3 Maccabees chapter 1
[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] The battle of Raphia. Ptolemy wants to enter the temple. The Jewish people resist.
Note. The Book of Third Maccabees is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
THE BATTLE OF RAPHIA
VERSE 1. Now Philopater, on learning from those who came back that Antiochus had made himself master of the places which belonged to himself, sent orders to all his infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister Arsinoe, and marched out as far as the parts of Raphia, where Antiochus and his forces encamped.
Philopator. He was Ptolemy IV, king of Egypt. He reigned from 221–204 BC.
Antiochus. He was Antiochus III, later called Antiochus the Great, king of Syria. He reigned from 223–187 BC.
Raphia. This was a town in Palestine. It was located three miles from Gaza, near the Egyptian border.
The battle of Raphia took place in 217 BC.
VERSE 2. And one Theodotus, intending to carry out his design, took with him the bravest of the armed men who had been before committed to his trust by Ptolemy, and got through at night to the tent of Ptolemy, to kill him on his own responsibility, and so to end the war.
Theodotus. He had been commander in chief of the Egyptian forces in Syria. But then he defected to Antiochus.
the bravest of the armed men. Theodotus took two soldiers with him.
VERSE 3. But Dositheus, called the son of Drimulus, by birth a Jew, afterward a renegade from the laws and observances of his country, conveyed Ptolemy away, and made an obscure person lie down in his stead in the tent. It turned out that this man received the fate which was meant for the other.
Dositheus. This was the name of a Jewish general in Egypt in the mid-second century BC.
Dositheus son of Drimylus. This occurs as the name of a pagan priest in a papyrus from the third century BC. But there is no evidence that this individual was Jewish.
an obscure person. This was Andreas, the king’s physician, according to Polybius.
VERSE 4. A fierce battle then took place. The men of Antiochus were prevailing. Arsinoe continually went up and down the ranks, and with dishevelled hair, with tears and entreaties, begged the soldiers to fight bravely for themselves, their children, and wives, and promised that if they proved conquerors, she would give them each two minas of gold.
VERSE 5. It thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners.
many of them were taken prisoners. According to Polybius, Antiochus lost nearly 10,000 foot soldiers and 300 cavalry, and 4,000 were taken prisoners.
Also according to Polybius, Ptolemy king of Egypt lost 1,500 foot soldiers and 700 cavalry.
VERSE 6. Having vanquished this attempt, the king then decided to proceed to the neighboring cities, and encourage them.
VERSE 7. By doing this, and by making donations to their temples, he inspired his subjects with confidence.
PTOLEMY WANTS TO ENTER THE TEMPLE
VERSE 8. The Jews sent some of their council and of their elders to him. The greetings, welcoming gifts, and congratulations of the past, given by them, filled him with the greater eagerness to visit their city.
VERSE 9. Having arrived at Jerusalem, sacrificed, and offered thank-offerings to the Greatest God, and done whatever else was suitable to the sanctity of the place, and entered the inner court,
the Greatest God. That expression asserts the worship of a single, supreme god while not denying the existence or possible existence of other lower deities. Read more »
VERSE 10. he was so impressed with the magnificence of the place, and so wondered at the orderly arrangements of the temple, that he considered entering the sanctuary itself.
Ptolemy king of Egypt was known for his interest in architecture.
VERSE 11. When they told him that this was not permissible, none of the nation, not even the priests in general, but only the supreme high priest of all, and he only once in a year, was allowed to go in, he would by no means give way.
this was not permissible. Only the high priest was allowed to enter the inner sanctuary, or most holy place.
In 63 BC the Roman general Pompey outraged the Jewish people by entering the most holy place.
In contrast, Antiochus the Great, in 198 BC, decreed it unlawful for any foreigner to enter the temple enclosure.
VERSE 12. Then they read the law to him, but he persisted in intruding, exclaiming that he ought to be allowed. He said, “Even if they were deprived of this honor, I shouldn’t be.”
he ought to be allowed. Ptolemy king of Egypt sees himself as highly privileged. Very special.
He even thinks divine law does not apply to himself.
Based on the above, Ptolemy king of Egypt seems profoundly narcissistic. See also verse 25 below.
VERSE 13. He asked why, when he entered all the other temples, did none of the priests who were present forbid him.
VERSE 14. He was thoroughly answered by someone, that he did wrong to boast of this.
He was thoroughly answered. Some random person was able to thoroughly refute Ptolemy king of Egypt.
he did wrong to boast of this. This random person told Ptolemy king of Egypt he was wrong.
VERSE 15. “Well, since I have done this,” said he, “be the cause what it may, shall I not enter with or without your consent?”
with or without your consent. Ptolemy king of Egypt is going to do this heinous thing, whether the Jewish people consent or not.
THE JEWISH PEOPLE RESIST
VERSE 16. When the priests fell down in their sacred vestments imploring the Greatest God to come and help in time of need, and to avert the violence of the fierce aggressor, and when they filled the temple with lamentations and tears,
That expression asserts the worship of a single, supreme god while not denying the existence or possible existence of other lower deities. Read more »
VERSE 17. then those who had been left behind in the city were scared, and rushed out, uncertain of the event.
VERSE 18. Virgins, who had been shut up within their chambers, came out with their mothers, scattering dust and ashes on their heads, and filling the streets with outcries.
VERSE 19. Women who had recently been arrayed for marriage left their bridal chambers, left the reserve that befitted them, and ran around the city in a disorderly manner.
VERSE 20. New-born babes were deserted by the mothers or nurses who waited upon them—some here, some there, in houses, or in fields; these now, with an ardor which could not be checked, swarmed into the Most High temple.
VERSE 21. Various prayers were offered up by those who assembled in this place because of the unholy attempt of the king.
VERSE 22. Along with these there were some of the citizens who took courage and would not submit to his obstinacy and his intention of carrying out his purpose.
VERSE 23. Calling out to arms, and to die bravely in defense of the law of their fathers, they created a great uproar in the place, and were with difficulty brought back by the aged and the elders to the station of prayer which they had occupied before.
Calling out to arms. The Jewish people resolve to mount an armed rebellion.
to die bravely in defense of the law. The Jewish people resolve to defend the Bible or die trying.
brought back by the aged and the elders. The elderly people dissuade them, calling them back to prayer.
There is a time to act. And there is a time to pray.
VERSE 24. During this time, the multitude kept on praying.
the multitude kept on praying. These Jewish people are prayer-warriors.
VERSE 25. The elders who surrounded the king tried in many ways to divert his arrogant mind from the design which he had formed.
his arrogant mind. Ptolemy king of Egypt seems deeply narcissistic. See also verse 12 above.
VERSE 26. He, in his hardened mood, insensible to all persuasion, was going onward with the view of carrying out this design.
VERSE 27. Yet even his own officers, when they saw this, joined the Jews in an appeal to Him who has all power to aid in the present crisis, and not wink at such haughty lawlessness.
VERSE 28. Such was the frequency and the vehemence of the cry of the assembled crowd, that an indescribable noise ensued.
VERSE 29. Not the men only, but the very walls and floor seemed to sound out, all things preferring death rather than to see the place defiled.
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(2 Esdras 16)
3 MACCABEES
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, The Greatest God
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