Single lesson
Razis Resists Arrest
2 Maccabees 14:37–46
When Nicanor sent soldiers to seize Razis in Jerusalem, the siege ended in a desperate and tragic death.
Before you teach
Razis was an elder in Jerusalem. He was known as a man who loved his people and had a very good name among them. Earlier, when there was no mingling with Gentiles, he had been accused because of the Jewish religion and had risked his body and life for it. Nicanor wanted to show his ill will toward the Jews, so he sent more than five hundred soldiers to seize Razis. He thought that capturing this one respected man would also injure the Jewish people.
Explain the central teaching of Razis Resists Arrest, using two details from the reading. When Nicanor sent soldiers to seize Razis in Jerusalem, the siege ended in a desperate and tragic death.
Welcome: Razis Resists Arrest
5 minIntroduce “Razis Resists Arrest” and locate 2 Maccabees 14:37–46. When Nicanor sent soldiers to seize Razis in Jerusalem, the siege ended in a desperate and tragic death. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:46
Read and explain the passage
12 minRazis was an elder in Jerusalem. He was known as a man who loved his people and had a very good name among them. Earlier, when there was no mingling with Gentiles, he had been accused because of the Jewish religion and had risked his body and life for it.
The troops were close to taking the tower. They forced the court doors and called for fire to burn them. With enemies all around him, Razis fell on his sword, choosing death rather than being taken by men the passage calls wicked and suffering outrage in their hands.
Even then he still had breath. Bleeding heavily, he struggled through the crowd and stood on a steep rock. Near death, he pulled out his own entrails and flung them toward the crowd, calling on the Lord of life and spirit to restore them again. Then he died.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Razis Resists Arrest”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Maccabees 14:38, 2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:46, 2 Maccabees 14:41, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:45
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Nicanor wanted to show his ill will toward the Jews, so he sent more than five hundred soldiers to seize Razis.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. When Nicanor sent soldiers to seize Razis in Jerusalem, the siege ended in a desperate and tragic death. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Maccabees 14:39, 2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:40, 2 Maccabees 14:41, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:46, 2 Maccabees 14:45
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Razis Resists Arrest: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Razis Resists Arrest” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:46
Closing: return to Razis Resists Arrest
3 minRevisit 2 Maccabees 14:37–46. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Razis Resists Arrest and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:46
Questions to explore
“Nicanor wanted to show his ill will toward the Jews, so he sent more than five hundred soldiers to seize Razis.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Nicanor wanted to show his ill will toward the Jews, so he sent more than five hundred soldiers to seize Razis. He thought that capturing this one respected man would also injure the Jewish people.
2 Maccabees 14:39, 2 Maccabees 14:37, 2 Maccabees 14:40
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “The troops were close to taking the tower.”?
The troops were close to taking the tower. They forced the court doors and called for fire to burn them. With enemies all around him, Razis fell on his sword, choosing death rather than being taken by men the passage calls wicked and suffering outrage in their hands.
2 Maccabees 14:41, 2 Maccabees 14:42, 2 Maccabees 14:46
“Even then he still had breath.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
Even then he still had breath. Bleeding heavily, he struggled through the crowd and stood on a steep rock. Near death, he pulled out his own entrails and flung them toward the crowd, calling on the Lord of life and spirit to restore them again. Then he died.
2 Maccabees 14:46, 2 Maccabees 14:45, 2 Maccabees 14:42
Make, think or respond
Razis Resists Arrest: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 2 Maccabees 14:37–46. Use “Razis Resists Arrest” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Razis Resists Arrest connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Razis Resists Arrest” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 2 Maccabees 14:37–46. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Maccabees 14:37–46. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Maccabees 14
37 Now information was given to Nicanor against one Razis, an elder of Jerusalem, who was a lover of his countrymen and a man of very good report, and one called Father of the Jews for his good will.
38 For in the former times when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, he had been accused of following the Jews’ religion, and had risked body and life with all earnestness for the religion of the Jews.
39 Nicanor, wishing to make evident the ill will that he bore against the Jews, sent above five hundred soldiers to seize him;
40 for he thought by seizing him to inflict an injury on them.
41 But when the troops were at the point of taking the tower, and were forcing the door of the court, and asked for fire to burn the doors, he, being surrounded on every side, fell upon his sword,
42 choosing rather to die nobly than to fall into the hands of the wicked wretches, and suffer outrage unworthy of his own nobleness.
43 But since he missed his stroke through the excitement of the struggle, and the crowds were now rushing within the door, he ran bravely up to the wall and cast himself down bravely among the crowds.
44 But as they quickly gave back, a space was made, and he fell on the middle of his side.
45 Still having breath within him, and being inflamed with anger, he rose up, and though his blood gushed out in streams and his wounds were grievous, he ran through the crowds, and standing upon a steep rock,
46 when as his blood was now well near spent, he drew forth his bowels through the wound, and taking them in both his hands he shook them at the crowds. Calling upon him who is Lord of life and spirit to restore him these again, he died like this.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.