Above: Coin of Trypho
Image in the Public Domain
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READING 1, 2 AND 4 MACCABEES
PART XXVIII
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1 Maccabees 12:1-13:30
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Demetrius II Nicator (Reigned 145-139/138 and 129/128-125 B.C.E.)
Antiochus VI Epiphanes (Reigned 145-142 B.C.E.)
Trypho (Reigned 142-138 B.C.E.)
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Geopolitics are essential to understanding the diplomatic maneuvering in 1 Maccabees. Know then, O reader, that the Roman Republic’s defeat of the Achean League in 146 B.C.E. increased the prominence of Sparta in Greece. Recall also, O reader, the Roman treaty (from 160 B.C.E.), contained in 1 Maccabees 8.
In 144 B.C.E., the Roman treaty remained just a piece of parchment. Jonathan, realizing how precarious his position (and that of the Jewish nation) was, renewed the alliance with the Roman Republic and established an alliance with Sparta. With the forces loyal to King Demetrius II Soter continuing to threaten the Jewish nation, alliances and Jonathan’s military acumen were essential. Yet Jonathan was not invincible. He also had a serious lapse in judgment. Trypho, the power behind King Antiochus VI Epiphanes, captured Jonathan in 143 B.C.E. The Jewish nation’s crisis deepened.
Simon, the sole surviving son of Mattathias, became the Jewish leader and the High Priest in 143 B.C.E. Trypho failed to capture Jerusalem. He succeeded in having Jonathan executed, though.
The Hasmonean cause was greater than one leader. Three leaders had fallen. The fourth leader carried the fight forward.
Jonathan was greedy for power. His ambition brought about his downfall and placed his nation at risk. Yet he did much to improve the position of his people relative to the powers around them.
Great (not as in wonderful, but in the historical sense of “greatness”) leaders frequently contain such duality. One, looking back with historical perspective, must decide whether a particular leader’s faults or virtues dominate his or her legacy. Tyrants and would-be dictators may have mixed legacies. If one is honest, one must admit that they accomplished some good. Yet the negative outweighs the positive. Likewise, leaders not on the spectrum of tyranny may have mostly positive legacies with prominent moral stains.
Honesty and the recognition of objective reality are the way forward in evaluating leaders.
The attitude of the anonymous author of 1 Maccabees is evident. Jonathan’s name is conspicuously absent from the list of the sons of Mattathias in 2:65-66. There is a hymn of praise for Judas Maccabeus (3:3-9). There is also a hymn of praise for Simon (14:4-15). Yet there is no hymn of praise for Jonathan.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
FEBRUARY 15, 2021 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THE NEW MARTYRS OF LIBYA, 2015
THE FEAST OF BEN SALMON, U.S. ROMAN CATHOLIC PACIFIST AND CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
THE FEAST OF FRANCIS HAROLD ROWLEY, NORTHERN BAPTIST MINISTER, HUMANITARIAN, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF MICHAEL PRAETORIUS, GERMAN LUTHERAN COMPOSER AND MUSICOLOGIST
THE FEAST OF THOMAS BRAY, ANGLICAN PRIEST AND MISSIONARY
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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