2 Maccabees 14:6-14: a reflection

6“Those of the Jews called Hasidaeans, whose leader is Judas Maccabaeus, keep up war and are seditious, not allowing the kingdom to find tranquillity. 7Therefore, having laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood—I have now come here, 8first for the genuine care I have for the things that concern the king, and secondly because I have regard also to my own fellow citizens. For through the unadvised dealing of those of whom I spoke before, our whole race is in no small misfortune. 9O king, having informed yourself of these things, take thought both for our country and for our race, which is surrounded by enemies, according to the gracious kindness with which you receive all. 10For as long as Judas remains alive, it is impossible for the government to find peace. 11When he had spoken such words as these, at once the rest of the king’s friends, having ill will against Judas, inflamed Demetrius yet more. 12He immediately appointed Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and made him governor of Judea. He sent him out, 13giving him written instructions to kill Judas himself and to scatter those who were with him, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple. 14Those in Judea who had driven Judas into exile thronged to Nicanor in flocks, supposing that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would be successes to themselves.

This passage shows the damage a self-serving accuser can do. Alcimus, who wanted the high priesthood for himself, comes before the king and paints Judas and his followers as troublemakers who keep the kingdom from finding peace. He dresses up his ambition as concern for the king and even for his own people, but underneath it all he is seeking his own advancement, willing to betray his countrymen to get it. His words inflame the king, who sends a commander with orders to destroy Judas.

What makes the episode grievous is that the harm comes from within, from one of Judas's own people, who should have stood with him but instead sold him out for personal gain. And others, who had their own grudges, gladly joined the accuser, imagining that their people's misfortune would be their own success. It is a portrait of how ambition and grudges can turn people against their own, using slander and betrayal to climb.

This is a sobering picture of a temptation that still exists: to advance ourselves by tearing others down, to dress up self-interest as concern, to side against our own people when it serves us. Examine your own heart for any trace of Alcimus, any willingness to gain by another's harm. And if you are on the receiving end of such betrayal, take heart that God sees the true motives beneath the pious words, and that he is the vindicator of those wrongly accused. Do not become an accuser, and trust God when you are accused.

Lord, Alcimus dressed up his ambition as concern and betrayed his own people to advance himself. Search my heart for any trace of that, any willingness to gain by tearing others down or to disguise self-interest as care. Keep me from becoming an accuser. And when I am wrongly accused, help me trust that you see the truth beneath every pious word, and that you vindicate your own. Amen.