1 maccabees 14:36 - and in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the Gentiles were taken away out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David, those who were in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a citadel, out of which they issued, and polluted all things round about the sanctuary, and did great hurt to its purity;

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 14:36

What does "1 maccabees 14:36" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 14:36 refers to the reign of Simon Maccabeus and highlights his successes in securing Jewish autonomy and purifying Jerusalem. Let's break down the key parts:

"and in his days things prospered in his hands": This establishes Simon's reign as one of success and accomplishment. He was effective in his leadership and administration.
"so that the Gentiles were taken away out of their country": This indicates that Simon drove out foreign (non-Jewish) forces from the land of Israel. This was a major achievement in restoring Jewish control and independence.
"and they also that were in the city of David, those who were in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a citadel, out of which they issued, and polluted all things round about the sanctuary, and did great hurt to its purity": This refers to the removal of a specific group from Jerusalem. This group is described as having occupied a citadel (likely the Akra, a fortified area built by the Seleucid Greeks). From this stronghold, they exerted a negative influence on the city, particularly on the Temple and its surroundings. They are accused of "polluting all things round about the sanctuary, and did great hurt to its purity." This implies that their actions were considered religiously defiling and harmful to the sanctity of the Temple.

In summary, the verse praises Simon Maccabeus for:

His overall success in governing.
Expelling foreign forces from the land.
Removing a hostile and religiously defiling group from Jerusalem, who had entrenched themselves in a citadel and were corrupting the Temple.

The verse emphasizes the restoration of Jewish control and the purification of the Temple under Simon's leadership, key themes in the book of Maccabees. It portrays Simon as a righteous and effective ruler who brought prosperity and religious cleansing to Jerusalem.

What categories does "1 maccabees 14:36" have?