Thurzo Gizella Bible Study

Word for today: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

A Christian’s goal should be to create the Kingdom of God here on earth, as it is in Heaven. Not only, to get to Heaven.

Watch this to start your day.

Reflection for Today.

To finish the Bible in one year, Read 1 Maccabees 10,11,12,13, & Matthew 24: 1-14

Old Testament Reading for today – Listen or read it for yourself:

Also read the verses, if you like.

Old Testament Reading for today.

1 Maccabees 10

1 And in the hundred and sixties year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, went up and took possession of Ptolemais: and they received him, and he reigned there.

2 And king Demetrius heard thereof, and he gathered together exceedingly great forces, and went forth to meet him in battle.

3 And Demetrius sent letters to Jonathan with words of peace, so as to magnify him.

4 For he said, let’s go beforehand to make peace with them, before he makes peace with Alexander against us:

5 for he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and to his kindred and to his nation.

6 And he gave him authority to gather together forces, and to provide arms, and that he should be his ally: and he commanded that they should deliver up to him the hostages that were in the citadel.

7 And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of those who were in the citadel:

8 and they were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an army.

9 And they of the citadel delivered up the hostages to Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents.

10 And Jonathan lived in Jerusalem, and began to build and renew the city.

11 And he commanded those who did the work to build the walls and the mount Sion round about with square stones for defense; and they did so.

12 And the strangers, that were in the strongholds which Bacchides had built, fled away;

13 and each man left his place, and departed into his own land.

14 Only at Bethsura were there left certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments; for it was a place of refuge to them.

15 And king Alexander heard all the promises which Demetrius had sent to Jonathan: and they told him of the battles and the valiant deeds which he and his kindred had done, and of the toils which they had endured;

16 And he said, Shall we find such another man? and now we will make him our Friend and ally.

17 And he wrote letters, and sent them to him, according to these words, saying,

18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting:

19 We have heard of you, that you are a mighty man of valour, and meet to be our Friend.

20 And now we have appointed you this day to be high priest of your nation, and to be called the king’s Friend (and he sent to him a purple robe and a crown of gold), and to take our part, and to keep friendship with us.

21 And Jonathan put on the holy garments in the seventh month of the hundred and sixties year, at the feast of tabernacles, and he gathered together forces, and provided arms in abundance.

22 And Demetrius heard these things, and he was grieved, and said,

23 What is this that we have done, that Alexander has been beforehand with us in establishing friendship with the Jews, to strengthen himself?

24 I also will write to them words of encouragement and of honor and of gifts, that they may be with me to aid me.

25 And he sent to them according to these words: King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

26 Forasmuch as you° have kept your covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, and have not joined yourselves to our enemies, we have heard of this, and are glad.

27 And now continue you° still to keep faith with us, and we will recompense to you good things in return for your dealings with us,

28 and will grant you many immunities, and give you gifts.

29 And now do I free you, and release all the Jews, from the tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from the crowns.

30 And instead of the third part of the seed, and instead of the half of the fruit of the trees, which falls to me to receive, I release it from this day and henceforth, so that I will not take it from the land of Judah, and from the three governments which are added thereto from the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for all time.

31 And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and her borders; the tenths and the tolls also.

32 I yield up also my authority over the citadel which is at Jerusalem, and give it to the high priest, that he may appoint in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.

33 And every soul of the Jews, that has been carried captive from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom, I set at liberty without price; and let all remit the tributes of their cattle also.

34 And all the feasts, and the Sabbaths, and new moons, and appointed days, and three days before a feast, and three days after a feast, let them all be days of immunity and release for all the Jews that are in my kingdom.

35 And no man shall have authority to exact from any of them, or to trouble them concerning any matter.

36 And let there be enrolled among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, and pay shall be given to them, as belongs to all the king’s forces.

37 And of them some shall be placed in the king’s great strongholds, and some of them shall be placed over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and let those that are over them, and their rulers, be of themselves, and let them walk after their own laws, even as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.

