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Verse 59
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 3:59

John of Tobolsk

John of Tobolsk17th century

The brave leader Judah Maccabeus, inspiring his troops to confront their adversaries, urged them, "Be strong and courageous this morning; prepare your arms and supplies and face the battle like valiant sons of valor, ready to oppose these Gentiles. They aim to eradicate us and our sanctuary from existence—better to fall on the battlefield than to witness the sorrowful cries and lamentations of our people and the desecration of our sacred place. Do not shrink back; be bold! As it pleases the Creator of Heaven, so let it be done to us. Yet, we, under the grace of God, will face our foes defiantly, leaving the outcome in His hands. Either He wills our defeat and our fall in battle, or He will choose to strike down our enemies and grant us the victory; may His intention in heaven be fulfilled!" (1 Macc. 3:58-60). Similarly, Joab spoke to his brother Absa, readying for a fierce conflict: "Be of good courage, and let us stand firm for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord will do as He pleases" (2 Kings 10:12). It is indeed a commendable and glorious pursuit to maintain a courageous heart in every circumstance, relying in all matters on the divine will and providence of God. Oftentimes, even wise leaders and skilled commanders, along with pious individuals, who act with prudence and fortitude, may not achieve a favorable and pleasant outcome in their endeavors. However, these individuals attribute their failures to the disfavor of God concerning their unsuccessful ventures, viewing their misfortunes as a blessing, since such failures prevent them from committing deeds unpleasing to God. Echoing this notion, Ecclesiastes professes: "I turned, and saw under the sun, that it is not to the swift that race successfully, nor to the mighty that win, nor to the wise that gain bread, nor to the discerning that gain wealth, nor to the skilled that find favor, but time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). By "chance," Ecclesiastes refers to what, in our perception, lies outside the divine. It is not surprising when a prudent person misjudges what they desire; yet we often see this as misfortune and attribute our failures to some malevolent fate or spirit. Nonetheless, Thomas Aquinas wisely interprets from Ecclesiastes that nothing occurs except through the will and foreknowledge of the supreme cause of all causes, namely, the will of the Eternal God.

Indeed, events occur in the world that elude human understanding, beneficial or detrimental in their appropriate time. Yet, divine power, providence, and foresight have knowledge of these occurrences from eternity, anticipating all circumstances involved. He assigns them to specific times, places, individuals, and generations, moving them according to His wise plan for the fulfillment of liturgical aims, which often remain unseen and incomprehensible until His purpose is accomplished. Only upon reaching the end can we perceive divine care and providence for ourselves and for humankind as a whole. God frequently orchestrates unexpected occurrences, whether favorable or threatening, based on our way of life—be it righteous or corrupt, pointing toward our eventual demise—to remind us not to credit everything to our strength, wisdom, and worldly concerns, but rather to focus on our spiritual development. We are to recognize that all within the universe transpires solely through God's will and is contingent upon our moral conduct, whether good or corrupt, which ultimately governs our happiness or destruction. In ancient pagan cultures, fortune was revered highly—people burned incense to it. Yet today, under the illumination of the Gospel, it is revealed as nothing but a deceptive folly, a snare of hell. The light of divine grace discloses the true basis of our well-being and miseries—our sins, which stem from breaking God's commandments and the laws of human society. By its nature, sin is falsehood and void; it originates from the father of lies—the deceiver—who leads astray the wretched souls ensnared by him (John 8:44). All other pleasures and adversities—joys and wickedness—arise per God's providence and guidance toward our eternal deliverance. The all-holy divine will directs human endeavors as if it were a wheel turning unevenly—accelerating at times and slowing at others. Thus, all appearances of randomness and incomprehensible events serve a meaningful purpose, leading intelligently toward the best outcomes. "I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things" (Isa. 45:6-7).

Among the ancient Gentiles, fortune was symbolized with two faces of contrasting hues—one side radiant and bright and the other dark and forbidding. The former represented prosperity, while the latter signified the misfortunes that could beset those who idolized fortune. Such beliefs are mere childish whims. Prosperity and adversity, wealth and poverty, come from God. It is worth noting the reflections of Seneca, who, in contemplating the seemingly unjust misfortunes of some individuals and the favorable circumstances of others, asks, "What must each expect for themselves when virtuous individuals meet the most tragic ends?" Socrates was condemned to die in prison, Rutilius lived in exile, and Pompey and Cicero succumbed to the swords of their own pupils. In response, Seneca suggests, "Reflect carefully on how each faced their trials. If these figures suffered heroically for the truth, endeavor to emulate them; but if they perished from negligence, they were of little value." Thus, some indeed deserved better fates and the rewards of respect and virtue from men and God, while others earned contempt through their actions, distancing themselves from divine approval. This sentiment resonates in the lamentations of Job, David, Jeremiah, and the other prophets regarding the hardships and untimely deaths of the righteous, alongside the undeserved prosperity of the wicked and indifferent. However, neither blind chance nor good fortune plays a role in these events. Instead, all unfolds according to divine foresight and providence, aiming for our spiritual correction, illustrating through historical examples the outcomes expected from the foolish disorders we inflict upon ourselves through negligence and moral decay. These serve as lessons regarding the ramifications of moral degradation within families, societies, and nations, ultimately guiding humanity towards God and encouraging moral restoration.