2 maccabees 1:8 - and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood: and we implored the Lord, and were heard; and we offered sacrifice and meal offering, and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the show bread.
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What does "2 maccabees 1:8" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 1:8 is part of a letter sent from the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea to their brethren in Egypt. It's recalling a time of severe hardship and persecution in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood:" This describes a period of violent conflict and desecration. Setting the gate on fire signifies destruction and attack on the city. "Shed innocent blood" indicates that people were unjustly killed, likely during a siege or persecution. This is generally understood to be referring to the persecutions under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
"and we implored the Lord, and were heard;" This shows that in their distress, the people turned to God in prayer. The phrase "were heard" means that God responded favorably to their prayers, offering hope and potentially intervention or deliverance.
"and we offered sacrifice and meal offering, and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the show bread." This is describing acts of worship and rededication of the Temple.
Sacrifice and meal offering: Traditional ways of atoning for sins and expressing gratitude to God.
Lighted the lamps: A reference to the menorah in the Temple, which was to be perpetually lit. Relighting it symbolized restoring the Temple's holiness.
Set forth the show bread: The "show bread" (or "bread of the Presence") was twelve loaves of bread that were arranged on a table in the Temple as a continual offering to God. Setting it forth signified restoring the Temple's proper functioning.
In essence, the verse is a concise summary of a period of suffering followed by repentance and restoration. It highlights the belief that:
1. The Jewish people endured hardship and violence.
2. They turned to God for help.
3. God heard their prayers.
4. They rededicated the Temple and resumed their religious practices as a sign of their renewed covenant with God.
The purpose of including this history in the letter is likely to remind the Jews in Egypt of their shared heritage, the importance of faith during times of adversity, and the hope of redemption through God's grace. It serves as a call to remember their traditions and maintain their connection to Jerusalem and the Temple. This letter is sent to encourage the celebration of the festival of dedication to commemorate the purification of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus.
2 maccabees 1:8 - and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood: and we implored the Lord, and were heard; and we offered sacrifice and meal offering, and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the show bread.
What does "2 maccabees 1:8" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 1:8 is part of a letter sent from the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea to their brethren in Egypt. It's recalling a time of severe hardship and persecution in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood:" This describes a period of violent conflict and desecration. Setting the gate on fire signifies destruction and attack on the city. "Shed innocent blood" indicates that people were unjustly killed, likely during a siege or persecution. This is generally understood to be referring to the persecutions under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
"and we implored the Lord, and were heard;" This shows that in their distress, the people turned to God in prayer. The phrase "were heard" means that God responded favorably to their prayers, offering hope and potentially intervention or deliverance.
"and we offered sacrifice and meal offering, and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the show bread." This is describing acts of worship and rededication of the Temple.
Sacrifice and meal offering: Traditional ways of atoning for sins and expressing gratitude to God.
Lighted the lamps: A reference to the menorah in the Temple, which was to be perpetually lit. Relighting it symbolized restoring the Temple's holiness.
Set forth the show bread: The "show bread" (or "bread of the Presence") was twelve loaves of bread that were arranged on a table in the Temple as a continual offering to God. Setting it forth signified restoring the Temple's proper functioning.
In essence, the verse is a concise summary of a period of suffering followed by repentance and restoration. It highlights the belief that:
1. The Jewish people endured hardship and violence.
2. They turned to God for help.
3. God heard their prayers.
4. They rededicated the Temple and resumed their religious practices as a sign of their renewed covenant with God.
The purpose of including this history in the letter is likely to remind the Jews in Egypt of their shared heritage, the importance of faith during times of adversity, and the hope of redemption through God's grace. It serves as a call to remember their traditions and maintain their connection to Jerusalem and the Temple. This letter is sent to encourage the celebration of the festival of dedication to commemorate the purification of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus.