Tonight I am grateful to God for a day of rest and lighting candles with my daughter.
My youngest daughter (18 months) wanted to light the candles today, so daddy started by lighting the middle candle and she lit the remainder.
She can't really talk yet, but I could tell she was very happy to be in charge of lighting the candles.
It's been a long week, we were happy to sleep in today and recharge.
Daniel was up a lot last night, so we have a tired daddy and mommy today. But we took it easy and spent some time in bed resting while the children took their naps. My wife and I listened to the entire 2.5 hour audio of 1 Maccabees. If you have a spare a couple of hours check it out below (it's as long as Star wars Episode 8).
The Maccabees
What's interesting is how the Dedication happens early in the story. I figured it would the be happy ending, but no, it happens in chapter 4. And no mention of the miracle of oil. These are the ancient words of historical record:
They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month that is, the month of Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar for burnt offerings that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and the entire assembly of Israel decreed that every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev, the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary. 1 Maccabees 4:52-59
Praise Heaven with song and reverence and bless the Most High!
This is 54 of 70 of the #gratefulvibe challenge by @paradise-found
Check out my previous gratefulvibe: I'm Grateful for Surprise Gifts for the Children
Pretty cool to listen to the book! Perhaps I will have some time to listen soon. Interesting that they didn't mention the oil miracle!!
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The writing is interesting how you'll have a main character, like Judah and the narration suddenly explains his death. And then Jonathan, and suddenly he's dead. Then Simon.... dead! They do not have a big 'lead in' like we're used to in fiction, this is clearly a history book. But if it were a min-series, we'd always be wondering when a major character would drop suddenly dead! Judah dies in battle, but the other brothers are killed by deceit and trickery. @ironshield
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That is pretty interesting. I guess maybe that's why we don't read the Apocrypha as part of our CM education. ;)
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If she wouldn't like that it would not show so much interest. But to all kids like to do new things.
And when they are new to them they are more curious ;-)
You have fun there as always.
Best Regards my friend.
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Thanks for stopping by! Yes the little ones are very curious. @ironshield
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8 days of oil...yes just a tradition. The most likely explanation was that they were not able to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, which of course is 8 days long! And if the Maccabees had not done this then I wonder in what condition would the Temple been in when the Messiah came to it?
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That's an interesting thought, if not for the Maccabees, the Temple may have still been in complete disarray with trees and bushes growing in the courtyard when Messiah came. Instead it was defiled with money-changers and people selling doves. But Yeshua cleaned that leaven out of His Father's house, just in time for the festival of Unleavened Bread.
I agree that Hanukkah is a like a second feast of Tabernacles, 2 Maccabees even says so:
@ironshield
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HA...well I knew I heard that somewhere and look there it was right there in 1 Maccabees!
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Thats lovely so so cute kids you got there..wonderful.
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Thank you! @ironshield
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i would love to listen to that!! I'll try and make time! Bless the Most High!!
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It is dry at times, but interesting. First Maccabees is a history book, Second Maccabees is more of an adventure story. There's even a 3rd and 4th Maccabees also. @ironshield
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I love history, and adventure!! Very cool!!
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Lovely kid smiles
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Teaching them to smile a lot. @ironshield
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Your daughter is very cute
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Thank you! @ironshield
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Always remain grateful thats the attitude as we receive more blessing from God
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Thank you. Grateful every day! It's a habit. @ironshield
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