2 maccabees 9:2 - For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and he assayed to rob a temple and to hold down the city. Whereupon there was an onset of the multitudes, and Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms; and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke up his camp with disgrace.
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What does "2 maccabees 9:2" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 9:2 describes an event involving Antiochus, likely Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who is a major antagonist in the books of Maccabees. Let's break it down:
"For he had entered into the city called Persepolis..." This establishes that Antiochus had arrived at the city of Persepolis. Persepolis was a historically significant city in Persia (modern-day Iran), known for its wealth and former status as the capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
"...and he assayed to rob a temple and to hold down the city." This is the core of the verse. It states Antiochus' intention:
"to rob a temple": Suggests Antiochus' greed and disrespect for religious institutions. He was likely seeking to plunder the temple's wealth. The specific temple is not named.
"to hold down the city": Implies Antiochus planned to establish control over Persepolis, possibly to exploit its resources or solidify his power in the region.
"Whereupon there was an onset of the multitudes, and Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms..." This describes the reaction of the people of Persepolis.
"an onset of the multitudes": The general population (the "multitudes") rose up against Antiochus.
"Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms": Antiochus and his soldiers responded by defending themselves with weapons, suggesting a military confrontation.
"...and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke up his camp with disgrace." This details the outcome of the conflict.
"Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country": Antiochus was defeated and forced to flee from Persepolis by the local populace.
"broke up his camp with disgrace": Antiochus had to abandon his encampment hastily, and did so in a humiliating manner.
In essence, the verse portrays Antiochus as a greedy and power-hungry ruler who attempts to plunder Persepolis but is repelled by a popular uprising. He fails in his mission and is forced to retreat in disgrace.
Context within 2 Maccabees:
It is crucial to place this verse in the context of 2 Maccabees. The book focuses on the struggles of the Jewish people against the Seleucid Empire, particularly the religious persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The author of 2 Maccabees likely uses this event as an example of Antiochus' wickedness and a demonstration of how the people of other regions (in this case, the people of Persepolis) also resisted his tyranny. This defeat in Persepolis might be seen as divine retribution or a sign of Antiochus' declining power.
It's also important to note that some historians question the historical accuracy of certain events described in the Books of Maccabees. However, the primary purpose of the books is religious and moral: to inspire the Jewish people to remain faithful to their traditions and to show how God protects them from their enemies.
2 maccabees 9:2 - For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and he assayed to rob a temple and to hold down the city. Whereupon there was an onset of the multitudes, and Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms; and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke up his camp with disgrace.
What does "2 maccabees 9:2" mean?
This verse from 2 Maccabees 9:2 describes an event involving Antiochus, likely Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who is a major antagonist in the books of Maccabees. Let's break it down:
"For he had entered into the city called Persepolis..." This establishes that Antiochus had arrived at the city of Persepolis. Persepolis was a historically significant city in Persia (modern-day Iran), known for its wealth and former status as the capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
"...and he assayed to rob a temple and to hold down the city." This is the core of the verse. It states Antiochus' intention:
"to rob a temple": Suggests Antiochus' greed and disrespect for religious institutions. He was likely seeking to plunder the temple's wealth. The specific temple is not named.
"to hold down the city": Implies Antiochus planned to establish control over Persepolis, possibly to exploit its resources or solidify his power in the region.
"Whereupon there was an onset of the multitudes, and Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms..." This describes the reaction of the people of Persepolis.
"an onset of the multitudes": The general population (the "multitudes") rose up against Antiochus.
"Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms": Antiochus and his soldiers responded by defending themselves with weapons, suggesting a military confrontation.
"...and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke up his camp with disgrace." This details the outcome of the conflict.
"Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country": Antiochus was defeated and forced to flee from Persepolis by the local populace.
"broke up his camp with disgrace": Antiochus had to abandon his encampment hastily, and did so in a humiliating manner.
In essence, the verse portrays Antiochus as a greedy and power-hungry ruler who attempts to plunder Persepolis but is repelled by a popular uprising. He fails in his mission and is forced to retreat in disgrace.
Context within 2 Maccabees:
It is crucial to place this verse in the context of 2 Maccabees. The book focuses on the struggles of the Jewish people against the Seleucid Empire, particularly the religious persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The author of 2 Maccabees likely uses this event as an example of Antiochus' wickedness and a demonstration of how the people of other regions (in this case, the people of Persepolis) also resisted his tyranny. This defeat in Persepolis might be seen as divine retribution or a sign of Antiochus' declining power.
It's also important to note that some historians question the historical accuracy of certain events described in the Books of Maccabees. However, the primary purpose of the books is religious and moral: to inspire the Jewish people to remain faithful to their traditions and to show how God protects them from their enemies.