38 And the three governments that have been added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be added to Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, that they may not obey other authority than the high priest’s.

39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I have given it as a gift to the sanctuary that is at Jerusalem, for the expenses that befit the sanctuary.

40 And I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver from the king’s revenues from the places that are convenient.

41 And all the overplus, which those who manage the king’s affairs paid not in as in the first years, they shall give from henceforth toward the works of the house.

42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they received from the uses of the sanctuary from the revenue year by year, this also is released, because it appertains to the priests that minister.

43 And whoever shall flee to the temple that is at Jerusalem, and be found within all the borders thereof, whether one owe moneys to the king, or any other matter, let them go free, and all that they have in my kingdom.

44 And for the building and renewing of the works of the sanctuary the expense shall be given also out of the king’s revenue.

45 And for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, shall the expense be given also out of the king’s revenue, and for the building of the walls in Judea.

46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credence to them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil which he had done in Israel, and that he had afflicted them very sore.

47 And they were well pleased with Alexander, because he was the first that spoke words of peace to them, and they were allies with him always.

48 And king Alexander gathered together great forces, and encamped near Demetrius.

49 And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled; and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them.

50 And he strengthened the battle exceedingly until the sun went down: and Demetrius fell that day.

51 And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt according to these words, saying,

52 Forasmuch as I am returned to my kingdom, and am set on the throne of my fathers, and have gotten the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and have gotten possession of our country;

53 yes, I joined the battle with him, and he and his army were discomfited by us, and we sat upon the throne of his kingdom:

54 now also let’s make friends with one another, and give me now your daughter to wife: and I will be joined with you, and will give both you and her gifts worthy of you.

55 And Ptolemy the king answered, saying, Happy is the day wherein you did return into the land of your fathers, and did sit on the throne of their kingdom.

56 And now I will do to you, as you have written: but meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; and I will join with you, even as you have said.

57 And Ptolemy went out of Egypt, himself and Cleopatra his daughter, and came to Ptolemais in the hundred and threescore and second year:

58 and king Alexander met him, and he bestowed on him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with great pomp, as the manner of kings is.

59 And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come to meet him.

60 And he went with pomp to Ptolemais, and met the two kings, and gave them and their Friends silver and gold, and many gifts, and found favor in their sight.

61 And there were gathered together against him certain pestilent fellows out of Israel, men that were transgressors of the law, to complain against him: and the king gave no heed to them.

62 And the king commanded, and they took off Jonathan’s garments, and clothed him in purple: and thus they did.

63 And the king made him sit with him, and said to his princes, Go forth with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and let no man trouble him for any manner of cause.

64 And it came to pass, when those who complained against him saw his glory according as the herald made proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all fled away.

65 And the king gave him honor, and wrote him among his Chief Friends, and made him a captain, and governor of a province.

66 And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.

67 And in the hundred and threescore and fifth year came Demetrius, son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers:

68 and king Alexander heard thereof, and he grieved exceedingly, and returned to Antioch.

69 And Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coelesyria, and he gathered together a great army, and encamped in Jamnia, and sent to Jonathan the high priest, saying,

70 You alone lift up yourself against us, but I am had in derision and in reproach because of you. And why do you vaunt your power against us in the mountains?

71 Now therefore, if you trust in your forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let’s try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities.

72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help us; and they say, Your foot can’t stand before our face; for your fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.

73 And now you shall not be able to withstand the horse and such an army as this in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee to.

74 Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him for to help him.

75 And he encamped against Joppa: and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa:

76 and they fought against it. And they of the city were afraid, and opened to him: and Jonathan became master of Joppa.

77 And Apollonius heard, and he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great army, and went to Azotus as though he were on a journey, and therewithal drew onward into the plain, because he had a multitude of horse, and trusted therein.

78 And he pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle.

79 And Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind them privily.

80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him. And they compassed round his army, and cast their darts at the people, from morning until evening:

81 but the people stood still, as Jonathan commanded them: and their horses were wearied.

