The Temple as a Place of Worship and the God of Heaven in 2 Maccabees

By taking up exilic and post-exilic conceptions, the author of 2 Maccabees emphasizes that God dwells in heaven. Yet the reception of this assertion does not result in a marginalization of the sanctuary. The Temple counts as a place of (temporary) divine indwelling, which can only be encountered if one is pure and holy. The Temple is not only a place of worship, but also as a visible sign of the political significance of Jerusalem and the national greatness of Israel. “Temple” and “city” are not opposites; they are closely related to one another. The city is the place of the Temple; the city derives its glory from the Temple, just as, by contrast, the Temple develops its glory within the city. When Israel acts in accordance with God’s will, both remain under divine protection. The connection of the protection motif to other elements shows that the author wanted to emphasize this traditional motif of the old Temple theology.