Podcasts about Maccabees

Subscribe now to ditch the ads. Chag Sameach! Danny and Derek are joined by independent scholar Joseph Scales to talk about the history of Hanukkah. They discuss the rivalry between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires that preceded the conflict; the Maccabean/Hasmonean revolt and the family's ascension to power within Judea; the Judean expansion; and much more. Originally published November 27, 2021

Remembering The Miracles Of Hanukkah  Part 2: The Festival Of Lights And The Miracle Of The Oil - English only.  Why is Hanukkah called the Festival of Lights? There is an ancient legend that the Maccabees only had enough oil to light the Temple menorah for one night, yet the lamps burned for 8 nights.  Do we have evidence that this legend is true?  If not, why do still call this the Festival of Lights? Join us as we search through Jewish sources for the history of this celebration!  This is a rebroadcast of a podcast originally recorded on December 20, 2022.  This year, 2025, the eight day celebration of the Festival of Hanukkah began at sunset on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Lex Rofeberg, Lexi Kohanski, and Liana Wertman (the latter two our friends at The Torah Studio) bring the 2nd conversation in a 4-episode mini-series entitled ApocryFest: Hanukkah Unbound and Un-Canonized. In this episode, they explore a text called Genesis Apocryphon. They explore the power of texts written in the 1st-person (unlike most of the Bible), ask whether it may be spiritually productive to engage with texts that are fragments (allowing us to fill in the blanks ourselves), and wonder aloud what changes when allow stories from our tradition to have multiple versions that can all simultaneously be "authentic."You can sign up for ApocryFest 2025 by heading to www.JudaismUnbound.com/apocryfest. Do so, and we'll send you all sorts of cool Apocryphal stuff, during Hanukkah, to help enrich your experience of this holiday! And you can register for The Hanukkah Apocrypha Extravaganza on December 21st, via this link!For all of our episodes from past years' ApocryFests, click here.Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to check out our up upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! This time around we are offering The Torah of Kink, Hasidism and Neo-Hasidism, Queering Kedusha (Holiness), and Brit Milah Unbound: Exploring Circumcision!

Hanukkah Special! Day 1 of the reading from the First Book of Maccabees

The Chanukah story is quite dramatic. The world-dominating Greeks were militarily defeated by a prickly pack of Maccabees. Our sages point the focus of the festival to the miracle of the oil when the priests rededicated the temple and cleansed it from all the Greek defilements. They found only a solitary flask of oil. This […]

On this episode, Chris decides to peel back the onion on Christmas traditions and comes to a disturbing conclusion: Santa Claus is actually a kingpin running a sweatshop of enslaved workers. After a disastrous trip to a low-budget Santa meet-and-greet that looked like it was hosted at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, Chris explains why taking your children to sit on a stranger's lap is essentially the same as introducing them to Al-Qaeda.Meanwhile, the gang accidentally forms their new favorite rock band, Judah and the Maccabees, with Miranda on drums and Scott confusing the lead singer for the guy who betrayed Jesus.Also in this episode:Chris Ruins Kwanzaa: After a deep dive into history, Chris reveals the controversial origins of the holiday and its founder, Ronald.The 9/11 Birthday Theory: Scott does some questionable math regarding the Immaculate Conception and determines Jesus might actually have been born on September 11th.Trash Pandas on Bourbon: Miranda brings us the heartwarming tale of a raccoon that broke into a liquor store and got wasted.Target Good Deeds: Miranda helps an elderly woman find her car, despite the risk of being kidnapped.www.nonewfriendspodcast.comwww.sandpipervacations.com

Today in History: Exactly three years after the Syrian Greeks had defiled the Holy Temple, the Maccabees recaptured it anddedicated it to the LORD again with a great celebration (see the historical book 1 Maccabees 4) Messiah visited the Holy Temple during Hanukkah (see John 10:22). “Then came Hanukkah; it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon's Colonnade...” (TLV).Suggested Historical Reading: 1 Maccabees 1–2This week's portion is called Miketz (At the end) TORAH PORTION: Genesis 41:15–38GOSPEL PORTION: Matthew 22:1–14What verse spoke to you most today and why?Did you learn something you need to do in your life?Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context!THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to ⁠⁠https://dailybreadmoms.com⁠⁠The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society.INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmomsTags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

CHRISTIAN ORACLES. Is that even a thing? Apparently there were Christians who adapted writings attributed to the Sibyls, prophetesses who channeled messages from the “gods.” What do we make of this? Our esteemed panel, Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview With the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea, discuss the historical context, significance, and the interplay between pagan and Christian thought found in the Sibylline Oracles.  We discuss the role of the Sibyls as ancient prophetesses, the legend of Nero Redivivus, and the implications of women as prophets in these texts. We also examine the cultural dynamics of the early church and how the Sibylline Oracles reflect messianic expectations and the incarnation of Christ.  Overall, the discussion highlights the complexity and richness of these ancient writings and their relevance to understanding early Christian theology. 

Jewish Diaspora Report - Episode 182  On this episode of the Jewish Diaspora Report, Host Mike Jordan discusses recent events in Australia and Canada that have seen attacks on Jewish populations and restrictions on their religious freedoms in relation to the same issues facing the Jewish people of Israel during the time of the Greek Oppression face by the Maccabees. Explore these challenging issues and join the Jewish Diaspora Report for future episodes on issues of Politics, Culture, Current Events and more!   Check us out on Instagram @jdr.podcastSend us a textSupport the show

Hanukkah isn't just a Jewish tradition—it's a story of light, dedication, and the same miracle that still burns in every believer today. Join Rabbi Schneider as he explains what the menorah teaches us as followers of Jesus.

Hanukkah is here! Lex Rofeberg, Lexi Kohanski, and Liana Wertman (the latter two from our friends at The Torah Studio) kick off the 2025 edition of ApocryFest: Hanukkah Unbound and Un-Canonized -- a 4-part mini-series of Judaism Unbound. They ask why texts of the apocrypha are worth exploring, why it's worth doing so on Hanukkah in particular, explore some beloved apocryphal faves (Judith and Maccabees) along with introducing a few texts (Genesis Apocryphon and 4 Ezra) which will get bonus episodes of their own once Hanukkah begins.You can sign up for ApocryFest 2025 by heading to www.JudaismUnbound.com/apocryfest. Do so, and we'll send you all sorts of cool Apocryphal stuff, during Hanukkah, to help enrich your experience of this holiday! And you can register for The Hanukkah Apocrypha Extravaganza on December 21st, via this link!For all of our episodes from past years' ApocryFests, click here.Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to check out our up upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! This time around we are offering The Torah of Kink, Hasidism and Neo-Hasidism, Queering Kedusha (Holiness), and Brit Milah Unbound: Exploring Circumcision!

