2 Maccabees is a historical book that narrates the events that took place during the Maccabean period, a Jewish revolt led by the sons of Mattathias against the Seleucid domination in the second century BC In this context, the alliance with the Romans and the continuation of the struggle for independence are matters addressed in 2 Maccabees 11:1-38.
During the reign of Demetrius II, the Seleucid king of Syria, the Jews were fighting for their independence, but the Seleucids were too powerful for them. Therefore, the leaders of the Jews, including Judas Maccabeus, decided to seek help from the Romans, who were a rising military power at that time. So Judas wrote a letter to the Romans asking for help, which was successful, as 2 Maccabees 11:8 states:
“The ambassadors went to Rome and delivered the letter to the Senate. This was their reply: ‘What you ask is correct. We will deal with the matter as soon as possible.'”
The alliance with the Romans was a major impetus for the Jewish revolt, as they now had the backing of a major military power. However, not everything was easy. After the alliance, the Seleucids also sought help and started a major confrontation with the Romans, which ended up resulting in a major battle. Judas and his allies joined the battle and fought valiantly, but ended up losing the fight.
Despite this, the struggle for independence continued and the Jews maintained their determination to fight against foreign domination. The story of the Maccabees is an example of the courage and faith of the Jewish people in fighting for freedom and protecting their culture and religion.
In summary, the alliance with the Romans and continued struggle for independence mentioned in 2 Maccabees 11:1-38 is a reflection of historical events in the Maccabean period, when the Jews fought against Seleucid domination and sought the help of the Romans to gain its independence. The story of the Maccabees is an inspiring example of courage and determination in fighting for freedom and protecting faith and culture.
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