1 maccabees 6:25 - And not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 6:25

What does "1 maccabees 6:25" mean?


The verse "And not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders" from 1 Maccabees 6:25 means that the Seleucid forces, specifically the army led by Lysias acting on behalf of King Antiochus V Eupator, were not just attacking the Jewish people directly in Jerusalem, but were also attacking and harassing all the surrounding territories and borders of Judea.

Here's a breakdown:

"And not against us only did they stretch out their hand...": This refers to the Seleucid forces attacking the Jewish people in Jerusalem, who were rebelling against Seleucid rule and religious oppression.
"...but also against all their borders.": This means the Seleucids were also attacking the surrounding areas, towns, villages, and territories that bordered Judea. This could have been for several reasons:

Securing their supply lines: Attacking surrounding areas could have been done to secure routes for supplies and reinforcements to reach Jerusalem.
Preventing support for the rebels: The Seleucids likely wanted to prevent the people in the border regions from providing aid or support to the Maccabean rebels in Jerusalem.
Expanding their control: The Seleucids may have been trying to reassert and expand their control over the entire region, ensuring that no area could serve as a safe haven or base of operations for the rebellion.
Punishment and intimidation: Raiding and attacking border regions could have been intended as a punishment for any perceived support of the rebellion and as a way to intimidate other communities into submission.

In essence, the verse highlights the widespread nature of the conflict and the Seleucids' intention to crush the rebellion not only in Jerusalem but throughout the entire region of Judea and its surroundings.

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