1 maccabees 1:39 - Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 1:39

What does "1 maccabees 1:39" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 1:39 describes the devastation and desecration of Jerusalem and its Temple under the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Let's break down each part to understand its meaning:

"Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness..." This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was the holiest place for the Jewish people. To say it was "laid waste like a wilderness" means it was utterly destroyed and abandoned, becoming desolate and untended, like a barren wasteland. The Temple was likely plundered, its sacred objects defiled, and potentially parts of it destroyed.

"...her feasts were turned into mourning..." Jewish feasts and festivals were times of joy, celebration, and worship. Under Antiochus, these celebrations were replaced with mourning. This could mean the feasts were forbidden, and the people were grieving the loss of their religious freedom and the suffering they endured. It could also refer to specific incidents where mourning was imposed, or where joyful celebrations were disrupted by violence and persecution.

"...her Sabbaths into reproach..." The Sabbath (Shabbat) is the Jewish day of rest and worship. To say it was turned into "reproach" means the day became a source of shame, disgrace, or humiliation. This could imply the Sabbath was desecrated, either by being forced to work on it, by preventing people from observing it, or by staging acts of sacrilege on that day. The observance of the Sabbath became a source of shame and potentially danger.

"...her honor into contempt." Jerusalem, once a place of great honor and respect as the capital of Judea and the site of the Temple, was now held in contempt. This means it was viewed with scorn, disrespect, and disdain. This reflects the overall degradation of Jewish life and the loss of national pride and dignity.

In essence, this verse describes the complete religious and cultural devastation of Jerusalem under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. It highlights the suppression of Jewish religious practices, the defilement of sacred places, and the overall humiliation and suffering of the Jewish people. It is a powerful depiction of the crisis that led to the Maccabean Revolt.

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