2 maccabees 12:16 - and having taken the city by the will of God, they made unspeakable slaughter, insomuch that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood.
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What does "2 maccabees 12:16" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 12:16 describes a brutal victory achieved by Jewish forces, with God's blessing, over their enemies. Let's break down the meaning:
"and having taken the city by the will of God": This emphasizes that the victory was attributed to divine intervention. The Jewish forces believed they were acting in accordance with God's will.
"they made unspeakable slaughter": This is a stark depiction of the violence inflicted upon the defeated population. "Unspeakable" highlights the extreme and horrific nature of the killing.
"insomuch that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood": This is a vivid and likely hyperbolic image used to illustrate the scale of the massacre. Two furlongs is about a quarter of a mile. The idea that the lake appeared to be filled with blood emphasizes the immense number of people killed and the graphic nature of the violence.
In essence, the verse conveys:
Divine Justification: The actions, however brutal, were justified in the eyes of the perpetrators by their belief that they were acting on God's behalf.
Extreme Violence: The verse highlights the level of violence that occurred during the conflict.
Propaganda and Symbolism: The "lake of blood" is likely a symbolic exaggeration intended to shock the reader and emphasize the completeness of the victory. It could also serve as a warning to potential enemies.
Historical Context:
2 Maccabees recounts events during the Maccabean Revolt (2nd century BCE), when Jewish people fought against the Seleucid Empire, who were attempting to impose Hellenistic culture and religious practices upon them. The book is not a completely objective historical account; it has a clear theological perspective and serves to encourage Jewish piety and resistance.
Important Considerations:
Exaggeration: It's important to recognize that ancient texts, particularly those with a religious or propagandistic purpose, often use exaggeration for emphasis. The lake literally filled with blood is unlikely, but the imagery serves to emphasize the extent of the violence.
Moral Implications: The verse raises serious questions about the ethics of violence, even when committed in the name of religion. While the text may portray the violence as divinely sanctioned, modern readers might have different moral perspectives.
2 maccabees 12:16 - and having taken the city by the will of God, they made unspeakable slaughter, insomuch that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood.
What does "2 maccabees 12:16" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 12:16 describes a brutal victory achieved by Jewish forces, with God's blessing, over their enemies. Let's break down the meaning:
"and having taken the city by the will of God": This emphasizes that the victory was attributed to divine intervention. The Jewish forces believed they were acting in accordance with God's will.
"they made unspeakable slaughter": This is a stark depiction of the violence inflicted upon the defeated population. "Unspeakable" highlights the extreme and horrific nature of the killing.
"insomuch that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood": This is a vivid and likely hyperbolic image used to illustrate the scale of the massacre. Two furlongs is about a quarter of a mile. The idea that the lake appeared to be filled with blood emphasizes the immense number of people killed and the graphic nature of the violence.
In essence, the verse conveys:
Divine Justification: The actions, however brutal, were justified in the eyes of the perpetrators by their belief that they were acting on God's behalf.
Extreme Violence: The verse highlights the level of violence that occurred during the conflict.
Propaganda and Symbolism: The "lake of blood" is likely a symbolic exaggeration intended to shock the reader and emphasize the completeness of the victory. It could also serve as a warning to potential enemies.
Historical Context:
2 Maccabees recounts events during the Maccabean Revolt (2nd century BCE), when Jewish people fought against the Seleucid Empire, who were attempting to impose Hellenistic culture and religious practices upon them. The book is not a completely objective historical account; it has a clear theological perspective and serves to encourage Jewish piety and resistance.
Important Considerations:
Exaggeration: It's important to recognize that ancient texts, particularly those with a religious or propagandistic purpose, often use exaggeration for emphasis. The lake literally filled with blood is unlikely, but the imagery serves to emphasize the extent of the violence.
Moral Implications: The verse raises serious questions about the ethics of violence, even when committed in the name of religion. While the text may portray the violence as divinely sanctioned, modern readers might have different moral perspectives.