Who Was Simon?
1 Maccabees 13:1-5
[3] Simon was the brother of some great men in Israel that had previously fought and seen troubles for the sake of Yahawah’s laws and the temple.
Which great men was he brother to?
[8] Judah Maccabeus and Jonathan
1 Macc 2:1-5 Joannan, Judas Maccabeus, Eleazar and Jonathan
The son of Mattathias 1 Macc 2:1-6
Who was the father of these great brothers?
1 Maccabees 2:1, 6-7 Mattathias
Who was Mattathias?
- A man who loved Yahawah and his nation [6-7]
Who were the enemies and the strangers and what were the blasphemies Mattathias was lamenting about?
- 1 Maccabees 1:1-10
- 1 & 10.The greeks lead by Antiochus Epiphanes IV
- Why were they the enemies of Israel?
- 20-25. Because of wars, Massacres, desecration of the temple and theft of our holy things and treasures
- 29-32, 59-61. Because of massacres, killings, deceits, robbery, destruction of Jerusalem and slavery of our women and children
- 33-35,38, 51-53 For occupying Israel
- 41-49 For causing the children of Israel to forget the law and for changing all the ordinances
- 56 For destroying the books of the law
- In short, for the old hatred.
- Amos 1:11, Ezekiel 35:1-5
- That’s why they were and still are the enemies of Israel
The Virtues of Mattathias
- 17. A ruler and an honourable, strong and great man
- 15, 17-22. A bold man
- 23-25. A zealous man
- 2:27 A law keeper
- 2:28, 49-64(read on your own time) A faithful man and not vain
- 31-41 A wise man
- 42-48. A warrior for Yahawah
- So this is the stock from which Simon aka Thassi was bred.
- His father was a shining light in Israel. That’s clear from the scriptures and memorial. Let’s now look at what virtues Simon had.