As far as Jewish filmmakers go, the Safie brothers could well be the GOATs (Greatest Of All Time) when it comes to Jewish sports cinema. One of their earliest collaborations was a 2013 documentary on high school basketball star Lenny Cooke; their breakout feature, Uncut Gems, was a sports-adjacent thriller featuring a Passover Seder with Adam Sandler and Idina Menzel; then younger brother Benny Safdie went on to star in Sandler's Happy Gilmore sequel—another sports film with a Jewish lead character. Now, in late 2025, the brothers (who are great-nephews of architect Moshe Safdie, for those wondering) have gone their separate ways, each directing their own sports movie. Benny directed The Rock in a biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, while older brother Josh Safdie tapped Jewish actor Timothée Chalamet to play table tennis champion Marty Reisman in Marty Supreme. While Marty Supreme is slated for a Christmas Day release 2025, the Globe and Mail's film editor, Barry Hertz, just published a review of the Oscar contender, in which he says the story "burns with the relentless, fight-for-your-life spirit of the Maccabees.... With apologies to Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights, Marty Supreme is, thematically and spiritually, the greatest Hanukkah movie ever made." Hertz joins the Menschwarmers to explain his reasoning and how this ping pong epic fits into the larger canon of Jewish cinema. And before that, the boys chat about Jake Retzlaff leading the Tulane Green Wave to success, and get to the source of an incorrect rumour about the Toronto Blue Jays' Eric Clement being Jewish. Credits Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver Producer: Michael Fraiman Music: Coby Lipovitch (intro), chēēZ π (main theme, " Organ Grinder Swing ") Support The CJN Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Menschwarmers (Not sure how? Click here )

Rabbi Perl talks about Chanukah.

Help us take Unpacked podcasts further by supporting our crowdfunding campaign: https://unpacked.bio/podgift2025 Book for the Jerusalem Marathon "Return, Reconnect, and Run for Resilience" tour: sababatravel.com In Part 2 of The Battle Over Jewish Storytelling: A Hanukkah Conversation, Mijal sits down with Dr. Tanya White to explore the deeper meaning of Hanukkah—beyond the oil. Together they unpack the three major narratives of the holiday: the historical Maccabee revolt, the rabbinic miracle of the oil, and the Al Hanisim prayer that weaves together human courage and divine presence. Speaking from Israel after October 7, Tanya reflects on a new “renaissance of the spirit” and what Hanukkah can teach us today about Jewish resilience, covenant, and hope. This timely, inspiring conversation reframes Hanukkah as a story of agency, faith, and the light we create together. Here is a link to ⁠ Dr. Tanya White website, where you can learn more about her work and find links to her podcast. https://www.tanyawhite.org/ We're proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Note: Noam Weissman will be back next week's episode . Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #279 Categories: Biblical Feasts   Web Description: Hanukkah may be best known for the lighting of the menorah and the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days in the Temple following the Maccabean revolt. But the true heart of the Hanukkah celebration is the cleansing of the altar and the rededication of the Temple after a small group of Jewish farmers had defeated their enemies. Just as there are eight candles burning on the menorah during the celebration of Hanukkah, there are at least eight good reasons for Christians to celebrate Hanukkah.   Show Notes: Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, is actually a biblical feast and has significance for us as Christians. Here are eight reasons why Christians should consider celebrating Hanukkah:   1.    Hanukkah is found in the Bible. In John 10:22 we see that Christ celebrated the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). 2.    We all need times for a new dedication and recommitment of ourselves to God and to a deeper level of service to the Lord. 3.    Once again the land of Israel is under the leadership of the Jewish people. This restoration was promised by God, and Christians should celebrate that we are yoked together with Israel and the Jewish people. 4.    Hanukkah foreshadows the days of the complete fulfillment of the messianic prophecies, where we see God's kingdom and God's rulership on earth as it is now in heaven. 5.    Celebrating Hanukkah looks forward to the end of anti-Semitism: the end of persecution and desecration of the Jewish people in our day and age. 6.    As Christians we should join with the Jewish people in the bold proclamation of their faith by celebrating Hanukkah. 7.    We are showing our oneness today with Judaism, with the State of Israel, and with the Jewish people everywhere as our elder brothers in the faith. 8.    In celebrating Hanukkah we reconnect ourselves with the Jewish Yeshua (Jesus) and return to our Hebrew roots—to recognize them, to be thankful for them, to engage with them, and to learn more deeply the ways that were the ways of Yeshua.   Key Verses:   •       John 10:22–24. "At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place … and Jesus was walking in the temple." •       Daniel 3:13–18. "We are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image." •       Matthew 5:14–16. "Let your light shine." •       Matthew 5:17. "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law … I did not come to abolish but to fulfill."   Quotes:   •       "We should live our lives as Christians in oneness with the Jewish people in their fight against anti-Semitism, because their fight is our fight." •       "As Christians celebrating Hanukkah, we can celebrate the bold proclamation of Jews down through the centuries that say, 'We will not bow down to the idolatry of this age.'" •       "There's something very important in the coming together of Christians and Jews in today's world. Hanukkah can be a bridge for us to see that happen."   Takeaways:   1.    Go back and read the book of Maccabees, the Jewish encyclopedia, and the other sources to find out for yourself what was done and how it was done—so that Hanukkah will create in you a oneness with our Jewish brothers and sisters. 2.    Take time in this holiday season to open your heart, your mind, and your spirit to reconnect through the celebration of Hanukkah with the Jewish roots of our faith so that you will find something new and alive in your own Christian experience.

Holy Indignation, Hanukkah, and Cleansing the Temple of Your Heart | KIB 509 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description In this episode of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake share a timely word about holy indignation, the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), and the urgent need to cleanse the temple of our hearts in these perilous last days. Mary Lou begins by sharing what she continues to see in prayer—a mushroom cloud and the possibility of suitcase nuclear devices slipped into America through open borders. Rather than yielding to fear, the Lakes call the remnant to focused intercession, asking God to expose and thwart every hidden plot and scheme of the enemy. From there, Mary Lou walks through the story of the Maccabees, their guerrilla warfare tactics, and their divinely inspired strategies that turned weakness into strength. The Lakes connect this to our own call to stand against Mystery Babylon, fight spiritual battles with God-given wisdom, and cleanse the temple of compromise in our lives. Dr. Lake then unpacks the biblical and prophetic meaning of Hanukkah, the desecration and rededication of the temple, and the way this foreshadows the abomination of desolation and the rise of the Antichrist. He also addresses biblical dietary laws, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and how Mystery Babylon uses "strange fire" and unclean practices to defile believers. The heart of this episode is a powerful teaching on holy indignation—what it is, what it is not, and how it differs from carnal anger and internet "bickering." Using examples like Moses, Phineas, Nehemiah, Jesus cleansing the Temple, Paul, David and Goliath, Elijah, and Samson, Dr. Lake shows how Spirit-led indignation is rooted in God's holiness, love, and covenant faithfulness—not personal ego or offense. Mary Lou then shares from her own journey of healing as a survivor of severe trauma and programming, encouraging those who feel too broken or disqualified that Jesus can cleanse, heal, and reclaim every part of the temple. She models how to stand in your God-given authority, reject what the enemy programmed, and insist that every part of your being belongs to Jesus alone. The episode closes with a call for the remnant to walk in the fear of the LORD, as described in Malachi 3:16–18, allowing God to write our conversations and responses in His book of remembrance and to mark us as His treasured possession in the days ahead. If you've been beat down by your past, wounded by what calls itself "the church," or confused by the anger and division you see online, this message will help you discern between fleshly outrage and true holy indignation that burns away apathy, compromise, and tolerance of sin.

