1 maccabees 6:7 - and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem; and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and Bethsura, his city.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 6:7

What does "1 maccabees 6:7" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 6:7 describes the actions taken by the Jewish people, led by Judas Maccabeus, to purify and rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem after it had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Let's break down each part:

"and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem;" - This refers to the destruction of the altar that Antiochus IV had erected in the Temple. This altar was likely dedicated to a pagan god, possibly Zeus Olympios, and was considered an "abomination" by the Jewish people because it violated their religious laws and desecrated their holy place.

"and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before;" - This indicates the rebuilding or repair of the Temple's defensive walls. The previous walls had likely been damaged during the fighting or intentionally destroyed by the Seleucid forces. Rebuilding them was crucial for protecting the Temple from future attacks and reasserting Jewish control over the sacred site. The phrase "as before" implies a return to the Temple's original state.

"and Bethsura, his city." - This refers to the fortification of Beth-zur, a city located south of Jerusalem, likely by Judas Maccabeus and his forces. Beth-zur was strategically important because it controlled a key route to Jerusalem from the south. Fortifying it would have provided a defensive buffer against Seleucid incursions and protected Jerusalem from that direction. The phrase "his city" might be either:
Referring to the city being under Judas Maccabeus' control.
The city might have been previously controlled by Antiochus, so the verse could also be implying that Bethsura was "his" as in the enemy's city.

In summary, the verse describes the restoration and fortification efforts undertaken by the Maccabees after they had successfully liberated Jerusalem from Seleucid control. These actions were crucial for re-establishing Jewish religious practice in the Temple and defending the city from future attacks. It highlights the Maccabees' commitment to purifying the Temple, restoring its defenses, and securing the surrounding territory.

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