“Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media to get him help to fight against Tryphone.”
Two. It is not easy to conceive why Josephus and Grotius place this expedition before the death of young Antiochus, chap. xiii. 31, 41. Demetrius was become contemptible, and had a mine to regain his reputation by attacking the Parthians, who had taken many provinces under the prudent conduct of Mithridates. The Greeks were impatient of this yoke. Many []ked[flocked?] to Demetrius, and he gained several victories; but after two years, was perfidiously taken by a general of the Parthians while treating of peace. Mithridates took him for a warning through the places which seemed favourable to him; but afterwards he sent him into Hyrcania, gave him his daughter in marriage, with the badges of royalty, and promises of restoring him to his kingdom. — Tryphon. After the misfortune of Demetrius, he abandoned himself to his pleasures; and his adherents put themselves under Cleopatra, the wife of his rival, who resided at Seleucia, upon the Orontes. (Usher, the year [of the world] 3863.) (Just. xxxvi., and xxxviii.) (Calmet)
“But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him alive:”
Arsaces. This was the common title of the Parthians kings, after the founder of that powerful monarchy. (Just. xli.)
“As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well.”
Days. Few princes have obtained such a character: for how shall they give content to all? (Calmet) — Simon had governed two years in troubles, but henceforward enjoyed peace, till Sidetes disturbed it. (Worthington)
“And as he was honourable in all his acts, so in this, that he took Joppa for an haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea,”
Sea, or to all places which they went by water. The port was however very indifferent.
“And gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the which he took all uncleaness, neither was there any that resisted him.”
Captives, taken from the enemy; (Calmet) or he liberated many Jews. (Worthington) — Gazara, or Gadara. (Calmet)
“The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel.”
Land. The judges (Haydock) strove to promote peace. — Robes. Spoils which they had taken; (Calmet) or they were ever ready to defend the country, though peace now prevailed.
“He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of the world.”
Ammunition: provisions and engines of war. (Calmet) — Earth: Judea and the environs. (Haydock)
“For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to fray them:”
Fig-tree: a picture of perfect peace, 3 Kings iv. 25.
“And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting:”
Princes. Cleomenes, the last king, died in Egypt, the year [of the world] 3784, and the tyrant Nabis perished long before this time. (Grotius) — Cities. Many depended on Sparta, the metropolis. (Worthington)
“And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to put the copy of their ambassage in publick records, to the end the people of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial thereof: furthermore we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest.”
Public. Literally, “in the distinct books of the people.” Greek, “open for inspection;” Greek: apodedeigmenois. (Haydock) — Patentibus seu publicis. (Vatable) — The substance of the letter is here given.
“After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league with them.”
Of Rome is not in Greek or Syriac, and it is allowed that the sequel seems rather to express the gratitude of the Jews to Simon. (Calmet) — When peace was established, and friendship with the Romans and Lacedemonians renewed, the whole nation in gratitude to Simon, who now remained alone of all the sons of Mathathias, confirm him in the office of high priest for ever, or during his life; and decree that his progeny shall enjoy the same, ver. 41, 49. (Worthington) — They should not be deposed, like Onias III., &c.
“For he and his brethren and the house of his father have established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from them, and confirmed their liberty.”
He. Greek, “He has established: (Syriac, “acted valiantly.” Calmet) He, his brethren, and his father’s house, and they have routed the,” &c., as [in] chap. xvi. 2. (Haydock)
“So then they wrote it in tables of brass, which they set upon pillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy of the writing; The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the hundred threescore and twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest,”
Elul, the last of the civil year, the year [of the world] 3863. — At. Literally, “in Asaramel,” (Haydock) “the court of Mello,” (Calmet) or “the prince of God,” (Serarius) as if it were another Hebrew title of Simon. Protestants, “At Saramel.” Marginal note, “or Jerusalem, peradventure,…or the common hall,” &c. (Haydock)
“Moreover he fortified Joppa, which lieth upon the sea, and Gazera, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt before: but he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all things convenient for the reparation thereof.)”
Gazara, or Gadara, chap. xiii. 51. — Reparation. Literally, “correction.” (Haydock) — But correctionem would agree better with the Greek than correptionem.
“For in his time things prospered in his hands, so that the heathen were taken out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a tower, out of which they issued, and polluted all about the sanctuary, and did much hurt in the holy place:”
Purify, (castitati.) Syriac, “the sanctuary.” Grotius, divine “worship.”
“And made him one of his friends, and honoured him with great honour.”
Things. Greek joins this with the preceding verse. Some copies have, “all things.” He confirmed him in all his rights.
“Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest for ever, until there should arise a faithful prophet;”
Prophet. This limitation was proper, as the people had chosen this family. The Jews expected the faithful prophet shortly, chap. iv. 46., and Malachias iii. 1., and Aggeus ii. 7. God was pleased that none should appear for some time before that event. (Calmet) — The high priesthood continued in this family till Herod began to sell it,—soon after which Christ appeared. (Worthington) — The sceptre seemed to belong to Juda. Yet they consent to be governed by Levites, till God signify his will by some prophet. (Menochius) — This consent of the nation, in which Juda was most powerful, shews that the sceptre was not departed from his thigh. (Haydock)