Глава VII

The king's message favoring the Jews (3Mac 7:1-7). Putting to death apostates (3Mac 7:8–13). The return of the remaining Jews to their homes (3Mac 7:14–20). 3 Mac.7:1 “King Ptolemy Philopator: To the rulers of Egypt and to all who have been placed in positions, rejoice and be well. Hello both we and our children, for the great God prospers us in our deeds according to our desire. “And our children...”, τα τέκνα ημών ... B 217 or 216, which is the year described in our book, Ptolemy, as far as is known, did not yet have children, at least not a single legitimate one. Later, from his sister-wife, the heir to the throne, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, was born, who at the death of his father (in 203) was only 5 years old. - “Great God...” Here, undoubtedly, is Jehovah, Whom the king now confesses as the true God (VI: 25). 3Mac.7:2-3 Some of our friends, out of their malice, often presented to us and persuaded us to gather all the Jews who were in the kingdom and torture them with extraordinary executions as traitors, adding that until this was done, the affairs of our kingdom would never be prosperous due to the hatred that they have for all nations. Many other ancient writers speak about the hatred that the Jews had for all nations: cf. Tacita, East. V, 5, 2; Dio Cass. 49, 22; Diod. 34, 1, p. 524; Philostr. Apollo. 5, 33; Jos. Fl., pr. App. 2, 10, 14; 1 Sol II: 15; Esther III: 13; Juven. 14, 103 etc. 3Mac.7:4 They brought them in chains, with violence, as slaves, or better, as slanderers, and without any consideration or investigation they attempted to destroy them, inventing cruelties that were even more cruel than Scythian customs. “Inventing cruelties even more brutal than Scythian customs...”, Greek: νόμου σκυθών αγριωτέραν έμπεπορπημένοι ωμότητα ..., glory. more precisely: “with the most ferocious ferocity, more than the law of Scythian weapons...”, i.e., as if putting on oneself (or arming oneself) with ferocity, more ferocious than Scythian customs. – Law – νόμος – in the meaning of “custom” is often used. 3Mac 7:5-6 We strictly forbade this, and out of the good will we have toward all people, we immediately gave them life; and when we learned that the heavenly God is the faithful protection of the Jews and always protects them, like a father of sons, also taking into account their well-known goodwill towards us and our ancestors, we rightly freed them from any accusation of anything and ordered each and everyone to return to their homes, so that nowhere would anyone offend them for anything or reproach them for what happened without their fault. “I did not reproach them for what happened without their fault...”, i.e., for the fact that they were doomed to execution as traitors and rebels. 3Mac.7:7-8 Know that if we do anything evil against them or generally offend them, we will have against us not a man, but the Most High God, who rules over all power, as the avenger of our deeds in everything and always inevitably. Be healthy." Having received this message, the Jews were in no hurry to leave immediately, but asked the king that those from the family of Judah who had arbitrarily abandoned the Holy God and the law of God would receive due punishment through them, “Through them they received due punishment...” - by virtue of the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy XIII: 6 et d. 3Mac.7:9 adding that those who have transgressed the Divine decrees for the sake of the womb will never have a good disposition towards the reign of the king. “For the sake of the womb...”, that is, for the sake of sensual pleasures and excessive love of life, or temporary benefits (see II: 23). In subsequent history, a curious example of such reasoning was presented by Constantius Chlorus, the father of Constantine the Great, who said: ne imperatori quidem fidos fore, qui Deo fidem non servarent (cf. Evseev. Vit. Constant. I, 16). 3Mac.7:10-12 The king found that they were telling the truth, approved them and gave them authority to do everything, so that they would destroy those who had transgressed the law of God in every place of his kingdom without hindrance, without special permission or supervision of the king. Then, having thanked him as they should have, the priests and the entire crowd sang “Hallelujah” and went joyfully. They punished and killed every defiled tribesman they met along the way as an example to others. 3Mac 7:13-15 On that day they killed more than three hundred men and celebrated with joy, killing the unclean. Having remained with God until death and having received the full joy of salvation, they rose from the city, crowned with all kinds of fragrant flowers, with joy and exclamations, praises and euphonious songs, thanking the God of the fathers, the eternal Savior of Israel. Arriving at Ptolemais, called by the nature of the place Rhodophorus (rose-bearing), in which, by their common agreement, their ships waited for seven days, “To Ptolemais, called by the nature of the place Rhodophorus...” Such an area, replete with rose plantations that produce the best rose oil in the entire East, still exists in central Egypt, in the district of Arsinoe, on the western side of the Nile, and on the northeastern bank of the great Joseph Canal. Here, probably, there was a gathering point for the Jews returning to their homes. 3Mac 7:16-18 They held a feast of salvation there, for the king generously provided them with everything that each one needed before arriving at his home. Since they arrived here in peace, with decent thanksgiving, they also established a joyful celebration of these days during their stay. Having sanctified these days and confirmed their vow by placing a pillar at the place of the feast, they went further by land and sea and river, each to his own home, unharmed, free, in complete joy, protected by the royal command. It was then that they acquired greater strength and glory than before and became terrible for their enemies, not being oppressed in the least by anyone in their possession, “Having sanctified these days...”, that is, dedicating them to the Lord as holidays, and deciding to recognize them as such for all future times... 3Mac 7:19 And they all received theirs according to the inventory, so that whoever had anything with them gave it to them with the greatest fear, for the greatest God had shown them the greatest benefits for their salvation. “All received theirs according to the inventory...” The writer here assumes it is known that during the census and arrest of the Jews (3 Mac. 4:11), the inventory of their movable and immovable property was also described and declared the property of the treasury. This subsequently made it very easy for everyone to get theirs. - “With the greatest fear they gave it to them...”, - with fear, - on the one hand, before the displeasure of the king, and on the other, also before the wrath of Jehovah. 3Mac 7:20 Blessed be the Savior of Israel forever! Amen.