Toward the close of his short letter to Philemon, Paul offers to pay any debt Onesimus may owe Philemon, and adds (ESV), "I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self." The last words are often viewed as heavy-handed, but are better understood as an instance of paralipsis in which Paul "brings up something without bringing it up." He is employing a tactful approach to mention a delicate matter. Dr Seth Ehorn, an alum of the MA in Biblical Exegesis program at Wheaton Graduate School, is Assistant Professor of Classics and Biblical Languages at Houston Christian University. Among other things, he has published 2 Maccabees 1-7: A Handbook on the Greek Text and 2 Maccabees 8-15: A Handbook on the Greek Text, both in the Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint Series. He is currently working on a commentary on Paul's Letter to Philemon. He has contributed several previous episodes to Exegetically Speaking.

Brad and Paul discuss the work of Wittgenstein, Maximus, Hegel and Bulgakov as they converge on embodied synthesis in Christ and then extend the conversation to the synthesis of Scripture overcoming the contention in Job, Daniel, Maccabees, and Jonah over the split and violent or unified and peaceable image of God. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!  

This morning we analyze a cryptic connection our rabbis make between Reuven trying unsuccessfully to save Yosef, and the Maccabees at the time of Chanukah. Based on an insight from Rabbi Shimon Schwab, we contrast smell to taste. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (rabbi@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

Is Middle America about to snap? Today we break down Hannah Cox's explosive analysis of why the real poverty line may be closer to 140k and why millions of families feel trapped in an economy that punishes hard work. Austin and Stephanie unpack the bleak reality facing the middle class as 2025 closes. Then we turn up the holiday cheer with Freedom Family Friday.

“Why do Catholics pray to Mary?” This question opens a discussion on the role of Mary in Catholic devotion, supported by biblical references. Other topics include the Catholic perspective on 1 Corinthians 15:29, the origins of purgatory, and how to address misconceptions about Catholicism in conversations with friends from different denominations. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:13 – I'm in the process of converting. Is there anything I should avoid doing? I just don't know much? 08:00 – What is the Catholic position on 1 Cor. 15:29? 18:34 – St. Gabriel… Where does the idea of purgatory come from? What other sources other from Maccabees? 29:01 – Why do Catholics pray to Mary? What are your bible references? 36:21 – My Pentecostal friend invites me to his Church, and they say some crazy things about Catholics. How do I correct them during their services? 41:52 – Jn 6-7. How do you have a discourse with a protestant who doesn't believe what Jesus is saying? 48:25 – How do I respond to Protestant challenge that being a Christian doesn't mean you have to be a part of a visible church? 53:20 – Does the Church have any teaching on speaking in tongues?

Hanukkah, a season of God's light and miracles, is probably one of the most well-known Jewish holidays, primarily because of its proximity to Christmas. But do you know what this special season celebrates?Today, Yael tells us a miraculous story of courage and faith in God that was a huge turning point in history for the Jewish people. She turns to Exodus 15:11: “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Those biblical words became the battle cry for all the group of God's children who became known as the Maccabees.Even though they were much weaker and smaller in number than the Greek army, which at the time of the Hanukkah story was the mightiest army in the world, the Maccabees served our mighty God. In doing so, they showed what courage and faith can accomplish.So, what's Hanukkah's spiritual lesson for us today? Every small step of courage we take can impact the life of someone else. We never know what miracles a courageous act can create. Hanukkah is a reminder that a single act of bravery can be turned into one of God's miracles!Learn more about this season of miracles and light.

Audio Download Questions Covered: 01:13 – I'm in the process of converting. Is there anything I should avoid doing? I just don't know much? 08:00 – What is the Catholic position on 1 Cor. 15:29? 18:34 – St. Gabriel… Where does the idea of purgatory come from? What other sources other from Maccabees? 29:01 – […]

