
230 BC to 210 BC, Psalm 36: The hippodrome.
This generation is that of the years between 230 BC and 210 BC.
- Having [1] vanquished this attempt (- a [2] character named Theodotus had tried to murder him –), the king (Ptolémée IV Philopator) then decided to proceed to the neighbouring cities, and encourage them.
- By doing this, and by making donations to their temples, he inspired his subjects with confidence.
- The Jews sent some of their council and of their elders to him. The greetings, guest- gifts, and congratulations of the past, bestowed by them, filled him with the greater eagerness to visit their city.
- Having arrived at Jerusalem, sacrificed, and offered thank-offerings to the Greatest God, and done whatever else was suitable to the sanctity of the place, and entered the inner court,
- he was so struck with the magnificence of the place, and so wondered at the orderly arrangements of the temple, that he considered entering the sanctuary itself.And when they told him that this was not permissible, none of the nation, no, nor even the priests in general, but only the supreme high priest of all, and he only once in a year, being allowed to go in, he would by no means give way.
- Then they read the law to him; but he persisted in obtruding himself, exclaiming, that he ought to be allowed: and saying « Be it that they were deprived of this honour, I ought not to be ».
- And he put the question, Why, when he entered all the temples, none of the priests who were present forbad him?He was thoroughly answered by some one, That he did wrong to boast of this.
- Well; since I have done this, said he, be the cause what it may, shall I not enter with or without your consent?
- And when the priests fell down in their sacred vestments imploring the Greatest God to come and help in time of need, and to avert the violence of the fierce aggressor, and when they filled the temple with lamentations and tears,
(extract of the psalm 36 associated to this generation, verses 1 to 5 )
- For the conductor. Of the servant of the Lord, of David.
- The word of the transgression to the wicked man, in the midst of my heart, is that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
- For it smoothed the way before him in his eyes, to find his iniquity to hate [him].
- The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he refrained from learning to improve.
- He thinks iniquity on his couch; he stands on a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
(extract of the psalm 36 associated to this generation, verses 6 and 7 )
- O Lord, Your kindness is in the heavens; Your faith is until the sky.
- Your charity is like the mighty mountains; Your judgments are [like] the vast deep. You save both man and beast, O Lord.
(extract of the psalm 36 associated to this generation, verses 8 to 13 )
- How precious is Your kindness, O God, and the sons of man will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
- They will be sated from the fat of Your house, and with the stream of Your delights You give them to drink.
- For with You is the source of life; in Your light we will see light.
- Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your charity to the upright of heart.
- Let the foot of haughtiness not come with me, neither shall the hand of the wicked cause me to wander.
- There the workers of iniquity have fallen; they have been thrust away and were unable to rise.
[1] MACCABEES III, Chapitre 1, versets 6 à 16
[2] See III Maccabees, Chapter 1, verses 2 and 3