This verse from 2 Maccabees 11:5 describes a military advance into Judea. Let's break it down:
"And coming into Judea..." This simply means a military force is entering the region of Judea (the historical and biblical land associated with the Jewish people).
"...and drawing near to Bethsuron..." Bethsuron (also spelled Beth-zur) was a fortified town in Judea. The force is approaching this location.
"...which was a strong place..." This highlights that Bethsuron was a well-defended and important strategic location. Its fortifications made it a difficult target.
"...and distant from Jerusalem about five leagues..." This provides the distance between Bethsuron and Jerusalem. A "league" is an old unit of measurement, typically around 3 miles. Therefore, Bethsuron was approximately 15 miles (5 leagues x 3 miles/league) from Jerusalem. This contextual information is important because Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life and culture.
"...he pressed it hard." This means the military force launched a strong and determined attack against Bethsuron, attempting to take the city. It suggests an intense siege or battle. "Pressed it hard" implies significant effort and aggression.
In summary, this verse describes a military campaign entering Judea and making a determined assault on the fortified town of Bethsuron, which was about 15 miles from Jerusalem. The attacker recognized the strategic importance of the town and committed significant effort to capturing it. This verse is part of the historical narrative of the Maccabean Revolt, detailing the conflicts between the Maccabees and their enemies.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 11:5 describes a military advance into Judea. Let's break it down:
"And coming into Judea..." This simply means a military force is entering the region of Judea (the historical and biblical land associated with the Jewish people).
"...and drawing near to Bethsuron..." Bethsuron (also spelled Beth-zur) was a fortified town in Judea. The force is approaching this location.
"...which was a strong place..." This highlights that Bethsuron was a well-defended and important strategic location. Its fortifications made it a difficult target.
"...and distant from Jerusalem about five leagues..." This provides the distance between Bethsuron and Jerusalem. A "league" is an old unit of measurement, typically around 3 miles. Therefore, Bethsuron was approximately 15 miles (5 leagues x 3 miles/league) from Jerusalem. This contextual information is important because Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life and culture.
"...he pressed it hard." This means the military force launched a strong and determined attack against Bethsuron, attempting to take the city. It suggests an intense siege or battle. "Pressed it hard" implies significant effort and aggression.
In summary, this verse describes a military campaign entering Judea and making a determined assault on the fortified town of Bethsuron, which was about 15 miles from Jerusalem. The attacker recognized the strategic importance of the town and committed significant effort to capturing it. This verse is part of the historical narrative of the Maccabean Revolt, detailing the conflicts between the Maccabees and their enemies.
