2 Maccabees 12:1-9: a reflection

1So when this agreement had been made, Lysias departed to the king, and the Jews went about their farming. 2But some of the governors of districts, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, and also Hieronymus and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not allow them to enjoy tranquillity and live in peace. 3Men of Joppa perpetrated this great impiety: they invited the Jews who lived among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had provided, as though they had no ill will toward them. 4When the Jews, relying on the public vote of the city, accepted the invitation, as men desiring to live in peace and suspecting nothing, they took them out to sea and drowned not less than two hundred of them. 5When Judas heard of the cruelty done to his fellow countrymen, giving command to the men that were with him 6and calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his kindred, and set the harbor on fire at night, burned the boats, and put to the sword those who had fled there. 7But when the town gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men of Joppa. 8But learning that the men of Jamnia intended to do the same thing to the Jews who lived among them, 9he attacked the Jamnites at night, and set fire to the harbor together with the fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred forty furlongs distant.

The people of Joppa commit a treacherous act: under a pretense of friendship, they invite the Jews living among them, with their wives and children, out onto boats, as though on a peaceful outing; and then, at sea, they drown them, more than two hundred. It was betrayal masked as goodwill, a deadly treachery hidden behind a friendly invitation. When Judas hears of it, he calls upon God as the righteous Judge, and comes against the murderers.

Notice two things: the treachery of feigned friendship, and Judas's appeal to God the righteous Judge. The men of Joppa used the appearance of friendship as a mask for murder; their goodwill was feigned, a cover for deadly betrayal. And when Judas learned of this grievous wrong, before acting, he called upon God as the righteous Judge, appealing to the God who sees and judges justly. He brought the wrong to God, the righteous Judge, entrusting the judgment of it to him.

Both are worth taking to heart. The treachery of feigned friendship warns us that not all goodwill is genuine; some who profess friendship may mask ill intent, and we do well to be discerning, as the Jews of Joppa, trusting the feigned goodwill, tragically were not. And Judas's appeal to God the righteous Judge shows us where to bring the grievous wrongs done against us: to God, who sees and judges justly. When you are wronged, especially by treachery or betrayal, do not only react in your own strength; appeal, as Judas did, to God the righteous Judge, who sees the wrong and judges justly. And be discerning about feigned goodwill, not naively trusting every profession of friendship. God is the righteous Judge; bring to him the wrongs done against you, entrusting their judgment to the One who sees all and judges justly, rather than carrying the burden of vengeance yourself.

Lord, the people of Joppa committed a treacherous act, inviting the Jews among them onto boats under a pretense of friendship, then drowning more than two hundred; betrayal masked as goodwill. And when Judas heard of it, he called upon you as the righteous Judge before acting. Help me take both to heart. The treachery of feigned friendship warns me that not all goodwill is genuine; some who profess friendship may mask ill intent, and I do well to be discerning, as the Jews of Joppa, trusting the feigned goodwill, tragically were not. And Judas's appeal to you, the righteous Judge, shows me where to bring the grievous wrongs done against me: to you, who see and judge justly. When I am wronged, especially by treachery or betrayal, keep me from only reacting in my own strength; help me appeal, as Judas did, to you the righteous Judge, who see the wrong and judge justly. And make me discerning about feigned goodwill, not naively trusting every profession of friendship. You are the righteous Judge; help me bring to you the wrongs done against me, entrusting their judgment to you, who see all and judge justly, rather than carrying the burden of vengeance myself. You are my righteous Judge, Lord.