Sermon Notes 20240128 2 Mac 8:1-36

2 Maccabees 8:1–36 NABRE

Judas Maccabeus and his companions entered the villages secretly, summoned their kindred, and enlisted others who had remained faithful to Judaism. Thus they assembled about six thousand men. They implored the Lord to look kindly upon this people, who were being oppressed by all; to have pity on the sanctuary, which was profaned by renegades; to have mercy on the city, which was being destroyed and was about to be leveled to the ground; to listen to the blood that cried out to him; to remember the criminal slaughter of innocent children and the blasphemies uttered against his name; and to manifest his hatred of evil. Once Maccabeus got his men organized, the Gentiles could not withstand him, for the Lord’s wrath had now changed to mercy. Coming by surprise upon towns and villages, he set them on fire. He captured strategic positions, and put to flight not a few of the enemy. He preferred the nights as being especially favorable for such attacks. Soon talk of his valor spread everywhere. When Philip saw that Judas was gaining ground little by little and that his successful advances were becoming more frequent, he wrote to Ptolemy, governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to come to the aid of the king’s interests. Ptolemy promptly selected Nicanor, son of Patroclus, one of the Chief Friends, and sent him at the head of at least twenty thousand armed men of various nations to wipe out the entire Jewish nation. With him he associated Gorgias, a general, experienced in the art of war. Nicanor planned to raise the two thousand talents of tribute owed by the king to the Romans by selling captured Jews into slavery. So he immediately sent word to the coastal cities, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves and promising to deliver ninety slaves for a talent—little anticipating the punishment that was to fall upon him from the Almighty. When Judas learned of Nicanor’s advance and informed his companions about the approach of the army, those who were fearful and those who lacked faith in God’s justice deserted and got away. But the others sold everything they had left, and at the same time entreated the Lord to deliver those whom the ungodly Nicanor had sold before even capturing them. They entreated the Lord to do this, if not for their sake, at least for the sake of the covenants made with their ancestors, and because they themselves invoked his holy and glorious name. Maccabeus assembled his forces, six thousand strong, and exhorted them not to be panic-stricken before the enemy, nor to fear the very large number of Gentiles unjustly attacking them, but to fight nobly. They were to keep before their eyes the lawless outrage perpetrated by the Gentiles against the holy place and the affliction of the humiliated city, as well as the subversion of their ancestral way of life. He said, “They trust in weapons and acts of daring, but we trust in almighty God, who can by a mere nod destroy not only those who attack us but even the whole world.” He went on to tell them of the times when help had been given their ancestors: both the time of Sennacherib, when a hundred and eighty-five thousand of his men perished, and the time of the battle in Babylonia against the Galatians, when only eight thousand Jews fought along with four thousand Macedonians; yet when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the eight thousand, by the help they received from Heaven, destroyed one hundred and twenty thousand and took a great quantity of spoils. With these words he encouraged them and made them ready to die for their laws and their country. Then Judas divided his army into four, placing his brothers, Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan, each over a division, assigning them fifteen hundred men apiece. There was also Eleazar. After reading to them from the holy book and giving them the watchword, “The help of God,” Judas himself took charge of the first division and joined in battle with Nicanor. With the Almighty as their ally, they killed more than nine thousand of the enemy, wounded and disabled the greater part of Nicanor’s army, and put all of them to flight. They also seized the money of those who had come to buy them as slaves. When they had pursued the enemy for some time, they were obliged to return by reason of the late hour. It was the day before the sabbath, and for that reason they could not continue the pursuit. They collected the enemy’s weapons and stripped them of their spoils, and then observed the sabbath with fervent praise and thanks to the Lord who kept them safe for that day on which he allotted them the beginning of his mercy. After the sabbath, they gave a share of the spoils to those who were tortured and to widows and orphans; the rest they divided among themselves and their children. When this was done, they made supplication in common, imploring the merciful Lord to be completely reconciled with his servants. They also challenged the forces of Timothy and Bacchides, killed more than twenty thousand of them, and captured some very high fortresses. They divided the considerable plunder, allotting half to themselves and the rest to victims of torture, orphans, widows, and the aged. They collected the enemies’ weapons and carefully stored them in strategic places; the rest of the spoils they carried to Jerusalem. They also killed the commander of Timothy’s forces, a most wicked man, who had done great harm to the Jews. While celebrating the victory in their ancestral city, they burned both those who had set fire to the sacred gates and Callisthenes, who had taken refuge in a little house; so he received the reward his wicked deeds deserved. The thrice-accursed Nicanor, who had brought the thousand slave dealers to buy the Jews, after being humbled through the Lord’s help by those whom he had thought of no account, laid aside his fine clothes and fled alone across country like a runaway slave, until he reached Antioch. He was eminently successful in destroying his own army. So he who had promised to provide tribute for the Romans by the capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a champion, and that because they followed the laws laid down by him, they were unharmed.

