4 maccabees 18:6 - then, departing from Jerusalem, he made war against the Persians.
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What does "4 maccabees 18:6" mean?
The verse "then, departing from Jerusalem, he made war against the Persians" from 4 Maccabees 18:6 is a somewhat misleading statement. Here's a breakdown of what it likely refers to and why it's confusing:
Who is "he"? In the context of 4 Maccabees, "he" refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who is primarily responsible for the persecution of the Jews in the Maccabean narrative.
Departing from Jerusalem: This part is accurate. Antiochus IV Epiphanes did leave Jerusalem after desecrating the Temple and instituting his policies against Jewish religious practices.
Made war against the Persians: This is where the ambiguity lies. Antiochus IV Epiphanes did launch a military campaign eastward late in his reign. Historically, he went to war against the Parthians (a related but distinct group), not the Persians.
Parthians vs. Persians: The Parthians were an Iranian people who had established an empire east of the Seleucid territories (roughly in modern-day Iran). While related to the Persians (and succeeding them as a major power in the region), they were distinct. The term "Persians" might be used loosely here by the author of 4 Maccabees as a general term for people east of their location.
Contextual understanding of 'Persians': It is possible that the author may have just meant "easterners". The Seleucid Kingdom, especially after its early zenith, had constant border conflicts in its eastern regions. The author may not have been concerned with precise ethnic identification.
Why the conflict? Antiochus IV's motivations were likely a combination of factors, including:
Restoring Seleucid prestige: The Seleucid Empire had been weakened by internal conflicts and external pressures. A successful eastern campaign could have boosted its image.
Acquiring resources: War could provide opportunities for plunder and access to resources from eastern territories.
Preventing Parthian expansion: The Parthians were gaining strength and influence in the east, posing a potential threat to the Seleucid Empire.
How it relates to the Maccabean narrative: The mention of the war against the "Persians" (Parthians) in 4 Maccabees serves as a kind of epilogue to the story of Jewish resistance. It suggests that Antiochus IV, the persecutor of the Jews, met his end while engaged in a futile military venture. It can be interpreted as a form of divine retribution or karmic justice for his actions against the Jewish people. The details of the campaign are less important than the narrative implication: Antiochus's reign and life ultimately end in a foreign war far from Jerusalem.
4 maccabees 18:6 - then, departing from Jerusalem, he made war against the Persians.
What does "4 maccabees 18:6" mean?
The verse "then, departing from Jerusalem, he made war against the Persians" from 4 Maccabees 18:6 is a somewhat misleading statement. Here's a breakdown of what it likely refers to and why it's confusing:
Who is "he"? In the context of 4 Maccabees, "he" refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who is primarily responsible for the persecution of the Jews in the Maccabean narrative.
Departing from Jerusalem: This part is accurate. Antiochus IV Epiphanes did leave Jerusalem after desecrating the Temple and instituting his policies against Jewish religious practices.
Made war against the Persians: This is where the ambiguity lies. Antiochus IV Epiphanes did launch a military campaign eastward late in his reign. Historically, he went to war against the Parthians (a related but distinct group), not the Persians.
Parthians vs. Persians: The Parthians were an Iranian people who had established an empire east of the Seleucid territories (roughly in modern-day Iran). While related to the Persians (and succeeding them as a major power in the region), they were distinct. The term "Persians" might be used loosely here by the author of 4 Maccabees as a general term for people east of their location.
Contextual understanding of 'Persians': It is possible that the author may have just meant "easterners". The Seleucid Kingdom, especially after its early zenith, had constant border conflicts in its eastern regions. The author may not have been concerned with precise ethnic identification.
Why the conflict? Antiochus IV's motivations were likely a combination of factors, including:
Restoring Seleucid prestige: The Seleucid Empire had been weakened by internal conflicts and external pressures. A successful eastern campaign could have boosted its image.
Acquiring resources: War could provide opportunities for plunder and access to resources from eastern territories.
Preventing Parthian expansion: The Parthians were gaining strength and influence in the east, posing a potential threat to the Seleucid Empire.
How it relates to the Maccabean narrative: The mention of the war against the "Persians" (Parthians) in 4 Maccabees serves as a kind of epilogue to the story of Jewish resistance. It suggests that Antiochus IV, the persecutor of the Jews, met his end while engaged in a futile military venture. It can be interpreted as a form of divine retribution or karmic justice for his actions against the Jewish people. The details of the campaign are less important than the narrative implication: Antiochus's reign and life ultimately end in a foreign war far from Jerusalem.