Глава VI

The attempt of the old Athenian to eradicate Judaism in Jerusalem (2 Mac. 6: 1–7). Persecution of Jews in neighboring Hellenistic cities (2Mac 6:8–11). Reflection on the divine purposes of such a difficult trial (2 Mac. 6:12–17). Martyrdom of Elder Eleazar (2 Mac. 6:18–31). 2Mac.6:1 After a little time the king sent an old man, an Athenian, to force the Jews to deviate from the laws of their fathers and not live according to the laws of God, “After a little time...”, that is, after sending Apollonius with his army (V: 24 etc.). 2 Mac.6:2 and also to desecrate the temple of Jerusalem and call it the church of Jupiter Olympus, and the church in Garizin, since the inhabitants of that place are aliens, the church of Jupiter Hospitable. “To desecrate the church...”, this was achieved by renaming it the Temple of Olympian Jupiter, which excluded the possibility of true Divine service in it and introduced into it all the vileness of pagan atheism and wickedness (Articles 4 and 5). An Athenian, obviously by birth, who was in the service of the king, is sent as the executor (επίσκοπος) of the king’s intentions to de-godize Judea. - “Name it the Church of Olympian Jupiter...”, that is, dedicate it to this deity. The Garizin church was renamed the church of Jupiter the Hospitable. Olympian Jupiter - Ζευς ᾿Ολύμπιος - is considered the ruler of the heavens and other deities. Hospitable Jupiter - Ζευς Ξένιος - patron of hospitality and strangers. Josephus' remark that the Samarian church was dedicated to Greek Zeus (Ζευς Ἐλλήνιος) should be called erroneous (Arch XII, 5, 5). 2Mac 6:3–5 The coming disaster was difficult and unbearable for the people. The temple was filled with fornication and disorder from the pagans, who, treating harlots, mixed with women in the most sacred vestibules and brought illegal things inside. And the altar was filled with obscene things prohibited by the law. Here, of course, is the sacrifice of animals unclean by law to the altar, which are mentioned more clearly by 1 Mac I: 47. 2Mac 6:6-7 It was impossible to keep the Sabbath, or observe the holidays of the Fathers, or even to be called a Jew. With severe coercion they were taken every month on the king’s birthday to idol sacrifices, and on the festival of Dionysus they forced the Jews in ivy wreaths to march in a solemn procession in honor of Dionysus. “On the birthday of the king...”, γενέθλιος ᾿ημέρα – dies natalis – the celebration of this day is one of the most ancient customs, already mentioned among the Egyptians (Gen. XL: 20), among the Persians (in the works of Plato and Herodotus); The Gospel contains a mention of the celebration of this day by Herod Antipas (Matthew XIV: 6). “Every month on the king’s birthday...” Here it is clear either that the celebration took place in every month in which the king’s birthday fell, that is, once a year, or that this day (which apparently fell on the 25th of the month of Haslev, 1 Mac I: 59) was celebrated in every month of the year, therefore, in total 12 times a year. This could have been by the special command of the king himself, who believed too much in his divinity (referred to as θεός on coins), or by the special jealousy of his guards, who used this holiday to easily detect and punish those who disobeyed the king. 2Mac.6:8 Such a command also went out to the neighboring Greek cities, at the instigation of Ptolemy, so that they would act in the same way against the Jews and force them to offer sacrifices to idols, The neighboring Hellenic cities are probably Philistine and Phoenician cities, which were Hellenized since the time of Alexander the Great, and where quite a lot of Jews lived. - “At the instigation of Ptolemy...” - the famous enemy of the Jews, the son of Dorimen (IV: 45 etc.). 2Mak.6:9-10 and those who did not agree to switch to Greek customs were killed. It was then that the real disaster could be seen. Two women were accused of circumcising their children; and for this, having hung their babies from their breasts and led them through the city in front of the people, they cast them down from the wall. Examples of cruelties that accompanied the execution of the royal command (cf. 1 Mac I: 60 etc.). 