1 maccabees 7:20 - And he made sure the country to Alcimus, and left with him a force to aid him; and Bacchides went away to the king.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 7:20

What does "1 maccabees 7:20" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 7:20 describes the actions of the Seleucid general Bacchides after installing Alcimus as the High Priest in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:

"And he made sure the country to Alcimus..." This means Bacchides established Alcimus securely in his position as High Priest. He ensured Alcimus had the power and control he needed over Judea.

"...and left with him a force to aid him..." Bacchides didn't just leave Alcimus alone. He left a military force (likely a garrison of soldiers) to support Alcimus and help him maintain control. This force would be used to suppress any rebellion or opposition to Alcimus' rule.

"...and Bacchides went away to the king." This indicates that Bacchides then departed from Judea and returned to the Seleucid king (Demetrius I Soter) to report on his success in installing Alcimus.

In essence, the verse signifies:

1. The establishment of Alcimus as the Seleucid-backed High Priest.
2. The imposition of Seleucid control over Judea through Alcimus and the supporting military force.
3. Bacchides' successful completion of his mission and his return to the Seleucid king.

Context within 1 Maccabees:

This verse is part of a larger narrative about the Maccabean revolt. The Seleucid Empire was attempting to Hellenize (impose Greek culture and religion) Judea, which sparked resistance led by the Maccabee family. Alcimus, a Jewish priest, was seen as a collaborator with the Seleucids. The verse shows the Seleucids' strategy of using Alcimus to try to pacify Judea, while maintaining military force to crush any further dissent. This sets the stage for continued conflict between the Maccabees and the Seleucids.

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