1 maccabees 12:45 - And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come you with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers: and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.
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What does "1 maccabees 12:45" mean?
This verse is spoken by Jonathan, a leader of the Maccabees during the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. Let's break down what he's saying:
"And now send them away to their homes...": Jonathan is likely speaking to his soldiers. He's telling them to return home, as their immediate task is complete.
"...but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you...": Jonathan instructs his companion (likely his brother Simon) to select a small group of trusted men to accompany him.
"...and come you with me to Ptolemais...": Jonathan is inviting the companion to join him in traveling to Ptolemais. Ptolemais (modern Acre, Israel) was a strategically important coastal city controlled by the Seleucids.
"...and I will give it up to you...": Jonathan is offering to deliver Ptolemais into the companion's hands. This suggests that Jonathan has some influence or power that allows him to seize the city.
"...and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers...": He is stating that in addition to Ptolemais, he will also cede the rest of the fortresses/strongholds, the Seleucid forces, and officers to the companion.
"...and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.": Jonathan indicates that after handing over Ptolemais, he will leave. He then states that the purpose of his arrival was to turn over the Seleucid holdings.
In essence, Jonathan is offering to betray the Seleucid Empire by handing over key cities, forces, and personnel to his companion.
Context and Significance:
Internal Strife: This verse comes from a period of significant internal turmoil within the Seleucid Empire. Different factions were vying for control. Jonathan likely saw an opportunity to exploit this chaos.
Political Maneuvering: Jonathan, as a leader of the Maccabees, was engaged in a complex game of political maneuvering. He would align with different factions within the Seleucid Empire depending on what best served the interests of the Jewish people.
Gaining Territory: By taking control of Ptolemais and other strongholds, the Maccabees would be able to consolidate their power and expand their territory.
Trust and Leadership: The verse highlights the bond of trust between Jonathan and his companion and Jonathan's power as a leader.
The exact circumstances surrounding this offer and the identities of the people involved are subjects of scholarly debate. However, the verse clearly indicates that Jonathan was actively pursuing alliances and opportunities to weaken the Seleucid Empire and strengthen the position of the Jewish people.
1 maccabees 12:45 - And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come you with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers: and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.
What does "1 maccabees 12:45" mean?
This verse is spoken by Jonathan, a leader of the Maccabees during the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. Let's break down what he's saying:
"And now send them away to their homes...": Jonathan is likely speaking to his soldiers. He's telling them to return home, as their immediate task is complete.
"...but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you...": Jonathan instructs his companion (likely his brother Simon) to select a small group of trusted men to accompany him.
"...and come you with me to Ptolemais...": Jonathan is inviting the companion to join him in traveling to Ptolemais. Ptolemais (modern Acre, Israel) was a strategically important coastal city controlled by the Seleucids.
"...and I will give it up to you...": Jonathan is offering to deliver Ptolemais into the companion's hands. This suggests that Jonathan has some influence or power that allows him to seize the city.
"...and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers...": He is stating that in addition to Ptolemais, he will also cede the rest of the fortresses/strongholds, the Seleucid forces, and officers to the companion.
"...and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.": Jonathan indicates that after handing over Ptolemais, he will leave. He then states that the purpose of his arrival was to turn over the Seleucid holdings.
In essence, Jonathan is offering to betray the Seleucid Empire by handing over key cities, forces, and personnel to his companion.
Context and Significance:
Internal Strife: This verse comes from a period of significant internal turmoil within the Seleucid Empire. Different factions were vying for control. Jonathan likely saw an opportunity to exploit this chaos.
Political Maneuvering: Jonathan, as a leader of the Maccabees, was engaged in a complex game of political maneuvering. He would align with different factions within the Seleucid Empire depending on what best served the interests of the Jewish people.
Gaining Territory: By taking control of Ptolemais and other strongholds, the Maccabees would be able to consolidate their power and expand their territory.
Trust and Leadership: The verse highlights the bond of trust between Jonathan and his companion and Jonathan's power as a leader.
The exact circumstances surrounding this offer and the identities of the people involved are subjects of scholarly debate. However, the verse clearly indicates that Jonathan was actively pursuing alliances and opportunities to weaken the Seleucid Empire and strengthen the position of the Jewish people.