2 Maccabees 4 - Summary

Holy city at the centre of the story: plundered by Antiochus, freed by Judas, and the place where Nicanor's head is hung up

Sanctuary defended against Heliodorus, profaned and dedicated to Jupiter, cleansed on the twenty-fifth of Casleu, then threatened by Nicanor

Home of the Jews to whom the opening letters are written, and the land of Antiochus's campaigns

Seleucid capital, near which Onias is murdered at Daphne, and to which Nicanor flees after his first defeat

Land where the priests hid the altar fire at the exile, and from which Antiochus returns in disgrace before his death

The mountain from which Moses saw the heritage of God, where Jeremiah is said to have hidden the tabernacle and the ark in a cave

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and became a significant center of early Christianity. The apostle Paul wrote his most theological letter to the church in Rome and eventually traveled there as a prisoner. Both Peter and Paul are traditionally believed to have been martyred in Rome. Paul's Letter to the Romans is foundational to Christian theology, addressing salvation, grace, and the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.

Tarsus was a major city in Cilicia (modern Turkey) and the birthplace of the apostle Paul. As a Roman citizen from Tarsus, Paul had privileges that aided his ministry. It was a renowned center of learning and philosophy in the ancient world.