sacred precincts

June 9, 2015

The gentiles take over the Temple (2 Macc 6:3-6:6)

“Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil. The temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the gentiles. They dallied with prostitutes. They had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts. Besides they brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit. The altar was covered with abominable offerings which were forbidden by the laws. People could neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the festivals of their ancestors, nor so much as confess themselves to be Jews.”

The gentiles took over the Temple. This was mentioned in 1 Maccabees, chapter 1, but here it is more specific, especially about prostitutes as part of a fertility cult. They would have intercourse in the sacred places to help have children. They also offered unfit sacrifices. The altars were full of all kinds of Jewish forbidden abominable offerings. The Israelites could not keep the Sabbath, nor observe their festival days. In fact, they could not even confess that they were Jews.

May 1, 2015

The attack on Carnaim (1 Macc 5:42-5:44)

“When Judas approached the stream of water, he stationed the officers of the people at the stream. He gave them this command.

‘Permit no man to encamp!

But make them all enter the battle!’

Then he crossed over against them first. The whole army followed him. All the gentiles were defeated before him. They threw away their arms and fled into the sacred precincts at Carnaim. But he took the town. He burned the sacred precincts with fire, together with all who were in them. Thus Carnaim was conquered. They could stand before Judas no longer.”

When Judas Maccabeus arrived at the water area, he told his officers to not let them stop and camp. This is what Timothy had wanted them to do. Then Judas led the charge across the stream as his whole army followed him. The gentiles were destroyed, but they fled to the sacred place in Carnaim, where there was worship of a Syrian fish goddess. However, Judas took the town of Carnaim and the sacred precincts with all the people in it. He burned it so that the city was conquered.