2 maccabees 14:27 - And the king, falling into a rage, and being exasperated by the calumnnies of that most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was displeased at the covenants, and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste.
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 14:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 14:27 describes a political maneuver and its resulting command. Let's break it down:
"And the king, falling into a rage...": This establishes the king's emotional state. He is angry. This anger is a key motivator for the events that follow.
"...and being exasperated by the calumnies of that most wicked man...": The king's anger is fueled by calumnies. Calumnies are false and malicious statements designed to damage someone's reputation – in other words, slander. The "most wicked man" is someone close to the king who is poisoning the king's mind with lies about Maccabaeus and his followers.
"...wrote to Nicanor...": The king is communicating with Nicanor, a high-ranking military official in charge of executing the king's policies.
"...signifying that he was displeased at the covenants...": The king informs Nicanor that he is unhappy with agreements or treaties ("covenants") that have been made, presumably those made with Maccabaeus or the Jewish people. This shows a shift in the king's policy - he is reneging on any promises made.
"...and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste.": This is the crux of the verse. The king orders Nicanor to arrest Maccabaeus (the leader of the Jewish rebellion) and send him quickly ("in all haste") to Antioch. Antioch was the capital of the Seleucid Empire (the Greek kingdom ruling over Judea at this time), so this would effectively take Maccabaeus out of the region and put him under the direct control of the king, likely for imprisonment, trial, or execution.
In essence, the verse describes a situation where:
1. A king is manipulated by a malicious advisor who uses lies to turn him against Maccabaeus and the Jewish people.
2. As a result, the king breaks existing agreements.
3. The king orders the arrest and deportation of Maccabaeus, a leader of the Jewish rebels, to Antioch to be dealt with.
Significance:
This verse is significant because it highlights the precarious position of Maccabaeus and the Jewish people under Seleucid rule. Their fate depended on the whim of the king and the influence of his advisors. It also shows the lengths to which the Seleucid rulers would go to suppress the Jewish rebellion and maintain control over Judea. It sets the stage for further conflict between Maccabaeus and Nicanor, as well as for the larger struggle for Jewish autonomy.
2 maccabees 14:27 - And the king, falling into a rage, and being exasperated by the calumnnies of that most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was displeased at the covenants, and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste.
What does "2 maccabees 14:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 14:27 describes a political maneuver and its resulting command. Let's break it down:
"And the king, falling into a rage...": This establishes the king's emotional state. He is angry. This anger is a key motivator for the events that follow.
"...and being exasperated by the calumnies of that most wicked man...": The king's anger is fueled by calumnies. Calumnies are false and malicious statements designed to damage someone's reputation – in other words, slander. The "most wicked man" is someone close to the king who is poisoning the king's mind with lies about Maccabaeus and his followers.
"...wrote to Nicanor...": The king is communicating with Nicanor, a high-ranking military official in charge of executing the king's policies.
"...signifying that he was displeased at the covenants...": The king informs Nicanor that he is unhappy with agreements or treaties ("covenants") that have been made, presumably those made with Maccabaeus or the Jewish people. This shows a shift in the king's policy - he is reneging on any promises made.
"...and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste.": This is the crux of the verse. The king orders Nicanor to arrest Maccabaeus (the leader of the Jewish rebellion) and send him quickly ("in all haste") to Antioch. Antioch was the capital of the Seleucid Empire (the Greek kingdom ruling over Judea at this time), so this would effectively take Maccabaeus out of the region and put him under the direct control of the king, likely for imprisonment, trial, or execution.
In essence, the verse describes a situation where:
1. A king is manipulated by a malicious advisor who uses lies to turn him against Maccabaeus and the Jewish people.
2. As a result, the king breaks existing agreements.
3. The king orders the arrest and deportation of Maccabaeus, a leader of the Jewish rebels, to Antioch to be dealt with.
Significance:
This verse is significant because it highlights the precarious position of Maccabaeus and the Jewish people under Seleucid rule. Their fate depended on the whim of the king and the influence of his advisors. It also shows the lengths to which the Seleucid rulers would go to suppress the Jewish rebellion and maintain control over Judea. It sets the stage for further conflict between Maccabaeus and Nicanor, as well as for the larger struggle for Jewish autonomy.