2 maccabees 8:11 - And immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves, promising to allow fourscore and ten slaves for a talent, not expecting the judgement that was to follow upon him from the Almighty.
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What does "2 maccabees 8:11" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 8:11 describes the actions of Nicanor, a Seleucid general, as he prepares for battle against the Jewish forces led by Judas Maccabeus. Let's break down what the verse is saying:
"And immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast..." Nicanor wastes no time and sends word to coastal cities. These cities were likely important commercial centers where he could sell his captives.
"...inviting them to buy Jewish slaves..." Nicanor's plan is to capture Jewish people during the battle and sell them into slavery for profit. This highlights the brutality and greed of the Seleucid regime and their disregard for the Jewish people.
"...promising to allow fourscore and ten slaves for a talent..." "Fourscore and ten" means 90. A "talent" was a significant unit of currency. Nicanor is offering Jewish slaves at a very low price (90 slaves per talent) to entice merchants to buy them. This low price suggests that he expects to capture a large number of Jewish people, devaluing their worth as slaves due to oversupply. It's a sign of immense cruelty and the systematic degradation of the Jewish people.
"...not expecting the judgement that was to follow upon him from the Almighty." This is the key point: Nicanor is acting with hubris and arrogance. He is confident in his victory and completely ignores the possibility of divine retribution for his actions. The author of 2 Maccabees is foreshadowing Nicanor's defeat and death, which will be seen as God's punishment for his wickedness.
In summary, the verse depicts Nicanor's cruelty, greed, and arrogance as he plans to enslave and sell Jewish people for profit, completely disregarding the power and potential wrath of God. It serves as a prelude to his eventual defeat and death, which the author sees as divine justice.
2 maccabees 8:11 - And immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves, promising to allow fourscore and ten slaves for a talent, not expecting the judgement that was to follow upon him from the Almighty.
What does "2 maccabees 8:11" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 8:11 describes the actions of Nicanor, a Seleucid general, as he prepares for battle against the Jewish forces led by Judas Maccabeus. Let's break down what the verse is saying:
"And immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast..." Nicanor wastes no time and sends word to coastal cities. These cities were likely important commercial centers where he could sell his captives.
"...inviting them to buy Jewish slaves..." Nicanor's plan is to capture Jewish people during the battle and sell them into slavery for profit. This highlights the brutality and greed of the Seleucid regime and their disregard for the Jewish people.
"...promising to allow fourscore and ten slaves for a talent..." "Fourscore and ten" means 90. A "talent" was a significant unit of currency. Nicanor is offering Jewish slaves at a very low price (90 slaves per talent) to entice merchants to buy them. This low price suggests that he expects to capture a large number of Jewish people, devaluing their worth as slaves due to oversupply. It's a sign of immense cruelty and the systematic degradation of the Jewish people.
"...not expecting the judgement that was to follow upon him from the Almighty." This is the key point: Nicanor is acting with hubris and arrogance. He is confident in his victory and completely ignores the possibility of divine retribution for his actions. The author of 2 Maccabees is foreshadowing Nicanor's defeat and death, which will be seen as God's punishment for his wickedness.
In summary, the verse depicts Nicanor's cruelty, greed, and arrogance as he plans to enslave and sell Jewish people for profit, completely disregarding the power and potential wrath of God. It serves as a prelude to his eventual defeat and death, which the author sees as divine justice.