Description and usage
The rack was an instrument of torture. The victim was stretched out on a kind of table with his hands above his head. On either end of the table the hands and feet were tied to a wheel or other device that could pull the limbs more and more causing great pain. While the victim was stretched out like this, he could be whipped or otherwise physically abused.
Translation
Most cultures will not know this exact instrument of torture. It is best to follow GNT and not attempt to describe the rack exactly; for example, in 2MA 6:19GNT renders it “place of torture.”
The Greek word trochos means literally “wheel.” In 4MA 5:32RSV renders it “torture wheels.” In most of the contexts in 4MA it is clear that, similar to the rack, the “wheel” was used to stretch the victim. In those same references it seems to have been used in conjunction with a fire that burned the victim while he was being stretched.
Similarly, the Greek word katapeltēs in 4MA 8:13 seems to refer to an instrument for stretching the limbs and dislocating the joints. RSV renders this word as “catapults,” but CEV has “pounding machines” (although this does not seem to fit the torture described in 4MA 11:9; 4MA 11:10, where CEV has “place where he would be tortured”).
Some of the instruments of torture listed in 4 Maccabees may have been components of larger instruments; for example, in 4MA 11:10 the “wedge” (RSV ’s rendering of the Greek word sfēn), the “iron clamps” (podagra sidērous), and the “wheel” (trochiaios) are all employed in the torture with the katapeltēs.
The Greek word axōn normally refers to the axle of a wheel (see Wheel). However, in 4MA 9:20 it does not refer to part of a vehicle wheel but rather to part of a stationary torture machine. Wheels made up part of its operating mechanism, and these wheels, like wheels on a cart, turned around a central axle.
A number of other torture implements are mentioned in 4 Maccabees. They are listed here with suggested translations. For the most part the stucture of the devices is unknown. They are as follows:
arthrembolon 4MA 8:13 “joint-dislocator” (RSV), “stretching frame” (CEV)
trochantēr 4MA 8:13 “bone-crusher” (possibly related to the wheel)
daktulēthra 4MA 8:13 “thumbscrew” (RSV), “iron clamps” (CEV)
4MA 8:13; 4MA 9:26 “iron gauntlets having sharp hooks” (RSV), “heavy iron club with sharp hooks on its end” (CEV)