That’s kind of the vibe we get in 1 Maccabees 10.

Remember Bacchides? He was that Seleucid general who was trying to crush the Maccabean revolt. He built fortresses all over Judea to control the countryside. Well, things are shifting. The political winds are changing. And those "strangers," the foreign soldiers and collaborators Bacchides stationed in those fortresses? They’re getting the message.

"Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away; Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country" (1 Maccabees 10:9). Can you blame them? They're packing their bags, heading home. The writing is on the wall. Their occupation is crumbling.

But... there's always a "but," isn't there? Not everyone is ready to give up the fight, or perhaps they have nowhere else to go.

"Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge" (1 Maccabees 10:10). Bethsura. It becomes a holdout, a refuge for those who abandoned Jewish law – those mitzvot, those commandments. They're clinging to the old ways, the old alliances. Perhaps they fear retribution if they return to their own communities.

This little verse is heavy. It shows that even as things improve, there's always internal conflict, always those who chose a different path. It's a reminder that revolution isn't always clean or unanimous.

Meanwhile, word is getting around about Jonathan, the Maccabee leader, and his brothers. Their military successes, their resilience, their sheer grit – it's making waves. It reaches the ears of King Alexander Balas, a rival claimant to the Seleucid throne.

"Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured, He said..." (1 Maccabees 10:11).

Now, hold on. King Alexander is hearing about promises that Demetrius, another king, sent to Jonathan? It's getting complicated, isn't it? Two kings vying for power, both trying to win over the Maccabees. Demetrius had already recognized Jonathan's authority and offered him certain concessions in exchange for loyalty. Now Alexander seems ready to up the ante.

What does King Alexander say? Well, that's where the real intrigue begins. We’ll have to see what King Alexander says next time.

What I find striking about this passage is the human element. It's not just about battles and political maneuvering. It's about individuals making choices. Choosing to flee, choosing to stay, choosing to align themselves with one power or another. It reminds us that history is shaped not just by kings and generals, but by the countless smaller decisions of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times.