The verse "And they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places" from 1 Maccabees 2:36 refers to the Jews who were being attacked on the Sabbath because they refused to fight on that day. Let's break it down:
"And they answered them not...": This means the Jews did not respond to the attacks or pleas from their attackers. They maintained silence.
"...neither cast they a stone at them...": This highlights their commitment to not fighting on the Sabbath. They refused to defend themselves, even with the simple act of throwing stones.
"...nor stopped up the secret places": This is often interpreted in a couple of ways:
Secret hiding places: It could mean they didn't even try to hide or fortify their positions. They made no effort to resist passively, let alone actively.
Secret entrances: It may imply they didn't block up concealed entrances or passages that could have been used by the enemy to infiltrate their defenses.
Overall Meaning:
The verse emphasizes the extreme adherence to the Sabbath law displayed by these Jews. They passively accepted the attacks without any form of resistance, even actions that might have been considered defensive rather than offensive. This devotion, while demonstrating piety, ultimately led to their slaughter. It serves as a catalyst for Mattathias's decision to declare that self-defense is permitted on the Sabbath, a key turning point in the Maccabean Revolt. The verse sets the stage for the pragmatic shift in religious interpretation that allows the Jews to fight for their survival and religious freedom.
The verse "And they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places" from 1 Maccabees 2:36 refers to the Jews who were being attacked on the Sabbath because they refused to fight on that day. Let's break it down:
"And they answered them not...": This means the Jews did not respond to the attacks or pleas from their attackers. They maintained silence.
"...neither cast they a stone at them...": This highlights their commitment to not fighting on the Sabbath. They refused to defend themselves, even with the simple act of throwing stones.
"...nor stopped up the secret places": This is often interpreted in a couple of ways:
Secret hiding places: It could mean they didn't even try to hide or fortify their positions. They made no effort to resist passively, let alone actively.
Secret entrances: It may imply they didn't block up concealed entrances or passages that could have been used by the enemy to infiltrate their defenses.
Overall Meaning:
The verse emphasizes the extreme adherence to the Sabbath law displayed by these Jews. They passively accepted the attacks without any form of resistance, even actions that might have been considered defensive rather than offensive. This devotion, while demonstrating piety, ultimately led to their slaughter. It serves as a catalyst for Mattathias's decision to declare that self-defense is permitted on the Sabbath, a key turning point in the Maccabean Revolt. The verse sets the stage for the pragmatic shift in religious interpretation that allows the Jews to fight for their survival and religious freedom.
