1 maccabees 7:16 - And they gave him credence: and he laid hands on threescore men of them, and killed them in one day, according to the word which the psalmist wrote,

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 7:16

What does "1 maccabees 7:16" mean?


This verse refers to a specific incident in the First Book of Maccabees where a Jewish leader named Bacchides, a general of the Seleucid army, was given trust by some Jewish men. He then used this trust to betray and kill them. Let's break it down:

"And they gave him credence:" This means the Jewish men believed and trusted Bacchides. They accepted his assurances or promises. He likely presented himself as a friend or someone who could help them.

"and he laid hands on threescore men of them..." "Threescore" is an archaic term for sixty. So, Bacchides arrested or seized sixty of the Jewish men. "Laying hands on" someone can mean arresting, seizing, or attacking.

"...and killed them in one day..." Bacchides executed these sixty men on the same day. This shows the swift and brutal nature of his betrayal.

"...according to the word which the psalmist wrote." This is the most debated part of the verse. It implies that Bacchides' action fulfilled a prophecy found in the Psalms. The problem is that there is no single, clearly identifiable verse in the Psalms that perfectly matches this event. It's believed to be a reference to verses describing the suffering and persecution of the righteous at the hands of their enemies, and God's eventual judgment upon those enemies. Some interpret it as a general sentiment of divine justice rather than a specific prediction. Possible Psalm verses that the writer of 1 Maccabees may be alluding to include Psalms 44:22, 79:2-3 and 141:7.

In essence, the verse describes a betrayal and massacre, framed as a fulfillment of divine justice or prophecy found in the Psalms. It highlights the dangers of misplaced trust and the suffering endured by the Jewish people during this period of Seleucid rule. The reference to the Psalms underscores the religious significance of the event and suggests that the Maccabean authors saw these events as part of a larger pattern of God's interaction with his people.

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