Saint Chrysostom on the Maccabees
From the Treatise on Psalm 43 by St John Chrysostom, Bishop & Doctor
“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what thou hast done in their time of old.” The Prophet speaks thus in the Psalm, yet not in his own person, but in the person of the Maccabees, relating and foretelling what events were to happen at the time. For such are the Prophets: they outrun all times, past, present, and future. But in order that our discussion of the subject may be more intelligible, we must first state who were these Maccabees, and what they suffered, and what they did. For when Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes, had invaded Judaea, and laid everything waste, and had forced many who then dwelt there to fall away from the laws of their fathers, the Maccabees remained unsullied by these temptations.
And when a serious war broke out, and they could do nothing to help themselves, they hid themselves, as also in aftertimes the Apostles did. For they did not always rush openly into the midst of dangers, but sometimes fled, withdrawing thus to hide. However, after one such short respite, they were like eager animals leaping out of their caves and coming forth from their lairs, and they thereupon resolved for the future, not to win safety for themselves only, but for others, whomsoever they could. And going through all that city and country, they gathered together as many as they found who were still healthy and stedfast; and even many who were weak, and had been corrupted, they persuaded to return to the Law of their fathers.
For they told them that God is merciful and gracious, and that he has never deprived men of that salvation which is obtained by penitence. And, so saying, they raised a levy of the most valiant men. For they fought not for their wives, their children and servants, or because of the ruin and captivity of their fatherland, but for the Law, and the religion of their fathers. Now their leader was God. Therefore, when they arrayed their battle line, and put their lives in jeopardy, they overthrew their adversaries because they trusted not in arms, but considered that the just cause of their war was in itself a good armour. Moreover, when they went forth to the conflict, they uttered no bombast, nor sang battle songs, as some do; nor did they call together musicians, as is done in other armies; but they invoked the help of the Most High God, that he might be with them, and aid them, and strengthen their hand, because that war which they waged was for his glory.
