1 Maccabees 11 Commentary

“King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.”

Seleucia. Literally, of the cities to Seleucia, on the sea shore,” (Haydock) at the mouth of the Orontes, (Calmet) or Belus. (Ptolemy)

“Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father's kingdom:”

Hath. To what measure will not ambition stoop! These kings made light of adultery; and Cleopatra was still more dissolute, and married a third. (Haydock)

“For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.”

Kill me. Josephus thinks this was true: but it seems only a pretext.

“Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.”

Antioch. The whole province rebelled on account of the cruelties of Ammonius, who put on women’s clothes, but could not escape. Philometor was proclaimed king, yet besought the people to forget the injuries of Soter, and receive his son, as for his part he was content with Egypt. (Just. xxxv.) (Josephus) (Calmet) — Perhaps he saw that the time was not come for his annexing Syria to his dominions, though that was his real and primary intention. (Haydock)

“In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.”

Places of Syria, (Calmet) and the parts adjoining to Cilicia, (Haydock) which always continued faithful. (Calmet)

“For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.”

Zabdiel, “God’s dowry,” or Diocles, “the glory of God,” (Haydock) prince of Arabia. (Diodorus xxxii.) — Only five accompanied Alexander. His generals sought to make their peace with his rival, and slew him. (Usher) — Exalted. Alas! to become the victim of death in the space of a week! (Haydock)

“King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.”

After. He had been mortally wounded in the battle, and remained insensible four days. When the head of Alexander was brought, he came to himself; but died three days after, while the physicians were trepanning him. — Camp. The Egyptians loudly complained of this ingratitude of Demetrius. (Josephus) (Calmet) — Perhaps he saw through the perfidy of Philometor, who had designed to keep the kingdom. (Haydock)

“At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.”

Castle. Soter’s offers had not been accepted, chap. x. 22. Jonathan thought himself independent of his son. (Calmet)

“Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,”

Nations, by their actions. They wished to be free from the restraint of the law. (Haydock) — When pastors seek to extirpate sin, the wicked represented this to princes as dangerous to the state. (Worthington)

“Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;”

Priests. These would testify that what he said in his defence was true. (Menochius) — Zealous men will not cease to repress wickedness, as God’s word is not tied, 2 Timothy ii. 9. (Worthington)

“And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.”

Friends. Greek, “he set him at the head of his first friends,” (Haydock) treating him with the greatest distinction. (Calmet) — Wise kings will always esteem zealous ministers, knowing that their fidelity to God is an assurance that they will also be faithful to their sovereign. (Worthington)

“Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.”

Governments, (toparchias) or “principalities.” These had already been given, and are now enriched with immunities, like the rest of Judea and Samaria. (Worthington) — The latter was not one of the governments, but they were taken from the country and from Galilee. Jonathas redeems all taxes.

“We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.”

Parent. Lasthenes had procured his troops, and was made prime minister. But abusing his power, threw his master into many difficulties. (Calmet)

“Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.”

Apherema. This city is specified in Greek. (Haydock) — Syriac styles it Aphrem: probably a town of Ephraim; (John xi. 54.) perhaps Ephra, where Gedeon was born, Judges vi. 11. — Lyda, or Dospolis. (Calmet)

“And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.”

Of them. He remits only the arrears, (Grotius) or all future claims, which are given up to the priests. (Haydock) — Pans, or “lakes.” Some would substitute (Calmet) Greek: timas, “dues,” but without necessity. (Haydock) — The lake of Sodom furnished salt of a sharper and more digestive nature than the other. (Galien iv. 19.) See chap. x. 29.

“After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.”

Nations, particularly Crete. This most pernicious counsel was probably given by Lasthenes. (Calmet) — All people dislike foreigners to be trusted more than natural born subjects. (Haydock)

“Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,”

Tryphon, styled Diodotus before he mounted the throne. (Calmet)

“Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.”

Fight. The king attempted to disarm the citizens of Antioch; but they revolted, and would have slain him in his palace, (Diodorus, Valesii.) had not the Jews in the country, and those sent by Jonathas, come to his aid. He did not, however, give them a suitable reward. (Calmet) — Three thousand faithful slew 100,000 infidels; (Worthington) or the were joined by others who were already in the king’s army, (Haydock) or in the neighbourhood, (Calmet) as well as by the rest of the foreign troops, though the Jews were the most active and numerous. (Haydock)

“After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.”

Diadem, the year [of the world] 3860. (Calmet) — He took the title of Theos Epiphanes, “God appearing;” and that of Nicephorus, “the victorious,” when he took Antioch. (Diodorus, Excerp.; Vales, p. 346.; Vaillant)

“Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.”

Elephants. Literally, “beasts;” Greek: theria. (Haydock)

“At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.”

Four. The three specified, (ver. 34.) and probably Ptolemais, chap. x. 39.

“Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.”

In gold. Kings alone had or granted this privilege, (Calmet) as well as to wear purple or a chain of gold, (Worthington) or buckle, chap. xi.[x.?] 89. (Haydock)

“His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.”

Tyre. Eupator had given only as far as Ptolemais, 2 Machabees xiii. 24. This Antiochus gave the two brothers, the highest marks of esteem, making them governors of Phenicia and of Palestine.

“Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably.”

River Jordan. He was then joined by the Syrian forces, and established the power of Antiochus as far as Damascus. Then he proceeded by the sea shore, and took Gaza. (Calmet)

“Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country unto Damascus.”

Hand, or made peace by this usual ceremony. (Worthington)

“Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him out of the country,”

Treacherously is not specified in Greek. — Cades, a strong city in Galilee.

“As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor.”

Asor, near lake Semechon, Josue xi. 1. Greek, “Nasor,” erroneously. (Calmet) — The n is superfluous. (Haydock)

“Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.”

Army. Greek, “captains of the army of the forces.” (Haydock) — Only these two captains remained; but there were some soldiers. Josephus says about fifty. Three men would hardly have made a fresh attack, ver. 72. (Worthington) — Yet feats equally incredible have been performed by Samson and by some of the Romans. (Haydock) — The little band of fifty-three entirely defeated the enemy. (Calmet) — The two captains and their men alone stood firm.

“Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.”

Fought. Greek, “fled.” (Menochius) — Three thousand. Josephus says two thousand were slain. (Antiquities xiii. 9.) (Calmet)