1 maccabees 11:38 - And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles: and all the forces of his fathers hated him.
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What does "1 maccabees 11:38" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 11:38 describes a precarious moment in the reign of Demetrius II Nicator. Let's break it down:
"And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him...": Demetrius II Nicator believed he had successfully subdued the territory he controlled. There were no ongoing rebellions or open warfare. The land was outwardly peaceful.
"...and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles...": Feeling secure, Demetrius disbanded his native army, sending them home. However, he retained his mercenary troops, who were recruited from "the isles of the Gentiles" (often interpreted as the Greek islands and coastal regions). This was a common practice for Hellenistic rulers; mercenaries were often more loyal to the ruler who paid them than to a specific territory or people.
"...and all the forces of his fathers hated him.": This is the crucial part. While Demetrius felt secure, his dismissal of his own people and reliance on foreign mercenaries caused deep resentment among the remaining soldiers of his father's army (those who would have been loyal to the previous Seleucid kings). "Hated him" is a strong term implying deep animosity and disloyalty.
In Summary:
The verse illustrates a situation where a ruler (Demetrius II) believes he has established peace and security. However, in doing so, he alienates his own people by disbanding their army and relying on foreign mercenaries. This creates a dangerous undercurrent of resentment and sets the stage for future instability.
Significance:
This passage is significant because:
It highlights the precarious nature of Demetrius's rule. His actions, though seemingly pragmatic, undermined his position.
It shows the importance of loyalty and trust, particularly in a kingdom won through conflict. By prioritizing the loyalty of paid mercenaries over the loyalty of his own people, Demetrius created a recipe for disaster.
It foreshadows the problems and challenges Demetrius will face later in the Book of Maccabees, including rebellions and rivals for the throne.
In essence, 1 Maccabees 11:38 is a snapshot of a ruler making a short-sighted decision that will have long-term negative consequences. It establishes a clear source of internal conflict and sets the stage for the challenges to come.
1 maccabees 11:38 - And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles: and all the forces of his fathers hated him.
What does "1 maccabees 11:38" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 11:38 describes a precarious moment in the reign of Demetrius II Nicator. Let's break it down:
"And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him...": Demetrius II Nicator believed he had successfully subdued the territory he controlled. There were no ongoing rebellions or open warfare. The land was outwardly peaceful.
"...and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles...": Feeling secure, Demetrius disbanded his native army, sending them home. However, he retained his mercenary troops, who were recruited from "the isles of the Gentiles" (often interpreted as the Greek islands and coastal regions). This was a common practice for Hellenistic rulers; mercenaries were often more loyal to the ruler who paid them than to a specific territory or people.
"...and all the forces of his fathers hated him.": This is the crucial part. While Demetrius felt secure, his dismissal of his own people and reliance on foreign mercenaries caused deep resentment among the remaining soldiers of his father's army (those who would have been loyal to the previous Seleucid kings). "Hated him" is a strong term implying deep animosity and disloyalty.
In Summary:
The verse illustrates a situation where a ruler (Demetrius II) believes he has established peace and security. However, in doing so, he alienates his own people by disbanding their army and relying on foreign mercenaries. This creates a dangerous undercurrent of resentment and sets the stage for future instability.
Significance:
This passage is significant because:
It highlights the precarious nature of Demetrius's rule. His actions, though seemingly pragmatic, undermined his position.
It shows the importance of loyalty and trust, particularly in a kingdom won through conflict. By prioritizing the loyalty of paid mercenaries over the loyalty of his own people, Demetrius created a recipe for disaster.
It foreshadows the problems and challenges Demetrius will face later in the Book of Maccabees, including rebellions and rivals for the throne.
In essence, 1 Maccabees 11:38 is a snapshot of a ruler making a short-sighted decision that will have long-term negative consequences. It establishes a clear source of internal conflict and sets the stage for the challenges to come.