In preparation for Hanukkah, Mijal sits down with her friend and bestselling author Sarah Hurwitz to rediscover the holiday's deeper meaning. Together they explore the grown-up story of the Maccabees, the complexities of assimilation and resistance, and how Hanukkah's themes echo the identity struggles facing Jews today. Drawing on insights from Here All Along and As a Jew, Sarah reflects on courage, community, and what it means to live proudly and unapologetically Jewish in 2025. Here is Sarah Hurwitz's website with links to her books and bio: https://www.sarahhurwitz.net/ Here All Along As a Jew We're proud to be collaborating with Sefaria and The Simchat Torah Challenge, on this episode along with all the other episodes of our “In the Beginning” mini-series. Learn more about these two incredible organizations here: https://simchattorahchallenge.org/ https://www.sefaria.org/texts Note: Noam was traveling at the time of this recording. Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media and call us, 1-833-WON-Jews. Follow @unpackedmedia on Instagram and check out Unpacked on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ------------ This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soulful Jewish Living⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent St. Matthew 21:1-13 by William Klock The Gospel we read on Christmas Day is the introduction to St. John's Gospel.  Those familiar words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” The light, God's Messiah, Jesus has come into the world.  He's brought light into the darkness.  He's brought life into the middle of death.  In him, God has become present to the world.  But between us and Christmas, between us and the coming of the light, stands Advent—to remind us what the world was like before light and life came into the midst of darkness and death—so that we might appreciate more the gift that God has given us in Jesus, so that we might appreciate more his love, his mercy, and his grace; so that we might appreciate more his faithfulness as we see his promises fulfilled in the Christmas story.  So that we might better live out the story he's given us in preparation for the day when he comes again. And so Advent begins with Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed king, on the Sunday before his crucifixion.  Palm Sunday.  Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  Today we have St. Matthew's telling of that day.  He writes—at the beginning of Chapter 21: “When they came near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead.” The road from Jericho up to Jerusalem made its final approach to the city around the southern slope of the Mount of Olives. As the road came over the ridge, there was Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley, a mass of great walls and rooftops, and above it all on Mount Zion, was the temple—the place where earth and heaven were supposed to overlap, the place where men and women could draw near to the presence of God, the shekinah, the cloud of glory that sat on the ark in the holy of holies.  A cloud of smoke went up perpetually from the altar in the temple court where the burnt offerings were made.  This was the scene that met Jesus as the road took him over the Mount of Olives: the city, bustling with crowds of visitors for the Passover, the temple in all its beautiful glory standing above the city, and that column of smoke going up, an aroma to the Lord. A Jewish man or woman, walking over that ridge and seeing this scene ahead, might be overcome.  It was heaven on earth—or the closest you could get to it.  It was a scene of glory.  It was a scene that would make your heart swell with pride, knowing that you were the people who lived with the living God in your midst.  And it was exciting for all these people travelling from the outlying regions of Judea and Galilee—like they were arriving at the centre of the universe.  I think of the description Victorian travellers gave of arriving in London, to the heart of the British Empire.  To the way I've heard New Yorkers talk of flying home from other parts of the world and seeing the skyscrapers or the Statue of Liberty out the window and knowing that you're home and swelling with pride because their home is—today—the centre of the universe.  This past March, Veronica I drove down Highway 101 to the central California Coast.  Between Sausalito and the Marin Headlands, you pass through the Waldo Tunnel and when you come out the south end of the tunnel, you're greeted with a stunning panoramic vista of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco's skyscrapers in the background.  That's where I was born.  And when we drove out of the tunnel and saw that view, I think I felt something very much like the Jews would have felt coming round the Mount of Olives and seeing Jerusalem and the temple in the distance.  Jesus' disciples—a bunch of bumpkins from Galilee, way up in the north—must have felt that way.  But not Jesus.  Matthew leaves this part out, but St. Luke tells us that Jesus, seeing that beautiful and glorious view, stopped and began to sob.  The beauty, the glory wasn't lost on him, but he sobbed because he knew that it masked a people with no heart for God.  The city and temple were like a whitewashed tomb—beautiful, but full of dead men's bones.  He knew—as everyone knew, but dared not admit—the glory, the presence of God was not there.  The smoke my have risen from the altar, but the holy holies was bare and empty—just like the heart of the people.  Jesus saw the coming judgement of God on a faithless people.  He saw the city and the temple as they would be in a generation: a smoking ruin. Matthew puts our attention on Jesus' acted out prophecy.  He sends two of his disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage, “‘Go into the village,' he said, ‘and at once you'll find a donkey tied up and a foal beside it.  Untie them and bring them to me.  And if anyone says anything to you, say, “The lord needs them, and he'll send them back straightaway.”'  He sent them off at once….So the disciples went off and did as Jesus had told them.  They brought the donkey and its foal and put their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.”  Why?  Well, says Matthew, “This happened so that the prophet's words might be fulfilled: ‘Tell this to Zion's daughter: Behold!  Here comes your king; humble and riding on a donkey, yes, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew quotes from the Prophet Zechariah.  Matthew could see what Jesus was doing here.  Jesus never did anything randomly or without reason.  The location, the donkey, the colt—they're all important.  Jesus could have taken a different route to Jerusalem, but he picked this one so that he'd be standing on the Mount of Olives when all this happened.  This was the spot were Zechariah said that the Lord would stand when he came in judgement on faithless Jerusalem.  And Zechariah explains the strange command to the disciples about the donkey.  This was not how kings made their triumphal processions.  At least, not ordinary kings.  They were carried by their servants or they rode on horseback or in a chariot.  But Zechariah, hundreds of years before, had highlighted the humble nature of the coming Messiah.  He was the one who would ride to his coronation on the back of a humble donkey. Jesus' acted out prophecy reveals who he is and it exposes all the wrong ideas his people had about the Lord and his Messiah—and it probably exposes some of our wrong ideas, too.  To the people who longed for the Lord to come in judgement on the nations, Jesus comes in judgement to his own people.  To the people who imagined the Messiah coming in a chariot with a great army to liberate Jerusalem and to reign over his people like a greater David, Jesus comes riding on a donkey with an army of ordinary pilgrims.  To the people who imagined God coming in merciless, vengeful, pitiless wrath to bring judgement on sin, Jesus comes in humility, weeping over the coming judgement.  Jesus is coming to take his throne, to fulfil what the Prophets—like Zechariah—had spoken, to show the Lord's faithfulness, but not in the way anyone expected. I think of our Epistle today from Romans, where St. Paul writes those words: “Owe no one anything, but to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the torah.”  I don't think Paul could have written those words before he met the risen Jesus.  He certainly knew what the greatest commandments were: to love God and to love his neighbour.  But he didn't understand.  He was part of that Jerusalem Jesus wept over.  A city that talked about love of God and love of neighbour, but a city—a nation—of people at each other's throats, a people longing eagerly for fire and brimstone to rain down on their enemies, a people with little if any thought for those in their midst most in need, a people ready to cry out in demonic rage for the crucifixion of their own Messiah.  And a people who did all these things with an absolute and devoted passion for a God they utterly misunderstood.  And this was why what should have been the beating heart of Jerusalem—the presence of the living God in the temple—this is why it, why he was missing.  The people had returned from their Babylonian exile, they had rebuilt the temple, but the heart of the people was still far from God.  They were impure.  Their salt had lost its savour.  Their light had turned to darkness.  They were false witnesses of their God.  And so his presence, the cloud of glory, had never returned. The road to Jerusalem was jammed with people who say Jesus sobbing.  They probably thought his tears were tears of joy to see the holy city.  Little did they know.  They were just excited to see him.  They'd heard the stories.  Word was no doubt spread through about the healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho.  