Asaramel is a term found in the apocryphal text of 1 Maccabees, specifically in 1 Maccabees 14:28. The name "Asaramel" is often understood to refer to a place or a significant location associated with the Jewish people during the Maccabean period. The context in which Asaramel is mentioned is crucial for understanding its significance in Jewish history and tradition.

Biblical Context

In 1 Maccabees 14:28, the text records a decree made by the Jewish people in the time of Simon the Maccabee, who was a leader and high priest. The decree was made in a great assembly, and Asaramel is mentioned as the place where this assembly took place. The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as follows:

"On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the one hundred seventy-second year, in the third year of Simon the high priest, in Asaramel, in the great assembly of the priests and the people and the rulers of the nation and the elders of the country, the following was proclaimed to us:" (1 Maccabees 14:28)

Historical and Cultural Significance

The mention of Asaramel in this context highlights its importance as a gathering place for significant religious and political decisions. The assembly in Asaramel was a pivotal moment in Jewish history, as it affirmed Simon's leadership and the autonomy of the Jewish people during a time of foreign domination and internal strife. This event underscores the role of Asaramel as a center for Jewish governance and religious authority.

Interpretation and Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the gathering at Asaramel can be seen as a manifestation of God's providence and faithfulness to His people. The Maccabean period was marked by a struggle for religious freedom and the preservation of Jewish identity against Hellenistic influences. The assembly at Asaramel, therefore, represents a moment of divine intervention and guidance, as the Jewish people sought to uphold the covenant and maintain their distinctiveness as God's chosen people.

Linguistic Considerations

The name "Asaramel" itself is subject to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that it may be a compound of Hebrew words, possibly meaning "the court of God" or "the place of God." This interpretation aligns with the idea of Asaramel as a sacred and authoritative location for the Jewish community.

Conclusion

While Asaramel is not mentioned in the canonical books of the Bible, its inclusion in the apocryphal text of 1 Maccabees provides valuable insight into the historical and religious context of the Maccabean period. Asaramel serves as a testament to the enduring faith and resilience of the Jewish people in their quest to maintain their religious and cultural identity amidst external pressures.ASARAMEL

a-sar'-a-mel (Asaramel or Saramel): A name of uncertain origin occurring in 1 Maccabees 14:28, in the inscription set up in memory of Simon and the Maccabean family. "On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the hundred and seventy and second year, and this is the third year of Simon the high priest, in Asaramel, in a great congregation of priests and people and princes of the nation, and of the elders of the country," etc. The phrase "in Asaramel" has been taken as referring to a place, and as the name of a title of Simon. Ewald and others take it to be the equivalent of ba-chatsar `am 'el, "in the court of the people of God." Another reading is "in Saramel." The majority prefer to take the phrase as a title of Simon; the original phrase is then taken to have been wesar `am 'el, "and prince of the people of God," i.e. ethnarch. If the translator mistook the waw (w) for beth (b) and read 'en, he might have left the phrase untranslated because he supposed it to be the name of a place. Schurer disposes of the en by taking it as a corruption of segen = ceghen, which is equivalent to the Greek strategos (GVI, I, 197, note 17).

H. J. Wolf

Asaramel
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ASARAMEL. ... The phrase "in Asaramel" has been taken
as referring to a place, and as the name of a title of Simon. ...
/a/asaramel.htm - 7k

Asara

/a/asara.htm - 6k

Asareel (1 Occurrence)

/a/asareel.htm - 6k

Saramel
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SARAMEL. sar'-a-mel: the King James Version =
the Revised Version (British and American) ASARAMEL (which see). ...
/s/saramel.htm - 6k

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