1 maccabees 13:23 - But when he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 13:23

What does "1 maccabees 13:23" mean?


This verse refers to the assassination of Jonathan Maccabeus, a leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. Let's break it down:

"But when he came near to Bascama..." This indicates the location where the events unfolded. Bascama (or Baskama) was a town or region. Jonathan was likely traveling near or through this place.

"...he killed Jonathan..." This is the core of the verse: Jonathan was murdered. The "he" is Simon Maccabeus's brother in law, Tryphon. The verse indicates Tryphon ambushed Jonathan, violating an agreement.

"...and he was buried there." This means that Jonathan was interred at or near the location of his death (Bascama). This likely meant that his followers were unable to bring him back to the Maccabean stronghold to be buried in the family tomb.

Context is Key:

To fully understand the verse, you need to consider the surrounding events in 1 Maccabees:

The Seleucid Empire: The Maccabees were fighting for Jewish independence from the Seleucid Empire, a Greek successor state to Alexander the Great's empire.
Tryphon's Treachery: Tryphon was a Seleucid general who had ambitions to seize the throne. He lured Jonathan into a trap under false pretenses of negotiation, then captured and eventually killed him.

In summary, 1 Maccabees 13:23 recounts the tragic assassination of Jonathan Maccabeus by the treacherous Tryphon near the town of Bascama, and his subsequent burial in the same vicinity. This event marked a turning point in the Maccabean revolt.

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