This verse from 2 Maccabees 4:40 describes a violent confrontation involving Lysimachus, a lieutenant under the unpopular High Priest Menelaus, and a large crowd who were angered by Menelaus' actions. Let's break down the meaning:
"And when the multitudes were rising against him, and were filled with anger...": This indicates that a large group of people (the "multitudes") were revolting or protesting against Menelaus, likely due to his corruption and disregard for Jewish law and traditions. Their anger was at a boiling point.
"Lysimachus armed about three thousand men...": Lysimachus, loyal to Menelaus, responded to the uprising by mobilizing a sizable force of approximately 3,000 armed men. This shows the extent to which Menelaus relied on military force to maintain his position.
"...and with unrighteous violence began the conflict...": This highlights the injustice and brutality of Lysimachus' actions. He initiated the conflict with excessive force, disregarding any moral or legal constraints. The phrase "unrighteous violence" condemns the attack as being without justification and morally wrong.
"...one Hauran, a man far gone in years and no less also in madness, leading the attack.": This identifies a specific individual, Hauran, as being the leader of Lysimachus' attack. The description emphasizes his age ("far gone in years") and his mental state ("no less also in madness"). This suggests that Hauran was not only old but also possibly mentally unstable or acting recklessly. The author's inclusion of these details likely aims to further discredit the actions of Lysimachus and his men, portraying them as being led by someone irrational and driven by irrationality.
In summary, the verse paints a picture of a volatile situation where popular discontent with Menelaus' leadership led to a large-scale protest. In response, Lysimachus, using a force of 3,000 men and led by the potentially unstable Hauran, initiated a violent and unjust attack against the protestors. This event underscores the corruption and violence that plagued the period and the lengths to which Menelaus and his supporters would go to maintain power.
This verse from 2 Maccabees 4:40 describes a violent confrontation involving Lysimachus, a lieutenant under the unpopular High Priest Menelaus, and a large crowd who were angered by Menelaus' actions. Let's break down the meaning:
"And when the multitudes were rising against him, and were filled with anger...": This indicates that a large group of people (the "multitudes") were revolting or protesting against Menelaus, likely due to his corruption and disregard for Jewish law and traditions. Their anger was at a boiling point.
"Lysimachus armed about three thousand men...": Lysimachus, loyal to Menelaus, responded to the uprising by mobilizing a sizable force of approximately 3,000 armed men. This shows the extent to which Menelaus relied on military force to maintain his position.
"...and with unrighteous violence began the conflict...": This highlights the injustice and brutality of Lysimachus' actions. He initiated the conflict with excessive force, disregarding any moral or legal constraints. The phrase "unrighteous violence" condemns the attack as being without justification and morally wrong.
"...one Hauran, a man far gone in years and no less also in madness, leading the attack.": This identifies a specific individual, Hauran, as being the leader of Lysimachus' attack. The description emphasizes his age ("far gone in years") and his mental state ("no less also in madness"). This suggests that Hauran was not only old but also possibly mentally unstable or acting recklessly. The author's inclusion of these details likely aims to further discredit the actions of Lysimachus and his men, portraying them as being led by someone irrational and driven by irrationality.
In summary, the verse paints a picture of a volatile situation where popular discontent with Menelaus' leadership led to a large-scale protest. In response, Lysimachus, using a force of 3,000 men and led by the potentially unstable Hauran, initiated a violent and unjust attack against the protestors. This event underscores the corruption and violence that plagued the period and the lengths to which Menelaus and his supporters would go to maintain power.