1 maccabees 9:16 - And those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and of those that were with him:
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What does "1 maccabees 9:16" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 9:16 describes a moment of tactical and likely moral failure in battle during the Maccabean revolt. Let's break down its meaning:
"And those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited..." This refers to a battle formation where the Maccabean army was split into a left and right wing. The "discomfited" right wing was likely being overwhelmed, routed, or pushed back by the enemy (likely Syrian-Greeks).
"...and they turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and of those that were with him:" This is the crucial part. "Judas" likely refers to Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Maccabean revolt up until this point (he died shortly before this battle). "Those that were with him" would be his closest and most trusted fighters.
"Followed upon the footsteps..." This phrase can have two layers of meaning:
1. Literal retreat: The left wing, seeing the right wing failing and likely fearing encirclement or annihilation, broke ranks and retreated, following the path that Judas and his men had taken (presumably in an earlier stage of the battle, perhaps during a failed maneuver).
2. Figurative betrayal: It is a potential critique of Judas Maccabeus leadership at the time, implying that Judas might have made mistakes leading up to this battle. It suggests that the left wing gave up hope and "followed in his footsteps" in the sense of abandoning the fight, leading to the disastrous rout described in the following verses.
In summary:
This verse portrays a moment of panic and disarray in the Maccabean army during a battle against the Syrian-Greeks. Seeing their comrades on the right wing failing, the left wing lost heart and retreated, abandoning their position. The verse implies a criticism of Judas Maccabeus's strategy or leadership, as they were retreating along the path taken by him and his men. Ultimately, it contributed to a significant defeat for the Maccabeans, as the verses that follow describe.
1 maccabees 9:16 - And those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and of those that were with him:
What does "1 maccabees 9:16" mean?
This verse from 1 Maccabees 9:16 describes a moment of tactical and likely moral failure in battle during the Maccabean revolt. Let's break down its meaning:
"And those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited..." This refers to a battle formation where the Maccabean army was split into a left and right wing. The "discomfited" right wing was likely being overwhelmed, routed, or pushed back by the enemy (likely Syrian-Greeks).
"...and they turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and of those that were with him:" This is the crucial part. "Judas" likely refers to Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Maccabean revolt up until this point (he died shortly before this battle). "Those that were with him" would be his closest and most trusted fighters.
"Followed upon the footsteps..." This phrase can have two layers of meaning:
1. Literal retreat: The left wing, seeing the right wing failing and likely fearing encirclement or annihilation, broke ranks and retreated, following the path that Judas and his men had taken (presumably in an earlier stage of the battle, perhaps during a failed maneuver).
2. Figurative betrayal: It is a potential critique of Judas Maccabeus leadership at the time, implying that Judas might have made mistakes leading up to this battle. It suggests that the left wing gave up hope and "followed in his footsteps" in the sense of abandoning the fight, leading to the disastrous rout described in the following verses.
In summary:
This verse portrays a moment of panic and disarray in the Maccabean army during a battle against the Syrian-Greeks. Seeing their comrades on the right wing failing, the left wing lost heart and retreated, abandoning their position. The verse implies a criticism of Judas Maccabeus's strategy or leadership, as they were retreating along the path taken by him and his men. Ultimately, it contributed to a significant defeat for the Maccabeans, as the verses that follow describe.