1 maccabees 3:35 - that he should send an army against them, to root out and destroy the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from the place;
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What does "1 maccabees 3:35" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 3:35 describes the intentions of the Seleucid king (likely Antiochus IV Epiphanes) regarding the Jewish people in Israel, specifically Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"that he should send an army against them": This refers to the Seleucid king's plan to deploy a military force to attack the Jews.
"to root out and destroy the strength of Israel": This means the king aimed to eliminate any source of power or resistance within the Jewish people. "Strength" could refer to their military capabilities, political organization, or religious institutions. The goal was complete subjugation.
"and the remnant of Jerusalem": Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious and cultural life, had already faced some hardship, potentially meaning that only a fraction of its former strength remained. The king desired to eradicate even this "remnant," ensuring the city's complete destruction and submission.
"and to take away their memorial from the place": This is perhaps the most impactful part. It suggests the king's objective wasn't simply conquest, but the complete erasure of Jewish identity and history in the region. "Memorial" refers to the collective memory, traditions, and historical significance of the Jewish people. "The place" is primarily Jerusalem, the focal point of their history and faith. The king wanted to obliterate any trace of their existence, effectively erasing them from the land.
In summary, the verse highlights the Seleucid king's genocidal intent: to use military force to crush Jewish resistance, destroy Jerusalem, and eradicate Jewish culture, history, and memory from the land of Israel. This sets the stage for the Maccabean revolt, which is the central narrative of the book.
1 maccabees 3:35 - that he should send an army against them, to root out and destroy the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from the place;
What does "1 maccabees 3:35" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 3:35 describes the intentions of the Seleucid king (likely Antiochus IV Epiphanes) regarding the Jewish people in Israel, specifically Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"that he should send an army against them": This refers to the Seleucid king's plan to deploy a military force to attack the Jews.
"to root out and destroy the strength of Israel": This means the king aimed to eliminate any source of power or resistance within the Jewish people. "Strength" could refer to their military capabilities, political organization, or religious institutions. The goal was complete subjugation.
"and the remnant of Jerusalem": Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious and cultural life, had already faced some hardship, potentially meaning that only a fraction of its former strength remained. The king desired to eradicate even this "remnant," ensuring the city's complete destruction and submission.
"and to take away their memorial from the place": This is perhaps the most impactful part. It suggests the king's objective wasn't simply conquest, but the complete erasure of Jewish identity and history in the region. "Memorial" refers to the collective memory, traditions, and historical significance of the Jewish people. "The place" is primarily Jerusalem, the focal point of their history and faith. The king wanted to obliterate any trace of their existence, effectively erasing them from the land.
In summary, the verse highlights the Seleucid king's genocidal intent: to use military force to crush Jewish resistance, destroy Jerusalem, and eradicate Jewish culture, history, and memory from the land of Israel. This sets the stage for the Maccabean revolt, which is the central narrative of the book.