The verse "But the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest" (1 Maccabees 15:24) simply means that a copy of the letter referenced in the surrounding text was sent to Simon Maccabeus, who was the High Priest and leader of the Jewish people at the time.
Let's break it down:
"But the copy hereof...": This refers to a letter or official document that has been mentioned earlier in the chapter. In this case, it's likely a decree or letter from a foreign power, probably Rome, granting certain privileges or acknowledging the authority of the Jewish people.
"...they wrote to Simon the high priest.": This means that someone ("they," likely referring to officials or representatives of the foreign power mentioned in the letter) sent a duplicate of this letter to Simon Maccabeus. He was not just a religious leader (High Priest) but also the political and military leader of Judea.
Significance:
Official Communication: Sending a copy to Simon was a way to officially communicate the contents of the letter to the recognized leader of the Jewish people.
Acknowledgement of Authority: By writing to Simon, the foreign power was acknowledging his position and authority in Judea. This had political implications, as it could signify an alliance or a recognition of Jewish independence to some degree.
Historical Record: The verse, although seemingly simple, highlights how communications were handled and helps us understand the diplomatic relations of the time.
In essence, it's a statement of fact indicating that a copy of an important document was sent to Simon Maccabeus, the key figure in Jewish leadership, for his information and record. It's a detail that helps to paint a picture of the political landscape of the time and the relations between Judea and foreign powers.
The verse "But the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest" (1 Maccabees 15:24) simply means that a copy of the letter referenced in the surrounding text was sent to Simon Maccabeus, who was the High Priest and leader of the Jewish people at the time.
Let's break it down:
"But the copy hereof...": This refers to a letter or official document that has been mentioned earlier in the chapter. In this case, it's likely a decree or letter from a foreign power, probably Rome, granting certain privileges or acknowledging the authority of the Jewish people.
"...they wrote to Simon the high priest.": This means that someone ("they," likely referring to officials or representatives of the foreign power mentioned in the letter) sent a duplicate of this letter to Simon Maccabeus. He was not just a religious leader (High Priest) but also the political and military leader of Judea.
Significance:
Official Communication: Sending a copy to Simon was a way to officially communicate the contents of the letter to the recognized leader of the Jewish people.
Acknowledgement of Authority: By writing to Simon, the foreign power was acknowledging his position and authority in Judea. This had political implications, as it could signify an alliance or a recognition of Jewish independence to some degree.
Historical Record: The verse, although seemingly simple, highlights how communications were handled and helps us understand the diplomatic relations of the time.
In essence, it's a statement of fact indicating that a copy of an important document was sent to Simon Maccabeus, the key figure in Jewish leadership, for his information and record. It's a detail that helps to paint a picture of the political landscape of the time and the relations between Judea and foreign powers.