2 maccabees 14:13 - giving him written instructions to make away with Judas himself and to scatter those who were with him, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 maccabees 14:13" mean?
This verse, 2 Maccabees 14:13, refers to a conspiracy orchestrated by Nicanor, a general in the Seleucid army under King Demetrius I Soter. Let's break down its meaning:
"giving him written instructions": This implies that Nicanor is acting under direct orders from someone, likely King Demetrius I Soter. The instructions are formal and documented, emphasizing their importance and official nature.
"to make away with Judas himself": The primary target of this operation is Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. "Make away with" is a euphemism for "kill" or "eliminate". Getting rid of Judas was seen as crucial to crushing the rebellion.
"and to scatter those who were with him": The plan wasn't just to kill Judas, but also to dismantle his movement. By scattering his followers, Nicanor hoped to break their morale, leadership, and organization, preventing them from continuing the resistance.
"and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple": This is the political element of the plan. Alcimus was a Jewish priest who was pro-Hellenistic and favored cooperation with the Seleucids. The Seleucids removed the previous high priest, because he was supportive of the Maccabean revolt. By appointing Alcimus as high priest, the Seleucids aimed to:
Legitimize their rule: Having a Jewish high priest in their favor would give the Seleucids the appearance of having the support of the Jewish religious establishment.
Divide the Jewish people: Appointing a pro-Seleucid high priest would create a power struggle and division within the Jewish community, weakening their resistance.
Control the Temple: The high priest held a position of great power and influence, especially in religious matters. Controlling who held this position would allow the Seleucids to influence religious practices and suppress dissent.
In summary:
This verse describes Nicanor's plan, acting on behalf of King Demetrius I Soter, to eliminate Judas Maccabeus, scatter his followers, and install Alcimus as high priest. The aim was to crush the Jewish rebellion and reassert Seleucid control over Judea by killing the leader, dispersing his followers and installing a pro-Hellenistic high priest. This verse highlights the political and religious dimensions of the conflict between the Jews and the Seleucids.
2 maccabees 14:13 - giving him written instructions to make away with Judas himself and to scatter those who were with him, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
What does "2 maccabees 14:13" mean?
This verse, 2 Maccabees 14:13, refers to a conspiracy orchestrated by Nicanor, a general in the Seleucid army under King Demetrius I Soter. Let's break down its meaning:
"giving him written instructions": This implies that Nicanor is acting under direct orders from someone, likely King Demetrius I Soter. The instructions are formal and documented, emphasizing their importance and official nature.
"to make away with Judas himself": The primary target of this operation is Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. "Make away with" is a euphemism for "kill" or "eliminate". Getting rid of Judas was seen as crucial to crushing the rebellion.
"and to scatter those who were with him": The plan wasn't just to kill Judas, but also to dismantle his movement. By scattering his followers, Nicanor hoped to break their morale, leadership, and organization, preventing them from continuing the resistance.
"and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple": This is the political element of the plan. Alcimus was a Jewish priest who was pro-Hellenistic and favored cooperation with the Seleucids. The Seleucids removed the previous high priest, because he was supportive of the Maccabean revolt. By appointing Alcimus as high priest, the Seleucids aimed to:
Legitimize their rule: Having a Jewish high priest in their favor would give the Seleucids the appearance of having the support of the Jewish religious establishment.
Divide the Jewish people: Appointing a pro-Seleucid high priest would create a power struggle and division within the Jewish community, weakening their resistance.
Control the Temple: The high priest held a position of great power and influence, especially in religious matters. Controlling who held this position would allow the Seleucids to influence religious practices and suppress dissent.
In summary:
This verse describes Nicanor's plan, acting on behalf of King Demetrius I Soter, to eliminate Judas Maccabeus, scatter his followers, and install Alcimus as high priest. The aim was to crush the Jewish rebellion and reassert Seleucid control over Judea by killing the leader, dispersing his followers and installing a pro-Hellenistic high priest. This verse highlights the political and religious dimensions of the conflict between the Jews and the Seleucids.