The death of a despot – Saturday, 33rd week in ordinary time – 1Maccabees 6:1-13

The death of a despot – Saturday, 33rd week in ordinary time – 1Maccabees 6:1-13

The Jewish Resistance movement under Judas Maccabeus lasted from 166-164. After the death of his father, Judas took command as the leader of the resistance movement. His efforts were so successful that the whole revolt is commonly called the Maccabean war. The military exploits of Judas may be divided into two periods from 166-164 BC. This period ended in 164 with the rededication of the temple and this marked the end of the religious persecution.

The second period was from 164-160 BC, during the reign of Antiochus V Eupator (164-162) and of Demetrius I Soter (162-160). Having won religious freedom for his people, Judas gave the movement new direction. He struggled to gain political independence. The first to lead an army against Judas was Appollonius, governor of Syria, and probably the same one responsible for the rape of Jerusalem. He was attacked by Judas, defeated and killed A second force under Seron was similarly routed. Seron was not sent by the kings but driven by his own ambitions. With this victory Judas and his friends were in command of the highlands of Judah.

The news of these military reversals filled Antiochus with rage but he was unable to engage them in battle as he was attending a campaign in the East and he was in need of funds. He was determined to invade Persia (165) where he thought great treasures lay. Since he was unable to deal with Palestine, he gave his kinsman, Lysias half his troops and elephants with a command seen in 1Mac 3:35-36. Though hopelessly outnumbered, Judas Maccabeus and his troops gathered at the former holy place of Mizpah. There they prayed, fasted and did penance. They sought the holy will of the Lord in the book of the law and fulfilled their religious obligations.

Lysias came with his generals, Gorgias, Nicanor and Ptolemy. 1Mac4:1-33 tells us of Judas’ victory over Gorgias troops. 2Mac8:8-29 tells us of Judas’ victory over Nicanor troops. The victory was due to a combination of human planning and strategy and the benevolence and intervention of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Having defeated both the armies who fled for their lives at Philistia, Judas and his army plunder the enemy camp and returned to Mizpah, praising God. When Lysias heard the news, he was initially filled with discouragement but this gave birth to a greater determination to exterminate the rebels. He decides to take matters in his own hands.

In the spring of the following year, 164 Lysias marched against Judah and his army. Instead of attacking Judah from the north he attacks him from the south by way of Idumea. Again, for the third time, we hear the same truth that victory in battle does not lie in the size of the army but on the power and protection that comes from the Lord. The battle takes place at Beth-Zur. Lysias is given a crushing defeat and departs to Antioch 1Mac4:35

According to 1Mac4:35 Lysias retreated to Antioch to plan a future campaign with an even larger army, which he did in 1 Mac 6:31. According to 2Mac 11:13-15 Lysias retired to Antioch and negotiated peace with the Jews. His letter of peace to the Jews given in 2Mac 11:16-21 written in March 164 says he has received terms of peace from the Jews and informed the king Antiochus IV, of the same

Two accounts are given for the death of Antiochus. Read 1Mac 6:1-16 and 2Mac 9:1-29. When did Antiochus die? Before or after the occupation of Jerusalem in December 164. The two accounts agree and disagree. Antiochus has marched in Persia to lay hold of much needed wealth but failed (1Mac 6:1-4, 2Mac 9:1-2. 1 Mac 6:1 continues the story from 1Mac 3:37. King Antiochus is on his way to Persia, he has asked Lysias to crush the revolution. When he is in Persia he hears the news of the defeats of his armies. He dies on his way home. However, there are conflicting reports on where exactly he dies as the names and place with regard to his death in both the books differ. We can however say that he died in late November or early December of the year 164 in Babylon or somewhere between Persia and Jerusalem among the mountains in a strange land.

Spread the love ♥

You might also like

One thought on “The death of a despot – Saturday, 33rd week in ordinary time – 1Maccabees 6:1-13”

  • Thank you father for explaining text and providing context and more background information.
    Though Judas Maccabeus and fellow Jews who defeated great Greek armies though they were nearly anhilated and Temple destroyed and they build themselves and rooted themselves in the faith of the forefathers and old covenant

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *