The King of Egypt Gathers an Army Like Sand

The Book of Maccabees I 11:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander’s kingdom, and join it to his own.

Themes

Continue Reading

The Book of Maccabees IAlexander in Joseph's TimeThe Book of Maccabees I turns to Alexander in Joseph's Time. Someone – the text doesn't immediately tell us who, but context clues point to Ptolemy VI Philometo Book of JudithHolofernes Receives Orders to Crush All ResistanceThat’s kind of the vibe as we jump back into the Book of Judith. Remember Nebuchadnezzar? Still king, still convinced of his own divine status, and still not th Book of JudithHolofernes's VisionThe Book of Judith, a captivating story of courage and faith, gives us a glimpse into the logistics of ancient warfare. it wasn't just swords and shields. An ar Letter of AristeasPsammetichus and the DreamerOne fascinating, though potentially embellished, account is found in the Letter of Aristeas, a Hellenistic Jewish text purporting to describe how the Hebrew Bib Letter of AristeasAlexandria and the DreamerI think it's worthwhile to share a copy of this ancient decree with you, because it really highlights the king's, shall we say, magnanimity. He was, as the text Letter of AristeasEgypt — Joseph the RulerMore often, it's a tale riddled with injustice, with power used to justify the unthinkable. The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating document supposedly written in