1 maccabees 7:18 - And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, There is neither truth nor judgement in them; for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 maccabees 7:18" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 7:18 describes the negative reaction of the Jewish people to a particular group (likely the Seleucid Greeks and/or Hellenized Jews acting in their interests) who have violated a previously agreed-upon covenant or treaty. Let's break it down:
"And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people...": This means the people were afraid and terrified of this group. This fear isn't just regular apprehension; it's a deep, unsettling dread.
"...for they said, There is neither truth nor judgment in them...": This is the reason why the people are afraid. They perceive this group as being completely untrustworthy and unjust. "Truth" here implies honesty, fidelity to their word, and integrity. "Judgment" means they are seen as incapable of making fair or righteous decisions.
"...for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware.": This is the specific action that led to the fear and distrust. A "covenant" is a binding agreement, often involving religious or moral obligations. An "oath" is a solemn promise, usually made with a divine invocation as a witness. By breaking both, this group has fundamentally violated the terms of the agreement and demonstrated a complete lack of respect for their commitments.
In summary, the verse portrays a situation where the Jewish people are deeply afraid of a group that they believe has broken their word, violated a solemn agreement, and demonstrated a lack of integrity and justice. This breach of trust leads to widespread fear and the perception that the group cannot be relied upon.
Historical Context and Significance
Understanding the context of 1 Maccabees makes the verse even clearer:
1 Maccabees is a historical book that describes the Maccabean Revolt (2nd century BCE). This revolt was a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Greek Empire, which was attempting to Hellenize Judea (impose Greek culture and religion).
The specific group being referred to here could be:
The Seleucid Greeks themselves: They might have made agreements with the Jews that they later broke in their efforts to Hellenize.
Hellenized Jews: These were Jews who embraced Greek culture and often collaborated with the Seleucids. They might have made promises to their fellow Jews that they failed to keep in their pursuit of favor with the Greek rulers.
The verse highlights the theme of religious and political betrayal that is central to the book of 1 Maccabees. It demonstrates how the perceived treachery of the Seleucids and/or Hellenized Jews fueled the Maccabean Revolt and solidified the resolve of those who remained faithful to Jewish traditions. The verse underscores the importance of trust, fidelity, and adherence to commitments, particularly in times of conflict and oppression.
1 maccabees 7:18 - And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, There is neither truth nor judgement in them; for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware.
What does "1 maccabees 7:18" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 7:18 describes the negative reaction of the Jewish people to a particular group (likely the Seleucid Greeks and/or Hellenized Jews acting in their interests) who have violated a previously agreed-upon covenant or treaty. Let's break it down:
"And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people...": This means the people were afraid and terrified of this group. This fear isn't just regular apprehension; it's a deep, unsettling dread.
"...for they said, There is neither truth nor judgment in them...": This is the reason why the people are afraid. They perceive this group as being completely untrustworthy and unjust. "Truth" here implies honesty, fidelity to their word, and integrity. "Judgment" means they are seen as incapable of making fair or righteous decisions.
"...for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware.": This is the specific action that led to the fear and distrust. A "covenant" is a binding agreement, often involving religious or moral obligations. An "oath" is a solemn promise, usually made with a divine invocation as a witness. By breaking both, this group has fundamentally violated the terms of the agreement and demonstrated a complete lack of respect for their commitments.
In summary, the verse portrays a situation where the Jewish people are deeply afraid of a group that they believe has broken their word, violated a solemn agreement, and demonstrated a lack of integrity and justice. This breach of trust leads to widespread fear and the perception that the group cannot be relied upon.
Historical Context and Significance
Understanding the context of 1 Maccabees makes the verse even clearer:
1 Maccabees is a historical book that describes the Maccabean Revolt (2nd century BCE). This revolt was a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Greek Empire, which was attempting to Hellenize Judea (impose Greek culture and religion).
The specific group being referred to here could be:
The Seleucid Greeks themselves: They might have made agreements with the Jews that they later broke in their efforts to Hellenize.
Hellenized Jews: These were Jews who embraced Greek culture and often collaborated with the Seleucids. They might have made promises to their fellow Jews that they failed to keep in their pursuit of favor with the Greek rulers.
The verse highlights the theme of religious and political betrayal that is central to the book of 1 Maccabees. It demonstrates how the perceived treachery of the Seleucids and/or Hellenized Jews fueled the Maccabean Revolt and solidified the resolve of those who remained faithful to Jewish traditions. The verse underscores the importance of trust, fidelity, and adherence to commitments, particularly in times of conflict and oppression.