2 Maccabees 12:4 kjva — Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothi…

King James Version with Apocrypha

“Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.”

— 2 Maccabees 12:4, King James Version with Apocrypha

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2 Maccabees 12:4 in Other Translations

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  • DRB

    “Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.”

2 Maccabees 12 — Context

1

When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.

2

But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.

3

The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.

4

Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.

5

When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.

6

And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.

7

And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.

2 Maccabees 12:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Maccabees 12:4 say?
2 Maccabees 12:4 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.”
Where is 2 Maccabees 12:4 in the Bible?
2 Maccabees 12:4 is found in the Apocrypha, in the book of 2 Maccabees, chapter 12, verse 4.
Who wrote 2 Maccabees?
2 Maccabees is traditionally attributed to Anonymous epitomist of a (lost) five-volume work by Jason of Cyrene. Not a continuation of 1 Maccabees but a parallel — covering a shorter, earlier slice (c. 180–161 BC) with a more overtly theological and rhetorical style. It was written c. 124 BC.
What is the book of 2 Maccabees about?
2 Maccabees retells the early part of the Maccabean crisis with stirring rhetorical power. It contains the most famous martyrdom narratives of the Old Testament era — the priest Eleazar (ch. 6) and the mother with her seven sons (ch. 7), who choose torture and death rather than violate the Law. The book is also notable for its explicit affirmation of bodily resurrection, intercessory prayer for the dead, and the role of providence in Israel's history.
What are the major themes of 2 Maccabees?
2 Maccabees explores themes including Martyrdom, Resurrection, Temple, Providence, Hanukkah. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Maccabees 12:4.
What translation should I read 2 Maccabees 12:4 in?
2 Maccabees 12:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Maccabees 12:4?
2 Maccabees 12:4 reads (KJVA): “Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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