Pilgrims from Galilee told others of the amazing things Jesus had done and taught there.  And as the disciples places their coats on the donkey and Jesus took his place, word was going through the crowd: “That's him!” So, says Matthew, “the great crowd spread their coats on the road.  Others cut branches from the trees and scattered them on the road.  The crowds went on ahead of him and those who were following behind shouted: ‘Hosanna to the son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest!” The crowd surrounds Jesus. All the way to Jerusalem they'd been singing the psalms of ascent and the royal psalms.  Songs full of hope.  Psalms about that recalled the glory days of David, psalms about God coming to his people, psalms about God finally setting this broken world to rights.  Psalms that looked forward to the coming Messiah.  And now—maybe, they hoped—here he was.  Not like anyone expected, but they'd heard the stories.  Maybe they'd heard him preaching.  Maybe they'd seen his miracles.  And that was enough.  So they parade him down the Mount of Olives, across the valley, and back up and into the gates of Jerusalem. Along the way they, Matthew says, they laid their coats and palm branches on the ground.  Now it's the people acting out prophetically even if they didn't know it. Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience makes sure that as they read this, they're reminded of a scene or two from their own history.  In 2 Kings 9 we read about Jehoram.  He was King of Israel, the son of the wicked King Ahab.  And in Jehoram, the apple had not fallen far from the tree.  He was as wicked as his father, so the prophet Elisha ordered that Jehu, instead, was to be anointed King in his place.  He announced that Jehu would bring the Lord's judgement on the wicked house of Ahab.  As Jehu was anointed by the prophet, the men who were gathered cast their coats on the ground before him and blew a trumpet. And then there's Judas Maccabeus.  2 Maccabees 10:7 describes the people hailing Judas as king by laying wreathes and palm branches at his feet.  Judas had not only defeated Israel's enemies and liberated the nation, but he had purified the temple from its defilement by the Greeks.  He was a national hero—particularly for the Pharisees and the Zealots.  Judas' kingdom inspired hope. But Jehu was not the saviour the people hoped for.  As a king he was a mixed bag.  He put an end to the more outrageous form of idolatry in Judah.  He got rid of the altars to Baal.  But he never removed the golden calves that Jeroboam has set up at Bethel and Dan.  He failed to dig out the root of Judah's idolatry and faithlessness to the Lord.  In the end, the Lord still allowed the people to be exiled for their faithlessness.  And Judas Maccabeus.  He was a national hero.  But his kingdom was short-lived.  The shekinah never returned to the temple, despite his zealousness for torah.  The hope he'd brought to the people was quickly crushed.  But this time, looking at Jesus, the people hoped, it would be different.  And so they sing to him.  They acclaim him as the Messiah, the anointed king.  “Hosanna—save us—O son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  O Hosanna—save us—we cry to heaven!” Matthew gives us a sense of the longing and hope of the people.  They're desperate for the Lord to come and set their broken world to rights.  Jesus sees it too and I expect it made him weep all the more, because he knew that God's new world was not going to come the way they wanted it to, he knew that he would not going to his messianic throne the way they wanted him to, because he knew that to set everything to rights would mean judging the sin and corruption of his people and the city and even the temple.  And he knew the only way to his throne was through their rejection and death on Roman cross. But on he went into the city.  Acting out the prophecy.  Matthew writes that “When they came into Jerusalem, the whole city was gripped with excitement.  ‘Who is this?' they were saying.  ‘This is the prophet, Jesus,' replied the crowds, ‘from Nazareth in Galilee!”  This is the Prophet.  They weren't saying that Jesus was just another prophet.  He was the Prophet.  The one the people hailed Jesus as in our Gospel last Sunday, after he fed the multitude.  He was the one promised to come, like another Moses, to save the people and lead them out of bondage.  In other words, “This is the Messiah, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” He had come to take his throne.  And so from the gate of the city, Jesus led the triumphal parade of cheering people through the winding streets—the same route he would take in reverse, bearing a cross, just five days later.  He made his way up and up through the city to the temple and through the gate.  And when he got there, Matthew says, “Jesus threw out all the people who were buying and selling in the temple.  He flipped over the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers.  ‘It is written,' he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a lair of bandits!” Jehu and Judas Maccabeus had cleansed the temple.  That was the expectation of the Messiah.  But not like this.  I think we often focus too much on Jesus' actions as a condemnation of the commerce going on in the temple—probably because we're aware of the evils of our own overly materialistic and commercialistic culture.  I don't think Jesus was angered by the commerce itself.  People needed animals for the sacrifices and not everyone was a farmer.  A lot of people were travelling from far away and it wasn't easy or realistic to bring the animals with them.  And the money changers, well, since the temple only used its own coinage, they were at least a necessary evil.  Nevertheless when you think of Mary and Joseph going to the temple for her purification after the birth of Jesus and offering two turtledoves, it says something about how poor they were.  When you think about the words of her Magnificat, singing about filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, when you think of the widow offering her “mite” in the offering box, you certainly get the sense that the system was privileging the rich and making access to the temple a burden for the poor—and in that this whole system was emblematic of the way in which Israel had lost the heart of God and was desperately in need of judgment…or renewal…or as it would happen: both.   But the really important thing about Jesus flipping tables and driving out the merchants is something I think we're prone to missing.  Again, this is another acted out prophecy.  The really important thing is that what Jesus did brought the work of the priests and the whole sacrificial system that day to a grinding halt.  It goes along with everything else he said about the temple—like announcing that he would tear it down and rebuild it in three day—and it goes right along with all the times that he bypassed the temple, the priests, and the sacrificial system by offering forgiveness apart from them.  That, far more than everything else, is what had angered the Pharisees.  That was what got him arrested and crucified. So what Jesus is getting at here is that the Messiah has come, not just to purify the temple, but to establish a new and better one.  To really inaugurate the work of new creation that the old temple had always pointed to.  The people had forgotten this.  The temple was never meant to be an end in itself.  The temple pointed to God's future—to the day when sin is gone, to the day when creation is made new and the garden restored, and to the day when men and women are made new as well, to the day when a renewed humanity once again lives in God's presence and serves in his temple as priests. And, Brothers and Sisters, that's what Jesus inaugurated through his crucifixion and resurrection.  He shed his blood, not for a building, not for an altar made of stone, but for a people: a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for their sins.  At the cross, Jesus washed his people clean and he's washed them—he's washed us clean—so that we can be God's temple.  And so Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of his Father, the perfect man, the new Adam, to take up his vocation as high priest.  And as high priest, he's poured God's Spirit into his people, purified by his blood.  He's made us his temple and called us to join in the vocation we were originally created for: to be God's priests and stewards serving beside our saviour. So Advent comes as a forced pause.  We're racing towards Christmas and to the joy it represents.  And the church says, “Hold on.  Slow down.  You need to stop and think about what it all means.  You need to stop and think about why Jesus came, why he was born, why it was necessary for light and life to be born into the world.  You need to reflect on the darkness of this fallen and broken world.  You need to reflect on the awfulness of sin and of death and of our slavery to them so that you can fully appreciate the gift in the manger with more than mushy holiday sentimentalism.  This is the Messiah, this is the saviour—Israel's saviour and now our saviour.  Come not just to make us feel good, but come to deliver us from sin and death, come to set God's creation to rights.  Come to purify us with his blood, to dwell in the midst of the people, to fill us with Gods' Spirit, and to sweep us up into his messianic mission.  Brothers and Sisters, to make us the people in whom the world encounters the glory of the living God and meets the humble saviour whose kingdom has come, not by a sword, but by the cross.  To make us stewards of the Gospel that, empowered by the Spirit, we might prepare the world for Jesus' return. Let's pray: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