82 And Simon drew forth his army, and joined battle with the phalanx (for the horsemen were spent), and they were discomfited by him, and fled.

83 And the horsemen were scattered in the plain, and they fled to Azotus, and entered into Beth-dagon, their idol’s temple, to save themselves.

84 And Jonathan burned Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, and those who fled into it, he burned with fire.

85 And those who had fallen by the sword, with those who were burned, were about eight thousand men.

86 And from thence Jonathan removed, and encamped against Ascalon, and they of the city came forth to meet him with great pomp.

87 And Jonathan, with those who were on his side, returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.

88 And it came to pass, when king Alexander heard these things, he honored Jonathan yet more;

89 and he sent to him a buckle of gold, as the use is to give to such as are of the kindred of the kings: and he gave him Ekron and all the coasts thereof for a possession.

1 Maccabees 11

1 And the king of Egypt gathered together great forces, as the sand which is by the sea shore, and many ships, and sought to make himself master of Alexander’s kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom.

2 And he went forth into Syria with words of peace, and they of the cities opened to him, and met him; For king Alexander’s commandment was that they should meet him, because he was his father-in-law.

3 Now as he entered into the cities of Ptolemais, he set his forces for a garrison in each city.

4 But when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon burned with fire, and Azotus and the pasture lands thereof pulled down, and the bodies cast abroad, and those who had been burned, whom he burned in the war, for they had made heaps of them in his way.

5 And they told the king what things Jonathan had done, that they might cast blame on him: and the king held his peace.

6 And Jonathan met the king with pomp at Joppa, and they saluted one another, and they slept there.

7 And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called Eleutherus, and returned to Jerusalem.

8 But king Ptolemy became master of the cities upon the sea coast, to Selucia which is by the sea, and he devised evil plans concerning Alexander.

9 And he sent ambassadors to king Demetrius, saying, Come! Let’s make a covenant with one another, and I will give you my daughter whom Alexander has, and you shall reign over your father’s kingdom;

10 for I have repented that I gave my daughter to him, for he sought to kill me.

11 And he cast blame on him, because he coveted his kingdom.

12 And taking his daughter from him, he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity was openly seen.

13 And Ptolemy entered into Antioch, and put on himself the diadem of Asia; and he put two diadems upon his head, the diadem of Egypt and that of Asia.

14 But king Alexander was in Cilicia at that season, because they of those parts were in revolt.

15 And Alexander heard of it, and he came against him in war: and Ptolemy led forth his army, and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight.

16 And Alexander fled into Arabia, that he might be sheltered there; but king Ptolemy was exalted.

17 And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander’s head, and sent it to Ptolemy.

18 And king Ptolemy died the third day after, and those who were in his strongholds were slain by those who were in the strongholds.

19 And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and threescore and seventh year.

20 In those days Jonathan gathered together them of Judea, to take the citadel that was at Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.

21 And certain that hated their own nation, men that transgressed the law, went to the king, and reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel.

22 And he heard, and was angered; but when he heard it, he set forth immediately, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan, that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed.

23 But when Jonathan heard this, he commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and of the priests, and put himself in peril,

24 and taking silver and gold and raiment and various presents besides, went to Ptolemais to the king. And he found favor in his sight.

25 And certain lawless men of those who were of the nation made complaints against him,

26 and the king did to him even as his predecessors had done to him, and exalted him in the sight of all his Friends,

27 and confirmed to him the high priesthood, and all the other honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his Chief Friends.

28 And Jonathan requested of the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, and the three provinces, and the country of Samaria; and promised him three hundred talents.

29 And the king consented, and wrote letters to Jonathan concerning all these things after this manner:

30 King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

31 The copy of the letter which we wrote to Lasthenes our kinsman concerning you, we have written also to you, that you° may see it.

32 King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father, greeting:

33 We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and observe what is just toward us, because of their good will toward us.

