2 maccabees 10:8 - They ordained also with a common statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should keep these days every year.

Generated Verse: 2 maccabees 10:8

What does "2 maccabees 10:8" mean?


This verse from 2 Maccabees 10:8 refers to the institution of the annual celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, an event known as Hanukkah. Let's break down the meaning:

"They ordained also with a common statute and decree...": This means that the leaders of the Jewish community, acting together, officially established (ordained) and formalized (statute and decree) a rule or law.
"...for all the nation of the Jews...": This indicates that the decree was meant to apply to all Jewish people, not just a specific region or group.
"...that they should keep these days every year.": This clarifies the nature of the decree: it was a command to observe and celebrate a specific set of days each year. "These days" refers to the eight days of Hanukkah.

Context and Significance:

The context surrounding this verse is the aftermath of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, specifically the victory over Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the subsequent purification and rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE. Antiochus had desecrated the Temple by introducing pagan worship.

The Maccabees, led by Judas Maccabeus, successfully expelled the Seleucids from Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple. The rededication was a momentous occasion, symbolizing the restoration of Jewish religious practice and national identity.

Therefore, 2 Maccabees 10:8 emphasizes the importance and widespread acceptance of Hanukkah as an annual celebration commemorating this event. It underscores the unified decision of the Jewish community to remember and celebrate their liberation and the restoration of their Temple.

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