1 maccabees 4:43 - and they cleansed the holy place, and bare out the stones of defilement into an unclean place.
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 4:43" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 4:43 refers to the aftermath of the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Empire and the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"and they cleansed the holy place": The Seleucid Empire, under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, had desecrated the Temple. They had introduced pagan worship, erected an altar to Zeus, and sacrificed unclean animals. The Maccabees, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, saw it as their duty to purify the Temple. This involved removing all the pagan elements and restoring it to its proper state for Jewish worship.
"and bare out the stones of defilement": During the Seleucid occupation, the Temple's structure itself had been defiled. This likely refers to specific stones or architectural elements that had been used in the pagan rituals or that were otherwise considered ritually unclean due to their association with the desecration.
"into an unclean place": These defiled stones were not simply discarded. They were taken to a specific area considered ritually "unclean" according to Jewish law. This was to ensure that they would not cause further impurity within the city or the Temple precincts. Jewish law often prescribed specific methods and locations for dealing with ritually unclean objects or substances. By removing them to an unclean place, the Maccabees were ensuring that the defilement was contained and did not spread.
In essence, the verse describes a careful and deliberate act of purification. The Maccabees didn't just get rid of the obvious signs of pagan worship. They also took steps to remove and isolate any elements that had been tainted by the desecration, thereby restoring the Temple to its state of ritual purity. This act was a crucial part of re-establishing Jewish worship and identity in Jerusalem. It is this event that is commemorated during the holiday of Hanukkah.
1 maccabees 4:43 - and they cleansed the holy place, and bare out the stones of defilement into an unclean place.
What does "1 maccabees 4:43" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 4:43 refers to the aftermath of the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Empire and the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"and they cleansed the holy place": The Seleucid Empire, under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, had desecrated the Temple. They had introduced pagan worship, erected an altar to Zeus, and sacrificed unclean animals. The Maccabees, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, saw it as their duty to purify the Temple. This involved removing all the pagan elements and restoring it to its proper state for Jewish worship.
"and bare out the stones of defilement": During the Seleucid occupation, the Temple's structure itself had been defiled. This likely refers to specific stones or architectural elements that had been used in the pagan rituals or that were otherwise considered ritually unclean due to their association with the desecration.
"into an unclean place": These defiled stones were not simply discarded. They were taken to a specific area considered ritually "unclean" according to Jewish law. This was to ensure that they would not cause further impurity within the city or the Temple precincts. Jewish law often prescribed specific methods and locations for dealing with ritually unclean objects or substances. By removing them to an unclean place, the Maccabees were ensuring that the defilement was contained and did not spread.
In essence, the verse describes a careful and deliberate act of purification. The Maccabees didn't just get rid of the obvious signs of pagan worship. They also took steps to remove and isolate any elements that had been tainted by the desecration, thereby restoring the Temple to its state of ritual purity. This act was a crucial part of re-establishing Jewish worship and identity in Jerusalem. It is this event that is commemorated during the holiday of Hanukkah.