“Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:”
Time. About a year after Nicanor’s death, (chap. vii. 50., and 2 Machabees xv. 38.; Worthington) or in the same year, the year [of the world] 3843; (Calmet) so that the Romans had not time to send Judas assistance. (Haydock) — Josephus ([Antiquities?] xii. 17.) erroneously supposes that Alcimus was dead, and Judas his successor, while Simon was the civil ruler and general. He afterwards (B.[Antiquities?] xx. 8.) asserts that Jonathas was next high priest to Alcimus, who certainly officiated after the death of Judas, ver. 54. — Bacchides had been already in Judea, chap. vii. 8. Now the right wing, composed of the best troops, and usually commanded by the prince when he was present, is entrusted to him.
“Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.”
Galgal….in Arbella, or the Galilee, in the flat country, Araboth, chap. v. 23. — Masaloth, or Masal, was in the tribe of Asher, Josue xvi.[xxi.?] 30. — St. Jerome speaks of Arbela, nine miles from Legion. See Osee x. 14.
“From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.”
Berea, or Beroth, in Benjamin, not far from Laisa, or Lesen, (Josue xviii. 25.) where Judas was encamped, (Calmet) with 3000 (Gorion) ; Josephus says 1000; Rufin translates 2000.
“When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.”
Down. The strongest are not free from the first emotions of trouble; but trusting in God, they are assured either of a temporal or eternal victory. (Worthington)
“Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.”
Stain. Literally, “bring a crime.” (Haydock) — He seems to have thought God required him now to fight, and he was convinced that he could save by means of a few, which excuses him from rashness. The Church adopts his words, (Dom. iii. Oct. Mat.) and St. Ambrose (Of. i. 41.) highly extols his bravery, in “preferring death before slavery and shame.”
“As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.”
Legion. So the Vulgate commonly renders Greek “phalanx,” (Calmet) a compact body of 8000 men, used by the Macedonians. The Roman legion consisted of 6726, (Veget.) or 6666. The two phalanxes were in each wing supported by cavalry, which endeavoured to surround Judas.
“Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.”
Azotus. Not belonging to the Philistines, but some place unknown, which Josephus styles Asa.
“Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.”
Slain. Gorionides relates that the sight of Judas made Bacchides flee towards Azotus. He lost 15,000, when the rest of the army came upon Judas now fatigued; and as Bacchides returned to the charge, the hero fell upon heaps of the slain. Thus died this great man who saved Israel, ver. 21. (Calmet) — Gloriosiorem triumphis mortem invenit. The most mighty in the sight of men may fall; but the fortitude of Judas, proved by former heroic actions and by success, was now rendered perfect by this most glorious death. (St. Ambrose, Of. i. 41.) (Worthington) — Never was there a more accomplished and virtuous champion. He had all the qualities of a holy priest and a valiant soldier, as well as of a religious prince, always bent on promoting the glory of his people, chap. iii. 3. He was an admirable copy of Jesus Christ, the great original of all the saints. In the most dismal times he was chosen to save religion and the people. Almost alone, and wandering from place to place, he gains the most signal victories, forms a league with Gentiles, purifies the temple, acts both as high priest and as prince of the nation, and at last gives his life for his brethren. Thus Christ by his life and death unites all in one Church, and procures the remission of sin. (Calmet)
“Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.”
Modin. Their remains were seen there long after. (Eusebius) — It is wonderful that they should be shewn at Antioch. (St. Jerome, loc.) — But these were the relics of the seven brothers, 2 Machabees vii. 1. (Calmet)
“As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.”
Many. Thus only some of our Saviour’s actions are recorded, for the same reason, John xxi. 25.
“In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.”
All. Josephus says, “Many.” We find some (Calmet) joining Jonathan, ver. 28. (Haydock) — When the people are without a ruler, they fall, Proverbs xi. 14. (Worthington)
“And they made enquiry and search for Judas' friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.”
Abused them, and “afterwards slew them all.” (Josephus, Antiquities xiii. 1.)
“So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.”
