All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem? – Micah 1:5

Today's Scripture Reading (April 28, 2026): Micah 1

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 B.C.E. until 164 B.C.E. He was the son of King Antiochus III the Great. From the very beginning, Antiochus Epiphanes was fighting an uphill battle. Antiochus III was a confident King. While he began his reign with military losses, he later achieved significant victories and ultimately expanded his territory. Rather than having future historians give him the epithet “The Great,” Antiochus assumed the title “Basileus Megas” (Great King) for himself. In many ways, Antiochus III might have been the Donald Trump of his day.

It was this image to which Antiochus Epiphanes measured himself. Antiochus Epiphanes was not the direct successor of Antiochus III the Great. His oldest brother, Antiochus, ruled with his father but died before his father. Another brother and son of Antiochus the Great, Seleucus IV Philopator, reigned but was assassinated in 175 B.C.E. Seleucus IV Philopator was succeeded by his son, another unnumbered Antiochus. Little Antiochus was only five at the time. Uncle Antiochus IV Epiphanes took control of the empire at this time, and within another five years, Antiochus the unnumbered was dead, and Antiochus IV Epiphanes was on the throne of the Seleucid Kingdom. But as a result of the way he became King, Antiochus Epiphanes was considered to be a pretender throughout the rest of his reign.

Antiochus sought the approval of the people by cultivating an image of an extravagant and generous ruler who gave unexpected gifts to people he didn’t know, supported military parades, and donated money to the Athenian Temple of Zeus.

However, what Antiochus IV Epiphanes is most remembered for is reversing the Seleucid policy of tolerating the religion of the Jews and, instead, beginning to persecute them. He outlawed all of the rituals of the Jewish faith, he put out the immortal lamp that was meant to burn forever in the Temple, and forced the priests to eat pig flesh, which was considered unclean by the Mosaic Law. He also sacrificed a great swine and sprinkled its blood on the altar in the outward court. All of this meant that the Temple had been defiled, and Jewish worship couldn’t take place there until the Temple had been cleansed. It was also the backdrop to the Maccabean Rebellion, which resulted in Israel briefly gaining its independence.

Micah is speaking about Israel's transgressions. What is important is that the sin of Israel is not because of some outside force. The sin Micah speaks of is not because Antiochus IV Epiphanes came into Jerusalem and defiled the Temple and the city. Jacob’s transgression can be laid at the feet of those living in Samaria, another name for the northern Kingdom of Israel and its capital city. Judah’s sin was highlighted by the sin of the people living in Jerusalem and those who worshipped at the Temple, which was Judah’s high place or proper mountain of worship. Israel and Judah didn’t need an Antiochus to defile them; they were doing that all by themselves.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Micah 2

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my Grandson, James. Have a great day! (And thus the month of Birthdays in my family begins)