This week, The Thang Gang were joined by Finn, Gaten, Caleb, and Noah from STRANGER THINGS! Plus Felix White from The Maccabees popped by, and Gav celebrated the life of Jimmy Cliff.Hear Johnny on Radio X every weekday at 4pm across the UK on digital radio, 104.9 FM in London, 97.7 FM in Manchester, on Global Player or via www.radiox.co.uk

Do you wonder what Catholics really believe about purgatory or why we pray for the dead? In this episode, Fr Columba breaks open the Church's teaching with clarity, showing how Scripture, tradition, and even the earliest Christians understood the need for our souls to be purified in love. Using examples from 2 Maccabees, St Paul, and the debates of the Reformation, he explains why this isn't a strange add-on to the faith but a beautiful work of God's mercy. Whether you've heard mixed messages or are curious about what happens after we die, this simple walkthrough will help you see purgatory—and God's kindness—in a whole new light.

Alistair Bruce-Ball, Chris Sutton and Statman Dave debate the big FPL issues ahead of Gameweek 13. The pod are joined by The Maccabees guitarist and Tailenders podcast regular Felix White.Is this the week to Triple-Captain Haaland or use the Free Hit? Does Chris know which players are in his team? Are there reasons to be cheerful despite England's Ashes defeat?Felix and Dave go head-to-head on a football/cricket crossover in Sutton Death and a listener accuses Chris of being a sheep.Make sure you enter your team into the BBC Sport League! The all-important code is bbcfpl. To get in touch - email fpl@bbc.co.uk or Voice notes on WhatsApp to 0800 028 9369. Premier League commentaries on 5 Live and BBC Sounds this week –Saturday 29th November – 3pm – Manchester City v Leeds Saturday 29th November – 3pm – Sunderland v Bournemouth (Sports Extra) Saturday 29th November – 5:30pm – Everton v Newcastle Sunday 30th November – 2:05pm – West Ham v Liverpool Sunday 30th November – 2:05pm – Aston Villa v Wolves (Sports Extra) Sunday 30th November – 2:05pm – Nottingham Forest v Brighton (Sports Extra 2) Sunday 30th November – 4:30pm – Chelsea v Arsenal

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on November 22, 2025. The readings are from 1 Maccabees 6:1-13, Psalm 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19 & Luke 20:27-40. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

1 Maccabees 6: 1-13; Luke 20: 27-40; Haydock Commentary Please consider donating to help keep this podcast going by going to buymeacoffee.com/catholicdailybrief Also, if you enjoy these episodes, please give a five star rating and share the podcast with your friends and family

(8:15) Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 Father talks about the origin of Hanukkah Luke 19:45-48 How was the priesthood made a political tool? (25:10) Break 1 (25:51) Letters: How are we suppose understand miracles and apparitions? Can you have righteous Anger? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (36:22) Break 2 (37:06) Word of the Day Dedication (38:29) Phones: Keith - In Luke, Jesus describes the parable of the coin. I feel like he is described as a cheap salesmen. what am I missing? Tom - who wrote the mosaic laws? Judy - How do I share the idea of hearing God's voice with my students? Robert - Is Jacob considered a saint from the OT? Joanna - My husband might convert but he only goes to mass because of me and our kids. we aren’t married. Resources: National Catholic Youth Conference https://plus.relevantradio.com/videos/national-catholic-youth-conference-11-21-2025-16-31-13

Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 102, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: 1 Maccabees 4:36-59, Jamie Chiles, First Canticle: 10, New Testament: Revelation 22:6-13, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 18, Gospel: Matthew 18:10-20, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 107:1-32, Laura Ammons, Old Testament: 1 Maccabees 4:36-59, Jamie Chiles, First Canticle: 13, New Testament: Revelation 22:6-13, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 17, Gospel: Matthew 18:10-20, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

When the Maccabees celebrated the recapture of Jerusalem from the Macedonian emperor Antiochus IV, they lit a menorah in the city's holy temple. The date, in the ancient Hebrew calendar, was the twenty-fifth day of the third month of Kislev 3597… the first Hanukkah.  Hanukkah's significance waned in some early Jewish texts due to the favourable portrayal of Romans in the Book of Maccabees, but gained prominence in the Diaspora during the late 19th century, as it offered a distinct celebration for Jews in Western societies during the festive season.  In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether the Maccabees were freedom fighters or religious fundamentalists; explain why donuts may have played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of Hanukkah; and recall Adam Sandler's totemic contribution to Hanukkah lore… Further Reading: • ‘The story of Hanukkah: how a minor Jewish holiday was remade in the image of Christmas' (The Conversation, 2019): https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-hanukkah-how-a-minor-jewish-holiday-was-remade-in-the-image-of-christmas-127620 • ‘Hanukkah: 20 Facts You Probably Didn't Know' (Entertainment Tonight, 2021): https://www.etonline.com/20-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-hanukkah-137874 ‘Saturday Night Live: Adam Sandler on Hanukkah' (NBC, 1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5Z-HpHH9g This episode first aired in 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(3:42) Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 To be in the world without being of the world Luke 19:41-44 Father shares the story of him digging a hole. (21:13) Break 1 (22:12) Letters: How does the resurrection of the body going to work for Christians? How do you be come ready to defend the hope of Christ in you? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (35:46) Break 2 (37:28) Word of the Day Bishop (43:19) Phones: Randy - What color vestments does a priest wear on all saints day. Mike - Is crying a deep expression of the soul? if our eyes are the windows maybe tears are spiritual. Jamie - My mother-in-law is getting married in a mega church and has left the church. Should we go if we get invited? Kaden - what is the biblical difference between presbyter and episcopal?

Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 105:1-22, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: 1 Maccabees 4:1-25, Jamie Chiles, First Canticle: 8, New Testament: Revelation 21:22-22:5, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 20, Gospel: Matthew 18:1-9, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 105:23-45, Laura Ammons, Old Testament: 1 Maccabees 4:1-25, Jamie Chiles, First Canticle: 11, New Testament: Revelation 21:22-22:5, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 15, Gospel: Matthew 18:1-9, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

(3:42) Bible Study from Maccabees – 1 & 2 Maccabees are often neglected but are very important for us in understanding the plan of God. Did you know the New Testament is a lot thinner than the Old Testament? That is because the New Testament is simply the fulfillment of the Old Testament. As Catholics, we need to consider the history of salvation, and reading Maccabees can help us do that. (23:40) Break 1 Letters: (26:29) Email – Celia: Why was the veil of the Holy of Holies torn in 2 when Jesus died? (31:52) Email - I am feeling hopeless. How can I overcome this? (40:39) Break 2 (41:11) Word of the Day - “Mna” (44:47) Phones: (45:18) Carlos - In the case of an emergency and when there is no water, what do you do for Baptism? (47:07) Bob - My grandkids aren’t being taught good Catholic teaching at home. Where can I start with them?

