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Verse 58
Theosis · English Bible
1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees 3

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead. 2And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel. 3So he gat his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles, protecting the host with his sword. 4In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey. 5For he pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people. 6Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand. 7He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever. 8Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying the ungodly out of them, and turning away wrath from Israel: 9so that he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he received unto him such as were ready to perish. 10Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host out of Samaria, to fight against Israel. 11Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, and so he smote him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the rest fled. 12Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius' sword also, and therewith he fought all his life long. 13Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to go out with him to war; 14he said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king's commandment. 15So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel. 16And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company: 17who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day? 18Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company; 19for the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven. 20They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us: 21but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them. 23Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leaped suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host were overthrown before him. 24And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines. 25Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and exceeding great dread, to fall upon the nations round about them: 26insomuch as his fame came unto the king, and all nations talked of the battles of Judas. 27Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of indignation: wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, even a very strong army. 28He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them. 29Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed, and that the tributes in the country were small, because of the dissension and plague, which he had brought upon the land in taking away the laws which had been of old time; 30he feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had abounded above the kings that were before him. 31Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into Persia, there to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money. 32So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to oversee the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt: 33and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again. 34Moreover he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge of all things that he would have done, as also concerning them that dwelt in Juda and Jerusalem; 35to wit, that he should send an army against them, to destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from that place; 36and that he should place strangers in all their quarters, and divide their land by lot. 37So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and departed from Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh year; and he passed the river Euphrates, and went through the high countries. 38Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends: 39and with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the king commanded. 40So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by Emmaus in the plain country. 41And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them. 42Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders; for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them; 43they said one to another, Let us restore the decayed estate of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary. 44Then the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion. 45Now Jerusalem was laid void as a wilderness, there was none of her children that went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down, and aliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased. 46Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel. 47Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes, 48and laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images. 49They brought also the priest's garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days. 50Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away? 51For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low. 52And, lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest. 53How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O God, be our help? 54Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice. 55And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. 56But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law. 57So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus. 58And Judas said, Arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that ye be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary: 59for it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary. 60Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do.

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1 Maccabees 3:58

John of Tobolsk

John of Tobolsk17th century

The brave leader Judah Maccabeus inspired his troops to confront the advancing enemy, proclaiming, “Be strong and courageous this morning; equip yourselves for battle and present yourselves as valiant sons, prepared to stand against these Gentiles. They wish to eliminate us and our sacred place from existence—better to fall in battle than to endure the lamentations and groans of our people, and the defilement of our sanctuary. Do not fear; be resolute! May the will of the Creator of Heaven be fulfilled in us. Yet we, fortified by God’s grace, shall rise defiantly against our foes, trusting the outcome to Him. Either He allows our defeat on the battlefield, or He wishes to vanquish our adversaries and grant us the victory; as His will is in heaven, so be it!” (1 Macc. 3:58-60). Similarly, Joab addressed his brother Absa, urging preparation for a grave conflict: “Take heart and let us stand resolutely for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord will act according to His own will” (2 Kings 10:12). It is truly commendable and honorable to maintain a courageous spirit in all circumstances, relying on God’s benevolence and Providence through every trial. Often, wise leaders, skilled military commanders, and devoted individuals—who act judiciously and bravely—find that their efforts do not always yield favorable outcomes. Yet, these individuals attribute their failures to God’s disfavor in certain endeavors, viewing such setbacks as advantageous, for they prevent them from acting contrary to God's desires. Ecclesiastes affirms this notion, stating, “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Ecclesiastes refers to what seems random to us—yet can be seen in a different light through God's design. It is common for a sensible individual to mistake their desires, yet we often perceive misfortune as a consequence of fate or evil forces. However, St. Thomas Aquinas, drawing from Ecclesiastes, teaches that nothing occurs apart from the will and foreknowledge of the ultimate cause of all affairs—the Eternal God. Indeed, various occurrences in the world may escape human understanding, being either beneficial or detrimental in their season. Nevertheless, divine power and Providence have insightful knowledge of these events from eternity, anticipating all circumstances and directing them to specific places, times, individuals, and generations, orchestrating them according to a wise design to fulfill the purposes of divine governance that often remain hidden to us. Only once these ends have been achieved can we recognize God's care and Providence for humanity.

God sometimes allows such unforeseen circumstances, whether favorable or adverse, as reminders that we should not attribute everything to our own strength or wisdom, but rather reflect on our spiritual growth, understanding that all that occurs is through God’s will, shaped by our actions—whether virtuous or corrupt—upon which both our salvation and destruction hinge. In ancient pagan societies, fortune was revered above all, incensed to as a deity. Yet, in the illumination of the Gospel, fortune is revealed as nothing but a perilous illusion, an abomination. The light of divine grace clarifies the true origins of our blessings and misfortunes—our sins, arising from disobedience to God’s commandments and civil laws. Sin is, by nature, a deceit and void; it is birthed from the father of lies—the deceiver—and those he ensnares (John 8:44). All contrary circumstances, whether prosperity or adversity, unfold under God’s Providence for our eternal salvation. The all-holy divine will orchestrates human affairs much like a wheel, sometimes accelerating or decelerating, whereby seemingly random and incomprehensible events are guided to fulfill the best outcomes. “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isa. 45:6-7). Among the ancients, happiness was often depicted with dual faces; the visible face was bright, signifying fortune, while the hidden face was dark, representing calamity and misfortune sent to her adorers in various forms. These notions are indeed childish fantasies. Both joy and hardship, wealth and poverty, are ordained by God. It is pertinent here to reference Seneca, who, addressing the seemingly unjust hardships faced by some and the fortunes of others, describes the indignation of those reflecting on the grave ends of virtuous individuals. He notes how Socrates, Rutilius, Pompey, and Cicero met unfortunate fates despite their virtue, provoking a contemplation—should they suffer for truth, emulate them; should they perish through negligence, they merit no applause. As such, some deserve a better fate, earning divine reward and respect for their virtues, while others incur contempt through their actions and separation from God.

This mirrors the lamentations expressed by Job, David, Jeremiah, and other prophets regarding the sufferings and untimely demises of the righteous, alongside the undeserved prosperity enjoyed by the wicked and indifferent. Yet, in these circumstances, neither blind chance nor good fortune possess any real significance. Instead, they unfold according to God’s foresight and Providence for our correction, illustrating the consequences of our moral failures and encouraging repentance and a turn towards God in the pursuit of moral restoration.