This verse from 2 Maccabees 13:10 describes Judas Maccabeus's response to news of an impending attack. Let's break it down:
"But when Judas heard of these things..." This refers to Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. The "these things" likely refer to news of an advancing army, possibly led by Nicanor (as described in the surrounding verses).
"...he gave charge to the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night..." Judas instructs the people to pray constantly for divine help. This emphasizes the importance of faith and reliance on God in times of crisis. It's a call for urgent and persistent supplication.
"...beseeching him, if ever at any other time, so now to succour those who were at the point to be deprived of the law and their country and the holy temple." This is the core of the prayer request. They are pleading with God to:
"succour" (help or assist) them.
Specifically, they're asking for help because they are "at the point to be deprived of the law." This refers to the Seleucid Empire's attempts to suppress Jewish religious practices and force them to adopt Hellenistic customs.
They are also facing the threat of being deprived of "their country" – their land and national identity.
And finally, they are about to lose "the holy temple" – the center of their religious life and national identity, which was in danger of being desecrated or destroyed.
In essence, the verse depicts Judas Maccabeus calling the people to fervent prayer, emphasizing the dire circumstances they face. They are praying for God's intervention to save them from losing their religious freedom, their land, and their temple, all of which are threatened by the Seleucid forces. The "if ever at any other time" suggests that they believed this moment was a critical test of their faith and deserving of God's special attention.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 13:10 describes Judas Maccabeus's response to news of an impending attack. Let's break it down:
"But when Judas heard of these things..." This refers to Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. The "these things" likely refer to news of an advancing army, possibly led by Nicanor (as described in the surrounding verses).
"...he gave charge to the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night..." Judas instructs the people to pray constantly for divine help. This emphasizes the importance of faith and reliance on God in times of crisis. It's a call for urgent and persistent supplication.
"...beseeching him, if ever at any other time, so now to succour those who were at the point to be deprived of the law and their country and the holy temple." This is the core of the prayer request. They are pleading with God to:
"succour" (help or assist) them.
Specifically, they're asking for help because they are "at the point to be deprived of the law." This refers to the Seleucid Empire's attempts to suppress Jewish religious practices and force them to adopt Hellenistic customs.
They are also facing the threat of being deprived of "their country" – their land and national identity.
And finally, they are about to lose "the holy temple" – the center of their religious life and national identity, which was in danger of being desecrated or destroyed.
In essence, the verse depicts Judas Maccabeus calling the people to fervent prayer, emphasizing the dire circumstances they face. They are praying for God's intervention to save them from losing their religious freedom, their land, and their temple, all of which are threatened by the Seleucid forces. The "if ever at any other time" suggests that they believed this moment was a critical test of their faith and deserving of God's special attention.
