August 7, 2013 – 1 Maccabees 11:38 – 11:74

Here, Jonathon save a king, gets in his good graces, only to lose them just before he is overthrown and get back in good graces with the new king.  But in reading this, the Jews don’t seem to be seen as highly religious people, but they are brought in more as a mercenary force.  Their soldiers are called in to bring down a rebellion and then they are camping and destroy another army.  If I were a Roman, the Jews would seem great military men and nothing more.  God obviously is granting and allowing them victories and Jonathon is devote and that allows his success, but you don’t see the language that you saw with some earlier stories.  With Daniel and the lions, after Daniel survives the king recognizes Daniels God.  Here, Jonathon saves the king, but there is really no recognition of God by the king.  They honor Jonathon, but not God, or so it seems.  Jonathon’s communication with God and looking to Him for guidance is something I think is missing from these stories like it was in previous books.