2 maccabees 5:18 - But had it not so been that they were already holden by many sins, this man, even as Heliodorus who was sent by Seleucus the king to view the treasury, would, so soon as he pressed forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed.
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What does "2 maccabees 5:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 5:18 is explaining why the high priest Jason was able to desecrate the Temple and commit terrible sins. Let's break it down:
"But had it not so been that they were already holden by many sins..." This sets up the contrast. "They" refers to the Jewish people, specifically the leadership and those following Jason's Hellenizing policies. The verse is saying that if the Jewish people hadn't already been deeply involved in sin (likely referring to idolatry, corruption, and abandoning their religious traditions), things would have been different.
"...this man, even as Heliodorus..." "This man" is Jason, the high priest who was corrupt and pushing for Hellenization. Heliodorus is a reference to a story in 2 Maccabees 3. Heliodorus was sent by King Seleucus to seize the Temple treasury in Jerusalem, but he was struck down by a divine intervention and turned back.
"...who was sent by Seleucus the king to view the treasury, would, so soon as he pressed forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed." This explains the comparison to Heliodorus. Just like Heliodorus was stopped by divine intervention when he tried to violate the Temple, so too should Jason have been stopped if he had tried to desecrate the Temple. He ought to have been "scourged" (punished) and "turned back" from his actions.
In essence, the verse is arguing that Jason was able to desecrate the Temple and introduce Hellenistic practices because the Jewish people had already fallen away from God's laws and were steeped in sin. If the people had been righteous, God would have intervened, just as He had intervened to stop Heliodorus. The lack of divine intervention is seen as a consequence of the people's own sins.
Theological Implications:
Divine Retribution: This verse reflects the idea of divine retribution - that God punishes people for their sins.
Collective Responsibility: It also implies a degree of collective responsibility - the sins of the many allowed Jason to carry out his wicked plans.
Consequences of Apostasy: The verse warns against the dangers of apostasy and turning away from God's laws.
This verse is part of a larger narrative that explains the Maccabean revolt and the Jewish struggle to maintain their religious identity in the face of Hellenistic influence.
2 maccabees 5:18 - But had it not so been that they were already holden by many sins, this man, even as Heliodorus who was sent by Seleucus the king to view the treasury, would, so soon as he pressed forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed.
What does "2 maccabees 5:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 5:18 is explaining why the high priest Jason was able to desecrate the Temple and commit terrible sins. Let's break it down:
"But had it not so been that they were already holden by many sins..." This sets up the contrast. "They" refers to the Jewish people, specifically the leadership and those following Jason's Hellenizing policies. The verse is saying that if the Jewish people hadn't already been deeply involved in sin (likely referring to idolatry, corruption, and abandoning their religious traditions), things would have been different.
"...this man, even as Heliodorus..." "This man" is Jason, the high priest who was corrupt and pushing for Hellenization. Heliodorus is a reference to a story in 2 Maccabees 3. Heliodorus was sent by King Seleucus to seize the Temple treasury in Jerusalem, but he was struck down by a divine intervention and turned back.
"...who was sent by Seleucus the king to view the treasury, would, so soon as he pressed forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed." This explains the comparison to Heliodorus. Just like Heliodorus was stopped by divine intervention when he tried to violate the Temple, so too should Jason have been stopped if he had tried to desecrate the Temple. He ought to have been "scourged" (punished) and "turned back" from his actions.
In essence, the verse is arguing that Jason was able to desecrate the Temple and introduce Hellenistic practices because the Jewish people had already fallen away from God's laws and were steeped in sin. If the people had been righteous, God would have intervened, just as He had intervened to stop Heliodorus. The lack of divine intervention is seen as a consequence of the people's own sins.
Theological Implications:
Divine Retribution: This verse reflects the idea of divine retribution - that God punishes people for their sins.
Collective Responsibility: It also implies a degree of collective responsibility - the sins of the many allowed Jason to carry out his wicked plans.
Consequences of Apostasy: The verse warns against the dangers of apostasy and turning away from God's laws.
This verse is part of a larger narrative that explains the Maccabean revolt and the Jewish struggle to maintain their religious identity in the face of Hellenistic influence.