Dr Simon Reads...

  The Apocrypha: Closing Thoughts   This is the last instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I worked my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: I really enjoyed the majority o f those, especially the various folk tale style books, including all of those featuring Daniel, First Esdras and the finest things in life, Judith and her bloody revenge, and Tobit with its road trip and magical fish guts. Add to that the dramatic history of the Maccabees and it’s a rollicking collection of tales. Less interesting was the Wisdom book of Ben Sirach/Ecclesiasticus – as with Kohellet/Ecclesiastes, it went on a bit, repeating the same points over and over. The Additions to Esther did nothing to add to what was alr

  2 Maccabees 11-15 One Last Round Of Bloodshed   Welcome to the final instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP   2 Maccabees 11 “ Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done. ”   Last time, the Maccabees had rousted the Seleucid forces, retaken Jerusalem and invented Hannukah by rededicating the Temple. Now Antiochus’ cousin Lysias wants to take a crack at them, and gathers a force of ten thousand foot soldiers, “ thousands of horse ” and 80 elephants.   However, the Jews still have God on their side, and are once again joined by an angelic saviour figure, i

  2 Maccabees 6-10 Gruesome Tortures Aplenty.   Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP   2 Maccabees 6 “ For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful. ” I thought at the end of the last chapter that the “Abomination” of Antioches Epiphanes was somewhat different in 2 nd Maccabees, but this chapter lays out all the sacrileges in remorseless detail. Antioches sends “ an old man of Athens ” to compel the Jews to abandon their religion, converting the Temple into one for Ju

  2 Maccabees  1-5 Hat-Wearing Priests with Frisbees.   Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP   2 Maccabees 1 “ What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom”.   Okay, I’m officially lost already. This chapter is a letter from the Jews of Jerusalem to the Jews of Egypt, laced with blessings and prayers, but also giving some historical detail that I’m currently having trouble lining up with 1 Maccabees.   In the 169 th year when Demetrius r

  1 Maccabees  11-16 Hail King Simon! Plus, A Bit of a “Red Wedding” Thing. Twice.   Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP And now: 1 Maccabees 11 “ And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to his own. ” Last time I suggested that the truce between the Ptolemys and the Seleucids wouldn’t last. It doesn’t even last a chapter before Ptolemy is plotting against Alexander. He takes his armies through Spain, but also, confusingly, through Israel as well, where he meets with Jonathon. I can only

  1 Maccabees  6-10 War Elephants, A Bit of Light Slaughter, Too Many Antiochuses, and a Massive Plot Twist.   Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology.   For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP   And now:   1 Maccabees  6 “ And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him”   There’s some very different fighting on show here, and it all feels a lot more advanced that when Saul and David were riding around on chariots. And on top of that we get some courtly intrigue among the Persians as w