Bible Study 20240126 2 Mac 8:1-36

#BibleStudy #Amen #Love #Christian #VictoryinJesus

https://www.sacredbible.org/catholic/OT-46_2-Maccabees.htm Which is an Open Domain Site

  The Revolt of Judas Maccabeus

(1 Macc 3.1–26)

8 Meanwhile Judas, who was also called Maccabeus, and his companions secretly entered the villages and summoned their kindred and enlisted those who had continued in the Jewish faith, and so they gathered about six thousand. 2 They implored the Lord to look upon the people who were oppressed by all; and to have pity on the temple that had been profaned by the godless; 3 to have mercy on the city that was being destroyed and about to be leveled to the ground; to hearken to the blood that cried out to him; 4 to remember also the lawless destruction of the innocent babies and the blasphemies committed against his name; and to show his hatred of evil.

5 As soon as Maccabeus got his army organized, the Gentiles could not withstand him, for the wrath of the Lord had turned to mercy. 6 Coming without warning, he would set fire to towns and villages. He captured strategic positions and put to flight not a few of the enemy. 7 He found the nights most advantageous for such attacks. And talk of his valor spread everywhere.

8 When Philip saw that the man was gaining ground little by little, and that he was pushing ahead with more frequent successes, he wrote to Ptolemy, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to come to the aid of the king’s government. 9 Then Ptolemya promptly appointed Nicanor son of Patroclus, one of the king’s chiefb Friends, and sent him, in command of no fewer than twenty thousand Gentiles of all nations, to wipe out the whole race of Judea. He associated with him Gorgias, a general and a man of experience in military service. 10 Nicanor determined to make up for the king the tribute due to the Romans, two thousand talents, by selling the captured Jews into slavery. 11 So he immediately sent to the towns on the seacoast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves and promising to hand over ninety slaves for a talent, not expecting the judgment from the Almighty that was about to overtake him.

Preparation for Battle

(1 Macc 3.38–53)

12 Word came to Judas concerning Nicanor’s invasion; and when he told his companions of the arrival of the army, 13 those who were cowardly and distrustful of God’s justice ran off and got away. 14 Others sold all their remaining property, and at the same time implored the Lord to rescue those who had been sold by the ungodly Nicanor before he ever met them, 15 if not for their own sake, then for the sake of the covenants made with their ancestors, and because he had called them by his holy and glorious name. 16 But Maccabeus gathered his forces together, to the number six thousand, and exhorted them not to be frightened by the enemy and not to fear the great multitude of Gentiles who were wickedly coming against them, but to fight nobly, 17 keeping before their eyes the lawless outrage that the Gentilesc had committed against the holy place, and the torture of the derided city, and besides, the overthrow of their ancestral way of life. 18 “For they trust to arms and acts of daring,” he said, “but we trust in the Almighty God, who is able with a single nod to strike down those who are coming against us, and even, if necessary, the whole world.”

19 Moreover, he told them of the occasions when help came to their ancestors; how, in the time of Sennacherib, when one hundred eighty-five thousand perished, 20 and the time of the battle against the Galatians that took place in Babylonia, when eight thousand Jewsd fought along with four thousand Macedonians; yet when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the eight thousand, by the help that came to them from heaven, destroyed one hundred twenty thousand Galatianse and took a great amount of booty.

Judas Defeats Nicanor

(1 Macc 3.54–4.25)

21 With these words he filled them with courage and made them ready to die for their laws and their country; then he divided his army into four parts. 22 He appointed his brothers also, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, each to command a division, putting fifteen hundred men under each. 23 Besides, he appointed Eleazar to read aloudf from the holy book, and gave the watchword, “The help of God”; then, leading the first division himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.

