
170 BC to 150 BC, Psalm 39: hanukkah.
This generation is that of the years between 170 BC and 150 BC.
- It also [1] happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.
- One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: “What do you expect to learn by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”
- At that the king, in a fury, gave orders to have pans and caldrons heated.
- These were quickly heated, and he gave the order to cut out the tongue of the one who had spoken for the others, to scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of his brothers and his mother looked on.
- When he was completely maimed but still breathing, the king ordered them to carry him to the fire and fry him. As a cloud of smoke spread from the pan, the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die nobly.
(extract of the psalm 39 associated to this generation, verses 1 to 3 )
- For the conductor, to Jeduthun, a song of David.
- I said, « I will guard my ways from sinning with my tongue; I will guard my mouth [as with] a muzzle while the wicked man is still before me.
- I made myself dumb in silence; I was silent from good although my pain was intense.
So when the officers of King Antiochus will arrive in the city of Modine to force the Jews again to deny their religion through idolatrous sacrifices, Mattathias revolts:
- As [2] he finished saying these words (Matatthias, to refuse the advantageous offers of the officers of King Antiochus in exchange for his cooperation), a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order.
- When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
- At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
- Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
(extract of the psalm 39 associated to this generation, verse 4 )
- My heart is hot within me; in my thoughts fire burns; I spoke with my tongue,
- The Gemara asks [3]: What is Hanukkah, and why are lights kindled on Hanukkah? The Gemara answers: The Sages taught in Megillat Ta’anit: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the days of Hanukkah are eight. One may not eulogize on them and one may not fast on them. What is the reason? When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary by touching them. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and emerged victorious over them, they searched and found only one cruse of oil that was placed with the seal of the High Priest, undisturbed by the Greeks. And there was sufficient oil there to light the candelabrum for only one day. A miracle occurred and they lit the candelabrum from it eight days. The next year the Sages instituted those days and made them holidays with recitation of hallel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessings.
(extract of the psalm 39 associated to this generation, verses 5 and 6 )
- O Lord, let me know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; I would know when I will cease.
- Behold You made my days as handbreadths, and my old age is as nought before You; surely all vanity is in every man; this is his condition forever.
- I can not [4] sleep anymore and the worry falls on me. I wonder why I’m plunged into such deep despair. Indeed when I was powerful, I did good, and people loved me. But now, I remember all the evil I did in Jerusalem. I took all the gold and silver objects that were in the Temple and gave the order to kill without any reason the inhabitants of Judea. So I recognize it: it is because of this that these misfortunes strike me and I will die of despair in a foreign country.
(extract of the psalm 39 associated to this generation, verse 7 )
- Man walks but in darkness; all that they stir is but vanity; he gathers yet he knows not who will bring them in.
(extract of the psalm 39 associated to this generation, verses 8 to 12 to 14 )
- And now, what have I hoped, O Lord?
- The death of Antiochus Epiphanes whose action had generated the revolt of the Jews does not end their struggle, on the contrary many formidable enemies are constantly rising to try to take over.
- My hope to You is;
- Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of an ignoble man.
- I have become mute; I will not open my mouth because You have done it.
- Remove Your affliction from me; from the fear of Your hand I perish.
- With rebukes for iniquity You have chastised man; You have caused his flesh to decay as by a moth. Surely all man is vanity forever.
- Judas and the Maccabees remained faithful Jews. Rather than claiming each of their victory, they never cease to rely on God to avoid the defeat that would be justified by the errors of the Jewish people attracted by the Greek culture with what it entails of worship idolatrous.
- Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken to my cry. Be not silent to my tears, for I am a stranger with You, a dweller as all my forefathers.
- Turn away from me that I may recover, before I go and am here no longer. »
- In all these fights, Judas is looking for a period of calm for him and his people, realizing that it will not be eternal. He will get it by Antiochus Eupator who finally gives up attacking Jerusalem. Also by the beginnings of peace with the Romans that will allow the Jews to take a first breath in the next generations before suffering again great confrontations. This is the conclusion of this psalm, also illustrated by the end of Judas in this generation.
[1] 2 Maccabees, chapter 7, verses 1 à 5 (« Martyrdom of a Mother and Her Seven Sons »).
(according to: http://www.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/7 )
[2] 2 Maccabees, chapter 2, verses 23 to 26 (« Mattathias and His Sons »).
(according to: http://www.usccb.org/bible/1maccabees/2 )
[3] Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 21b (The William Davidson Talmud)
(according to: https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.21b.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en )
[4] I MACCABEES Chapitre 6, versets 10 à 13