2 Maccabees 14:26-30: a reflection

26But Alcimus, perceiving the good will that was between them, and having taken possession of the covenants that had been made, came to Demetrius and told him that Nicanor was disloyal to the government, for he had appointed that conspirator against his kingdom, Judas, to be his successor. 27The king, falling into a rage, and being exasperated by the false accusations of that most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was displeased at the covenants, and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste. 28When this message came to Nicanor, he was confounded, and was very troubled at the thought of annulling the articles that had been agreed upon, the man having done no wrong; 29but because there was no opposing the king, he watched his time to execute this purpose by strategy. 30But Maccabaeus, when he perceived that Nicanor was behaving more harshly in his dealings with him, and that he had become ruler in his customary bearing, understanding that this harshness came not of good, gathered together not a few of his men, and concealed himself from Nicanor.

A good arrangement is destroyed by a slanderer. Nicanor had made a peaceful agreement with Judas; the two dealt honorably. But Alcimus, resenting their goodwill, comes to the king and slanders Nicanor, falsely accusing him of disloyalty. The king, enraged by the false accusation, orders the arrangement broken and Judas arrested. One slanderer's lies destroy the peace between two who had dealt honorably, forcing wrong where there had been good.

Notice the destructive power of the slander. Nicanor and Judas had reached a good, honorable arrangement; but Alcimus, out of resentment, slandered Nicanor to the king, and his lies poisoned everything. The king, believing the false accusation, broke the peace and demanded wrong be done. One person's slander destroyed a good relationship and forced a wrong, all through lies. Slander is a poison; it can destroy good relationships and force wrong where there was peace.

That destructive power of slander is worth taking seriously, both to guard against slandering others and to be wary of believing slander. Slander, false accusation spoken against another, can poison relationships, destroy good arrangements, and force wrong where there was peace, as Alcimus's slander destroyed the peace between Nicanor and Judas. Do not slander others, spreading false accusations that can poison relationships and do great harm; the tongue that slanders can destroy much. And be wary of believing slander; the king, believing Alcimus's lies, was moved to break a good arrangement and force wrong. Do not readily believe accusations against others, which may be slander, lest you be moved, like the king, to wrong by a slanderer's lies. Slander destroys; guard your own tongue against speaking it, and your own heart against believing it, remembering how one slanderer's lies destroyed the peace between Nicanor and Judas, and forced wrong where there had been good.

Lord, a good arrangement was destroyed by a slanderer: Nicanor had made a peaceful agreement with Judas, but Alcimus, resenting their goodwill, slandered Nicanor to the king, falsely accusing him; and the king, enraged by the false accusation, broke the arrangement. One slanderer's lies destroyed the peace between two who had dealt honorably. Show me the destructive power of the slander. Alcimus's lies poisoned everything; the king, believing the false accusation, broke the peace and demanded wrong be done. Slander is a poison; it can destroy good relationships and force wrong where there was peace. Take that seriously in me, both to guard against slandering others and to be wary of believing slander. Slander can poison relationships, destroy good arrangements, and do great harm. Keep me from slandering others, spreading false accusations that can poison relationships and do great harm; the tongue that slanders can destroy much. And make me wary of believing slander; the king, believing lies, was moved to wrong. Keep me from readily believing accusations against others, which may be slander, lest I be moved, like the king, to wrong by a slanderer's lies. Slander destroys, Lord; guard my tongue against speaking it, and my heart against believing it. Keep me from slander, in word and in belief.