The books of Maccabees are the bloodiest books in the Bible. Its graphic depiction of tortures sends a chill down our spine. In the books of Joshua and Judges, we read of bloody warfare, ethnic cleansing, massacre of non-combatants. Even the aged and the little children were not spared. Maccabees are not about conquests but persecutions. The table was turned. It was Israel's turn to become victims.
After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire was divided among his generals. The Seleucids ruled the north and Ptolemy rules Egypt in the south. Antiochus Epiphanes invaded the south and brought down the Ptolemies. On his way back, he sacked Jerusalem, plundered and defiled the Temple. Then Antiochus pushed forth a Hellenization program. Seeing advantages, many Jews gave up their faith and their identity as the people of God. Some would never betray their covenant with God.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
and that each should give up his customs.
All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath (1 Maccabees 1:41-43).
Hellenization was packaged into a beautiful vision --- that all should be one people!
Eight years into his reign, Antiochus turned the screw and resorted to violence. Freedom was banned and religion was imposed upon his subjects.
The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.
Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death (1 Maccabees 1:56-57).
According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised,
and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks (1 Maccabees 1:60-61).
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
and that each should give up his customs.
All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath (1 Maccabees 1:41-43).
Hellenization was packaged into a beautiful vision --- that all should be one people!
Eight years into his reign, Antiochus turned the screw and resorted to violence. Freedom was banned and religion was imposed upon his subjects.
The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.
Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death (1 Maccabees 1:56-57).
According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised,
and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks (1 Maccabees 1:60-61).
For those of us born after WWII and leading a relatively peaceful life in Hong Kong, it is difficult for us to imagine how such madness could be committed. If history can be of any guide, rulers should know that persecutions could only lead to the opposite of the intended results. The faith of the persecuted would only become stronger.
But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.
They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die (1 Maccabees 1:62-63).
Persecution makes martyrs and turns the weak into heroes.
Nowadays, we understand that violence is a waste of resources. If you want to conquer other peoples, make your own economy strong. Then, other peoples would be attracted by your huge market. They would do business with you, learn your language and nationalize into your country. There is no need to fire even one single shot.
But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.
They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die (1 Maccabees 1:62-63).
Persecution makes martyrs and turns the weak into heroes.
Nowadays, we understand that violence is a waste of resources. If you want to conquer other peoples, make your own economy strong. Then, other peoples would be attracted by your huge market. They would do business with you, learn your language and nationalize into your country. There is no need to fire even one single shot.
Dear Lord, teach us to live peacefully with each other, learn not to impose unreasonable demands on the others. Amen.
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