That’s the kind of moment our ancestors faced in the story we're about to dive into, a story from the First Book of Maccabees.
Imagine this: it’s a time of intense religious persecution in ancient Israel. The Seleucid Empire, under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, is actively trying to suppress Jewish practices. Think outlawing the Sabbath, desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem, and forcing people to worship Greek gods. Pretty heavy stuff, right?
Enter Mattathias, a priest from the Hasmonean family. When a Seleucid official tries to make him offer a pagan sacrifice, Mattathias doesn’t just refuse – he kills the official and a Jew who was about to comply! It's a bold, decisive act of rebellion that sparks a firestorm. "Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments: Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers," Mattathias proclaims. A powerful statement of defiance! (1 Maccabees 2:19-20)
Following this act, Mattathias and his sons flee to the mountains, calling on all who are zealous for the Law to join them. And that's where our passage picks up.
"Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law." (1 Maccabees 2:42). Now, who are these Assideans? The text tells us they were "mighty men of Israel...voluntarily devoted unto the law." Some scholars believe the Assideans, or Hasideans, were the forerunners of the Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions. They were deeply committed to preserving their religious identity in the face of Hellenistic influence.
And they weren’t the only ones flocking to Mattathias’ banner. "Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them." (1 Maccabees 2:43) Anyone who was running from the persecution, anyone who refused to compromise their faith, joined the growing ranks of the rebels. They provided support, becoming a strong foundation for the resistance.
"So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour." (1 Maccabees 2:44) This wasn't a peaceful protest. The Maccabees and their followers actively fought against those who were collaborating with the Seleucids, those they considered "sinful" and "wicked." Those who didn’t want to take part in the rebellion, or who supported the Hellenistic ways, sought refuge with the "heathen," meaning the non-Jewish population.
The text continues, "Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars: And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly." (1 Maccabees 2:45-46). This paints a picture of a very active resistance. They were dismantling the symbols of pagan worship and enforcing Jewish law, specifically the commandment of circumcision – a powerful symbol of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Enforcing circumcision on uncircumcised boys powerfully reclaimed Jewish identity in the face of forced assimilation.
This passage from the First Book of Maccabees isn't just a historical account. It's a story about courage, faith, and the fight to preserve one's identity in the face of overwhelming odds. It begs the question: What would you do if your most deeply held beliefs were threatened? How far would you go to protect them? The Maccabees chose to fight, and their story continues to inspire us today.