The Rise of the Maccabees

Lions of Judea Series 1

De: Amit Arad

Narrado por: Bruce Mann

Duración: 9 h y 31 m

Resumen del Editor

Jerusalem, 180 BCE. For 800 years the Zadokite priesthood has led the Jewish people. But the world is changing. Without, Rome is rising, crushing the other powers of the ancient world beneath it. Within, a power struggle inside the House of Zadok is a golden opportunity for interlopers, who seek to unseat them from the throne. The delicate balance which has allowed the Jewish Nation to survive in this age of Empires is threatened.

On the background of these tumultuous times, Judah, scion of a minor priestly lineage, comes of age in Judea. While experiencing love, friendship, and conflict, he slowly transforms into the warrior and leader his people are waiting for.

This is the incredible story of Matityahu the Priest, Judah Maccabee and his brothers, and the Hellenizer Eupolemus. Together, they embark on a struggle for the survival of the Jewish people against the powerful Seleucid Empire.

©2019 Amit Arad (P)2020 Tantor

The narrator is terrible.

I’ve tried several times to become interested in, and frankly make sense of, this book. But I can’t get past the narrator, who sounds like a cross between a robot and an automated phone answering service.

I blame the writer and publisher for allowing this audio portrayal to go live.

Ready for Book 2 now

Narrator was sing-songing in the reading. That would have been more tolerable if the rhythm wasn't so erratic. Sometimes ignoring periods, then only stopping because of a loss of breathe.

I bought these books specifically for listening to at Chanukah 2020. I'm so glad that I did.

This is the first time I've heard anything about MattiYahu's priestly father. The story was actually much better because of the explanation of family lines, cultural expectations and the naming of historical figures around the known world at that time like Cleopatra and the sons of Zadok. Antiochus Epiphanes, aka Mithradates abandonment by his brother set the stage for why he was always so angry and pushing for ways to enforce acceptance of his royalty. Today it's called "entitlement". Very well researched. Certain parts definitely sound like today's issues during Covid 19 pandemic. Ending is not exactly a cliffhanger in the traditional sense, but it still works. I'm ready for book 2, "The Maccabee Rebellion". Wondering why book 3, "Priests of War" isn't on audio?