Context No. 3014 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees 5:63-68: in context

63The man Judas and his kindred were glorified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard of. 64Men gathered together to them, acclaiming them. 65Judas and his kindred went out and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south. He struck Hebron and its villages, pulled down its strongholds, and burned its towers all around. 66He marched to go into the land of the Philistines, and he went through Samaria. 67In that day certain priests, desiring to do exploits there, were slain in battle, when they went out to battle unadvisedly. 68But Judas turned toward Azotus, to the land of the Philistines, pulled down their altars, burned the carved images of their gods with fire, took the plunder of their cities, and returned into the land of Judah.

Judas Maccabeus and his brothers are honored throughout Israel and among the nations; people rally to them, and they win victory after victory, tearing down pagan altars and idols. But tucked into the run of triumphs is a sobering line. Certain priests, eager to do great exploits of their own, went out to battle rashly, and they were killed.

In the middle of all the success, that one verse stands out. Some priests, driven by a desire to make a name for themselves, went into battle unadvisedly, without wisdom or command, and it cost them their lives. Not everyone who fights on God's side and wins is acting rightly. These men were moved by the wish to do something impressive, and their zeal outran both wisdom and obedience. Eagerness to accomplish exploits is not the same thing as faithful, submitted service, and unwise zeal can be deadly.

Is my zeal for God tempered by wisdom and submission, or am I tempted, like these priests, to rush ahead rashly for the sake of doing something impressive?

Sources

1 Maccabees 5:67: "Certain priests, desiring to do exploits there, were slain in battle, when they went out to battle unadvisedly."
Proverbs 19:2: "It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way."
1 Samuel 15:22: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."