Book of Maccabees 1
Set in the period of roughly 170-134BCE, and written, anonymously, around 100BCE, the first book of the Maccabees details the decree against the practice of Judaism by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire (Syrian Greeks), sparking a rebellion in the Hasmonean kingdom, which at the time encompassed the area known as Judea. The rebellion is launched by one Mattathias and his five sons, one of whom, Judah, or Judas, takes the leadership role in the revolt. The book details the successes and failures of the Maccabee (“Hammer”) rebellion, Judah’s death, and the eventual success in freeing Judea. One of the other brothers, Simon, becomes the High Priest of the Jewish people.
- We open at the end of Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Levant and surrounds, and his “retirement” to rule the Empire for a dozen years. On his death, his courtiers battle for the throne, each independently claiming it, as he left no heirs, and deposing each other. Out of the rabble, one Antiochus, son of a former captive king, one of Alexander’s conquests, takes the throne by force. He first conquers Egypt, and then turns his sight on Judea. Knowing how powerful it is, he quietly sends in troops a few at a time, to infiltrate, and then in a coordinate surprise attack, announces that Jews are the root of all evil, prohibits the practice of Judaism, and the troops set about slaughtering anyone who doesn’t comply and defiling the Temple with sacrifices of pigs.
- We are introduced to Mattathias and his five sons. He is a well-respected leader in the community, and he openly defies the king’s orders and demands that his fellow Jews do the same. Seeing one acquiesce and perform a profane sacrifice, he kills the man, along with the king’s commissioner who is overseeing the sacrifice. Then he and his sons flee to the hills to hide. The king orders retribution, and takes it out on a group of a thousand Jewish men, women, and children who have not yet performed profane (pig) sacrifices. Mattathias and his sons launch a guerilla war, and over time defeat the gentiles and destroy their altars. Mattathias lives to 146 and is mourned by all on his death.
- Yesterday’s chapter made it sound like the war had been won, and I assumed it was sort of a summary of what was to be then detailed. But no, it appears it was just a few skirmishes. Now that Mattathias is dead, his son Judah takes over command of the Jewish forces. He marches them out and defeat first the Samarians under Apollonius, and he takes that general’s sword for his own, apparently quite famous (famous enough that it ends up an item in Dungeons & Dragons); and then Seron of Syria. In both, it’s against overwhelming numbers. Antiochus, hearing of this, sends half his troops to “wipe out the Jews”. Huge numbers against Judah’s small forces. In preparation, Judah and the religious leaders of the Jews spend days fasting and praying, and yes, also preparing for battle.
- Over the years, several military leaders under the auspices of Antiochus attack the Jews. Each time, despite overwhelming odds and lack of weapons, Judah and his forces (each time in the name of God) slaughter many of them and send them fleeing. Gradually, his ragtag army grows in size, and captures sufficient wealth, armor, and weaponry, that they become a near unstoppable force. Recapturing Mt. Zion, he puts a religious force together to resanctify its temple and altars, and the chapter fades out on an eight day rededication ceremony replete with many burnt offerings, feasting, music, and celebrating.
- The countries surrounding Judea are not happy that the Jews have been victorious in restoring the country and its temples and altars, and proceed to start attacking on various fronts, along with attacking Jews who are in their countries. Judah splits his forces and they march out in various directions and proceed to slaughter the armies of the surrounding countries and free his Jewish brethren. It reaches the point where armies simply refuse orders to fight against him and flee their own lands.
- The focus returns to Antiochus, back in Babylon. He sets his sights on a wealthy city in Persia, only to have his army driven away. Then Lysias, the commander of his garrison in Jerusalem, arrives with the news that his forces have been routed. Antiochus takes to his bed and spends days lamenting his trials and tribulations, then calls his friend Philip to his bedside, tells him to take over the raising of his son, and make him king. Then he dies. Philip takes the throne for himself. Lysias marches out with a huge army, led by elephants, and lays siege to Jerusalem. Leaving the siege in the hands of his generals, he returns to Babylon, along with Antiochus’ son and retakes the city from Philip, setting up Antiochus (Jr.) as king.
- The story gets more complicated. Demetrius, of Rome, arrives in Babylon, isn’t pleased with the lack of progress of Lysias and Antiochus (Jr.), and has them killed. Then he meets with Alcimus, a priest of the Temple who aspires to be the High Priest, but has been passed over. He promises him the High Priest position if he’ll betray Judah and company. He appoints a trusted advisor, Bacchides to accompany Alcimus, along with a raid force. Judah sees them coming and won’t meet with them. In a pique, Bacchides sets about slaying various groups of Jews and throwing them in a pit, then he goes back to Demetrius, who sends another trusted advisor, Nicanor, to try to negotiate with Judah. When Judah won’t meet with him, he threatens a group of holy elders with death if Judah doesn’t appear. Judah rounds up his forces and some allies, wipes out Nicanor’s forces and kills him.
