The story of Simon Maccabeus, as told in the First Book of Maccabees, resonates with that unsettling truth.
We find Simon, the leader who helped liberate Judea, doing what leaders do: touring the cities, ensuring everything is in order. He’s in Jericho, enjoying a visit with his sons, Mattathias and Judas. The year is 177 of the Seleucid era, the eleventh month, known as Sabat (Shevat in the Hebrew calendar). A seemingly peaceful scene. But lurking in the background is Ptolemeus, son of Abubus. Now, Ptolemeus held a powerful position – he was captain of the plain of Jericho. He also had wealth, “abundance of silver and gold,” the text emphasizes. And here’s the kicker: he was the son-in-law of the high priest. Talk about being close to the inner circle!
So what went wrong? 1 Maccabees tells us, plain and simple: “his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself.” Power and ambition, those age-old corruptors. Ptolemeus, puffed up with his own importance, begins to plot. He wants Judea for himself.
And how does he plan to achieve this? Through deceit. He “consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.” The language is stark, direct. No ambiguity here. This wasn't a political disagreement; this was a cold-blooded conspiracy.
Think about the human element here. Simon, the aging hero, trusting those around him, perhaps a little too much. Ptolemeus, the insider, consumed by ambition, willing to betray family and country for personal gain. It's a timeless drama, playing out against the backdrop of ancient Judea. What makes a person turn on those closest to them? What breeds that kind of treachery? The story of Ptolemeus is a chilling reminder that even in times of victory and peace, the seeds of betrayal can be sown. And sometimes, those seeds sprout in the most unexpected places, watered by the darkest of human desires.