1 maccabees 9:60 - And he removed, and came with a great army, and sent letters privily to all his confederates that were in Judea, that they should lay hands on Jonathan and those that were with him: and they could not, because their counsel was known to them.

Generated Verse: 1 maccabees 9:60

What does "1 maccabees 9:60" mean?


This verse from 1 Maccabees 9:60 describes a situation where a powerful enemy of the Jewish people, likely a Seleucid general or official, is plotting against Jonathan Maccabeus and his followers. Let's break it down:

"And he removed, and came with a great army...": This indicates that this enemy (likely Bacchides) mobilized his forces and marched into Judea with a large army. His intention is clearly hostile.
"...and sent letters privily to all his confederates that were in Judea...": The enemy is not acting alone. He has secret allies within Judea itself. These "confederates" are individuals or groups who are sympathetic to the Seleucid cause or who oppose Jonathan and his brothers. The letters are sent "privily," meaning secretly or discreetly, to avoid detection.
"...that they should lay hands on Jonathan and those that were with him...": This is the purpose of the secret communication. The enemy is instructing his allies to capture or arrest Jonathan and his men. The phrase "lay hands on" means to seize or arrest, often with the implication of violence.
"...and they could not, because their counsel was known to them.": Despite the enemy's plan and the collaboration of his internal allies, the plot failed. Jonathan and his followers were aware of the conspiracy, likely through intelligence or spies. They were able to avoid capture because they knew what was coming.

In essence, the verse describes a failed attempt to capture Jonathan Maccabeus and his followers through a coordinated effort between an external army and internal collaborators. The plot was foiled because Jonathan's group had intelligence about the enemy's plans. This verse emphasizes the importance of vigilance, intelligence gathering, and strong leadership in the face of adversity. It also highlights the internal divisions within Judea at the time.

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