Kris wrote:Does anyone have a good explanation as to what these days mean in support of Daniel relating to the times of the Maccabees? I have read that the SDA church has some odd interpretations--- but I am looking for a more historical interpretation.
I think that spin is right that the differing lengths of the crisis in days represents a progression of thinking as the crisis drew on longer and longer. I figure that the time ranges either start or end with the abomination of desolation (the erection of the pagan alter) on 12/06/167 BCE, or the rededication of the temple alter on 12/14/164 BCE.
Many years ago I created a spreadsheet that tried to project forward 1150, 1290 and 1335 days from the desecration and backwards 1150, 1290 and 1335 days from the rededication. The key dates (all in the Julian calendar, and may be off by a day) are:
12/06/167
01/29/163 +1150
06/12/163 +1290
08/02/163 +1135
12/14/164
10/21/167 -1150
06/03/167 -1290
04/19/167 -1335
The events in the Maccabean rebellion falling approximately in these periods are:
168 or 167 1 Macc. 1:41-53; 2 Macc. 5:24-26
Antiochus commands that all peoples in his empire follow Hellenic ways, and forbids the practice of the Jewish Law on pain of death. Apollonius enforces the decree.
168/7 1 Macc. 2:1-48
The priest Mattathias, a priest of the order of Jorarib, defies Antiochus IV’s order and starts a guerrilla war against the Syrians and those who apostatized with Menelaus.
167, Dec 6 1 Macc. 1:54-64; 2 Macc. 6:1-7:42
The Temple is profaned by the erection of a “desolating sacrilege/horrible abomination” (i.e., the “abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9) upon the alter of burnt offerings.
164/163 1 Macc. 4:35; 2 Macc. 10:10-11
Lysias heads to Antioch to secure throne for his puppet Antiochus V Eupator, and get reinforcements to resume battle with Judas.
164 or 163 2 Macc. 10:12-13
Good relations with Ptolemy, an advisor to Antiocus V, until he is denounced as a traitor and he commits suicide.
164-162 1 Macc. 5:1-68; 2 Macc. 10:14-38; 12:1-45
Judas fights off attacks by the Syrian generals Gorgias, Timothy, and Nicanor. In the process, Judas carries the battle for Jewish freedom to foreign soil to strengthen his rebel Jewish government and protect Jews from persecution by their neighbors in Gentile towns and villages.
163/162 1 Macc. 6:18-28
Judas lays siege to the Citadel in Jerusalem, which is still held by the Syrians, and Beth-zur, eventually taking that latter town.
163, Fall 1 Macc. 6:29-54; 2 Macc. 13:1-22
Taking advantage of the Jewish Sabbatical year (Fall 164-Summer 163), Antiochus V and Lysias return with a large force fortified with mercenary troops and they lay siege to Jerusalem and Beth-zur. Due to a lack of provisions, Beth-zur was abandoned to the Syrians and Judas’ forces defending the Sanctuary are seriously reduced.
163/2 1 Macc. 6:55-62; 2 Macc.11:1-38; 13:23-26
Lysias finds out that there is a contender to Antiochus V’s throne and makes peace with Judas in order to be able to head for Antioch, but tears down the city walls.
163/2 2 Macc. 13:3-8
Menelaus, who had joined Lysias’ and Antiochus V’s war party, is accused by some of having started the rebellion through his misrule, and Antiochus has him executed.
Since we don't have precise dates for many of these events, we can only guess which ones served as the key events to have created the 1150, 1290 and 1335 day intervals.
DCH