- Judah, it seems, had heard tell of not just the might of the Roman empire, but their benevolence to those who were allied with them. He’d also heard about how they were ruled by a Senate, rather than a single leader. Knowing that he needs help against Babylon, which is part of the Greek empire, he chooses two of his trusted advisors and sends them to Rome to ask to be considered allies. The two advisors, Eupolemus and Jason, make their way to Rome, present their case to the Senate, and are rewarded with a pact that Rome will protect the Jewish people from all enemies.
- I don’t know if Rome will come to the rescue eventually, but not in this chapter – plus, isn’t Demetrius, their main foe, a Roman? Did he not get the message? He’s back, and along with his advisor Bacchides and new high priest Alcimus, sets about to recapture Jerusalem and kill Judah. With a force of 10,000 versus Judah’s less than a thousand remaining, it’s an easy venture – and Judah, with his “don’t tell me the odds, let’s go after them” mentality, is killed. Bacchides sets out to kill anyone who helped Judah as well – family and friends. The guerilla forces, as they’ve become, are now under the command of Judah’s younger brother Jonathan. Lots of skirmishes, and in general Jonathan’s forces winning, but all small fights, nothing that changes the overall direction of what is happening.
- It’s the battle of the Roman kings now. Demetrius has decided maybe he screwed up royally (pun intended) in going after the Jews, who clearly have the power of God on their side. So he sends Jonathan messages of peace, promises of all sorts of honored treatment, and exempting the Jews from the laws that require them to follow Roman traditions. Meanwhile, Alexander, I’m guessing back in Rome, has sent messengers with similar messages to Jonathan and even named him a prince of the realm, protecting him from evil-doers around him, who all flee for the hills. Then Jonathan and Demetrius have a grand battle, which Demetrius loses and is killed. Then Demetrius’ son, also Demetrius, challenges Jonathan and army to a battle, and loses that as well.
- King Ptolome of Egypt, who it turns out is cousin to young Demetrius, offers to come help. He heads through Syria, and meets up with Demetrius, to whom he offers his daughter in marriage, despite the fact that she’s already married to Alexander. Battle lines are drawn, the slap of the glove across the face. An Arab, Zabdiel, sneaks up on Alexander and cuts off his head, and sends it to Ptolome, who promptly dies for unknown reasons. Demetrius rules! This is followed by a lot of back and forth between Demetrius and Jonathan, who come to some peace agreements, which, not surprisingly, Demetrius reneges on and ambushes Jonathan’s forces. There’s intrigue and deceit involved among advisors on both sides. This could be a telenovela!
- Jonathan sends his ambassadors back to Rome, reminding the Senate that they are allies, and asking why Roman commanders and kings are taking up arms against Jerusalem. The Senate’s reply is basically, “we told them all that we are allies, but you know kings, they do what they want, we can’t really control them”. So Jonathan and company continue to repel one after another attempts at taking Judea and Jerusalem, fortifying it more and more. A new king, Tryphon, arises in the east, and seeing the might of the Judean army, asks to meet Jonathan. Jonathan arrives with a company of 40,000 soldiers, and Tryphon feigns shock that Jonathan hasn’t come prepared for peace. Believing him, Jonathan sends 37,000 of them back to Judea, 2000 to Galillee, and retains only 1000 with him. On arriving for peace talks, Tryphon immediately captures and slaughters Jonathan and his men.
- Another Maccabee brother, Simon, is now in charge, and he begins to build up his forces to protect Judea. Tryphon, in his turn, sends word that he didn’t actually kill Jonathan, and tries to ransom him back to the Jews. Simon, figuring it to be a trap, declines, and Tryphon goes ahead and kills Jonathan, and leaves his body for Simon to find. Simon has the body brought back and buried, and then after an appropriate mourning period by the nation, gets back to fortifying – building a defensive wall around all of Judea.
- Judea continues in peace and harmony, Simon begins a bunch of social programs to help rebuild, and to raise the standard of living. Demetrius finally gets the word from Rome that he’s supposed to be a friend to the Jews, after word reaches Rome of what’s been going on. Rome sends renewed friendship pledges to Simon. Demetrius offers his friendship (after a disastrous attempt to take on Tryphon that sends him packing). Rainbows and unicorns abound.
- Following in his dad’s wake, Demetrius’ son, Antiochus, also sends word to Simon that he is now and forever a friend of the Jewish people. They form an alliance, and Simon even sends him troops to help him against Tryphon. But then, out of the blue, Antiochus refuses the troops’ help, and sends his friend Athenobius back with them to Jerusalem to suss things out. Athenobius is a bit overwhelmed by how powerful Simon and his army have become and reports back to Antiochus, who is incensed, I tell you, incensed. He appoints one Cendebeus to captain his navy and sends them to start invading Judea.
- Simon’s son, John, reports to his dad all that’s going on with Cendebeus and the invasion. Simon calls his sons together, tells them he’s getting old and tired, and he’s going to lead one last battle and then turn everything over to them. He leads a force of twenty thousand men, chases Cendebeus from Judea, and returns to Jerusalem. John takes over. Book one ends.