Single lesson
Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea
1 Maccabees 7:1–25
A new king took power, and Judea was shaken by accusation, deceit, and a struggle for control.
Before you teach
In the one hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius son of Seleucus came out of Rome with only a few men and began to reign in a city by the sea. As he moved toward the royal house of his fathers, the army seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him. Demetrius refused to see them, and they were killed. Then Demetrius took the throne. Then lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to Demetrius, with Alcimus leading them because he wanted to be high priest. They accused Judas and…
Explain the central teaching of Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea, using two details from the reading. A new king took power, and Judea was shaken by accusation, deceit, and a struggle for control.
Welcome: Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea
5 minIntroduce “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea” and locate 1 Maccabees 7:1–25. A new king took power, and Judea was shaken by accusation, deceit, and a struggle for control. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
1 Maccabees 7:1, 1 Maccabees 7:13, 1 Maccabees 7:25
Read and explain the passage
12 minIn the one hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius son of Seleucus came out of Rome with only a few men and began to reign in a city by the sea. As he moved toward the royal house of his fathers, the army seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him. Demetrius refused to see them, and they were killed. Then Demetrius took the throne.
Bacchides and Alcimus came into Judah with a great army. They sent Judas and his kindred words of peace, but the message was deceitful, and Judas's side paid no attention because they saw the army. A group of scribes came to seek just terms, and the Hasidaeans were the first to look for peace. They believed that a priest from Aaron's line would not harm them.
After that, Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and camped in Bezeth. He seized many deserters who were with him, along with some of the people, and killed them, throwing them into a large pit. He left Alcimus in charge of the country with a force to support him and returned to the king. Alcimus struggled to hold his high priesthood, gathered harmful men, and damaged the land. Judas answered by moving through Judea against deserters, and when Alcimus could not withstand him, he returned to the king with more accusations.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
1 Maccabees 7:1, 1 Maccabees 7:2, 1 Maccabees 7:16, 1 Maccabees 7:10, 1 Maccabees 7:12, 1 Maccabees 7:11, 1 Maccabees 7:19, 1 Maccabees 7:25, 1 Maccabees 7:20
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Then lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to Demetrius, with Alcimus leading them because he wanted to be high priest.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. A new king took power, and Judea was shaken by accusation, deceit, and a struggle for control. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
1 Maccabees 7:9, 1 Maccabees 7:5, 1 Maccabees 7:20, 1 Maccabees 7:10, 1 Maccabees 7:12, 1 Maccabees 7:11, 1 Maccabees 7:19, 1 Maccabees 7:25
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
1 Maccabees 7:1, 1 Maccabees 7:13, 1 Maccabees 7:25
Closing: return to Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea
3 minRevisit 1 Maccabees 7:1–25. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
1 Maccabees 7:1, 1 Maccabees 7:13, 1 Maccabees 7:25
Questions to explore
“Then lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to Demetrius, with Alcimus leading them because he wanted to be high priest.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Then lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to Demetrius, with Alcimus leading them because he wanted to be high priest. They accused Judas and his kindred before the king and asked him to send a trusted man to inspect the damage and punish them. Demetrius chose Bacchides, a powerful and loyal official, sent him with Alcimus, made Alcimus high priest, and ordered vengeance against…
1 Maccabees 7:9, 1 Maccabees 7:5, 1 Maccabees 7:20
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Bacchides and Alcimus came into Judah with a great army.”?
Bacchides and Alcimus came into Judah with a great army. They sent Judas and his kindred words of peace, but the message was deceitful, and Judas's side paid no attention because they saw the army. A group of scribes came to seek just terms, and the Hasidaeans were the first to look for peace. They believed that a priest from Aaron's line would not harm…
1 Maccabees 7:10, 1 Maccabees 7:12, 1 Maccabees 7:11
“After that, Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and camped in Bezeth.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
After that, Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and camped in Bezeth. He seized many deserters who were with him, along with some of the people, and killed them, throwing them into a large pit. He left Alcimus in charge of the country with a force to support him and returned to the king. Alcimus struggled to hold his high priesthood, gathered harmful men, and damaged the…
1 Maccabees 7:19, 1 Maccabees 7:25, 1 Maccabees 7:20
Make, think or respond
Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 1 Maccabees 7:1–25. Use “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Demetrius, Alcimus and the Struggle for Judea” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 1 Maccabees 7:1–25. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 1 Maccabees 7:1–25. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Maccabees 7
1 In the one hundred fifty first year, Demetrius the son of Seleucus came out of Rome, and went up with a few men to a city by the sea, and reigned there.
2 It came to pass, when he would go into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the army laid hands on Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them to him.
3 The thing became known to him, and he said, “Don’t show me their faces!”
4 So the army killed them. Then Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom.
5 All the lawless and ungodly men of Israel came to him. Alcimus was their leader, desiring to be high priest.
6 They accused the people to the king, saying, “Judas and his kindred have destroyed all your friends, and have scattered us from our own land.
7 Now therefore send a man whom you trust, and let him go and see all the destruction which he has brought on us and the king’s country, and how he has punished them and all who helped them.”
8 So the king chose Bacchides, one of the king’s friends, who was ruler in the country beyond the river, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king.
9 He sent him and that ungodly Alcimus, whom he made the high priest; and he commanded him to take vengeance upon the children of Israel.
10 They marched away and came with a great army into the land of Judah. He sent messengers to Judas and his kindred with words of peace deceitfully.
11 They paid no attention to their words; for they saw that they had come with a great army.
12 A group of scribes gathered together to Alcimus and Bacchides to seek just terms.
13 The Hasidaeans were the first among the children of Israel who sought peace from them,
14 for they said, “One who is a priest of the seed of Aaron has come with the army, and he will do us no wrong.”
15 He spoke with them words of peace, and swore to them, saying, “We won’t seek to harm you or your friends.”
16 They trusted him. Then he seized sixty men of them, and killed them in one day, according to the word which was written,
17 The flesh of your saints and their blood was shed all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.
18 The fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, “There is neither truth nor justice in them; for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they swore.”
19 Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem, and encamped in Bezeth. He sent and seized many of the deserters who were with him, and some of the people, and he killed them, throwing them into a large pit.
20 He placed Alcimus in charge of the country and left with him a force to aid him. Then Bacchides went away to the king.
21 Alcimus struggled to maintain his high priesthood.
22 All those who troubled their people joined him, and they took control of the land of Judah, and did great damage in Israel.
23 Judas saw all the wrongs that Alcimus and his company had done among the children of Israel, even more than the Gentiles.
24 He went out into all the borders of Judea and took vengeance on the men who had deserted from him, and they were restrained from going out into the country.
25 But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had grown strong, and knew that he was not able to withstand them, he returned to the king, and brought evil accusations against them.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.