1 maccabees 2:38 - And they rose up against them in battle on the Sabbath, and they died, they and their wives and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand souls.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 maccabees 2:38" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:38 describes a tragic event where a group of Jews, refusing to defend themselves on the Sabbath, were attacked and massacred along with their families and livestock. To understand the verse, we need to consider its historical context:
The Maccabean Revolt: 1 Maccabees tells the story of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The Seleucids, under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, were attempting to Hellenize Judea, forbidding traditional Jewish practices like circumcision and Sabbath observance.
Sabbath Observance: Strict Sabbath observance was a key element of Jewish law and identity. It involved refraining from work, including fighting.
The Massacre: The verse describes an incident where a group of Jews, adhering to their understanding of Sabbath law, refused to fight back when attacked on the Sabbath. As a result, they were slaughtered along with their families and animals.
The Dilemma: This event presented a serious dilemma: should they uphold the Sabbath law to the letter, even at the cost of their lives and the lives of their families, or should they defend themselves?
In essence, the verse highlights the brutal consequences of strict Sabbath observance during a time of religious persecution and war. It sets the stage for a reevaluation of how the Sabbath law should be interpreted in such circumstances.
The verse means that:
A group of Jews were attacked on the Sabbath.
They refused to fight because of their strict adherence to Sabbath law.
As a result, they, their wives, children, and even their cattle, were killed.
The number of people who died was approximately one thousand.
Significance:
This event led to a change in the interpretation of Sabbath law during the Maccabean Revolt. Jewish leaders decided that defending oneself and others on the Sabbath was permissible, as preserving life took precedence over strict Sabbath observance. This decision was crucial for the success of the Maccabean Revolt and the preservation of Jewish religious freedom.
The verse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who adhere to their religious beliefs in the face of persecution and the difficult choices they must make to survive.
1 maccabees 2:38 - And they rose up against them in battle on the Sabbath, and they died, they and their wives and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand souls.
What does "1 maccabees 2:38" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 2:38 describes a tragic event where a group of Jews, refusing to defend themselves on the Sabbath, were attacked and massacred along with their families and livestock. To understand the verse, we need to consider its historical context:
The Maccabean Revolt: 1 Maccabees tells the story of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The Seleucids, under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, were attempting to Hellenize Judea, forbidding traditional Jewish practices like circumcision and Sabbath observance.
Sabbath Observance: Strict Sabbath observance was a key element of Jewish law and identity. It involved refraining from work, including fighting.
The Massacre: The verse describes an incident where a group of Jews, adhering to their understanding of Sabbath law, refused to fight back when attacked on the Sabbath. As a result, they were slaughtered along with their families and animals.
The Dilemma: This event presented a serious dilemma: should they uphold the Sabbath law to the letter, even at the cost of their lives and the lives of their families, or should they defend themselves?
In essence, the verse highlights the brutal consequences of strict Sabbath observance during a time of religious persecution and war. It sets the stage for a reevaluation of how the Sabbath law should be interpreted in such circumstances.
The verse means that:
A group of Jews were attacked on the Sabbath.
They refused to fight because of their strict adherence to Sabbath law.
As a result, they, their wives, children, and even their cattle, were killed.
The number of people who died was approximately one thousand.
Significance:
This event led to a change in the interpretation of Sabbath law during the Maccabean Revolt. Jewish leaders decided that defending oneself and others on the Sabbath was permissible, as preserving life took precedence over strict Sabbath observance. This decision was crucial for the success of the Maccabean Revolt and the preservation of Jewish religious freedom.
The verse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who adhere to their religious beliefs in the face of persecution and the difficult choices they must make to survive.