That’s kind of what’s happening here in the First Book of Maccabees, Chapter 11. We're about a century and a half after the reign of Alexander the Great, and the Seleucid Empire, carved out of his conquests, is still causing trouble for Judea.

"By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year." Okay, so what does that mean? Simply put, Demetrius has solidified his power around 157 BCE (Before the Common Era). And what's Jonathan, of Maccabean fame, up to at the same time?

Well, Jonathan's been busy. He’s gathering forces in Judea with a very specific goal: taking the Acra, the tower or citadel in Jerusalem. This wasn't just any old building; it was a heavily fortified stronghold occupied by Seleucid sympathizers and a constant thorn in the side of the Jewish population. So, Jonathan brings out the big guns – or rather, the ancient equivalent: "he made many engines of war against it." He's ready to dislodge them once and for all.

Sounds like a victory in the making, right? Not so fast. Enter the "ungodly persons." Who are these guys? Maccabees refers to Hellenized Jews who embraced Greek culture and often opposed the Maccabean revolt. They are described as those "who hated their own people". They run to King Demetrius and snitch. "Jonathan's besieging the tower!" they whine.

Demetrius, already dealing with his own power struggles, isn't thrilled to hear this. He gets angry, packs his bags, and heads to Ptolemais (modern-day Acre in Israel). From there, he fires off a letter to Jonathan. The message? "Don't lay siege to the tower. Come and talk to me, and do it quickly."

Can you imagine Jonathan's frustration? He's on the verge of liberating Jerusalem from a source of constant oppression, and now he's being summoned by the king himself. What's he going to do? Does he risk everything by ignoring the king's command, or does he put his trust in diplomacy?

This little snippet from Maccabees is a reminder that progress is rarely a straight line. There are always obstacles, always naysayers, always power dynamics at play. And sometimes, even when you're fighting for what you believe in, you have to navigate tricky political waters. What would you do in Jonathan's place? It's a tough call.