I have been reading in Maccabees Book 1 and finding the stories not grabbing my attention. Perhaps I am frustrated with the Israelites. They seem to have forgotten to put God first and are almost never doing an offering or prayer. All they seem to do is battle. They might try to God for help sound there trumpets and charge, but the holiness of life seems to have left them.
I heard early morning upon waking, look for the super hero’s and the extraordinary events. That seems like advice for little Henry, whose whole life revolves around some toddler super hero’s, but upon reflection I realized that could make even what to me is dry scripture interesting.
When I read the passage about the elephants in battle raging war, I thought of the lord of the rings elephants and the awe of the hobbits upon seeing these great imaginary creatures and wondered if Tolkien got his idea for those creatures in the descriptions of the battles in Maccabees.
28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse. 29 There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers. So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle. 31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines: but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.
32 Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bethzacharias, over against the king’s camp. 33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bethzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.
34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries. 35 Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best. 36 These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him. 37 And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.
38 As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host, giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks. 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered therewith, and shined like lamps of fire. 40 So part of the king’s army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order. 41 Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.
42 Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were slain of the king’s army six hundred men. 43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him, 44 put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name: 45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides. 46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died. 47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from them.
Quite an exciting recounting of a battle. Here is the first references I am aware of referred to in scripture as engines of war. This is an opportunity as well to discover what that might have referred to.
How to search
When you see this, you will know there is a modern definition that is not so important, but in your search; Biblical meaning of engines of war….. And here is the answer given that helps clarify what we are reading about.
In the Bible, engines of war refer to mechanical devices used in ancient siege warfare, primarily battering rams, catapults, and ballistae for launching arrows or stones. These technologies are notably mentioned in 2 Chronicles 26:15, where King Uzziah equipped Jerusalem’s towers with machines invented by skillful men to shoot arrows and great stones, and in Ezekiel 26:9, where they are depicted as tools of destruction against city walls.
Not every piece of scripture is going to touch your heart personally, but perhaps, your son who was military might be in awe and amazement reading of the battles. God speaks through scripture to us every day. Sometimes it is so loud where other times soft and subtle. We here His voice in our heart. And we continue our journey of God alignment and purification in the efforts we make even on the less exciting days, knowing we are developing ourselves through discipline and gaining understanding. And what we think has no meaning to us in the moment may resurface as a vital piece of awareness a week or a month later.