The League and the Maccabees

(Previous posts in the series: 1, 2, 3)

In Alexander's wake, his empire broke into several nations, ruled by tyrants each claiming to be Alexander's rightful successor. In the Land of Israel, the Jews fell under the rule of the Seleucid dynasty, in Egypt.

Now, in those days, the rulers of Egypt were troubled - they knew that in the widespread chaos following the end of Alexander's rule, they would need tight control over the lands in their possession if they were to retain them. Knowing this, they issued an edict - all citizens under Egypt's rule must worship pagan gods (the Greek gods imported by Alexander), and all other religous practices were banned. That included Judaism.

The governor of Israel, given his position for brave service in the League and Alexander's forces, did as he was told, cracking down on Jewish relgious practice, massacring Jews, and erecting an altar to Zeus in the great Temple at Jerusalem. This did not endear him to the Jews. One man in particular, Matthias the Hasmonean, was incensed to action - slaying a Jew who converted to worshiping the Greek gods, and fleeing with his five sons to the wilderness of Judae. One year later, after Matthias's death, his son Judah Maccabee led a group of Jewish dissidents to victory over government forces through the use of guerilla tactics, and claimed Israel for the Jews.

The League of Desmond chapter in Israel, composed of the Seleucid governor and his retinue, fared poorly with the fall of Seleucid rule in Israel. Most were slaughtered when the capitol fell, but one man, Dorus, survived, fleeing into the wilderness. There he went to a cave, where supplies enough to feed one man for nearly two months had been cached during Alexander's campaign. There, Dorus hoped to wait out Maccabee pursuit, to emerge later and make his escape then. But most of the supplies had been ruined by vermin and foul weather, leaving him with only seven day's supply where he had expected fifty-six. In the Temple in Jerusalem, when the Maccabees went to reconsecrate it, only enough oil was found to light the 'eternal flame' for one day - but when it was lit, the oil lasted for eight days, enough time for more oil to be prepared. If that was a miracle of the Lord, then Dorus found himself the victim of the reverse.

Dorus, having little choice, took the supplies that remained intact and fled across the desert, losing two camels and most of his flesh off of his bones. He arrived in Egypt skeletal and delirous. After he recovered, he pleaded with the League of Desmond in Egypt (led by Egypt's king, Antiochus IV) to take vengeance on the Jews - but to no avail. Egypt had already reached an accord with the Jews, giving them autonomy under Egypt's rule, and had no interest in throwing that away for some abstract League of Desmond solidarity. Dorus sent envoys out to neighbouring countries, seeking vengeance - but to no avail. He died alone, disillusioned with the League of Desmond. The Jewish kingdom lasted a dozen more years under Egyptian rule, and then won full independence, lasting eighty years more. Clearly, the League of Desmond was not what it had been.

Moral: Jews are awesome.