2 Maccabees, 5
24. And when he had been appointed over the Jews, he sent that hateful leader, Apollonius, with an army of twenty-two thousand, instructing him to execute all men in the prime of life, and to sell the women and the youths.
24. And when he had been appointed over the Jews, he sent that hateful leader, Apollonius, with an army of twenty-two thousand, instructing him to execute all men in the prime of life, and to sell the women and the youths.
Chapter 5 of 2 Maccabees reports the arrival of the new governor of Syria called Andrononic, which was sent by King Antiochus Epiphanius to subdue the Jews. Andrononic brought with him a large amount of soldiers and was responsible for a terrible persecution of the Jews, which culminated in the desecration of the temple. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in this chapter:
1 Kings 11:7: "So Solomon built a tall to whom the abomination of the Moabites, over the border hill to Jerusalem, and Moloc, the abomination of the children of Ammon." This verse talks about Solomon's practice of building altars to the pagan gods who and Moloc, which is described as an abomination. The desecration of the temple by Andrononic soldiers can be considered a similar abomination.
Jeremiah 4:7: "A lion climbed his branch, and a people destroyer, he has already left, he left his place, to make your land a brush, and your cities will be ruined, without inhabitant." This verse describes the arrival of a destroyer who will leave the cities in ruins and without inhabitants. Andrononic's arrival with his soldiers had a similar effect on the land of the Jews.
Lamentations 1:8: "Jerusalem severely sinned, so it became in instability; all who honored it despise it, because they saw their nudity; it also moans and back." This verse refers to the fall of Jerusalem due to the sins of its inhabitants. The desecration of the temple by Andrononic can be seen as a consequence of the sin of the Jews.
Ezekiel 7:21: "And thou shalt give gold by refuse, and silver by slag; they shall not save you on the day of the wrath of the Lord, they shall not push your soul, nor will you fill your womb, because they were the stumble of your wickedness. " This verse talks about the uselessness of the treasures accumulated by men on the day of the wrath of the Lord. The withdrawal of the temple by Androno soldiers suggests the same idea that earthly treasures have no value on the day of judgment.
Isaiah 64:10: "Your Holy City is deserted; Zion has become deserted, Jerusalem is plagued." This verse describes the desolation of the Holy City of Jerusalem. The persecution of the Jews by Andrononic and their soldiers resulted in the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple.
“Esforce-se, mesmo se for um pouco, mas sempre…” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
