2 maccabees 3:6 - and he brought him word how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable, and that they did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power.
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What does "2 maccabees 3:6" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 3:6 is describing a report brought to Seleucus IV Philopator, the King of Syria (Seleucid Empire). Let's break it down:
"and he brought him word": Someone (likely a court official or informant) is bringing information to King Seleucus.
"how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money": The Jerusalem Temple treasury, the central treasury of the Jewish people, was rumored to be incredibly wealthy. "Untold sums" and "full" emphasize the vastness of the reported wealth.
"so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable": This further stresses the sheer amount of money supposedly stored in the treasury. It's so much that it's impossible to count.
"and that they did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices": This is a crucial detail. It suggests that the money wasn't primarily used for religious purposes like buying animals for sacrifice or maintaining the Temple. It implies that a significant portion was surplus, separate from dedicated religious funds.
"but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power": This is the key takeaway. The informant is suggesting that the king could seize this wealth. The fact that the funds were not specifically for religious sacrifice might make it easier for Seleucus to justify confiscating them, as it would be seen as less of a direct attack on Jewish religious practice.
In essence, the verse means:
Someone told King Seleucus IV that the Jerusalem Temple treasury was overflowing with immense wealth, far beyond what was needed for religious sacrifices, and that this surplus wealth could potentially be seized by the king for his own use.
Significance:
This verse sets the stage for the rest of 2 Maccabees 3. It explains why Seleucus sends Heliodorus to Jerusalem to seize the treasury. The perceived wealth of the Temple treasury was a temptation for the Seleucid kings, who were often in need of funds to maintain their empire and its armies. This event is considered one of the major provocations that ultimately led to the Maccabean revolt. The verse highlights the political and economic tensions between the Seleucid Empire and the Jewish people.
2 maccabees 3:6 - and he brought him word how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable, and that they did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power.
What does "2 maccabees 3:6" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 3:6 is describing a report brought to Seleucus IV Philopator, the King of Syria (Seleucid Empire). Let's break it down:
"and he brought him word": Someone (likely a court official or informant) is bringing information to King Seleucus.
"how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money": The Jerusalem Temple treasury, the central treasury of the Jewish people, was rumored to be incredibly wealthy. "Untold sums" and "full" emphasize the vastness of the reported wealth.
"so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable": This further stresses the sheer amount of money supposedly stored in the treasury. It's so much that it's impossible to count.
"and that they did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices": This is a crucial detail. It suggests that the money wasn't primarily used for religious purposes like buying animals for sacrifice or maintaining the Temple. It implies that a significant portion was surplus, separate from dedicated religious funds.
"but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power": This is the key takeaway. The informant is suggesting that the king could seize this wealth. The fact that the funds were not specifically for religious sacrifice might make it easier for Seleucus to justify confiscating them, as it would be seen as less of a direct attack on Jewish religious practice.
In essence, the verse means:
Someone told King Seleucus IV that the Jerusalem Temple treasury was overflowing with immense wealth, far beyond what was needed for religious sacrifices, and that this surplus wealth could potentially be seized by the king for his own use.
Significance:
This verse sets the stage for the rest of 2 Maccabees 3. It explains why Seleucus sends Heliodorus to Jerusalem to seize the treasury. The perceived wealth of the Temple treasury was a temptation for the Seleucid kings, who were often in need of funds to maintain their empire and its armies. This event is considered one of the major provocations that ultimately led to the Maccabean revolt. The verse highlights the political and economic tensions between the Seleucid Empire and the Jewish people.