2 maccabees 8:27 - And when they had gathered the arms of the enemy together, and had stripped off their spoils, they occupied themselves about the Sabbath, blessing and thanking the Lord exceedingly, who had saved them to this day, for that he had caused a beginning of mercy to distil upon them.
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What does "2 maccabees 8:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 8:27 describes the aftermath of a Jewish victory over their enemies, likely Seleucid soldiers during the Maccabean Revolt. Let's break down its meaning:
"And when they had gathered the arms of the enemy together, and had stripped off their spoils...": This describes the immediate actions after the battle. The victorious Jewish soldiers are collecting the weapons left behind by the enemy, presumably for their own use. They're also taking the "spoils," meaning valuable items, armor, or other possessions from the dead or defeated. This was a common practice in ancient warfare.
"...they occupied themselves about the Sabbath...": This highlights the importance of religious observance, even after a hard-fought battle. The Sabbath is the day of rest in Judaism, and it was crucial for them to honor it.
"...blessing and thanking the Lord exceedingly...": This shows the deep sense of gratitude the soldiers felt toward God. They believed their victory was due to divine intervention and are expressing their thanks. The phrase "exceedingly" emphasizes the intensity of their gratitude.
"...who had saved them to this day...": This reinforces their belief that God had protected them throughout the battle and allowed them to survive.
"...for that he had caused a beginning of mercy to distil upon them.": This is a key phrase. "Distil" is used metaphorically here. It suggests a slow, steady, and life-giving pouring out of God's favor. "Beginning of mercy" implies that they see this victory as the start of a period of divine blessings after a time of hardship and persecution. They recognize that they have much more to do but that they are already receiving blessings.
In Summary:
The verse portrays a scene of Jewish soldiers, after a victorious battle, turning their focus to religious observance. They collect the spoils of war but, more importantly, dedicate their Sabbath to thanking God for their salvation and viewing their victory as the beginning of a period of divine favor after a difficult time. The verse emphasizes the importance of faith, gratitude, and the recognition of God's role in their lives.
2 maccabees 8:27 - And when they had gathered the arms of the enemy together, and had stripped off their spoils, they occupied themselves about the Sabbath, blessing and thanking the Lord exceedingly, who had saved them to this day, for that he had caused a beginning of mercy to distil upon them.
What does "2 maccabees 8:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 8:27 describes the aftermath of a Jewish victory over their enemies, likely Seleucid soldiers during the Maccabean Revolt. Let's break down its meaning:
"And when they had gathered the arms of the enemy together, and had stripped off their spoils...": This describes the immediate actions after the battle. The victorious Jewish soldiers are collecting the weapons left behind by the enemy, presumably for their own use. They're also taking the "spoils," meaning valuable items, armor, or other possessions from the dead or defeated. This was a common practice in ancient warfare.
"...they occupied themselves about the Sabbath...": This highlights the importance of religious observance, even after a hard-fought battle. The Sabbath is the day of rest in Judaism, and it was crucial for them to honor it.
"...blessing and thanking the Lord exceedingly...": This shows the deep sense of gratitude the soldiers felt toward God. They believed their victory was due to divine intervention and are expressing their thanks. The phrase "exceedingly" emphasizes the intensity of their gratitude.
"...who had saved them to this day...": This reinforces their belief that God had protected them throughout the battle and allowed them to survive.
"...for that he had caused a beginning of mercy to distil upon them.": This is a key phrase. "Distil" is used metaphorically here. It suggests a slow, steady, and life-giving pouring out of God's favor. "Beginning of mercy" implies that they see this victory as the start of a period of divine blessings after a time of hardship and persecution. They recognize that they have much more to do but that they are already receiving blessings.
In Summary:
The verse portrays a scene of Jewish soldiers, after a victorious battle, turning their focus to religious observance. They collect the spoils of war but, more importantly, dedicate their Sabbath to thanking God for their salvation and viewing their victory as the beginning of a period of divine favor after a difficult time. The verse emphasizes the importance of faith, gratitude, and the recognition of God's role in their lives.