2 maccabees 12:20 - And Maccabaeus, ranging his own army by bands, set these two over the bands, and marched in haste against Timotheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.

Generated Verse: 2 maccabees 12:20

What does "2 maccabees 12:20" mean?


This verse from 2 Maccabees 12:20 describes a military encounter between Maccabeus and Timotheus:

"And Maccabaeus, ranging his own army by bands...": Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish rebels, organized his troops into tactical units (bands or divisions).
"...set these two over the bands...": Maccabeus appointed two commanders to oversee these divisions, likely lieutenants of his.
"...and marched in haste against Timotheus...": He quickly moved his forces towards Timotheus.
"...who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.": The enemy, Timotheus, commanded a very large army consisting of 120,000 infantry soldiers and 2,500 cavalry soldiers.

In simpler terms:

Judas Maccabeus organized his army and appointed leaders. Then, he marched quickly to confront Timotheus, who had a much larger army.

Significance:

Military context: This verse highlights a battle in the Maccabean Revolt, a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire (Greek rulers).
Underdog story: The verse sets up a classic "David vs. Goliath" scenario, with Maccabeus facing a significantly larger and better-equipped enemy force. The book of 2 Maccabees often emphasizes the role of divine intervention in enabling the Jewish rebels to overcome these odds.
Leadership: It shows Maccabeus as a skilled military leader who organized his troops and acted decisively.
Exaggeration: It's worth noting that historical accuracy in 2 Maccabees is sometimes debated, and the numbers given for enemy forces could be exaggerated to emphasize the challenges faced by the Maccabees.

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