Nicanor’s blasphemies
15:1 When Nicanor heard that Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his troops were in the region of Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹן
the Hellenized form of the Hebrew name Shomron. It is used as a historical and biblical name for the central region of the Land of Israel. It is bordered by Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. – For more info click here, he decided to attack them without any danger to himself on the Sabbathשַׁבָּת
romanized: Šabbāṯ, [ʃa’bat], lit. ’rest’ or ‘cessation’) is Judaism’s day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical stories describing the creation of the heavens and earth in six days and the redemption from slavery and the Exodus from Egypt, and look forward to a future Messianic Age. Since the Jewish religious calendar counts days from sunset to sunset, Shabbat begins in the evening of what on the civil calendar is Friday For more info click here.
15:2 However the Jews that were forced to accompany his army said, Don’t massacre in such a savage and barbarous way, but show respect for the day, which he, that sees all things, has honored and made holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here above all other days.
15:3 Then Nicanor, the lowest creature on earth asked, if there were a Mighty one in the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here, that had commanded the Sabbathשַׁבָּת
romanized: Šabbāṯ, [ʃa’bat], lit. ’rest’ or ‘cessation’) is Judaism’s day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical stories describing the creation of the heavens and earth in six days and the redemption from slavery and the Exodus from Egypt, and look forward to a future Messianic Age. Since the Jewish religious calendar counts days from sunset to sunset, Shabbat begins in the evening of what on the civil calendar is Friday For more info click here day to be kept.
15:4 And when the Jews replied , There is in the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:
15:5 Then Nicanor said , And I’m mighty on earth too, and I order you to pick up your weapons and do what the king commands. Yet he unable to complete his wicked plan.
Judas lectures his men. His dream
15:6 While Nicanor in endless boasting and pride intent to setting up a public monument of his victory over Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his men.
15:7 But Maccabeusיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here remained firm in his confidence that YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here would help him:
15:8 He urged his men not to fear the coming of the enemy, and to remember the help which in the past they had received from Heaven, and to expect the victory and aid, which should come to them from Shaddaiשַׁדַּי
romanized: Šaddāy; or Shaddai is one of the names of the God of Israel. El Shaddai is conventionally translated into English as Almighty (Deus Omnipotens in Latin, Arabic: الله عزوجل, romanized: ʾAllāh ʿazzawajal), but its original meaning is unclear. One of God’s names Shaddai = Exhaustless Bounty click here.
15:9 And so reading to them out of the Torahתּוֹרָה
Tōrā,/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; law, teaching, direction, instruction – The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” comes from an archery term meaning to shoot. and the Prophets, and by stirring up memories of the battles that they already won, he filled them with eagerness.
15:10 When he had awakened their courage, he issued his orders, and at the same time pointed out how the Gentiles could not be trusted, because they never kept their vows.
15:11 He armed each of them not so much with the safety given by shields and spears as with the inspiration of heroic words: and beside that, he told them a dream like a vision, that was very believable, so that they could trust in it.
15:12 And he saw this: Onias IIIחוֹנִיּוֹ
Ḥōnīyyō son of Simon II, was Jewish High Priest during the Second Temple period. He is described in scriptures as a pious man who opposed the Hellenization of Judea. He was succeeded by his brother Jason in 175 BCE The Onias family perpetuates the high priestly line or the Persian period, being descended from Jeshua himself descended from Zadok For more info click here, who had been high priest, that great and wonderful man of humble and gentle disposition, well spoken too, and taught from childhood on how to live a moral life, praying with outstretched hands for the whole nation of the Jews.
15:13 Then Judas then saw an impressive white-haired man of marvelous majesty and authority.
15:14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is Jeremias (Jeremiah) the prophet of Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here he loves his brothers, always praying for the people, and for the Holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here City.
15:15 Then Jeremias (Jeremiah) stretched out his right hand and gave to Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here a golden sword, and said this,
15:16 Take this Holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here sword, a gift from Elohimאלֹהֵי
In Hebrew grammatical construct is a way of connecting noun-noun pairs. In english, we use “of”, but in Hebrew there are quite a few ways of doing this. של is usually used in place of “of” in Hebrew, but in this case, we modify the first word, with the suffix “ey” (which is what we do for plural words, which God’s name is in Torah), i.e. God of Abraham becomes Elohei Avraham. also can be of my – See Elohim for more info click here, with it you will strike down your enemies.
The disposition of the combatants
15:17 Encouraged by the words of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here, which had the power to inspire valor and able to awaking courage in the souls of the boys to fight like men, they decided not to set up camp, but to attack bravely in hand to hand fighting, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.
15:18 Because of the concern for their wives, and their children, their brothers, and relatives: but the most importantly for the Holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here Temple.
15:19 Also those left behind in the city had a similar concern, being anxious over the skirmish in the open country how it would turn out.
