1 maccabees 10:56 - And now will I do to you, as you have written: but meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; and I will make affinity with you, even as you have said.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 10:56

What does "1 maccabees 10:56" mean?


This verse, 1 Maccabees 10:56, is spoken by Alexander Balas, a claimant to the Seleucid throne, to Jonathan Maccabeus, the Jewish leader and high priest. Let's break it down:

"And now will I do to you, as you have written:" This refers to a previous letter from Jonathan to Alexander. Jonathan had likely offered support to Alexander in his bid to overthrow Demetrius I Soter, the current Seleucid king. Alexander is acknowledging Jonathan's offer and promising to reciprocate. He's agreeing to the terms Jonathan laid out in his letter. This is essentially an acceptance of Jonathan's proposal.

"but meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another;" Ptolemais (modern-day Acre) was a coastal city under Seleucid control. Alexander is inviting Jonathan for a personal meeting. This is a common way for rulers to cement alliances and discuss strategy face-to-face. The "see one another" part emphasizes the importance of a personal connection in solidifying their agreement.

"and I will make affinity with you, even as you have said." "Make affinity" means to form a kinship or alliance, often through marriage. This suggests that Jonathan had either proposed or alluded to a formal alliance, possibly even including a marriage arrangement to bind their families and/or the Jewish people to Alexander's cause. By saying "even as you have said," Alexander is reaffirming his commitment to establishing a strong and lasting relationship with Jonathan and, by extension, the Jewish people.

In summary, this verse indicates that Alexander Balas is accepting Jonathan Maccabeus's offer of support in his fight for the Seleucid throne. He agrees to the terms Jonathan set, invites him for a meeting to Ptolemais to discuss matters and promises to form a formal alliance, even possibly through marriage, as had been outlined in Jonathan's letter. This marks the beginning of a strategic alliance between Alexander and Jonathan, which would greatly benefit the Jewish people for a time.

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