1 Maccabees 15 Commentary

“Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations which the kings before me granted thee, and whatsoever gifts besides they granted.”

Oblations, such as were presented to the Lord, or remittances. He is very liberal of what he could not get back.

“I give thee leave also to coin money for thy country with thine own stamp.”

Money. He supposed that Simon would have his own image on it. But we find no human figure on the coins which he sent out during the first four years, but only vessels, trees, inscriptions, &c. Afterwards he seems to had desisted, either (as some suppose) because it was not conformable to the law, or because he found it brought no profit to the state.

“Wherefore being pursued by king Antiochus, he fled unto Dora, which lieth by the sea side:”

Dora, to the south of Carmel Tryphon had first tried the fortune of a battle. (Calmet)

“In the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these things:”

Numenius. He had been sent to Rome almost two years before, and now brought letters not only to the Jews, but to various kings and nations on their behalf. (Worthington)

“Lucius, consul of the Romans unto king Ptolemee, greeting:”

Lucius, Calvus, or Philus, (Drusius; Grotius) or Piso, (Usher; Sal.[Salien?]; Menochius) whose colleague Lenas, went against Numantia. (Calmet) — Ptolemee, surnamed Physcon, brother and successor of Philometor, (Challoner) in Egypt. (Haydock)

“The same things wrote he likewise unto Demetrius the king, and Attalus, to Ariarathes, and Arsaces,”

Attalus, &c. Attalus was king of Pergamus, Ariarethes was king of Cappadocia, and Arsaces was king of the Parthians. (Challoner) — Demetrius was prisoner of the latter.

“And to all the countries and to Sampsames, and the Lacedemonians, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and Aradus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.”

Lampsacus, in Mysia, a free city. — Delus, an island of great trade after the fall of Carthage. — Myndus, a port in Caria. — Sicyon, another in Achaia. — Samus, and independent and powerful island near Asia Minor. — Pamphylia, in Cilicia, beyond Taurus. — Lycia had been freed from the Rhodians, by the Romans. — Alicarnassus, an ancient town of Caria, opposite to the isle of Coo. — Side, in Pamphylia, ver. 1. Grotius conjectures we should read, “Sidon.” — Aradus, near the coasts of Syria. — Rhodes, famous for its Colossus. — Phaselis, a maritime town near Lycia. — Gortyna, a city of Crete, which was then an independent island. — Gnidus, an island near Rhodes. — Cyrene, a province of Egypt. It must hen have been partly free, and in alliance with Rome.

“And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.”

Simon, that he might know what they had done for him, and to whom he might apply for aid.

“So Antiochus the king camped against Dora the second day, assaulting it continually, and making engines, by which means he shut up Tryphon, that he could neither go out nor in.”

Second. He had interrupted the siege, or made a fresh wall or attack.

“Nevertheless he would not receive them, but brake all the covenants which he had made with him afore, and became strange unto him.”

Not. Josephus seems to assert the contrary; observing that the king applied for aid, which was readily granted. Yet he soon forgot the favour, and sent Cendebeus against the Jews. He passed over the embassy of Athenobius, ver. 28.

“Furthermore he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his friends, to commune with him, and say, Ye withhold Joppa and Gazera; with the tower that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.”

Gazara. The edition of Basle properly reads, “Gadara.”

“Now therefore deliver the cities which ye have taken, and the tributes of the places, whereof ye have gotten dominion without the borders of Judea:”

Taken, such as Joppe, the three governments, &c. (Calmet)

“And whereas thou demandest Joppa and Gazera, albeit they did great harm unto the people in our country, yet will we give thee an hundred talents for them. Hereunto Athenobius answered him not a word;”

Talents. Simon subdued these two towns, because they attacked his country; but as they did not otherwise belong to him, he paid (Worthington) or offered to pay something for them. (Haydock) — Those of Joppe drowned two hundred Jews, 2 Machabees xii. What Gazara had done we know not. (Worthington)

“In the mean time fled Tryphon by ship unto Orthosias.”

Orthosias, in Phœnicia, opposite to Aradus. Hence he fled to Apamea, (Calmet) strewing silver in the way to stop his pursuers. (Front. ii. 13.) — The city was however besieged, and he slew himself, (Strabo xiv.) or was slain after a reign of five years. (Josephus) (Vaillant)

“Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an host of footmen and horsemen,”

Coast. This government was granted to Simon by young Antiochus, chap. xi. 59.

“And commanded him to remove his host toward Judea; also he commanded him to build up Cedron, and to fortify the gates, and to war against the people; but as for the king himself, he pursued Tryphon.”

Gedor, near Jamnia. Greek, “Cedron,” (Calmet) as also [in] ver. 40., formerly (Haydock) in the Vulgate. A city was here repaired on the river Cedron. (Worthington) — Syriac, “Hebron.” — Fortify. Literally, “to block up.” (Haydock) — But this is the import of the Greek. (Calmet) — Alexandrian manuscript, “to fortify cities.” (Haydock) — Gates, or defiles. (Grotius)