Heroes of Israel Part 46

And when Judas died all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, and said, "How is the mighty fallen, the Savior of Israel!"

And the rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars, and the valiant deeds which he did, and his greatness, they are not written; for they were exceeding many.

THE MEANING OF THE STORY

357. Three hundred years ago King Philip II of Spain was the most powerful king in Europe. He was a bitter tyrant, determined to rule his people according to his own will. He was a Roman Catholic and hated all Protestants. The little country of Holland was part of his territory and he ordered the people to become Roman Catholics. They refused, for they were loyal to their own religion. He sent against them a great army under the command of a brutal general, Alva, and all Europe thought that the little people would be crushed. But they fought for their faith and their homes so valiantly that the tyrant was compelled to withdraw. It is almost impossible to destroy patriots.

358. We always admire the heroism of those who resist tyrants. The Jews were often bitterly persecuted and they had many a hero who defended them. One of the greatest of all their heroes was Judas, who was called the Maccabee, or the Hammerer. With a great faith in G.o.d and a wonderful courage he defeated large armies. His story is not found in the Old Testament, but in another collection of Hebrew books called "The Apocrypha." The book is I Maccabees.

359 (--96A). At the time of this story the Jews were under the rule of Antiochus, the king of Syria. What was the wish of this tyrant? What insults were offered to the religion of the Jews?

360 (--96B). An old priest was living in one of the villages of Judah with his five n.o.ble sons. They were very much distressed about the sad state of their people: but what could they do against the strong king?

At last the king's officers came to this village to order the heathen sacrifices. What did they demand of Mattathias, and what did they promise him? How did the old priest answer? What followed?

361 (--96B). The priest and his sons went to the hills, where they could find refuge in the caves. Who joined them? What did they do? The fierce contest was too severe for the old man, and he soon fell ill. What were his last words to his sons?

362 (--97A). Who took the lead after the death of the old priest? Note that there was no jealousy among those n.o.ble brothers. Tell the story of the first victory over the Syrians.

363 (--97A). The king was astonished that his forces should be defeated by the little army of patriots. Great preparations to crush the Jews were made. Note that elephants with armed men were employed. What was the result of the campaigns?

364 (--97B). At last the victories were so conclusive that they thought it safe to go to Jerusalem and clean out the abominations from the temple. In what condition did they find the temple? How did it affect them? How did Judas purify it?

365 (--97C). Note how happy they were when they could wors.h.i.+p once more in the house of G.o.d. Describe the celebration.

366 (--97D). One can imagine how greatly the Jews would honor such a deliverer as Judas. How did they mourn for him at his death?

WRITTEN REVIEW

Imagine yourself a boy (or girl) about thirteen years old, living in the village of Modin a little over two thousand years ago. Imagine that you were present on the day when the officers came to command the heathen sacrifice. Then imagine yourself writing a letter describing everything that took place that day. Write it in the first person to some friend who was absent. Describe the whole scene just as it lies in your mind, and tell what you think of the heroes.

x.x.xIV. DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS

THE STORY

=--98. The Training of the Young Men= (Daniel 1:1-19)

When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem and captured it, certain of the youths of the n.o.bility were taken and given into the charge of the master of the king's servants that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. And the master gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the master that he might not defile himself. Now G.o.d made Daniel to find favor and compa.s.sion in the sight of the master. And he said unto Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the youths which are of your own age? so should ye endanger my head with the king."

Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the master had appointed over them, "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants."

So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths which did eat of the king's meat.

So the steward took away their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them vegetables. Now as for these four youths, G.o.d gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the master brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

=--99. The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace= (Dan. 3:1, 2, 4-30)

A. THE WORs.h.i.+P OF THE GOLDEN IMAGE

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then the king sent to gather together all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image.

Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and wors.h.i.+p the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and wors.h.i.+ppeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the music, they fell down and wors.h.i.+pped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

B. THE THREE JEWS DEFY THE KING

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews, and said to Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the music, shall fall down and wors.h.i.+p the golden image: and whoso falleth not down and wors.h.i.+ppeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy G.o.ds, nor wors.h.i.+p the golden image which thou hast set up."

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar said unto them, "Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my G.o.d, nor wors.h.i.+p the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the music, ye fall down and wors.h.i.+p the image which I have made, well: but if ye wors.h.i.+p not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that G.o.d that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our G.o.d whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy G.o.ds, nor wors.h.i.+p the golden image which thou hast set up."

C. DELIVERANCE FROM THE FIERY FURNACE

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their hose, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counselors, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?"

They answered and said unto the king, "True, O king."

He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the G.o.ds."

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High G.o.d, come forth, and come hither."

Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth out of the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hose changed, nor had the smell of fire pa.s.sed on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, "Blessed be the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor wors.h.i.+p any G.o.d, except their own G.o.d. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the G.o.d of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a ruin: because there is no other G.o.d that is able to deliver after this sort."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

=--100. Daniel and the Lions= (Dan. 6:1-28)

A. THE DECREE OF KING DARIUS

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, which should be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.