1 maccabees 6:1 - And king Antiochus was journeying through the upper countries; and he heard say, that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold;

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 6:1

What does "1 maccabees 6:1" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 6:1 sets the stage for a key event in the story. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"And king Antiochus was journeying through the upper countries;": This indicates that King Antiochus IV Epiphanes (the Seleucid ruler who had been oppressing the Jews) was traveling in the northeastern regions of his vast empire. These "upper countries" generally refer to the eastern parts of the Seleucid Empire, like Persia.

"and he heard say, that in Elymais in Persia...": Antiochus received information (likely intelligence reports or rumors) about a particular place: Elymais. Elymais was a region in Persia (modern-day Iran).

"...there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold;": The city within Elymais was famous for its wealth, specifically its abundance of silver and gold. This wealth would be a strong motivator for Antiochus's subsequent actions.

In Summary:

The verse establishes that Antiochus IV Epiphanes was traveling in the eastern parts of his empire when he learned about a very wealthy city in Elymais, Persia. This sets the scene for Antiochus to plan a military expedition to plunder this city and replenish his depleted treasury. The story that unfolds from this point details his attempt to seize the city's riches and the events that followed.

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