Hebrews 11:35-36 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance… There can be no doubt that the apostle has here travelled beyond the canonical books of Scripture into the records of Jewish history given in the Apocrypha. If you will read the sixth and seventh chapters of the Second Book of Maccabees, you will find a full elucidation of the very words here employed. You will find the history of a Jewish mother, who, in the persecutions under Antiochus, saw seven sons tortured and put to death on one day, and encouraged them by her words to witness a good confession, on the very ground here stated, that they might obtain a better than any earthly resurrection. You will read there, in express terms, that offer of "redemption " which they are here said to have refused. "Antiochus, while the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and happy man if he would turn from the laws of his fathers." And you will read there likewise the answer. "The King of the universe," says one of these martyrs, "shall raise us up, who have died for His laws, unto eternal life." "It is good," says another, "being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by Him." "Fear not this tormentor," the mother said to the youngest, "but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death, that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren." (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: |
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