This verse from 2 Maccabees 15:22 is part of a prayer offered by Judas Maccabeus before a battle against a much larger Syrian army. Let's break down what it means:
"And calling upon God he said after this manner:" This simply indicates that Judas Maccabeus is praying aloud to God.
"You, O Sovereign Lord," This is a declaration of God's supreme power and authority. Judas is acknowledging that God is in control of all things.
"did send your angel in the time of Hezekiah king of Judea," This refers to a past event recorded in the Hebrew Bible (specifically, 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36). During the reign of King Hezekiah, the Assyrian king Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem.
"and he killed of the army of Sennacherib as many as a hundred fourscore and five thousand;" This recounts the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem. According to the biblical account, an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers in the Assyrian camp in a single night, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw.
In essence, Judas is reminding God of a past instance where God intervened miraculously to save Israel from a seemingly insurmountable threat. He is appealing to God's faithfulness and power, asking for a similar intervention in his present situation against the Syrian army.
Significance:
Historical Parallel: Judas uses the story of Hezekiah as a historical precedent. He is suggesting that just as God delivered Israel in the past, He can deliver them again in the present.
Faith and Hope: The prayer demonstrates Judas Maccabeus's faith in God's power and his hope for divine intervention. Despite facing overwhelming odds, he believes that God can change the outcome of the battle.
Legitimacy: By referring to a well-known event from the Hebrew Bible, the author of 2 Maccabees is reinforcing the legitimacy of Judas Maccabeus's cause and highlighting the continuity between the Maccabean revolt and the earlier history of Israel.
Motivating troops: By reminding his troops of the power and faithfulness of God to the people of Israel, it would serve to encourage them in their fight against the Syrian army.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 15:22 is part of a prayer offered by Judas Maccabeus before a battle against a much larger Syrian army. Let's break down what it means:
"And calling upon God he said after this manner:" This simply indicates that Judas Maccabeus is praying aloud to God.
"You, O Sovereign Lord," This is a declaration of God's supreme power and authority. Judas is acknowledging that God is in control of all things.
"did send your angel in the time of Hezekiah king of Judea," This refers to a past event recorded in the Hebrew Bible (specifically, 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36). During the reign of King Hezekiah, the Assyrian king Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem.
"and he killed of the army of Sennacherib as many as a hundred fourscore and five thousand;" This recounts the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem. According to the biblical account, an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers in the Assyrian camp in a single night, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw.
In essence, Judas is reminding God of a past instance where God intervened miraculously to save Israel from a seemingly insurmountable threat. He is appealing to God's faithfulness and power, asking for a similar intervention in his present situation against the Syrian army.
Significance:
Historical Parallel: Judas uses the story of Hezekiah as a historical precedent. He is suggesting that just as God delivered Israel in the past, He can deliver them again in the present.
Faith and Hope: The prayer demonstrates Judas Maccabeus's faith in God's power and his hope for divine intervention. Despite facing overwhelming odds, he believes that God can change the outcome of the battle.
Legitimacy: By referring to a well-known event from the Hebrew Bible, the author of 2 Maccabees is reinforcing the legitimacy of Judas Maccabeus's cause and highlighting the continuity between the Maccabean revolt and the earlier history of Israel.
Motivating troops: By reminding his troops of the power and faithfulness of God to the people of Israel, it would serve to encourage them in their fight against the Syrian army.