34 We have confirmed therefore to them the borders of Judea, and also the three governments of Aphaerema and Lydda and Ramathaim (these were added to Judea from the country of Samaria), and all things appertaining to them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the king’s dues which the king received of them yearly aforetime from the produce of the earth and the fruits of trees.

35 And as for the other things that pertain to us from henceforth, of the tenths and the tolls that pertain to us, and the salt pits, and the crowns that pertain to us, all these we will bestow upon them.

36 And not one of these things shall be annulled from this time forth and forever.

37 Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and let it be set up on the holy mount in a meet and conspicuous place.

38 And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles: and all the forces of his fathers hated him.

39 Now Tryphon was of those who aforetime had been of Alexander’s part, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrius, and he went to Imalcue the Arabian, who was nourishing up Antiochus the young child of Alexander,

40 and pressed sore upon him that he should deliver him to him, that he might reign in his father’s stead: and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred wherewith his forces hated him; and he abode there many days.

41 And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, that he should cast out of Jerusalem them of the citadel, and those who were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually.

42 And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honor you and your nation, if I find fair occasion.

43 Now therefore you shall do well, if you send me men who shall fight for me; for all my forces are revolted.

44 And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king was glad at their coming.

45 And they of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and they were minded to kill the king.

46 And the king fled into the court of the palace, and they of the city seized the passages of the city, and began to fight.

47 And the king called the Jews to help him, and they were gathered together to him all at once, and they dispersed themselves in the city, and killed that day to the number of a hundred thousand.

48 And they set the city on fire, and got many spoils that day, and saved the king.

49 And they of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves masters of the city as they would, and they waxed faint in their hearts, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying,

50 Give us your right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city.

51 And they cast away their arms, and made peace; and the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all that were in his kingdom; and they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.

52 And king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.

53 And he lied in all that he spoke, and estranged himself from Jonathan, and recompensed him not according to the benefits with which he had recompensed him, and afflicted him exceedingly.

54 Now after this Tryphon returned, and with him the young child Antiochus; and he reigned, and put on a diadem.

55 And there were gathered to him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away with disgrace, and they fought against him, and he fled and was put to the rout.

56 And Tryphon took the elephants, and became master of Antioch.

57 And the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, I confirm to you the high priesthood, and appoint you over the four governments, and to be one of the king’s Friends.

58 And he sent to him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him leave to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle.

59 And his brother Simon he made captain from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.

60 And Jonathan went forth, and took his journey beyond the river and through the cities; and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him for to be his allies. And he came to Ascalon, and they of the city met him honorably.

61 And he departed thence to Gaza, and they of Gaza shut him out; and he laid siege to it, and burned the pasture lands thereof with fire, and plundered them.

62 And they of Gaza made request to Jonathan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem; and he passed through the country as far as Damascus.

63 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great army, purposing to remove him from his office;

64 and he went to meet them, but Simon his brother he left in the country.

65 And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and shut it up:

66 and they made request to him that he would give them his right hand, and he gave it to them; and he put them out from thence, and took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.

67 And Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of Gennesareth, and early in the morning they got them to the plain of Hazor.

68 And, behold, an army of strangers met him in the plain, and they laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but themselves met him face to face.

69 But those who lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined battle; and all those who were of Jonathan’s side fled:

70 not one of them was left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces.

71 And Jonathan tore his clothes, and put earth upon his head, and prayed.

72 And he turned again to them in battle, and put them to the rout, and they fled.

73 And they of his side that fled saw it, and returned to him, and pursued with him to Kedesh to their camp, and they encamped there.

74 And there fell of the strangers on that day about three thousand men: and Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.

1 Maccabees 12

1 And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.

2 And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner.

3 And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time.

4 And they gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace.

5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

6 Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greeting:

7 Even before this time were letters sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you° are our kindred, as the copy written below shows.

