DANIEL 11: 33, 34 & 35 (175 B.C.E. – 37 B.C.E. ) Part II

DANIEL 11: 33, 34 & 35 (175 B.C.E. – 37 B.C.E. ) Part II

The Five Sons of Mattathias were named:

  • John (also called Gaddi)
  • Simon (also called Thassi)
  • Judas (also called Maccabeus)
  • Eleazar (also called Avaran)
  • Jonathan (also called Apphus).

The exploits of Judas, Jonathan and Simon are well-known, but one of the bravest of The Sons of Mattathias was Eleazar. After the death of Antiochus IV, his son, Antiochus V, became the ruler of The Seleucid Empire. He was determined to subdue the revolt led by Mattathias and Judas, who assumed the command upon the death of his father.

Antiochus assembled a force of 100,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 32 elephants trained for war. The huge animals were distributed among the infantry units. A thousand men, protected by chain armour and bronze helmets, were stationed with each elephant. Each animal was also accompanied by a special force of 500 cavalry, which always remained with the elephant. A strong, protected wooden platform was securely fastened by a special harness to the back of each elephant. Three [or thirty] soldiers rode on each animal, in addition to the elephant driver.

When Eleazar Avaran saw that one of the elephants was larger than the others and that it was covered with royal armour, he thought that the king was riding on it. He ran boldly towards the elephant, which was in the middle of a battalion of infantry. He rushed forward killing men to the right and left, so that the enemy soldiers fell back before him on both sides. He slipped in under the elephant and stabbed it to death, and it fell on him and killed him.

In I Maccabees 6:44, the writer states that “Eleazar sacrificed his life to save his people and to gain eternal fame.”

A greater than Eleazar earned eternal glory by crushing The Serpent, The Enemy of Adam and Eve, and all their descendants.

Despite being tempted by the serpent, JESUS, as it was prophesied, ultimately destroyed The Seed of The Evil One:

“Weep Not!

Behold!

The Lion of The Tribe of Judah ,

Hath prevailed… “(Revelation 5:5)

Next Week: More on the House of the Hasmoneans.

One thought on “DANIEL 11: 33, 34 & 35 (175 B.C.E. – 37 B.C.E. ) Part II”

  1. Just as Eleazar ran boldly to attack the largest elephant, and so putting his life at risk , that picture reminds me of Jesus’ readying Himself to endure the Cross. Luke 9:51 tells us ” Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up [to heaven], He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”
    I love that picture of Jesus’ steely resolve and determination to fulfil His mission to save us from our sins….and thus the penalty of (spiritual) death – eternal separation from God’s love.
    There is a lesson from Eleazar and Jesus for us in the 21st century – to resolve with determination to follow Jesus in obedience and trust….especially in these dark days of moral decay and demonic activity.

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