2 Maccabees 10:7

Deuterocanon

5 It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev. 6 They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not long before, during the festival of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals. 7 Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place. 8 They decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that the whole nation of the Jews should observe these days every year. 9 Such then was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.

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!”

 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 ..."

Stefanović, Ranko Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation (p. 265) Andrews University Press, 2002

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