24 With the Almighty as their ally, they killed more than nine thousand of the enemy, and wounded and disabled most of Nicanor’s army, and forced them all to flee. 25 They captured the money of those who had come to buy them as slaves. After pursuing them for some distance, they were obliged to return because the hour was late. 26 It was the day before the sabbath, and for that reason they did not continue their pursuit. 27 When they had collected the arms of the enemy and stripped them of their spoils, they kept the sabbath, giving great praise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them for that day and allotted it to them as the beginning of mercy. 28 After the sabbath they gave some of the spoils to those who had been tortured and to the widows and orphans, and distributed the rest among themselves and their children. 29 When they had done this, they made common supplication and implored the merciful Lord to be wholly reconciled with his servants.g

Judas Defeats Timothy and Bacchides

30 In encounters with the forces of Timothy and Bacchides they killed more than twenty thousand of them and got possession of some exceedingly high strongholds, and they divided a very large amount of plunder, giving to those who had been tortured and to the orphans and widows, and also to the aged, shares equal to their own. 31 They collected the arms of the enemy,h and carefully stored all of them in strategic places; the rest of the spoils they carried to Jerusalem. 32 They killed the commander of Timothy’s forces, a most wicked man, and one who had greatly troubled the Jews. 33 While they were celebrating the victory in the city of their ancestors, they burned those who had set fire to the sacred gates, Callisthenes and some others, who had fled into one little house; so these received the proper reward for their impiety.i

34 The thrice-accursed Nicanor, who had brought the thousand merchants to buy the Jews, 35 having been humbled with the help of the Lord by opponents whom he regarded as of the least account, took off his splendid uniform and made his way alone like a runaway slave across the country until he reached Antioch, having succeeded chiefly in the destruction of his own army! 36 So he who had undertaken to secure tribute for the Romans by the capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a Defender, and that therefore the Jews were invulnerable, because they followed the laws ordained by him.1

https://www.sacredbible.org/catholic/OT-46_2-Maccabees.htm Which is an Open Domain Site

Revelation From God

Author

The author of the 2nd Maccabees is believed to be Jason Cyrene (160-110) BCE. as we are informed in 2 Mac 2:19-23!!!! Jason as stated wrote a 5 volume history of the Jewish revolt, he and a team then compiled those 5 volumes into 2 Maccabees!!!!

Date

The books must have been written around (160-110) BCE., because that is when Jason of Cyrene lived. 2nd Maccabees pays closer attention to the time of Onias III and King Seleucus IV (ca. 180 B.C.) to the defeat of Nicanor’s army (161 B.C.)11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), 2 Mac. , then does 1st Maccabees!!!!

History

The Book of Maccabees details the delivers of the Jews, through the family of Mattathias (5:62)—especially through his three sons, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, and his grandson, John Hyrcanus.11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), 1 Mac.

Theology

The theology of 2nd Maccabees is centered on the cleansing and restoration of the temple.

Meaning for us today, the repentance of our sins, Numbers 5:5-10, 2 Ch 7:14, Enoch 50:1–5, Enoch 63:1, 1 Mac 4:36-40, 1 Mac 5:65-68, Neh 9:1-38, Psa 32:5, Rom 6:12-14, Rev 2:5, Rev 2:20-23 , Rev 3:19-22, Rev 9:20-21, that we are bought back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that we are redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!!

Structure

2 Maccabees has seven parts, which stands for the perfect completion of creation, Gen 2:2-3, Rev 22:1-21, Christ Jesus in you,1 Cor 12:1-31, Eph 2:1-22

 I. Letters to the Jews in Egypt (1:1–2:18)

II. Compiler’s Preface (2:19–32)

III. Heliodorus’ Attempt to Profane the Temple (3:1–40)

IV. Profanation and Persecution (4:1–7:42)

V. Victories of Judas and Purification of the Temple (8:1–10:9)

VI. Renewed Persecution (10:10–15:36)

VII. Epilogue (15:37–39)1

1 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), 2 Mac.

Chapter (8) A new beginning in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor 5:17-21, Eph 4:1-32, or {(2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Joh 1:1-5, Rev 22:1-5, times (4) YHWH the Church, Qahal, Ecclesia, Joh 10:30-38, John 14:1-31, John 15:1-27, John 17:20-26}!!!! It has (1) Pericope, (Theological Idea), YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40 !!!! It has (36) verses whose sum is (9){(3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen1:2. Rev 22:17, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach, Joh 14:15-31, Joh 16:4-15}. (36) is the Product of (6) {(2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Gen 1:3, Rev 22:1-5, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen 1:2, Rev 22:17, which is Man, the (6th day), YHWH the Church, Qahal, Ecclesia, Gen 1:27-31}!!!!

