This verse, "And they set loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they made," from 1 Maccabees 4:51, is describing the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by Judas Maccabeus and his followers after it had been defiled by the Seleucid Greeks. Let's break down the meaning:
"And they set loaves upon the table..." This refers to the Table of Showbread within the Temple sanctuary. The showbread (or "bread of the presence") was twelve loaves of unleavened bread that were constantly kept on the table as an offering to God. Placing fresh loaves on the table symbolized the restoration of proper worship and the renewed covenant with God.
"...and spread out the veils..." The veils (or curtains, sometimes called the "parochet" in Jewish tradition) separated the different areas within the Temple, most notably the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary. The Greeks had likely desecrated or removed these veils. Restoring them represented the re-establishment of the sanctity and holiness of the Temple.
"...and finished all the works which they made." This is a general statement summarizing that they had completed all the necessary repairs, renovations, and restorations to purify and reconsecrate the Temple. This included cleaning, rebuilding damaged structures, replacing sacred vessels, and preparing everything for the resumption of religious services.
In essence, the verse signifies the complete restoration of the Temple to its proper state after its desecration. It highlights the return to traditional Jewish worship and the renewal of the covenant relationship with God. The act of setting the loaves and spreading the veils are specific examples of the larger work of purification and restoration undertaken by Judas Maccabeus and his followers.
This event is commemorated annually during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
This verse, "And they set loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they made," from 1 Maccabees 4:51, is describing the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by Judas Maccabeus and his followers after it had been defiled by the Seleucid Greeks. Let's break down the meaning:
"And they set loaves upon the table..." This refers to the Table of Showbread within the Temple sanctuary. The showbread (or "bread of the presence") was twelve loaves of unleavened bread that were constantly kept on the table as an offering to God. Placing fresh loaves on the table symbolized the restoration of proper worship and the renewed covenant with God.
"...and spread out the veils..." The veils (or curtains, sometimes called the "parochet" in Jewish tradition) separated the different areas within the Temple, most notably the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary. The Greeks had likely desecrated or removed these veils. Restoring them represented the re-establishment of the sanctity and holiness of the Temple.
"...and finished all the works which they made." This is a general statement summarizing that they had completed all the necessary repairs, renovations, and restorations to purify and reconsecrate the Temple. This included cleaning, rebuilding damaged structures, replacing sacred vessels, and preparing everything for the resumption of religious services.
In essence, the verse signifies the complete restoration of the Temple to its proper state after its desecration. It highlights the return to traditional Jewish worship and the renewal of the covenant relationship with God. The act of setting the loaves and spreading the veils are specific examples of the larger work of purification and restoration undertaken by Judas Maccabeus and his followers.
This event is commemorated annually during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.