1 maccabees 2:35 - And they hurried to give them battle.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 2:35

What does "1 maccabees 2:35" mean?


The verse "And they hurried to give them battle" from 1 Maccabees 2:35 means that those loyal to Jewish law (specifically, those led by Mattathias and his sons) immediately and aggressively engaged in combat against those who were trying to force them to abandon their religious practices and follow Hellenistic customs.

Here's a breakdown:

"And they..." refers to Mattathias and his followers.
"hurried" emphasizes the urgency and speed with which they acted. They didn't hesitate or delay. This highlights their zeal and commitment to defending their faith.
"to give them battle" means to initiate or aggressively enter into combat with their enemies. This isn't a passive defense; they are actively going out to fight.

Context in 1 Maccabees 2:

The surrounding verses explain the context. The verse comes after a group of Jews refused to defile the Sabbath by defending themselves against attack. Mattathias and his followers were horrified by this and realized they could not allow their adherence to the Sabbath to result in their destruction. They therefore resolved to fight back, even on the Sabbath, for self-preservation and the preservation of their faith. Therefore, this verse describes the immediate consequence of this decision: they actively sought out their enemies to fight them.

In essence, the verse describes a decisive act of rebellion and a commitment to armed resistance against religious persecution. They were not going to be passive victims. They were actively going to fight for their right to practice their religion. This is a pivotal moment in the Maccabean Revolt.

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