IS THE Book of Jasher is worth your time? Dive into mystical tales that some say could hold ancient wisdom and insights into our faith!  In the latest episode of Iron and Myth, our esteemed panel, Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea; and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview With the Giant, dives deep into the intriguing Book of Jasher.  The title, which translates to the Book of the Upright or the Book of the Just Man, has been a topic of discussion among scholars and enthusiasts alike. Various texts have claimed to be the Book of Jasher throughout history. We focus on a particular translation from the mid-19th century by Moses Samuel, which is believed to be a medieval Jewish text that may not date back further than the 15th century.  The Book of Jasher presents a fascinating window into the thoughts and traditions of ancient Jewish scholars. While its origins may be debated, its potential value for enriching our understanding of biblical narratives in beyond question. Whether you are a scholar, a casual reader, or a writer drawing inspiration from ancient texts, exploring the Book of Jasher could provide a deeper appreciation for the complexities of biblical history. Join Doug Van Dorn's Reformed Fringe at www.ReformedFringe.com! The Gilberts' new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Follow us! X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbertTelegram: t.me/gilberthouseSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/viewfromthebunker Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. —— Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. Check out our weekly video program Unraveling Revelation (unravelingrevelation.tv), and subscribe to the YouTube channel: YouTube.com/UnravelingRevelation. —— Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!

1. JOSEPHUS AND THE SIEGE OF JODAPATA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Jewish revolt against Rome, starting in 66 AD, is primarily chronicled by Josephus, a leader of the revolt and later historian. Josephus commanded the defense of Jodapata against General Vespasian. After defeat, Josephus survived a mass suicide pact, surrendered, and convinced Vespasian not to kill him by predicting he would become Roman emperor. The rebels were inspired by previous victories like the Maccabees. 1922 GAZA

SHOW 11-14-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE ECONOMY. FIRST HOUR 9-915 BLISS: WEST COAST URBAN ISSUES AND THE PACK FIRE Guest: Jeff Bliss Seattle elected socialist Kate Wilson, who wants public grocery stores. The Luxor Pyramid in Las Vegas has installed a massive slide for visitors. Both San Francisco and Santa Monica are seeing major business failures and mall auctions due to unchecked crime and vagrancy. Los Angeles Mayor Bass requested citizen help for cleanup before the Olympics. Meanwhile, the 3,000-acre Pack Fire in Mono County is being aided by heavy rain. 915-930 MCTAGUE: LANCASTER COUNTY ECONOMY AND AI FEAR Guest: Jim McTague Reports from Lancaster County show a strong local economy: a metal forming company is "busy as they've ever been" and actively hiring, and the mall is packed with shoppers. Tourism is thriving, exemplified by sold-out shows at the Sight and Sound Theater. However, a persistent fear of AI-driven layoffs exists among retirees, despite no personal connection to the issue. Data centers supporting AI are rapidly being built in the area. 930-945 A. THE FILIBUSTER AND CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Epstein discusses the filibuster's purpose: slowing down legislation to improve deliberation and mitigate hyper-partisanship. However, he argues its use against continuing resolutions is illegitimate, leading to "horrendous dislocation." He proposes changing the Senate rule to forbid filibusters on continuing resolutions, ensuring essential government functions are not held hostage for collateral political gain and maintaining fiscal continuity. 945-1000 B. BBC DEFAMATION AND THE NEED FOR REFORM Guest: Professor Richard Epstein Professor Epstein discusses the BBC's alleged defamation of President Trump through edited footage. Unlike US law, British defamation has a low bar, though damages may be smaller. Epstein contends that the BBC's reputational damage is enormous and suggests the institution is "thoroughly rotten" due to corruption and political capture. He advocates for cleansing the operation and breaking up the public monopoly. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 BRANDON-WEICHERT: AI'S IMPACT ON JOBS AND GEOPOLITICS Guest: Brandon Weichert High-profile layoffs at Amazon and Walmart are tied to AI replacing roles, fitting the anticipated economic transformation, though it may initially look like a bubble. The US leads in AI software, while China excels in robotics. Concerns exist regarding massive AI bets by industry leaders like Ellison and Altman, specifically whether their political ties could result in taxpayer bailouts if these huge projects fail. 1015-1030 FIORI: ITALIAN HERITAGE TRAINS AND POLITICAL DISPUTES Guest: Lorenzo Fiori Italy is launching heritage Christmas trains like the Espresso Monaco and Espresso Assisi, restoring old coaches and locomotives for tourists. Deputy PM Salvini is publicly criticizing aid to Ukraine, linking it to corruption, potentially as a strategy to regain consensus and boost his party's falling popularity. Nationwide student protests are occurring over school reform and the Palestine issue. Milan is preparing for Christmas celebrations. 1030-1045 A. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACHIEVEMENTS AND POLICY SHIFTS Guest: Bob Zimmerman Blue Origin's New Glenn successfully launched and landed its first stage vertically, becoming only the second company to achieve orbital stage reuse, despite its slow operational pace. VAST, a US commercial space station startup, signed a cooperation deal with Uzbekistan, possibly including flying an astronaut to its Haven One module. France announced a new, market-oriented national space policy, significantly increasing budgets and embracing capitalism via public-private partnerships. 1045-1100 B. GOLDSTONE FAILURE AND SUPERNOVA DISCOVERY Guest: Bob Zimmerman NASA's Goldstone antenna, a critical link in the Deep Space Network, is out of service due to an embarrassing error where it was over-rotated, twisting the cables. This impacts communications with interplanetary and Artemis missions. Separately, new astronomical data from a supernova explosion shows the initial eruption was not symmetrical but bipolar, pushing material and light along the star's poles, refining explosion models. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 1. JOSEPHUS AND THE SIEGE OF JODAPATA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Jewish revolt against Rome, starting in 66 AD, is primarily chronicled by Josephus, a leader of the revolt and later historian. Josephus commanded the defense of Jodapata against General Vespasian. After defeat, Josephus survived a mass suicide pact, surrendered, and convinced Vespasian not to kill him by predicting he would become Roman emperor. The rebels were inspired by previous victories like the Maccabees. 1115-1130 2. TITUS'S SIEGE OF JERUSALEM Guest: Professor Barry Strauss Nero's forced suicide in 68 AD and the subsequent chaos confirmed Josephus's prophecy, leading to Vespasian being proclaimed emperor in 69 AD. Vespasian left his son Titus to lay siege to Jerusalem in 70 AD. Though Jerusalem was a strong fortress, the defenders were critically weakened by infighting among three rebel factions and their own destruction of the city's necessary grain supply. 1130-1145 3. SURVIVAL DURING THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM Guest: Professor Barry Strauss Before the siege of Jerusalem was sealed, two foundational groups fled: Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakai, smuggled out to Yavneh to establish Rabbinic Judaism, and the followers of Jesus, who went to Pella. Titus focused the Roman assault on the city's weakest point, the northern wall. The overconfident Romans were repeatedly frustrated by Jewish defenders using effective irregular tactics, including raids and undermining siege equipment. 1145-1200 4. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND MASADA Guest: Professor Barry Strauss The Flavians decided to completely destroy Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, an act of extreme Roman imperialism that left the city in ruins. Afterwards, Judea was upgraded to a formal Roman province with a governor and the 10th Legion quartered in Jerusalem. Four years later, the siege of Masada ended with the alleged suicide of defenders, though archaeological evidence remains controversial among scholars. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 US Greenlights ROK Enrichment, Raising Proliferation Fears Guest: Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Non-Proliferation Policy Education Center The US agreement to support the Republic of South Korea's civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful uses is viewed by Sokolski as a movement toward proliferation. Sokolski notes that this decision greenlights the ROK—a treaty ally with a history of attempting to use its civil programs to make nuclear weapons—to a position similar to Iran's. The ROK successfully leveraged the inconsistency of US policy, pointing out that Japan has permission to enrich and reprocess fuel and possesses a massive plutonium stockpile. Granting the ROK these capabilities sets a concerning precedent, potentially compelling the US to allow other countries like Saudi Arabia to seek similar nuclear options. The proliferation concern is heightened further by the ROK's desire for a nuclear-powered submarine, which could lead to pursuit of a full nuclear weapons triad. 1215-1230 SOKOLSKI: CHINA'S CONVENTIONAL ICBM THREAT Guest: Henry Sokolski The US military is concerned China's PLA may field a conventionally armed ICBM able to strike the continental US. Such missiles could use maneuverable front ends to evade defenses and deliver autonomous drones. This weapon might target civil infrastructure to intimidate the US and deter intervention during a Taiwan conflict. This prospect is opening up a new and puzzling area of strategic warfare requiring urgent strategic assessment. 1230-1245 A. RARE EARTHS: CHINA'S MONOPOLY AND AUSTRALIAN SUPPLY Guest: David Archibald China's predatory pricing previously achieved a rare earth monopoly, damaging competitors like Lynas, which almost went bankrupt. Australia, via companies like Lynas and Iluka, is being eyed by the US as a non-Chinese source for rare earths critical for high-end electronics and defense. Processing is complex, requiring many steps, and often occurs in places like Malaysia. 1245-100 AM B. HIGH-TEMPERATURE RARE EARTHS AND PREDATORY PRICING Guest: David Archibald The most desirable rare earths, Dysprosium and Terbium, allow magnets to function at high temperatures. China is now sourcing 40% of its supply of these from Myanmar. Though Australia produces these, structural oversupply is a risk. Subsidies, like the floor price given to MP Materials, may be necessary to prevent Chinese predatory pricing from killing off non-commercial producers seeking market dominance.

