3 Maccabees chapter 7
[This chapter is in Orthodox Bibles] Ptolemy’s letter. Revenge on apostates. They depart.
Note. The Book of Third Maccabees is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox Churches
PTOLEMY’S LETTER
VERSE 1. “King Ptolemy Philopator to the commanders throughout Egypt, and to all who are set over affairs, joy and strength.
VERSE 2. We, too, and our children are well. God has directed our affairs as we wish.
our children. Pharaoh Ptolemy had one son, who later reigned as Ptolemy V Epiphanes.
VERSE 3. Certain of our friends out of malice vehemently urged us to punish the Jews of our realm in a body, with the infliction of a monstrous punishment.
Certain of our friends. Again the king blames his friends for his own actions.
VERSE 4. They pretended that our affairs would never be in a good state till this took place. Such, they said, was the hatred borne by the Jews to all other people.
VERSE 5. They brought them fettered in grievous chains as slaves, no, as traitors. Without enquiry or examination they endeavored to annihilate them. They buckled themselves with a savage cruelty, worse than Scythian custom.
VERSE 6. For this cause we severely threatened them; yet, with the clemency which we usually extend to all men, we at length permitted them to live. Finding that the God of heaven cast a shield of protection over the Jews so as to preserve them, and that he fought for them as a father always fights for his sons,
the God of heaven. This title might be used by both Jews and Gentiles.
cast a shield of protection over the Jews. In the biblical narratives from this era, the pagan king eventually acknowledge the One God.
Philopator does not necessarily concede that Judaism is the only true religion. But he does concede that their God protects them.
VERSE 7. and taking into consideration their constancy and fidelity toward us and toward our ancestors, we have, as we ought, acquitted them of every sort of charge.
VERSE 8. We have dismissed them to their several homes, telling all men everywhere to do them no wrong, or unrighteously revile them about the past.
VERSE 9. For know this, that should we conceive any evil design, or in any way aggrieve them, we shall ever have as our adversary, not man, but the highest God, the ruler of all might. From Him there will be no escape, as the avenger of such deeds. Farewell.”
REVENGE ON APOSTATES
VERSE 10. When they had received this letter, they didn’t hurry to depart immediately. They petitioned the king to be allowed to inflict fitting punishment upon those of their race who had willingly transgressed the holy god, and the law of God.
VERSE 11. They alleged that men who had for their bellies’ sake transgressed the ordinances of God, would never be faithful to the interests of the king.
VERSE 12. The king admitted the truth of this reasoning, and commended them. Full power was given them, without warrant or special commission, to destroy those who had transgressed the law of God boldly in every part of the king’s dominions.
VERSE 13. Their priests, then, as it was appropriate, saluted him with good wishes, and all the people echoed with the “Hallelujah!” Then they joyfully departed.
VERSE 14. Then they punished and shamefully destroyed every polluted Jew that fell in their way,
VERSE 15. slaying this way, in that day, more than three hundred men, and esteeming this destruction of the wicked a season of joy.
more than three hundred men. More than 300 Jewish apostates are killed, even though they acted under duress.
VERSE 16. They themselves having held closely to their God to death, and having enjoyed a full deliverance, departed from the city garlanded with sweet-flowered wreaths of every kind. Uttering exclamations of joy, with songs of praise, and melodious hymns, they thanked the God of their fathers, the eternal Savior of Israel.
THEY DEPART
VERSE 17. Having arrived at Ptolemais, called from the specialty of that district “Rose-bearing”, where the fleet, in accordance with the general wish, waited for them seven days,
Ptolemais. This is the one at the harbor near Cairo. It is not the better-known Ptolemais in Upper Egypt.
VERSE 18. they partook of a banquet of deliverance, for the king generously granted them all the means of securing a return home.
VERSE 19. They were accordingly brought back in peace, while they gave utterance to appropriate thanks; and they determined to observe these days during their sojourn as days of joyfulness.
VERSE 20. These they registered as sacred upon a pillar, when they had dedicated the place of their festivity to be one of prayer. They departed unharmed, free, abundant in joy, preserved by the king’s command, by land, by sea, and by river, each to his own home.
preserved by the king’s command. Pharaoh Ptolemy is benevolent in the end.
by sea. This might refer to Lake Moeris.
VERSE 21. They had more weight than before among their enemies, and were honored and feared. No one in any way robbed them of their goods.
VERSE 22. Every man received back his own, according to inventory, those who had obtained their goods, giving them up with the greatest terror. For the greatest God made perfect wonders for their salvation.
according to inventory. Previously the registration was an agent of evil.
But now it has a providential purpose. It enables the Jewish people to recover their possessions.
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 23. Blessed be the Redeemer of Israel forever! Amen.
next chapter »
(Psalm 151)
3 MACCABEES
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, The Greatest God
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