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Context No. 178 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

Context · Reflection

1 Maccabees 13:17-24: in context

17Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, but he sent to get the money and the children, lest perhaps he would arouse great hostility among the people, 18who might say, “Because I didn’t send him the money and the children, he perished.” 19So he sent the children and the hundred talents, but Tryphon lied, and didn’t release Jonathan. 20After this, Tryphon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he went around by the way that leads to Adora. Simon and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went. 21Now the people of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors, urging him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food. 22So Tryphon prepared all his cavalry to come, but on that night a very heavy snow fell, and he didn’t come because of the snow. He marched off and went into the land of Gilead. 23When he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there. 24Then Tryphon turned back, and went away into his own land.

Simon's brother Jonathan is a hostage of the Seleucid general Tryphon, who has sent word that he will release him for a hundred talents of silver and Jonathan's two sons as guarantee. This passage is Simon's decision, and the writer tells us plainly what Simon believed.

Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully. He sent the money and the children anyway. His reason is given, and it is entirely about what the people would say: lest he arouse great hostility among the people, who might say that Jonathan perished because Simon would not send the money and the children. He pays a ransom he expects to be stolen, and hands over two boys, to avoid a version of events he cannot otherwise disprove.

Tryphon takes the money, keeps the boys, and kills Jonathan anyway. Simon recovers his brother's bones and buries them at Modein, building a monument his family could be seen by from the sea. Simon judged the situation correctly and acted against his own judgment because he could not bear how it would look. What am I about to do, knowing better, because of the story that would circulate if I did not?

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