This verse from 2 Maccabees 3:5 describes a situation where someone named "he" is unable to defeat or get the better of Onias. Because of this inability, "he" seeks assistance from Apollonius, the son of Thrasaeus, who held a powerful position: governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
Let's break it down:
"And when he could not overcome Onias...": This tells us there's a conflict or disagreement between "he" and Onias. "Overcome" suggests that "he" was trying to defeat Onias in some way, either politically, physically, or in a dispute. The identity of this "he" is clarified in previous verses as Heliodorus, who was sent by Seleucus IV to seize the Temple treasury. Onias III was the current high priest of the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...he got him to Apollonius the son of Thrasaeus...": Since Heliodorus couldn't defeat Onias on his own, he went to Apollonius for help. The phrase "got him to" implies that Heliodorus sought the support or intervention of Apollonius.
"...who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia:": This identifies Apollonius and explains his importance. He held a high-ranking political position as governor of a large and significant region (Coelesyria and Phoenicia). As governor, Apollonius had authority, resources, and military power, making him a powerful ally.
In essence, this verse describes a political maneuver: Heliodorus, failing to subdue the High Priest Onias on his own, turned to a powerful regional governor, Apollonius, for assistance. This sets the stage for further conflict and likely involves the intervention of external political powers in the affairs of Jerusalem and its Temple. It highlights the political tensions and power struggles of the time.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 3:5 describes a situation where someone named "he" is unable to defeat or get the better of Onias. Because of this inability, "he" seeks assistance from Apollonius, the son of Thrasaeus, who held a powerful position: governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
Let's break it down:
"And when he could not overcome Onias...": This tells us there's a conflict or disagreement between "he" and Onias. "Overcome" suggests that "he" was trying to defeat Onias in some way, either politically, physically, or in a dispute. The identity of this "he" is clarified in previous verses as Heliodorus, who was sent by Seleucus IV to seize the Temple treasury. Onias III was the current high priest of the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...he got him to Apollonius the son of Thrasaeus...": Since Heliodorus couldn't defeat Onias on his own, he went to Apollonius for help. The phrase "got him to" implies that Heliodorus sought the support or intervention of Apollonius.
"...who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia:": This identifies Apollonius and explains his importance. He held a high-ranking political position as governor of a large and significant region (Coelesyria and Phoenicia). As governor, Apollonius had authority, resources, and military power, making him a powerful ally.
In essence, this verse describes a political maneuver: Heliodorus, failing to subdue the High Priest Onias on his own, turned to a powerful regional governor, Apollonius, for assistance. This sets the stage for further conflict and likely involves the intervention of external political powers in the affairs of Jerusalem and its Temple. It highlights the political tensions and power struggles of the time.
