1 maccabees 2:17 - And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred:
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What does "1 maccabees 2:17" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:17 is essentially the Seleucid officers trying to flatter and persuade Mattathias to obey their commands to abandon Jewish law and worship Greek gods. Let's break down the meaning piece by piece:
"And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias...": This sets the scene. These are officials of the Seleucid Empire, which ruled Judea at the time, addressing Mattathias.
"...saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city...": This is flattery. They are telling Mattathias he is respected, influential, and important in the community of Modein (where he lived). They are trying to appeal to his ego and sense of responsibility. By acknowledging his position, they hope to make him feel obliged to cooperate.
"...and strengthened with sons and kindred:": This highlights that Mattathias is not alone. He has a large and powerful family. It's a double-edged statement:
Positive Interpretation: They are acknowledging his strength and influence. His family provides him with support and authority.
Subtle Threat (Possible Implication): It could also be read as a subtle warning. His family provides incentive to obey, or face harm. The officers may imply that they could target his family if he refuses to cooperate.
In essence, the verse means:
The Seleucid officers are attempting to persuade Mattathias to comply with their orders by:
1. Flattering him: Appealing to his ego and sense of importance within the community.
2. Acknowledging his power: Highlighting his strength through his family and connections.
3. Implying potential consequences (subtly): Potentially suggesting that his family's well-being depends on his cooperation.
The verse sets the stage for Mattathias's response, which is a defiant refusal to abandon Jewish law. His refusal sparks the Maccabean Revolt.
1 maccabees 2:17 - And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred:
What does "1 maccabees 2:17" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:17 is essentially the Seleucid officers trying to flatter and persuade Mattathias to obey their commands to abandon Jewish law and worship Greek gods. Let's break down the meaning piece by piece:
"And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias...": This sets the scene. These are officials of the Seleucid Empire, which ruled Judea at the time, addressing Mattathias.
"...saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city...": This is flattery. They are telling Mattathias he is respected, influential, and important in the community of Modein (where he lived). They are trying to appeal to his ego and sense of responsibility. By acknowledging his position, they hope to make him feel obliged to cooperate.
"...and strengthened with sons and kindred:": This highlights that Mattathias is not alone. He has a large and powerful family. It's a double-edged statement:
Positive Interpretation: They are acknowledging his strength and influence. His family provides him with support and authority.
Subtle Threat (Possible Implication): It could also be read as a subtle warning. His family provides incentive to obey, or face harm. The officers may imply that they could target his family if he refuses to cooperate.
In essence, the verse means:
The Seleucid officers are attempting to persuade Mattathias to comply with their orders by:
1. Flattering him: Appealing to his ego and sense of importance within the community.
2. Acknowledging his power: Highlighting his strength through his family and connections.
3. Implying potential consequences (subtly): Potentially suggesting that his family's well-being depends on his cooperation.
The verse sets the stage for Mattathias's response, which is a defiant refusal to abandon Jewish law. His refusal sparks the Maccabean Revolt.