1 maccabees 15:33 - And Simon answered, and said to him, We have neither taken other men’s land, nor have we possession of that which appertains to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers; howbeit, it was had in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a certain time.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 15:33

What does "1 maccabees 15:33" mean?


This verse, 1 Maccabees 15:33, is Simon Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish people, responding to Antiochus VII Sidetes, the Seleucid king. Let's break down what Simon is saying:

"And Simon answered, and said to him, We have neither taken other men’s land, nor have we possession of that which appertains to others..." This is the core of Simon's defense. He's asserting that the Jews have not unjustly seized anyone else's territory. They are not aggressors stealing land that belongs to other people or nations. They are not holding possessions rightfully belonging to others.

"...but of the inheritance of our fathers..." Here, Simon justifies their claim to the land. He states that the land they currently hold is their ancestral homeland, their rightful inheritance passed down through generations. This is a crucial point – they are claiming a right to the land based on historical ownership and ancestry.

"...howbeit, it was had in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a certain time." This acknowledges that the Jews did not continuously occupy the land. He admits that their enemies (primarily the Seleucid Empire) had, for a period, wrongfully controlled the territory. The word "wrongfully" is important, as it claims the occupation by the Seleucids was unjust and illegitimate. The Seleucids had imposed their rule on Judea, and the Maccabees saw this as an illegal occupation of their own territory. "For a certain time" suggests a temporary, though possibly extended, period of occupation.

In Summary:

Simon is telling Antiochus that the Jewish people are not land-grabbers. They are simply reclaiming their ancestral land that was unjustly taken from them and held by the Seleucid Empire. He is asserting their historical right to the land and defending their actions as a restoration of what was rightfully theirs. This verse is crucial in understanding the Maccabean revolt as a fight for national liberation and the reclamation of their heritage. It also subtly challenges the legitimacy of the Seleucid Empire's rule over Judea.

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