15:20 Everyone now awaited the coming battle. The enemy troops had already concentrated their forces, with their cavalry on each side of them, and their elephants placed in strategic positions,
15:21 Judas Maccabeusיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here seeing the huge army, the varied supply of weapons and the fierceness of the elephants, Then he stretched out his hands toward the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here, and called on YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here that works miracles, knowing that victory comes not by arms, but as He decides, so that he gains the victory for those who deserve it:
15:22 He prayed like this; O Adonaiהָאָדוֹן
the Lord, Pluralis majestatis taken as singular) is the possessive form of adon (“Lord”), along with the first-person singular pronoun enclitic. As with Elohim, Adonai’s grammatical form is usually explained as a plural of majesty. For more info click here, you sent your Angelמַלְאָךְ
Transliteration: mal’āḵ Pronunciation: mal-awk’ angel, agent, messenger or representative. For more info click here in the time of Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּ
(/ˌhɛzɪˈkaɪ.ə/; romanized: Ḥīzqīyyahū), or Ezekias[c]or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = “Jehovah is my strength” (born c. 741 BCE, sole ruler c. 716/15–687/86 or 697–642) was the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah (Ezekias) King of Judeaיהודה
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here, and killed no less than one hundred eighty five thousand in the army of Sennacherib:
15:23 So now once again, O Adonaiהָאָדוֹן
the Lord, Pluralis majestatis taken as singular) is the possessive form of adon (“Lord”), along with the first-person singular pronoun enclitic. As with Elohim, Adonai’s grammatical form is usually explained as a plural of majesty. For more info click here of the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here, send a good Angelמַלְאָךְ
Transliteration: mal’āḵ Pronunciation: mal-awk’ angel, agent, messenger or representative. For more info click here to make our enemies tremble with fear;
15:24 And by your mighty arm may these blasphemers be struck down who come against your holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here people. And with these words he finished.
The defeat and death of Nicanor
15:25 Then Nicanor and those that were with him advanced with the sound of trumpets and war songs.
15:26 But Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his men met the enemy in battle with calling on Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here for help.
15:27 Fighting with their hands, and praying to Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here with their hearts, they cut down no less than thirty five thousand men: How grateful they were for the manifestation of Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here they were extremely happy.
15:28 Now when the battle was over, celebrating their victory, they saw Nicanor lying dead, in full armor.
15:29 Then with loud shouts they praised Shaddaiשַׁדַּי
romanized: Šaddāy; or Shaddai is one of the names of the God of Israel. El Shaddai is conventionally translated into English as Almighty (Deus Omnipotens in Latin, Arabic: الله عزوجل, romanized: ʾAllāh ʿazzawajal), but its original meaning is unclear. One of God’s names Shaddai = Exhaustless Bounty click here in their own language.
15:30 And Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here, who was ever in body and soul the defender of his people, the man who maintained his youthful goodwill towards his countrymen all his life, ordered his men to cut off Nicanor’s head and right arm and to take them to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַם
Transliteration: yᵊrûšālam – Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here.
15:31 So when he got there, and had called those of his nation together, and stationed the priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here before the altar,he sent for those who were in the tower,
15:32 He showed them the vile Nicanor’s head, and the arm of that blasphemer, that wicked man had arrogantly stretched out against the Holyקָדְשׁוֹ
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here Temple of Shaddaiשַׁדַּי
romanized: Šaddāy; or Shaddai is one of the names of the God of Israel. El Shaddai is conventionally translated into English as Almighty (Deus Omnipotens in Latin, Arabic: الله عزوجل, romanized: ʾAllāh ʿazzawajal), but its original meaning is unclear. One of God’s names Shaddai = Exhaustless Bounty click here
15:33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded them to give it piece by piece to the birds, and to hang up these rewards of his in front of the temple.
15:34 Everyone there looked up to Heaven and praised YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here, saying, Blessed be he that has kept his own place undefiled.
15:35 He also hung Nicanor’s head on the tower, as proof to everyone of the help of YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here.
15:36 And they decreed by public vote never to let this day go unobserved, but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian (Aramaic) language is called Adar, on the eve of Mardocheus’ (Mordecai’s) day.
Compiler’s epilogue
15:37 This, then, is how matters turned out with Nicanor, and since then the city has been in the possession of the Hebrewsעברי
The biblical term Ivri Hebrew pronunciation: [ʕivˈri]), meaning “to traverse” or “to pass over”, is usually rendered as Hebrew in English from ever (עֵבֶר) ‘beyond, across’ (avar (עָבַר ‘he crossed, he traversed’), as a description of migrants ‘from across the river’ as the Bible describes the Hebrews. So I will here end my story.
15:38 If it is well written and to the point, that was my goal; if it is poorly written and uninteresting, that was the best I could do.
15:39 For just as it is harmful to drink wine alone, or, again, to drink water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious and and produces a delightful sense of well-being, so too the style of the story delights the understanding of those who read the book. And here I close.
Main Index || 2nd Maccabees Index
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5
Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10
Chapter 11 || Chapter 12 || Chapter 13 || Chapter 14 || Chapter 15
More on Hanukkah |
The Book of First Maccabees (An effort to legitimize the Hasmonean dynasty)
- The Book of Second Maccabees (A Diaspora perspective with an emphasis on martyrdom)
- The Maccabees: Heroes or Fanatics? +video
- Why the Maccabees Aren’t in the Bible
- 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Hanukkah
- The Surprising Origin of the Dreidel
- Eight Hanukkah Traditions From Around the World
- Hanukkah Meditation
Al Hanisim: A Holiday Prayer of Thanks for Everyday Miracles