A simple request. You'd think so. But instead of hospitality, they're met with hostility. The city gates are barred, blocked with stones. A clear message: "You shall not pass!"
Why such resistance? The Book of Maccabees doesn't explicitly tell us the city's motivations here. Perhaps they feared the Maccabees, remembering the battles they'd fought. Maybe they were loyal to the Seleucid Empire, the very power Judas had been fighting against. Or perhaps they simply didn't want an army marching through their streets, no matter how peaceful Judas claimed their intentions to be. We're left to wonder.
Judas, ever the leader, attempts a peaceful approach. He sends messengers, offering assurances: "Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot." It’s a reasonable plea. A promise of peace. He emphasizes their intent to simply transit the land without causing harm.
But the city remains defiant. They refuse to open the gates. All diplomatic attempts fail.
So, what does Judas do? He doesn't back down. He orders his army to set up camp right where they are. Think of it as a very firm, "We're not going anywhere."
"Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was." This shows his resolve, his determination to overcome this obstacle. It's a strategic move, a show of force without immediately resorting to violence.
What follows is a siege. "So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands." The Maccabees lay siege to the city, an all-out assault that lasts for a full day and night. We don't get the gritty details of the battle. But, in the end, the city falls.
This passage, though brief, is packed with tension. It highlights the challenges even righteous warriors face. It reminds us that the path to freedom is rarely easy or straightforward. It raises questions about the ethics of war, even in self-defense.
It makes you wonder about the complexities of leadership, doesn’t it? When is it right to pursue peace, and when is force the only option? How do you balance the needs of your people with the potential harm to others? These are questions that resonate far beyond the ancient world, questions we still grapple with today.