The Warriors Macabbee (The story of Channukah)

By Ilan Rosenberg

This is a historical story about Mattathias and his sons the Macabbees. Its during the reign of the evil greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes who in 165 BC concured the land of Israel and try to force their people to convert to their gods and beliefs. The holy land was ravaged, people murdered woman and children made into slaves and the holy temple desicrated and destroyed. The Maccabee story begins 165 BCE after King Antiochus issued his decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice, a rural Jewish priest from Modiin, Mattathias the Hasmonean, sparked the revolt against the Seleucid Empire by refusing to worship the Greek gods. Mattathias killed a Hellenistic Jew who stepped forward to offer a sacrifice to an idol in Mattathias' place. He and his five sons fled to the wilderness of Judah. Mattathias' and his 5 sons lead by Judas Maccabee defeated the army sent by Antiochus. The term Maccabees as used to describe the Jewish army is taken from the Hebrew word for "hammer".
The Chanaukah story depicts 2 major miracles that happened. The miracle of lights is where the Macabees restored the main Jewish temple and only had enough oil to light the candles for one day, but lasted eight! The other miracle is where our story takes place after Mattathias killed the Hellenistic Jew and then the small platoon of Greek soldiers who were there to convince Mattathias to worship their gods. King Antiochus sent a small army to destroy Mattathias and his 5 sons only to be defeated by them.
This version of the story is based on true events, however with a slight twist due do the fact that there is no information mentioned anywhere of how htis miracle was down and how the Macabbee's defeated such a massive army alone by themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ilan Rosenberg
• Release date: Nov 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311639295

Ilan Rosenberg

My name is Ilan Rosenberg. I work in films as a stuntman and stunt coordinator. I specialize in the Israeli hand to hand combat system Commando Krav Maga and am currently the highest instructor in the world today I own 2 Martial art schools and currently train police and military around the world in hand to hand combat. I've written a script based on a true historical story that has never been produced before on film. I believe this story will be an epic feature and will mesh the film 300 and avengers together which has not been down yet. I wish to thank my father Yehuda Rosenberg who is the bal a coreigh(Torah Reader) at the Beth Emeth Synoguage for all the years of teaching me the history and faith of our people. I would also like to thank d.j.p who took my script and wrote this book version in her creative way.

Book preview

THE WARRIORS MACCABEE

by Ilan Rosenberg as told to d.j.p

Published by Ilan Rosenberg at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Ilan Rosenberg

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PROLOGUE: THE GREAT EVIL

The morning hung grey and cloudy over the horizon, as Mattathias the Hasmonean, rural priest of Modi'in, dragged his weary limbs up through the rough scrub of the Judean hillside. Behind him, he could hear his sons jostling and verbally sparring as they walked. John, Shimeon, Yehudah, Eleazar, and Yonaton—never was a man blessed with sons so strong and mighty. Yet even the sound of their arguing warmed the old man’s heart. The hard won peace negotiations with the king had turned out to be nothing but an ambush and they’d barely escaped with their lives. But his sons had fought well, each with the brave heart of the warrior that their father knew laid within them.

Through a clearing, the priest’s keen eyes could see the entrance to the caverns. His heart leapt in anticipation of the moment his beauty, his wife Pircha would come running from the hiding place to throw her arms around his weary body, the scent of her hair filling his lungs, her lips like a honey rose petal brushing his; and of hearing his sons’ frustration turn to laughter, as their sisters Ilora and Hannah would run to greet them, along with the children and elderly of the tribe.

Yehudah ran past, leaping up the rocks, as eager to sweep his young love, Kara into his embrace as Mattathias was to welcome Pircha.

Mattathias’s eyes rose to the harsh sunlight above in a prayer of thanksgiving to the God of his Ancestors. Oh Lord, my God, though I may face a thousand defeats at the hands of bloodthirsty men, I will raise my heart in thanksgiving at the family you have given me.

Then a cry, like a wounded lion came from Yehudah’s lungs. Fear filled Mattathias’s chest. He ran to the cave. Past the blood splattered entrance. Past the slain bodies of his most trusted guards. His heart beat like the roar of a thousand battle drums as the smell of death filled his nostrils.

A massacre filled their safe haven. The bodies of the women lay by the Sabbath dinner table, food strewn at their feet. Pages of sacred prayer books littered the bodies of the elderly, blood soaked and torn. Young children and babes dismembered and listless lay butchered like lambs in their beds.

