- Genesis 17 (Covenant of circumcision)
- Leviticus 12:3 (Eighth-day circumcision)
- 1 Maccabees 1:41–67 (Decrees against Torah; persecutions)
- 2 Maccabees 6–7 (Martyrdoms under Antiochus)
- Isaiah 10:20–22 (The remnant returns)
3653 AM (107 BCE) – ANTIOCHUS
As her little one was born, Tamar held him for the first time. Her husband, Yochana, smiled with the warmth of a young father with his young bride. Hashem had blessed them with a child—a boy—their first. So much to do in such a short time—and they would. For they would be ever faithful to Hashem, for there is none other.
Yochana’s eyes, full of joy and life, met Tamar’s eyes, filled with sadness and sorrow. “Tamar,” Yochana said with all the comfort he could muster, “it will be okay.”
“But,” she began, as her eyes dropped back down to her son, just a day old, sleeping on her chest, “the decree, it’s—”
Yochana interrupted, “Antiochus is just a man. He will grow old and die someday. His tyranny will one day end. Do you know whose reign will never end?”
Tamar wrestled with the answer, with her doubts and fear. “Hashem’s.”
“Yes, Hashem’s. Even if he kills every last one of our family, we will live again. Even if he tries to destroy every last Jew in Greece, there will always be a remnant.”
“I… I know. It’s just hard knowing what’s coming. It’s just so hard.” Tamar stroked the soft skin of her son’s face—his tiny little face. Dark hair already covered his reddish skin. She took in the beauty of this miniature life, so fragile, so sweet.
☼ ☼ ☼
A week later, it was time to exercise the covenant of Hashem: circumcision. Because of the decree of Antiochus, what Tamar and Yochana, along with their whole community, were about to do was illegal under penalty of death for everyone there—including the family of the child and the child himself.
The community had lost count of the atrocities, both in number and variety. Children, freshly circumcised, were brutally mutilated by Antiochus’ soldiers—dismembered and murdered in front of their parents and community—in the vilest and most demonic ways conceivable. It was as if the bearer of darkness was trying to prevent the propagation of the anointed seed by separating the people of Hashem from Hashem, and also from their faith in Hashem, if that was even possible.
And it was more than possible, for many Jews had abandoned circumcision and the teachings of the Torah. They embraced Greek philosophy and the Greek gods, the gymnasium, and those pagan, nude games. They received accolades for their courage in rebellion against Hashem, along with notoriety and wealth.
Tamar knew her husband Yochana would not abandon Hashem, nor would their community. Tamar wept tears of overwhelming gratitude as her eyes saw the multitude of those willing to defy Antiochus, willing to sacrifice their own lives for the sanctification of the Name.
The brit was quick, taking just a few seconds at the skillful hands of the mohel. A quiet shout of “Mazel tov” was followed by a quiet exodus of the community from the secret place where they had gathered. There should be music and celebration, gifts and fanfare. But the risk was too high. Life before living.
Still, Tamar and Yochana were now proud parents of the newest member of the Jewish community—their son, newly named Mattathias.
Used with permission by the author. Find the author’s complete works online: Complete Works of Mack Samuels
