1 maccabees 4:46 - and laid up the stones in the mountain of the house in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to give an answer concerning them.
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 4:46" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 4:46 refers to a specific situation after the Maccabean victories in reclaiming and purifying the Temple in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"And laid up the stones in the mountain of the house": This likely refers to desecrated or defiled stones from the altar or the Temple itself. During the Seleucid persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, pagan practices were forced upon the Jews, including the desecration of holy places. The stones that had been contaminated could no longer be used for sacred purposes without proper purification.
"in a convenient place": This suggests the stones were carefully stored in a designated area on the Temple Mount, or nearby, not simply discarded. The purpose was to preserve them for future use or proper disposal according to religious law.
"until there should come a prophet to give an answer concerning them": This is the key point. The Maccabees, despite their military successes, recognized their limitations in matters of religious law and prophecy. They believed that only a prophet, divinely inspired, could provide the proper guidance on what to do with the defiled stones.
They were unsure about the proper religious procedure for handling something that had been defiled in such a serious way.
They wanted to avoid taking any action that might further offend God or violate religious law.
They were waiting for divine guidance to know whether the stones could be purified, repurposed, or should be disposed of in a specific manner.
In essence, the verse reflects the Maccabees' respect for religious law and their recognition that certain decisions required divine authority. It highlights a period of waiting and seeking guidance in a time when prophetic voices were less common. They understood that dealing with defiled sacred objects was a serious matter and required more than just human judgment.
1 maccabees 4:46 - and laid up the stones in the mountain of the house in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to give an answer concerning them.
What does "1 maccabees 4:46" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 4:46 refers to a specific situation after the Maccabean victories in reclaiming and purifying the Temple in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"And laid up the stones in the mountain of the house": This likely refers to desecrated or defiled stones from the altar or the Temple itself. During the Seleucid persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, pagan practices were forced upon the Jews, including the desecration of holy places. The stones that had been contaminated could no longer be used for sacred purposes without proper purification.
"in a convenient place": This suggests the stones were carefully stored in a designated area on the Temple Mount, or nearby, not simply discarded. The purpose was to preserve them for future use or proper disposal according to religious law.
"until there should come a prophet to give an answer concerning them": This is the key point. The Maccabees, despite their military successes, recognized their limitations in matters of religious law and prophecy. They believed that only a prophet, divinely inspired, could provide the proper guidance on what to do with the defiled stones.
They were unsure about the proper religious procedure for handling something that had been defiled in such a serious way.
They wanted to avoid taking any action that might further offend God or violate religious law.
They were waiting for divine guidance to know whether the stones could be purified, repurposed, or should be disposed of in a specific manner.
In essence, the verse reflects the Maccabees' respect for religious law and their recognition that certain decisions required divine authority. It highlights a period of waiting and seeking guidance in a time when prophetic voices were less common. They understood that dealing with defiled sacred objects was a serious matter and required more than just human judgment.