Like you’re crying out, “How long, O Lord, how long?” That feeling isn't new. It echoes through the ages, even finding a voice in the Book of Maccabees.
Imagine this: You’re a Jew living in Judea, caught in the crossfire of a brutal conflict. The year is roughly 165 BCE. Judas Maccabeus, the Hammer, has been leading a revolt against the Seleucid Empire, who defiled the Temple and outlawed Jewish practices. It’s a desperate fight for religious freedom, for survival itself.
But not everyone is on board. Some Jews, eager to appease the Seleucids or simply clinging to power, collaborate with the enemy. They’ve holed up in the Akra, a fortified citadel overlooking the Temple in Jerusalem. And from there, they’re making life a living hell for their fellow Jews.
The passage from the Book of Maccabees 1, chapter 6, captures the raw emotion of those caught in the middle. It’s a plea, a lament, a cry for divine intervention: "How long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren?"
It’s a question that reverberates through Jewish history, doesn't it? From the Exodus to the Holocaust, the yearning for justice, for vindication, has been a constant.
The text continues, laying bare the petitioners’ loyalty: "We have been willing to serve thy father, and to do as he would have us, and to obey his commandments; For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from us."
They’re saying, "We’ve been faithful! We followed the Torah. And for this, our own people – those collaborators – are attacking us. They’ve turned against us!" This internal conflict, the pain of betrayal from within, adds another layer to the tragedy.
The situation is dire. "Moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritance. Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against their borders."
The collaborators aren't just attacking individuals; they’re seizing land, destroying livelihoods, and threatening the entire community. Their actions extend beyond personal vendettas; they endanger the very borders of Jewish life.
And the urgency is palpable. "And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified."
The siege is happening now. The Temple, the very heart of Jewish worship, is under threat. Bethsura, a strategic town in Judea, is also fortified, likely by Seleucid forces or their allies, tightening the noose around the Maccabees and their followers.
Reading these words, you can almost feel the desperation, the fear, the burning desire for justice. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t always easy. It demands courage, resilience, and an unwavering belief that, even in the darkest of times, justice will eventually prevail. The Book of Maccabees doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer a powerful testament to the enduring human spirit, the refusal to surrender hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
So, how long will it be? That question remains, echoing through the ages. But perhaps the answer lies not in a specific timeframe, but in our continued commitment to fight for what's right, to stand up for justice, and to never lose faith in the possibility of a better world.