“Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.”
Nations. They were always ready to oppress the Jews. Thus God punished or tried his people. (Calmet) — Judas, or his brethren, here gains eight victories over them. (Worthington)
“Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.”
Idumea. Alexandrian manuscript has, “Judea.” Both may be right. The country had been wrested from Juda by the Idumeans. — Acrabathane is “the ascent of scorpions,” (hakrabim) which were probably numerous, to the south of the Dead Sea, Numbers xxxiv. 4., and Deuteronomy viii. 15.
“Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.”
Bean; perhaps Beon, near the sea of Sodom, (Calmet) or Bathaner, beyond the Jordan [River]. (Serarius)
“He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.”
Destruction. Sometimes the people were spared. All depended on the wording of the vow, Leviticus xxvii. 28., and Numbers xxi. 1. See other particulars, 2 Machabees x. 16., to 23. (Calmet)
“And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.”
Gazer, in Ephraim. But Jazer, in the tribe of Gad, seems to be meant, as the Greek expresses it. (Menochius) — Towns. Literally, “daughters,” or dependant (Haydock) villages. (Worthington) — Afterwards Judas returned and defeated Timotheus, 2 Machabees x. 24.
“Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.”
Galaad. Most of the towns had been seized by the Ammonites, &c. After the return of the captives, they were probably driven out. They attempted to regain possession, when Epiphanes declared against the Jews. — Datheman; Petra, (Calmet) or perhaps Rathma, Numbers xxxiii. 18. (Drusius)
“And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.”
Timotheus. Another of this name had been slain the preceding year, [the year of the world] 3840, at Gazara, 2 Machabees x. 37.
“Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.”
Tubin, or Tob, to the south of Gad, Judges xi. 3. (Calmet)
“And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.”
Is filled. Greek Alexandrian, “All Galilee of the Gentiles to destroy us.” (Haydock) — This part of Galilee was occupied by pagans, who were excited by Epiphanes to fall upon the Jews, 2 Machabees vi. 8.
“And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.”
Arbatis. Arboth means “deserts” uncultivated, here probably denoting the valley of Jezrahel. Simon wisely concentrated the people, as Judas did in Galaad, ver. 45.
“Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days' journey in the wilderness,”
Desert; probably from Bethsan to Bosor, marching with all secrecy.
“Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:”
Nabutheans; descendants of Ismael’s eldest son, whose capital was Petra. They continued friends to the Jews.
“And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:”
Barasa; probably the Bozra of Moab. Greek, “Bosorra.” (Jos.[Josephus?]) — Bosor means a fortress. It is not wonderful that there should be many places of this name in Arabia, to defend the people from robbers. — Alima; Elim, or Almon, Isaias xv. 8. — Casphor, or rather Casbon, (ver. 36.) the famous Hesebon, Numbers xxi. 26. (Calmet) — Mageth, or Machati; (Grotius) though it seems too far off, Deuteronomy iii. 14. — Carnaim, “horns,” being sacred to the moon, (Calmet) called Astaroth, Genesis xiv. 5. (Haydock) — Strabo styles it Carna.
“From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.”
Fortress of Datheman, ver. 9.
“From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.”
Bosor, or Bosra, ver. 26. Bosor was taken before, ver. 28.
“After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.”
After. Judas had in the mean time defeated Lysias, 2 Machabees xi. 1., &c. (Calmet) — Raphon, or Raphana; (Grotius) or as that was too remote, probably Saphon, Numbers xxxii. 35. (Calmet)
“But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.”
Afraid. He interpreted the delay in this sense, which was very precarious, (Haydock) as nothing could be more superstitious. Jonathan begged for a similar proof of God’s favour. But Timotheus consulted only himself, 1 Kings xiv. 9. (Calmet)
“Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.”
Scribes; tribunes, who kept a register of the soldiers. (Menochius) — They were officers of great power.
“But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.”
Temple of Atergata, or Astarte. Judas slew 55,000. Timotheus was spared, 2 Machabees xii. 20, 26.
“Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.”
Ephron, beyond the Jordan [River]. The situation is unknown. With regard to the right which Judas had to treat it with such severity, see Numbers xx. 18., and Judges viii. 5. (Calmet) — It probably belonged to God’s people, and was unjustly detained. (Haydock)
“After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.”
Plain, extending beyond Jezrahel.
“And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.”
Hindmost: the place of danger. (Calmet) — A good general takes care of the weakest, and exhorts all to behave valiantly. (Worthington)
“So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.”
Not one. The 12,000 who defeated the Madianites, were preserved by God in like manner, Numbers xxxi. 49. (Haydock)
“Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.”
And Azarias. These two are known only for their disobedience and misconduct. In holy wars, God does not favour those who are actuated by base motives, ver. 18, 60. (Calmet) — Men who depend on themselves, and who are not properly authorized, receive not assistance from above; so these failed, as they were not chosen like those who were to save Israel, (Worthington) of the family of the Machabees. (Menochius)
“So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.”
Jamnia, a maritime city of the Philistines near Joppe. Gorgias, an experienced warrior, had retired thither, chap. iv. 5., and 2 Machabees viii. 9. (Calmet)
“Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.”
Israel. The late Rev. Robert Bannister applied this to Protestant writers of sermons, to dissuade young divines from applying to such authors as Tillotson, &c. It may also shew the reason why heretics succeed so ill in their foreign missions. (Haydock) — They know how to pervert Catholics, not how to convert infidels. (Tertullian)
“Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;”
Men. Greek, “man, Judas, and his brethren were,” &c. (Haydock) — See a similar expression [in] Exodus xiv. 3., respecting Moses.
“Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.”
Chebron, or Hebron, which the Idumeans had seized. Judas retook it after he had defeated Gorgias, 2 Machabees xii. 32.
“From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.”
Aliens; Philistines, ver. 68. — Samaria. This seems too remote. Some substitute Saraia; (Jos.[Josue?] xv. 35.) others Maresa, (2 Machabees xii. 35.) Marissa, (Jos.[Josephus?]) the same as Ressa, Numbers xxxiii. 21.
“At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.”
Desiring. They were only too brave. This quality was not incompatible with the priesthood. Greek Alexandrian has, “while he (Judas) was desiring,” &c. Others have, “priests of the cities, while they,” &c. The Roman edition agrees with us, (Calmet) and Grabe prints accordingly. (Haydock)