2 maccabees 15:18 - For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for kindred and kinsfolk, was in less account with them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.
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What does "2 maccabees 15:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 15:18 is highlighting the unwavering devotion of the Jewish soldiers to their faith and the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for kindred and kinsfolk, was in less account with them...": This means that the soldiers cared about their families (wives, children, relatives, close friends), but their concern for their families was secondary. In other words, they loved their families, but something else was more important to them.
"...but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.": The most important thing to these soldiers was the "consecrated sanctuary," which refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. The "fear" mentioned here is not simply terror; it's a deep reverence, respect, and concern for the Temple's well-being and sanctity. They were profoundly concerned that the Temple, their holy place, was under threat of defilement or destruction.
In Essence:
The verse emphasizes that the Jewish soldiers valued the sanctity of the Temple above even their personal safety and the well-being of their families. Their religious conviction and the importance they placed on the Temple motivated them to fight with extraordinary courage and determination. This shows the high level of religious devotion that the Jewish people had.
Context and Significance:
This verse appears within the context of the Maccabean Revolt, where the Jewish people were fighting against the Seleucid Empire, which was attempting to Hellenize them and desecrate the Temple. The author of 2 Maccabees is trying to inspire the reader and underscore the importance of religious faithfulness. He portrays the Jewish soldiers as willing to sacrifice everything, including their families, to protect their faith and their holy place. It serves to emphasize the righteousness of their cause and the power of their faith in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
2 maccabees 15:18 - For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for kindred and kinsfolk, was in less account with them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.
What does "2 maccabees 15:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 15:18 is highlighting the unwavering devotion of the Jewish soldiers to their faith and the Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for kindred and kinsfolk, was in less account with them...": This means that the soldiers cared about their families (wives, children, relatives, close friends), but their concern for their families was secondary. In other words, they loved their families, but something else was more important to them.
"...but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.": The most important thing to these soldiers was the "consecrated sanctuary," which refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. The "fear" mentioned here is not simply terror; it's a deep reverence, respect, and concern for the Temple's well-being and sanctity. They were profoundly concerned that the Temple, their holy place, was under threat of defilement or destruction.
In Essence:
The verse emphasizes that the Jewish soldiers valued the sanctity of the Temple above even their personal safety and the well-being of their families. Their religious conviction and the importance they placed on the Temple motivated them to fight with extraordinary courage and determination. This shows the high level of religious devotion that the Jewish people had.
Context and Significance:
This verse appears within the context of the Maccabean Revolt, where the Jewish people were fighting against the Seleucid Empire, which was attempting to Hellenize them and desecrate the Temple. The author of 2 Maccabees is trying to inspire the reader and underscore the importance of religious faithfulness. He portrays the Jewish soldiers as willing to sacrifice everything, including their families, to protect their faith and their holy place. It serves to emphasize the righteousness of their cause and the power of their faith in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.