Context No. 183 of 4322 · 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees 12:36-45: in context

36When those who were with Esdris had been fighting long and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself, fighting on their side and leading in the battle. 37Then in the language of his ancestors he raised the battle cry joined with hymns. Then he rushed against Gorgias’ troops when they were not expecting it, and put them to flight. 38Judas gathered his army and came to the city of Adullam. As the seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the Sabbath there. 39On the following day, when it had become necessary, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of those who had fallen, and in company with their kinsmen to bring them back to the sepulchres of their ancestors. 40But under the garments of each one of the dead they found consecrated tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to have anything to do with. It became clear to all that it was for this cause that they had fallen. 41All therefore, blessing the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who makes manifest the things that are hidden, 42turned themselves to supplication, praying that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the multitude to keep themselves from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. 43When he had made a collection man by man to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for sin, doing very well and honorably in this, in that he took thought for the resurrection. 44For if he wasn’t expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead. 45But if he was looking forward to an honorable memorial of gratitude laid up for those who die in godliness, then the thought was holy and godly. Therefore he made the atoning sacrifice for those who had died, that they might be released from their sin.

Judas Maccabeus has won a battle, and this passage is what happens when the bodies are collected. Under the tunics of every one of the dead, they find amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids Jews to wear. The men who died fighting for the law had been carrying charms from a pagan shrine.

The reaction is not to hide it. They bless God who reveals what is hidden, and they pray that the sin might be blotted out. Then Judas takes up a collection from every soldier, two thousand drachmas of silver, and sends it to Jerusalem to provide a sin offering for the dead. The writer explains what he thinks it means: he was acting rightly and honorably, taking account of the resurrection, since if he were not expecting the fallen to rise it would have been superfluous to pray for them.

Then the sentence that has carried enormous weight in Catholic teaching, quoted at the Council of Trent and standing behind the practice of praying for the dead and the doctrine of purgatory: it is a holy and pious thought, therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. Soldiers found to have been carrying charms are prayed for rather than written off. Who have I finished being able to help, and does that actually settle what I owe them?

Sources

2 Maccabees 12:39-40: the idol amulets found under the tunics of the dead
2 Maccabees 12:43-45: the collection sent to Jerusalem for a sin offering for the dead, reasoned from the resurrection
The passage cited at the Council of Trent in support of prayer for the dead and the doctrine of purgatory