea.

Grok history of Maccabees:

Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee) 

and the Maccabees primarily used Hebrew (and likely Aramaic as a spoken language of daily life in Judea at the time).

The name “Maccabee” (or Maccabeus) is widely linked to a Hebrew or Aramaic root meaning “hammer” (from maqqaba / makkabi), reflecting his reputation as a fierce fighter. 

The First Book of Maccabees, the main historical source for these events, was originally composed in Hebrew. Hebrew carried strong religious and national significance for the Jews resisting Hellenistic (Greek) cultural and religious imposition. 

In the 2nd century BC

Hanukkah connects to the Maccabees and Judas Maccabeus’s fight

against

The Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) king Antiochus IV Epiphanes 

They tried to force Hellenization on the Jews: 

Antiochus banned Jewish practices, desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem by dedicating it to Zeus and sacrificing pigs on the altar, and persecuted those who resisted.

A priest named Mattathias and his five sons (including Judas/Judah) 

launched a revolt from the town of Modein around 167 BC. After Mattathias’s death, Judas Maccabeus took command. 

Using guerrilla tactics, he led a series of successful battles against larger Seleucid forces, eventually retaking Jerusalem. At one point, the men (who were farmers) were lying down in a field and attacked as the Syrian Greek soldiers planned to sacrifice in the Temple they used for Zeus. History regards this Battle One of Great Faith.

In 164 BC (on the 25th of Kislev), 

Judas and his followers purified and rededicated the Temple. 

They removed pagan altars and idols, rebuilt the altar of burnt offerings, and restored Jewish worship. They celebrated the rededication for eight days with sacrifices, songs, and joy. 

This event is the historical origin of Hanukkah (Hebrew for “dedication”). Judas and the leadership decreed that the eight-day festival should be observed annually. 

Only one day’s pure oil was found for the Temple menorah, yet it burned for eight days until new oil could be prepared. The Books of Maccabees emphasize the military victory and the rededication rather than the oil miracle.

New Beginnings

The immediate religious reward was the restoration of Jewish worship and the Temple’s purity after years of oppression. 

The longer-term outcome was greater Jewish autonomy.

 Although Judas himself was killed in battle in 160 BCE, his brothers continued the fight. Eventually the Hasmonean (Maccabean) family established an independent Jewish Kingdom that lasted for several generations, with the high priesthood and political leadership combined under their line.

Judas Maccabeus fought (in the Hebrew/Aramaic-speaking Jewish cultural world) to defend Jewish religious freedom against forced Hellenization. His success in reclaiming and rededicating the Temple became the foundation of Hanukkah, and the broader revolt ultimately secured a period of Jewish independence.

Herod from Maccabees, eventually 

• Service to the Court: Herod's father, Antipater II, and his grandfather served as high-ranking officials and military commanders for the Hasmonean monarchy, earning wealth, political influence, 

and trust.

• Provincial Power: Antipater positioned his sons in regional offices, appointing a young Herod as governor of Galilee.

• Roman Intervention: 

When Rome (led by Pompey) intervened in a Hasmonean civil war in 63 BC, Judea became a Roman client state.  General Pompey was Julius Caesar's son- in- law for a time. He wanted to see the One God's Holy of Holy. As Pompey was going to enter the Temple, Pompey suddenly felt if he entered as an unholy man, he would die and refused to even enter the Temple.

• Backing Rome:

 Antipater and Herod 

skillfully shifted their loyalty from the weakening Hasmonean kings 

to the Roman authorities, proving themselves valuable local assets to generals like Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony.

Overthrowing the Hasmoneans

• Marrying into the Dynasty: To legitimize his rule over the Jewish population, Herod married Mariamne (Miriam), a Hasmonean princess and granddaughter of the former Hasmonean leaders.

• Appointed King: Herod fled to Rome, where Mark Antony and the Roman Senate declared him the "King of the Jews".

• Conquest of Jerusalem: Backed by a Roman army, Herod waged a war against Antigonus, recaptured Jerusalem in 37 BC, and executed Antigonus—bringing Hasmonean rule to an end.

John 10:9 

I am the door. 

If anyone enters by me, he will be saved 

and 

will go in and out 

and 

find pasture.

We have looked at the History of Maccabees.  And when we look at Luke's Gospel Chapter 3, we find the political History of the Birth of God. And the Spiritual and Family History.

Light to the Nations. God was working in all of His Good Creation.  

Beginings

Are Just Interesting. 

A Hope and a Future, given by the Lord God Almighty, Himself.

To see the Beginnings, we find starvation and kidnap become Joseph the Vizier of Pharoah. The births of all of Jacob/Israel's Children begins to accelerate. The Promise of God to Abraham in factual basis in fruition. God is correct and His Promises are sure.

Exodus becomes plagues, wars, and waiting. Finally with faith in God's help, Israel begins. Not without plenty of confusion in The Book of Judges, chaos from man deciding right and wrong for himself.  Crime. Murders. Instability and few dreams other than survival. 

Another reason Maccabees is swept under. Israel is not supposed to have a king. And if they do, this to be Israel is the Line of David.  The fight was worthy, but the result is only power. Herod embarrasses the History of Israel.  And is part of the real history of faith and faithlessness. 

Ezra and Nehemiah. Faith and power. This time it isn't politics but Temple authority governance over sheer faith.  

All of the beginnings have Hope. In God's Favor, Must continue, must have, the Dedication of Joshua.  To believe God and have this credited to us in Jesus as Righteousness.  Then we are not just a friend to God, but in Jesus Christ adopted as God's children. Saved. Eternal. Welcomed. Love. 

Matthew 7:12

Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Thank You, Father God, 

The absolute gift of life. 

Help us to know the peace You provide in times of crisis. 

Move evil

to the Heavenly Kingdom

to meet Jesus.

Let us continue to call upon You and You are so Good to hear us. 

I want my life to please You. 

How Joyful to feel that it does please You. And welcome. 

Help me to make Life meaningful for me and the ones You have given me.

 Your love was there for all of our many conversations, Father God. 

I am still finding the Wonders in Life unfolding around me. 

Thank You for Your mercy and Your Love as an assurance.

 Thank You, Father God, for my blessings. Lord Jesus Christ!!! 

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

Peace and the Joy God gives us.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

We are praying for 
NATIONS

to put

aside

Tyranny

and Cartels.

Pray with hope!

Ending

Bad weather experienced 

And

be good weather again.

Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.

Only 1 

Hurricane in the Gulf.

God help our Hawaii to be safe.

Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great

 and 

grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner. 

This is Our Father and Jesus, 

comforts us 

enabling us, 

strengthening us,

able to comfort those in any affliction,

 Blessings of Grace 

Blessings of Peace,

we ourselves are comforted 

by God.

The surgery of Edward's Retina

to be

Healed

with God. 

We pray the 

impossible 

more Heaven on earth and 

for the believers of God 

and 

the ones they pray for 

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

Thank You

Father

for

Your

Mercy

and

Grace.

Forgiveness.

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as it is

in Heaven. 

Thank You, Father God, for my blessings. 

Lord Jesus Christ!!! 

And we will be blessed indeed. 

Jesus the Lord. Alleluia

and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose!