1 maccabees 2:24 - And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and his reins trembled, and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement, and ran, and killed him upon the altar.
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What does "1 maccabees 2:24" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:24 describes a pivotal moment in the Maccabean Revolt, highlighting the beginning of armed resistance against the Seleucid Empire's attempts to Hellenize Judea. Let's break it down:
"And Mattathias saw it...": Mattathias, a Jewish priest, witnesses something that deeply offends his religious sensibilities.
"...and his zeal was kindled...": This refers to Mattathias's passionate devotion to Judaism. What he witnessed sparked a burning, righteous indignation within him. "Zeal" in this context isn't just enthusiasm; it's a deep, unwavering commitment to God and his law.
"...and his reins trembled...": "Reins" here refers to the kidneys, which in ancient thought (including Hebrew thought) were considered the seat of emotion and inner thoughts. This shows the intense emotional and physical reaction Mattathias experienced. His body is trembling with a mixture of anger, fear, and resolve.
"...and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement...": This is a crucial phrase. It means that Mattathias's anger wasn't a blind rage. He acted deliberately, based on his understanding of what was right and just according to Jewish law and the covenant with God. He believed he was acting in accordance with God's will.
"...and ran, and killed him upon the altar.": Mattathias physically intervened to stop the desecration of the altar. The "him" being killed is a Jewish man who was about to offer a pagan sacrifice, complying with the Seleucid decree. The act of killing him on the altar is particularly significant. It underscores the violation of the sacred space and Mattathias's determination to defend its purity.
In summary, the verse means:
Mattathias, witnessing a fellow Jew about to offer a pagan sacrifice on an altar, was consumed by righteous anger and religious zeal. This wasn't a rash act, but a deliberate one, based on his understanding of divine law and his commitment to God. Driven by this conviction, he killed the man defiling the altar, thus initiating armed resistance against the Seleucid oppression and marking a turning point in the Maccabean Revolt.
The verse is important because it highlights the themes of religious fidelity, righteous anger, and the willingness to take extreme measures to defend one's faith against persecution. It is the moment when the passive resistance turned to active rebellion.
1 maccabees 2:24 - And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and his reins trembled, and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement, and ran, and killed him upon the altar.
What does "1 maccabees 2:24" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:24 describes a pivotal moment in the Maccabean Revolt, highlighting the beginning of armed resistance against the Seleucid Empire's attempts to Hellenize Judea. Let's break it down:
"And Mattathias saw it...": Mattathias, a Jewish priest, witnesses something that deeply offends his religious sensibilities.
"...and his zeal was kindled...": This refers to Mattathias's passionate devotion to Judaism. What he witnessed sparked a burning, righteous indignation within him. "Zeal" in this context isn't just enthusiasm; it's a deep, unwavering commitment to God and his law.
"...and his reins trembled...": "Reins" here refers to the kidneys, which in ancient thought (including Hebrew thought) were considered the seat of emotion and inner thoughts. This shows the intense emotional and physical reaction Mattathias experienced. His body is trembling with a mixture of anger, fear, and resolve.
"...and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement...": This is a crucial phrase. It means that Mattathias's anger wasn't a blind rage. He acted deliberately, based on his understanding of what was right and just according to Jewish law and the covenant with God. He believed he was acting in accordance with God's will.
"...and ran, and killed him upon the altar.": Mattathias physically intervened to stop the desecration of the altar. The "him" being killed is a Jewish man who was about to offer a pagan sacrifice, complying with the Seleucid decree. The act of killing him on the altar is particularly significant. It underscores the violation of the sacred space and Mattathias's determination to defend its purity.
In summary, the verse means:
Mattathias, witnessing a fellow Jew about to offer a pagan sacrifice on an altar, was consumed by righteous anger and religious zeal. This wasn't a rash act, but a deliberate one, based on his understanding of divine law and his commitment to God. Driven by this conviction, he killed the man defiling the altar, thus initiating armed resistance against the Seleucid oppression and marking a turning point in the Maccabean Revolt.
The verse is important because it highlights the themes of religious fidelity, righteous anger, and the willingness to take extreme measures to defend one's faith against persecution. It is the moment when the passive resistance turned to active rebellion.