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In John 12, crowds welcome Jesus with palm branches as he enters Jerusalem, a gesture that echoes 2 Maccabees 10 where palm branches are used to celebrate the rededication of the temple after victory over oppressive rulers.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
2 Maccabees 10:7
Deuterocanon
5 Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, upon that very day it came to pass that the sanctuary was cleansed, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chislev. 6 They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals. 7 Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who had successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place. 8 They ordained also with a public statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should observe these days every year. 9 Such were the events of the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.
Date: 160–63 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
John 12:13
New Testament
9 Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, 11 for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus. 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt!”
Date: 90–110 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... 'Palm branches in their hands.' Palm branches are a symbol of triumph and victory. When, under the leadership of the Maccabees, Jerusalem was freed from the religious oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes, the people celebrated the victory with palm branches and harps and psalms." At the time of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crowd greeted him waving palm branches (John 12:13). Here in Revelation 7, the redeemed are portrayed as celebrating the victory by waving palm branches ..."
Ranko Stefanović, Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Andrews University Press, 2002), 265.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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