After the Seleucid-appointed High Priest, Alcimus, died of a stroke, General Bacchides left Judea, for his mission was to ensure Alcimus remained as the High Priest. With Alcimus dead, his mission was no more. But Bacchides was drawn back into Judean politics. Those who were pro-Hellenistic approached him with an easy way to assassinate Jonathan and his close circle of supporters. However, Jonathan got wind of this plot and turned the tables, defeating Bacchides.
Yet, Judea is still not immune from events. For straddled between two empires, the Ptolemies and Seleucids, Judea gets caught up in the movements of these empires.
Read 1 Maccabees 10:1-5
– Who became ruler of Ptolemais (Note: Ptolemais was in Northern Israel)?
– Why would this concern Demetrius, King of the Seleucids?
– Concerning relations with Judea, what does Demetrius recognize is in his best interest?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:6-14
– What two acts does Demetrius carry out to let Jonathan know that the ill will between them in in the past?
– Because of these events, what happens to the power base of the Jewish Hellenizers?
Jonathan becomes High Priest
Read 1 Maccabees 10:15-21
– What does Alexander realize concerning Jonathan and the army under his control?
– How does he woo Jonathan?
– In what ways does Jonathan become the leader in Judea?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:22-28
– How do these events have Demetrius worried?
– How does he respond?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:29-33
– Demetrius offers Judea freedom from having to pay what?
– What is now established in the Temple area? (vs. 32)
– What is now offered to every Jew who has been carried off into captivity within the Seleucid Empire?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:33-35
– What type of freedom does Demetrius now fully offer?
NT-Tie In: 1 Maccabees 10:34
Colossians 2:16-17: [In the New Covenant,] Let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or in the matter of a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come, but the reality is Christ!
Food, drink, a festival, a new moon, and Sabbath were often grouped together in the Old-Covenant ceremonial rituals, even when God chided the Israelites for only going through the motions in these rituals (Isaiah 1:13-14).
Yet, in the New Covenant, God would change the mandatory celebration of those festivals, for they will have served their purpose. Hosea 2:11: “I will put an end to all her celebrations: her feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths–all her festivals.”
These passages show us liturgical feast days being celebrated yearly (festivals), monthly (new moons), and weekly (Sabbaths). Yet, these Old-Covenant rituals were mere “shadows” of the greater “substance” or “reality” to come with Christ and the sacraments in the New Covenant.
The stipulation for Demetrius’ “bribes”
Read 1 Maccabees 10:36-37
– But what does Demetrius demand to take place to benefit from the earlier-mentioned concessions?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:38-45
– How else does Demetrius “sweeten the pot”?
Jonathan Decides
Read 1 Maccabees 10:46-47
– What was the stated reason that Jonathan rejected Demetrius’ proposal?
– Discuss what else may have factored in Jonathan’s decision?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:48-50
– How do events work in Judea’s favor?
Alexander, the Ptolemies, and Jonathan
Read 1 Maccabees 10:51-58
– To whom does Alexander send word of his victory?
– What does Alexander do to link the Ptolemies and Seleucids together?
Read 1 Maccabees 10:59-66
– How does Jonathan benefit from choosing the side that triumphed?
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