Purpose 

The over all purpose of 2nd Maccabees is for all to repent of their sins Numbers 5:5-10, 2 Ch 7:14, Enoch 50:1–5, Enoch 63:1, 1 Mac 4:36-40, 1 Mac 5:65-68, Neh 9:1-38, Psa 32:5, Rom 6:12-14, Rev 2:5, Rev 2:20-23 , Rev 3:19-22, Rev 9:20-21, that you cleanse the temple of YHWH, Your Body, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Judith 14:10, Esther 10:1–13, 1 Mac 4:36-40, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that you are bought back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that you are redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!!

The purpose of Chapter (8) is to teach all that YHWH protects all, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, who Walk in His ways, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 12:9-21, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, by Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, 1 Mac 4:8-11, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26 and Declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10!!!!

Exegesis / Hermeneutical

Walk in the ways of YHWH and You will receive His Protection, 2 Mac 8:1-36 :

Pericope, (Theological Idea), YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40 !!!! It has (36) verses whose sum is (9){(3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen1:2. Rev 22:17, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach, Joh 14:15-31, Joh 16:4-15}. (36) is the Product of (6) {(2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Gen 1:3, Rev 22:1-5, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen 1:2, Rev 22:17, which is Man, the (6th day), YHWH the Church, Qahal, Ecclesia, Gen 1:27-31}!!!!

2 Mac 8:5 : YHWH, Himself, will protect and keep us 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, 2 Mac 8:1-36, Psa 23:1-6, Psa 121:7-8, Isa 41:10, Isa 54:17, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, 2 Th 3:3-5, 2 Ti 4:18-20!!!!

2 Mac 8:11 : The Wrath of God will be on You, Deut 8:5, 1 Sa 4:1-22, 2 Ki 21:10-18, 2 Ki 22:14-17, 2 Ki 25:1-21, Enoch 54:1–10, 54:7–55:2, Enoch 61:5, Enoch 62:2–4, Enoch 62:10–12, Enoch 80:2–8, Enoch 94:6–11, Enoch 98:1–16, Judith 2:1-28, Joh 3:18, Joh 3:36, Heb 12:5-8, Rev 2:11-17, Rev 3:19!!!!

2 Mac 8:18-20 : Trust in the Lord 2 Ki 18:1-37, Psa 37:3, Psa 56:4, Psa 118:8-9, Mat 19:26, Mark 9:23, Luk 1:37, for YHWH, Himself, will protect and keep you, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, 2 Mac 8:1-36, Psa 23:1-6, Psa 121:7-8, Isa 41:10, Isa 54:17, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, 2 Th 3:3-5, 2 Ti 4:18-20, YHWH will fight for you, Exo 14:14, Deut 28:6-7, 2 Ch 14:1-15, Jer 20:11, Mat 11:28-30!!!!

2 Mac 8:23 : Notice that that they all Trusted in the Lord 2 Ki 18:1-37, Psa 37:3, Psa 56:4, Psa 118:8-9, Mat 19:26, Mark 9:23, Luk 1:37, for YHWH, Himself, will protect and keep you, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, 2 Mac 8:1-36, Psa 23:1-6, Psa 121:7-8, Isa 41:10, Isa 54:17, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, 2 Th 3:3-5, 2 Ti 4:18-20, YHWH will fight for you, Exo 14:14, Deut 28:6-7, 2 Ch 14:1-15, Jer 20:11, Mat 11:28-30!!!!

2 Mac 8:27-30 : God Love's a Cheerful Giver, tithe, Gen 14:18-20, Deut 14:22-29, Deut 15:11, Deut 26:19, 2 Ki 12:4, 1 Mac 14:14-15, 2 Co 8:14-15, 2 Co 9:6-15, Heb 7:1-17  

2 Mac 8:36 : YHWH protects all, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, who Walk in His ways, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 12:9-21, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, by Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, 1 Mac 4:8-11, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26 and Declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10!!!!

Conclusion

Chapter (8) teaches all that YHWH protects all, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, who Walk in His ways, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 12:9-21, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, by Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, 1 Mac 4:8-11, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26 and Declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10!!!!

Bible Study Question

Do You walk in the ways of YHWH?

YHWH protects all, 1 Pe 5:10, Enoch 100:5, Esther 15:1–16, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, who Walk in His ways, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 12:9-21, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, by Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, 1 Mac 4:8-11, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26 and Declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10!!!!