8 And Onias entreated honorably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship.

9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,

10 have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether: for long time is passed since you° sent to us.

11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be mindful of kindred:

12 and moreover are glad for your glory.

13 But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

14 We were not minded therefore to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars;

15 for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been brought low.

16 We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy.

17 We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood.

18 And now you° shall do well if you° give us an answer thereto.

19 And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:

20 Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting:

21 It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

22 and now, since this is come to our knowledge, you° shall do well to write to us of your prosperity.

23 And we moreover do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you on this wise.

24 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were returned to fight against him with a greater army than before,

25 and he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to set foot in his country.

26 And he sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were appointed in such and such a way to fall upon them in the night season.

27 But as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready for battle: and he put forth sentinels round about the camp.

28 And the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp

29 But Jonathan and his men knew it not till the morning; for they saw the lights burning.

30 And Jonathan pursued after them, and overtook them not; for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

31 And Jonathan turned toward the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.

32 And he came out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.

33 And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that were near to it. And he turned toward Joppa, and took possession of it;

34 for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold to the men of Demetrius; and he set a garrison there to keep it.

35 And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judea,

36 and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be all alone, that men might neither buy nor sell.

37 And they were gathered together to build the city, and there fell down part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha.

38 And Simon also built Adida in the plain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

39 And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king.

40 And he was afraid lest perhaps Jonathan should not suffer him, and lest he should fight against him; and he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. And he removed, and came to Bethshan.

41 And Jonathan came forth to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.

42 And Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, and he was afraid to stretch forth his hand against him:

43 and he received him honorably, and commended him to all his Friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself.

44 And he said to Jonathan, Why have you put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war between us?

45 And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come you with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers: and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.

46 And he put his trust in him, and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah.

47 But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.

48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and laid hands on him; and all those who came in with him they killed with the sword.

49 And Tryphon sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men.

50 And they perceived that he was taken and had perished, and those who were with him; and they encouraged one another, and went on their way close together, prepared to fight.

51 And those who followed upon them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again.

52 And they all came in peace into the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan, and those who were with him, and they were sore afraid; and all Israel mourned with a great mourning.

53 And all the Gentiles that were round about them sought to destroy them utterly: for they said, They have no ruler, nor any to help them: now therefore let’s fight against them, and take away their memorial from among men.

1 Maccabees 13

1 And Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a mighty army to come into the land of Judah, and destroy it utterly.

2 And he saw that the people trembled and was in great fear; and he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together;

3 and he encouraged them, and said to them, You° yourselves know all the things that I, and my kindred, and my father’s house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we have seen:

4 by reason of this all my kindred have perished for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.

5 And now be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction; for I am not better than my kindred.

6 However I will take vengeance for my nation, and for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children; because all the Gentiles are gathered to destroy us of very hatred.

7 And the spirit of the people revived, as soon as they heard these words.

8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, You are our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan your brother.

9 Fight you our battles, and all that you shall say to us, that will we do.

10 And he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.

11 And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great army, to Joppa: and he cast out those who were therein, and abode there in it.

12 And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him in ward.

13 But Simon encamped at Adida, near the plain.

14 And Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, and he sent ambassadors to him, saying,

15 It is for money which Jonathan your brother owed to the king’s treasure, by reason of the offices which he had, that we hold him fast.

16 And now send a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will set him at liberty.

17 And Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully; and he sends the money and the children, lest perhaps he should procure to himself great hatred of the people,

18 and they should say, Because I sent him not the money and the children, he perished.

19 And he sent the children and the hundred talents. And he dealt falsely, and didn’t set Jonathan at liberty.

20 And after this Tryphon came to invade the land, and destroy it, and he went round about by the way that leads to Adora: and Simon and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went.

21 Now they of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors, hastening him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food.

22 And Tryphon made ready all his horse to come: and on that night there fell a very great snow, and he came not by reason of the snow. And he removed, and came into the country of Gilead.

