This verse from 2 Maccabees 4:10 describes a moment of political and cultural upheaval in Judea under Seleucid rule. Let's break it down:
"And when the king had given assent...": This refers to the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, which controlled Judea at this time. The king's assent means he approved of something.
"...and he had gotten possession of the office...": "He" refers to a Jewish High Priest named Jason (mentioned earlier in the chapter). Jason bribed Antiochus IV to remove his brother Onias III from the high priesthood and appoint him instead. This phrase means Jason successfully secured the position of High Priest.
"...he forthwith brought over them of his own race to the Greek fashion.": This is the crucial part. Jason, now High Priest, immediately began to Hellenize (to bring into Greek Culture) the Jewish people. This means he encouraged or forced them to adopt Greek customs, values, and practices. "Them of his own race" refers to his fellow Jews. "Greek fashion" encompasses a wide range of things, including:
Language: Promoting the use of Greek.
Clothing: Adopting Greek styles.
Religion: Encouraging the worship of Greek gods and de-emphasizing traditional Jewish practices.
Education: Establishing Greek-style schools and gymnasiums.
Social Life: Introducing Greek forms of entertainment and social interaction.
In essence, the verse describes a powerful and influential Jewish leader, Jason, betraying his own people by actively promoting Greek culture and customs in Judea after bribing the King to be the High Priest. This was a deliberate attempt to undermine Jewish traditions and assimilate the Jewish population into the larger Hellenistic world. This action was viewed as a betrayal of their faith and heritage, and this is one of the main events that led to the Maccabean Revolt.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 4:10 describes a moment of political and cultural upheaval in Judea under Seleucid rule. Let's break it down:
"And when the king had given assent...": This refers to the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, which controlled Judea at this time. The king's assent means he approved of something.
"...and he had gotten possession of the office...": "He" refers to a Jewish High Priest named Jason (mentioned earlier in the chapter). Jason bribed Antiochus IV to remove his brother Onias III from the high priesthood and appoint him instead. This phrase means Jason successfully secured the position of High Priest.
"...he forthwith brought over them of his own race to the Greek fashion.": This is the crucial part. Jason, now High Priest, immediately began to Hellenize (to bring into Greek Culture) the Jewish people. This means he encouraged or forced them to adopt Greek customs, values, and practices. "Them of his own race" refers to his fellow Jews. "Greek fashion" encompasses a wide range of things, including:
Language: Promoting the use of Greek.
Clothing: Adopting Greek styles.
Religion: Encouraging the worship of Greek gods and de-emphasizing traditional Jewish practices.
Education: Establishing Greek-style schools and gymnasiums.
Social Life: Introducing Greek forms of entertainment and social interaction.
In essence, the verse describes a powerful and influential Jewish leader, Jason, betraying his own people by actively promoting Greek culture and customs in Judea after bribing the King to be the High Priest. This was a deliberate attempt to undermine Jewish traditions and assimilate the Jewish population into the larger Hellenistic world. This action was viewed as a betrayal of their faith and heritage, and this is one of the main events that led to the Maccabean Revolt.