Fr Mike celebrates the accomplishment of reading the entire Old Testament and wraps up the books of 2 Maccabees and Wisdom, talking through the key themes of the Old Testament visible in the conclusions to these books. He also discusses the motivation of the Maccabees to defend the temple and maintain its purity as well as uphold God's honor. Today's readings are from 2 Maccabees 15, Wisdom 19, and Proverbs 25:21-23 For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

As we get closer to the end of the Old Testament, Fr. Mike highlights one of the lessons we've seen time and time again—that God continues to fight for each of us, despite the brokenness and messiness of our lives. He also points out how the reading from Wisdom foreshadows the coming of Jesus. The readings are 2 Maccabees 14, Wisdom 17-18, and Proverbs 25:18-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike points out how easy it is to take good things and make idols out of them, setting them up as God's rivals for our hearts. We can discover these rivals by noticing the things we prioritize over spending time with God. The readings are 2 Maccabees 13, Wisdom 15-16, and Proverbs 25:15-17. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike breaks down the doctrine of purgatory as we read about Judas Maccabeus and his army praying for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12. We learn that purgatory is a process of purification that our hearts need in order to be ready to love God and to enter into his presence. In our reading of Wisdom today, Fr. Mike emphasizes the insanity of worshipping idols and how it's more tempting to make idols out of good things rather than evil things. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 12, Wisdom 13-14, and Proverbs 25:11-14. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike highlights how God fights as a heavenly ally with the people of Israel in 2 Maccabees 11, and encourages us to actively fight alongside God in our daily battles. In our reading of Wisdom, Father points out how God corrects us little by little so we can learn to trust him. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 11, Wisdom 11-12, and Proverbs 25:8-10. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Today, Fr. Mike discusses the confidence that faith in God can provide as we fight the battles of our lives. He also engages with the riddles found in Wisdom 10 and points out that we can now not only understand the characters, stories, and allusions of Scripture, but can recognize the fingerprints of God in the world around us and better understand the main character of Scripture: God. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 10, Wisdom 9-10, and Proverbs 25:4-7. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike draws our attention to the descriptions of wisdom found in our readings for today and reflects on the beauty of wisdom's feminine nature. He also discusses the death of Antiochus Epiphanes and offers two perspectives on reconciling God's role in suffering. Today's readings are from 2 Maccabees 9, Wisdom 7-8, and Proverbs 25:1-3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

As we hear the re-telling of the story of Judas Maccabbeus and his brothers fighting for the honor of the Lord's Temple in 2 Maccabees, Fr. Mike points out how this version gives us an insight into their recognition of God's presence, mercy, and justice in their circumstances. We learn that no matter what we are going through, we can trust that God is our great defender who is present and active in all circumstances of our lives. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 8, Wisdom 5-6, and Proverbs 24:30-34. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike focuses on the powerful theme that connects all of our readings today- the reality of life beyond death. In the story of the martyrdom of the seven brothers in 2 Macabees, we see how the brothers and their mother fiercely reject the temptation to violate God's law, and boldly hold onto their hope in the resurrection of the dead. Our readings from Wisdom also remind us that death is not the end, because we know that eternal life is waiting for us beyond death. Today's readings are 2 Maccabees 7, Wisdom 3-4, and Proverbs 24:27-29. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.