“In the hundred and one and fiftieth year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from Rome, and came up with a few men unto a city of the sea coast, and reigned there.”
Rome. He had been a hostage instead of Epiphanes, who usurped his throne, chap. i. 11. After the death of the latter, the senate sent three legates to administer the kingdom, during the minority of Eupator. One of them was slain. The king and Lysias sent to exculpate themselves, but received no satisfactory answer. Demetrius thought this a proper opportunity for regaining the throne. He consulted the historian, Polybius, who advised him to depart privately. He, however, addressed the senate for leave, and being refused, fled with eight attendants to Tripoli, and thence to Apamea. His rivals durst not attack him, as he pretended to be sent by the Romans. The army of Eupator seized their king and Lysias, and put them to death. (Polybius cxiv., and cxxii.; Josephus; Calmet) — Seleucus and Epiphanes were brothers; and of course Demetrius was cousin to Eupator, (Worthington) and the lawful heir of Seleucus. (Haydock)
“There came unto him all the wicked and ungodly men of Israel, having Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest, for their captain:”
Alcimus. He occupied the place of Menalaus, and would be high priest, but that office was held by the Machabees. (Worthington) — Eupator had slain Menalaus, as being too turbulent. Onias IV ought to have been recognized; (Calmet) but he fled into Egypt, and there built a temple. Lysias advised the king to select one from a family of less power. Alcimus was such, though of the posterity of Aaron, ver. 14. (Josephus, Antiquities xii. 5., and xiii. 6., and xx. 8.) — He had fallen under Epiphanes, and the Jews would not receive him.
“And they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his brethren have slain all thy friends, and driven us out of our own land.”
Thy friends, and the apostates, who obeyed the decree of the king’s uncle. This was true, and the glory of Judas. See 2 Machabees xiv. 3. (Calmet) — They gained the king’s favour by presents, and falsely accused Judas and the people. (Worthington)
“Then the king chose Bacchides, a friend of the king, who ruled beyond the flood, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king,”
River, as governor of Mesopotamia, (Josephus; Usher; Calmet) instead of Heraclides and Timarchus, who had abused their power. Hence Demetrius obtained the title of Soter, or “saviour.” (Appian.) — Faithful. The chief man under the king. (Haydock)
“Then did there assemble unto Alcimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, to require justice.”
Scribes. They were both civil and military officers. (Calmet)
“Now the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that sought peace of them:”
Assideans. These were first consulted, as being most learned and pious, chap. ii. 42. (Worthington) — They held no office. (Calmet) — Alcimus deceived them, and cruelly murdered 60, (Worthington) some scribes.
“The flesh of thy saints have they cast out, and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.”
Them. The Psalm lxxviii. alludes to the Assideans, (ver. 2.) and is explained by many, as relating to this massacre.
“After this, removed Bacchides from Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bezeth, where he sent and took many of the men that had forsaken him, and certain of the people also, and when he had slain them, he cast them into the great pit.”
Bethzecha. Greek, “Beseth,” or Bethsetta, near the great plain. Hence Bacchides intended to return.
“On the other side, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had gotten the upper hand, and knew that he was not able to abide their force, he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could.”
Crimes. He made the king some presents, of what he had probably stolen from the temple, and after waiting for some time in silence, began to accuse the people, 2 Machabees xiv. (Calmet) — See what is there related to ver. 12.
“Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the people.”
Enemy. He was one of the most terrible: yet Judas at last slew him, ver. 43., and 2 Machabees xv. 28. (Worthington) — Nicanor was high in the king’s favour, and had fled with him from Rome. (Josephus, Antiquities xii. 17.) — He first sent three ambassadors to Judas, in answer to what Simon had proposed; and peace was concluded. Alcimus hereupon accused Nicanor, and the king sent him an order to seize Judas. While he was endeavouring to comply, Judas escaped. He was again much exposed; (ver. 29.) and therefore collected his army, and fought near Jerusalem, 2 Machabees xiv. 15. (Usher, year of the world 3842.) (Calmet)
“Nicanor also, when he saw that his counsel was discovered, went out to fight against Judas beside Capharsalama:”
Capharsalama, “the field of peace,” concluded perhaps with Eupator, (chap. vi. 62.; Haydock) near Jerusalem.
“Where there were slain of Nicanor's side about five thousand men, and the rest fled into the city of David.”
Thousand. Some Greek copies have “hundred.” Others think that these were Jews: but the contrary seems to be the case, though Judas was again (chap. vi. 47.) forced to retreat to the temple, which he left shortly after, 2 Machabees xiv. 31.
“After this went Nicanor up to mount Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.”
King. The Jews observed the laudable custom of praying for their rulers, as Christians do, chap. xii. 11., and Baruch i. 10., and 1 Timothy ii. 1. (Calmet) — Sacrificamus pro salute Imperatoris sed Deo nostro et ipsius. (Tertullian, ad Scap. ii.)
“But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them shamefully, and spake proudly,”
Abused. Literally, “polluted them,” or grated their ears (Haydock) with his “blasphemies.” (Josephus) — On such occasions, the Jews stopped their ears, Acts vii. 56. (Calmet)
“Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.”
Longer. Read 2 Machabees xiv. 11. The last battle with Nicanor is described, chap. xv., and here, ver. 39. (Worthington)
“But Judas pitched in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,”
Adarsa, in Ephraim, four miles from the lower Bethoron.
“O Lord, when they that were sent from the king of the Assyrians blasphemed, thine angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.”
Sennacherib. Some copies omit this name.
“Then they pursued after them a day's journey, from Adasa unto Gazera, sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets.”
Gazara, distant a day’s journey from Adarsa, ver. 40., and chap. v. 8. — Signals, to admonish all. Greek, “with the trumpets for signals,” used for that purpose by the priests.
“Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and closed them in; so that they, turning back upon them that pursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not one of them was left.”
Horns, like bulls, (Calmet) or they surrounded them with the wings of the army. (Grotius) (Judith xv. 6.)
“Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off Nicanors head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly, and brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.”
Jerusalem, and the temple, without the walls. His tongue was given to the birds, 2 Machabees xv. 33. (Calmet)
“Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day, being the thirteenth of Adar.”
Thirteenth. The day before the feast of Purim, (Haydock) or “lots.” It was observed in the time of Josephus. (Calmet)
“Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while.”
Time. While Judas settles religious matters, Demetrius prepares for war. Read 2 Machabees xv. 1. (Worthington)