23 But when he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there.

24 And Tryphon returned, and went away into his own land.

25 And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers.

26 And all Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days.

27 And Simon built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his kindred, and raised it aloft to the sight, with polished stone behind and before.

28 And he set up seven pyramids, one near another, for his father, and his mother, and his four kindred.

29 And for these he made cunning devices, setting about them great pillars, and upon the pillars he fashioned all manner of arms for a perpetual memory, and beside the arms ships carved, that they should be seen of all that sail on the sea.

30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it is there to this day.

31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and killed him,

32 and reigned in his stead, and put on himself the diadem of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.

33 And Simon built the strongholds of Judea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars; and he laid up food in the strongholds.

34 And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the country an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder.

35 And king Demetrius sent to him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter to him, after this manner:

36 King Demetrius to Simon the high priest and Friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting:

37 The golden crown, and the palm branch, which you° sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers, to grant immunities to you.

38 And whatever things we confirmed to you, they are confirmed; and the strongholds, which you° have built, let them be your own.

39 As for any oversights and faults committed to this day, we forgive them, and the crown which you° owed us: and if there were any other toll exacted in Jerusalem, let it be exacted no longer.

40 And if there be any among you meet to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.

41 In the hundred and seventies year was the yoke of the heathen taken away from Israel.

42 And the people began to write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon, the great high priest and captain and leader of the Jews.

43 In those days he encamped against Gazara, and compassed it round about with armies; and he made an engine of siege, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and took it.

44 And those who were in the engine leaped forth into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city:

45 and they of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, making request to Simon to give them his right hand.

46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.

47 And Simon was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them: and he put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with singing and giving praise.

48 And he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it such men as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built therein a dwelling place for himself.

49 But they of the citadel in Jerusalem were hindered from going forth, and from going into the country, and from buying and selling; and they hungered exceedingly, and a great number of them perished through famine.

50 And they cried out to Simon, that he should give them his right hand; and he gave it to them: and he put them out from thence, and he cleansed the citadel from its pollutions.

51 And he entered into it on the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the hundred and seventy and first year, with praise and palm branches, and with harps, and with cymbals, and with viols, and with hymns, and with songs: because a great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.

52 And he ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. And the hill of the temple that was by the citadel he made stronger than before, and there he lived, himself and his men.

53 And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, and he made him leader of all his forces: and he lived in Gazara.

Chapters from the New Testament:

Matthew 24 :1-14

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said to them, See ye not all these things? verily I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? and what will be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many.

6 And ye will hear of wars, and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then will they deliver you up to be afflicted, and will kill you: and ye will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

10 And then will many be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another.

11 And many false prophets will rise, and will deceive many.

12 And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will become cold.

13 But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a testimony to all nations; and then shall the end come.

15 When therefore ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever readeth, let him understand,)

16 Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains:

17 Let him who is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe to them that are with child, and to them that nurse infants in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight may not be in the winter, neither on the sabbath:

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there would no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For false Christs will arise, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect.

Sermons or explanations by different people of the above chapters.

The Message Bible – Eugene H. Peterson – In Contemporary Language Read today’s verses in this bible on line, if you like.

The Catholic Daily Mass Readings and reflections for today.

Catholic Daily Reflections

Reflection Prayer,

My demanding Lord, I am sorry for my sin and I ask for Your mercy and forgiveness. Please help me to avoid all that leads me to sin and to surrender all my thoughts and actions to You every day. Jesus, I trust in You.

Previous Daily Bible Study Blogs

Book of 1 Maccabees , Outline Summary, Outline Book of Matthew (we are studying these books presently)

Audio Drama: Old Testament New Testament Each book is read in its entirety. You can listen to the bible, one book at a time in contemporary English.

Dr. Myles Munroe

I am including a video by Dr. Myles Munroe, I’ve listened to him back in the nineties, and rediscovered him recently. Now his perspective seems to be a good way to also look at scripture. In Pursuit of Purpose – Book Highlights