2 maccabees 1:34 - then the king, inclosing the place, made it sacred, after he had proved the matter.
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What does "2 maccabees 1:34" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 1:34 describes a ritual act performed by a king (likely a Seleucid king, though the passage doesn't explicitly name him). Let's break it down:
"then the king, inclosing the place...": This refers to the king physically demarcating a specific location. "Inclosing" suggests he might have built a wall or some other boundary around it. This action set the place apart from its surroundings.
"...made it sacred...": The act of inclosing the place was intended to declare it holy or set it aside for religious purposes. This could involve a dedication ceremony or other ritual acts.
"...after he had proved the matter.": This is the most ambiguous part. "Proved the matter" likely refers to the king validating or verifying the significance of the place before declaring it sacred. Several interpretations are possible:
Testing or Verification: The king might have investigated claims about the place's holiness. He could have sought evidence of a divine presence or verified a historical event that made it special.
Consulting Religious Authorities: He may have consulted priests, diviners, or other religious experts to confirm the suitability of the place for sacred use. They may have offered pronouncements or performed rituals to validate his intention.
Showing Acceptance by the Divine: There might have been a belief that divine approval was needed. The king could have waited for a sign, omen, or other indication that the gods favored his plan to consecrate the place.
A Test of Faith: Another interpretation is that the king underwent a trial or test of faith to prove himself worthy of making the place sacred.
Context and Significance
The surrounding verses provide additional context. The passage concerns the recovery of sacred fire by Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the altar in Jerusalem. It suggests that the actions of this unnamed king were related to honoring or acknowledging the sanctity of the Jewish Temple or related holy sites.
The "matter" he needed to prove might relate to verifying the fire's authenticity, confirming the legitimacy of the altar's construction, or demonstrating the site's divine significance. The act of inclosing and consecrating the place would symbolize official recognition and protection of Jewish religious practices.
It's important to note that 2 Maccabees is a historical account written from a Jewish perspective. The author may have been interpreting the king's actions in a way that emphasizes the importance of Jewish religious traditions and highlights any instances of respect or recognition from foreign rulers.
2 maccabees 1:34 - then the king, inclosing the place, made it sacred, after he had proved the matter.
What does "2 maccabees 1:34" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 1:34 describes a ritual act performed by a king (likely a Seleucid king, though the passage doesn't explicitly name him). Let's break it down:
"then the king, inclosing the place...": This refers to the king physically demarcating a specific location. "Inclosing" suggests he might have built a wall or some other boundary around it. This action set the place apart from its surroundings.
"...made it sacred...": The act of inclosing the place was intended to declare it holy or set it aside for religious purposes. This could involve a dedication ceremony or other ritual acts.
"...after he had proved the matter.": This is the most ambiguous part. "Proved the matter" likely refers to the king validating or verifying the significance of the place before declaring it sacred. Several interpretations are possible:
Testing or Verification: The king might have investigated claims about the place's holiness. He could have sought evidence of a divine presence or verified a historical event that made it special.
Consulting Religious Authorities: He may have consulted priests, diviners, or other religious experts to confirm the suitability of the place for sacred use. They may have offered pronouncements or performed rituals to validate his intention.
Showing Acceptance by the Divine: There might have been a belief that divine approval was needed. The king could have waited for a sign, omen, or other indication that the gods favored his plan to consecrate the place.
A Test of Faith: Another interpretation is that the king underwent a trial or test of faith to prove himself worthy of making the place sacred.
Context and Significance
The surrounding verses provide additional context. The passage concerns the recovery of sacred fire by Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the altar in Jerusalem. It suggests that the actions of this unnamed king were related to honoring or acknowledging the sanctity of the Jewish Temple or related holy sites.
The "matter" he needed to prove might relate to verifying the fire's authenticity, confirming the legitimacy of the altar's construction, or demonstrating the site's divine significance. The act of inclosing and consecrating the place would symbolize official recognition and protection of Jewish religious practices.
It's important to note that 2 Maccabees is a historical account written from a Jewish perspective. The author may have been interpreting the king's actions in a way that emphasizes the importance of Jewish religious traditions and highlights any instances of respect or recognition from foreign rulers.