2Mac 6:11 Others fled to nearby caves to secretly celebrate the seventh day, but, being pointed out to Philip, they were burned, for they considered it unjust to defend themselves out of respect for the sanctity of the day. About Philip - see V: 22. About the death of many Jews because of respect for the sanctity of the Sabbath - see 1 Mac II: 31 etc. 2 Mac.6:12–17 I ask those who happen to read this book not to be afraid of adversity and to understand that these sufferings do not serve to destroy, but to admonish our race. For the very fact that the wicked are not given much time, but are soon subjected to punishment, is a sign of great good deed. For the Lord does not continue to endure long-suffering as He did with other nations, in order to punish them when they reach the fullness of their sins; He did not judge us in such a way as to punish us later, when we have already reached the end of our sins. He never removes His mercy from us and, punishing with misfortunes, does not abandon His people. However, let this be said as a reminder to us: after these few words, let us return to the story. The writer expresses his view on the moral and educational significance of the suffering experienced, a view that is completely consistent with the biblical presentation of the matter (VII: 33; Wis XI: 11 et c.; XII: 22; cf. Isa LIV: 7 et c.). 2Mac 6:18 There was a certain Eleazar, one of the first scribes, a man who had already reached old age, but was very handsome in appearance: they forced him, by opening his mouth, to eat pork. “Eleazar..., who has already reached old age...” According to Art. 24 he was already 90 years old. 2Mac 6:19-23 Preferring a glorious death to a disgraced life, he voluntarily entered into torment and spat, as befits those who decided to resist what, for the love of life, they are not allowed to eat. Then those assigned to the unlawful sacrifice, who had known this man for a long time, called him away and privately persuaded him to bring them prepared meats that he could eat, and to pretend that he was eating the sacrificial meats assigned by the king, in order to thereby get rid of death and, through his long-standing friendship with them, to take advantage of their philanthropy. But he, having established himself in a good thought worthy of his age and venerable old age and the glorious gray hair and pious upbringing he had achieved, and most of all - the holy and God-given law, answered accordingly and said: immediately put to death; He said: “Immediately put to death...”. Greek, ταχέως λέγων προπέμπειν είς τόν αδην, famous: “soon, saying: I will be sent to hell...”. Eleazar explains his decision to die for two reasons: 1) that such hypocrisy is unworthy of his age, which can captivate even the young to cowardice and betrayal of the faith (vv. 24–25); 2) that God’s judgment cannot be avoided either in this life, much less in the future (v. 26). How in the future? - can be seen from the further VII: 14, where the faith of the Jews in the future resurrection is also clearly expressed: “he who dies from people desires to place his hope in God, that He will revive again; for you there will be no resurrection to life..." 2Mac 6:24-27 For it is unworthy of our age to be hypocrites, lest many of the young, having learned that the ninety-year-old Eleazar had turned to paganism, and themselves, as a result of my hypocrisy, for the sake of a short and insignificant life, should fall into error through me, and through this I would bring dishonor and a stain to my old age. Even if at the present time I get rid of torment from people, I will not escape the right hand of the Almighty, either in this life or after death. Therefore, now courageously parting with life, I myself will appear worthy of old age, “I will appear worthy of old age,” which, according to the beliefs of the Jews, was given as a reward for fidelity to the law and piety. 2Mac 6:28-31 And I will leave a good example for the young to willingly and valiantly accept death for the honorable and holy laws. Having said this, he immediately went to the torment. Then those who led him, shortly before this, changed the goodwill shown to him into hatred because of the above words, for they considered them to be madness. Already preparing to die under the blows, he groaned and said: The Lord, who has perfect knowledge, knows that, having the opportunity to get rid of death, I accept cruel suffering with a scourged body, and with my soul I willingly endure it out of fear of Him. And so he died, leaving in his death not only the young men, but also very many of the people, a model of valor and a monument to virtue.