Then he saw Pircha. His beautiful wife, light of his eyes and love of his life, lay on her back by the Sabbath table. Her dead eyes open pleading to the Heavens. Her delicate lips open in a warrior’s cry. Her hands clasped the lifeless hands of their daughter. The blow of a battle-axe cut between her shoulder blades.

Mattathias dropped to his knees. Tears blurred his vision, as he pulled her head into his lap. He could sense his sons, standing around him like a shield, sentries around their fallen mother.

I will avenge your deaths and the massacre of our people, my beloved. This I swear!

Then the priest’s gaze fixed on the heavens the seat of God Almighty.

Oh great Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he vowed. We will strike at the evil lion’s heart. Now is the time to take action. No more will we stand idly by as our land is conquered, our temples desecrated and our people slaughtered. Events have now led us full circle to this moment. We will avenge You, my Lord God. Not out of hatred for our enemies. But out of love for our land, our God, our families, and our nation.

A strong hand brushed his shoulder. Mattathias looked up, into the mournful eyes of his youngest son, Yonaton.

Father. Unshed tears choked in his son’s voice. There is yet one glimmer of hope. Someone is missing from the slaughter.

CHAPTER 1: THE PROMISE

Eighteen Years Before the Slaughter…

Since the beginning of time the fight for the Holy Land has raged. Many wars have been fought. Many heroes have defended this land. Many lives have been lost. But throughout the tragedy and bloodshed, the one key defense of the Hebrews was their faith in God, and their belief in miracles.

When winter was drawing near, long after the cotton had been gathered and the chill grew sharper after the setting of the sun, the current of Mattathias’s life took a swift and sudden turn of fate.

It happened in the tumult of the battlefield.

The fighting raged. Incessant clamouring of enemy swords beat out the macabre rhythms of death. The mills of fate turned, grinding out the relentless grist of agony and demise. A young man named Mattathias half shut his eyes and murmured a prayer for the souls of the dead.

The glint of a blade filled his vision. His eyes snapped open. His vision grew focused and as clear as a crystal stream. Mattathias raised his sword, blocked the enemy blow, and then swiftly stepped inward to avoid a second blow, as a sword sliced the air where his neck had just been. He drew his dagger from its sheath and drove it squarely and firmly between the ribs of his attacker. The soldier in the army of Antiochus III fell to his knees.

Mattathias! A mighty voice filled the air.

He turned west. There stood Reuven. Mattathias’s dearest friend gripped his sword in his formidable grasp. The fierce warrior seemed to manoeuvre his muscular body in all directions, as he cut down their foes. Yet, from his vantage point, Mattathias could see the small group of enemy soldiers encroaching. Any moment now, they would have Reuven surrounded, trapped by their relentless blades. In an instant, knowledge of imminent danger seemed to wipe all pain and exhaustion from Mattathias’s body. He ran, leaping over the broken, bloody bodies that were strewn across the battleground, until he reached his friend’s side, positioning himself between Reuven and the relentless enemy surrounding them.

They are decimating us! Reuven gasped a deep breath.

Have faith my friend. A calm strength moved through Mattathias’s voice, despite the chaos that roiled around them. Our God will not abandon us.

A large shadow moved over them, as if cast by some mythological beast. An enormous man stood over them. His humungous stature bulged with muscles such as no human eye had ever seen. The giant let out a defining battle cry and charged. His axe swung, slicing through the air with unbelievable force. Mattathias and Reuven leapt to the side, wielding their swords against the mighty foe, fighting in vain against the giant’s huge, relentless blows. Mattathias could feel the strength in his arms begin to fail. He fell back.

But Reuven charged. With one huge hand, the giant grabbed Reuven by the throat and slammed him into the ground. The axe swung down toward Reuven’s prostrate body. Mattathias leapt, deflecting the blow. Then he spun sideways. His blade slashed the giant’s hamstring. Mattathias’s sword swung high, ready to deliver a fatal blow, only to feel the sting of metal as the giant wrenched the sword from his hands. Wounded, and weaponless, Mattathias charged again, attacking his giant foe with his bare hands, beating him about the ears, blinding his eyes, knocking the air from his throat, striking his face until he felt his opponent’s huge nose crack beneath his palm. With a swift kick to the groin, Mattathias dropped his opponent to the ground. Then he dove for his sword.

But he was too late. With one huge hand, the giant grasped Mattathias sword like a toothpick and drove the butt end into Mattathias’s chest. Mattathias stumbled back, dizzy, searching in vain for balance, only to feel the crushing blow of the giant’s kick to the chest send him