No prophet since the days of Malachi, (Calmet) or the return from captivity. (Josephus)
“For this cause all Judas' friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,”
Jonathan, or (Haydock) Jonathas, was the third general captain of this family, and succeeded Judas in the pontificate, though Alcimus still usurped the dignity (chap. ix. 9.) as in the lifetime of Judas. (Worthington)
“Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.”
Thecua, seven miles south of Bethlehem. (St. Jerome, pref. in Amos.) — Asphar, or “asphaltite lake” (Gorion) of Sodom; so called on account of the bitumen, or asphalte. (Calmet)
“Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.”
Sabbath, out of contempt, like Nicanor; (2 Machabees xv.) or thinking that the Jews would not then fight. (Menochius)
“Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much.”
Lend. Some copies read, “to entrust unto them.” They wished not to be embarrasses with useless baggage. It all fell into the hands of Jambri, (Calmet) who slew John. (Worthington)
“After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.”
Madaba. Greek, “Nadabath.” Josephus, “Gabatha.” It seems, as the sons of Jamri lived at Madaba, the spouse would not be conducted out of that place, (Calmet) unless they might reside sometimes in the country. (Haydock) — Chanaan, or “Arabia.” (Josephus) — Chanaan denotes any infidel. (Calmet)
“So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.”
Revenge. To punish faults with moderation and justice, is a virtue. Children and subjects are sometimes exposed to temporal chastisements, for the faults of their parents or leaders; yet this is for their own advancement in piety, or in punishment for the share they have had in the crime, or to prevent them from imitating it. (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] ii. 2. q. 108.) (Worthington)
“Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us to day, as in time past:”
Before, when we were in the desert of Thecua, and could decline fighting; (Menochius) or, notwithstanding the sabbath, we must engage, chap. ii. 41.
“Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan unto them.”
To them. Jonathas swam to another place on the same side, otherwise there would have been no battle. (Worthington) — But this had taken place, when a thousand were slain; though Bacchides fled from Jonathan, ver. 47, 49. (Haydock) — The Greek and Josephus seem more full: (Calmet) “Swam over, and they (the enemies) did not cross the Jordan after them.” (Haydock) — Bacchides did not pursue the Jews. (Menochius) — Protestant marginal note quotes Josephus, ([Antiquities?] xiii. 1.) who says two thousand were slain. (Haydock)
“Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.”
Thopo, or Taphua. The two last were in Ephraim.
“Besides, he took the chief men's sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.”
Castle, on the highest part of Sion, ver. 52., and chap. i. 35. — Custody, without doing them any farther injury. (Calmet)
“Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets”
Alcimus. Josephus ([Antiquities?] xii. 17.) confesses that Judas was high priest. But he mistakes when he says he succeeded Alcimus, who it hence appears survived him a year, (ver. 3, 18.) and was only an usurper. He should therefore be corrected by this book, rather than it should be rejected because it differs from him, or any such authors, (Worthington) ver. 1, 28. (Haydock) — Walls, before the most holy place, (Josephus; Lyranus) or between the priests and people, (Salien; Menochius) or which separated the Jews from the Gentiles, as if to remove all distinction. (Grotius) — It is probable that he removed the wall which went round the inner temple and the altar of holocausts, (Calmet) which Alexander restored. (Josephus, Antiquities xiii. 21.) — Prophets. Aggeus and Zacharias had been as it were the architects and directors of the temple. (Calmet)
“And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprizes hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing, nor give order concerning his house.”
House. He could not make his will.
“Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.”
He. Jonathas slew those who had given information.
“Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.”
Bethbessen, in the desert of Jericho, (Menochius) the same with Bethagla. Josephus, “Bethalaga.”
“And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.”
Odares, people of the country who adhered to Bacchides. — Increase, or shew himself in the field with a large army, (Calmet) or to penetrate the army of the enemy. (Syriac; Josephus; Grotius)
“Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, inasmuch as he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.”
Slew. Evil counsel is prejudicial to the giver. (Worthington)
“Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.”
Machmas. The capital of Sion was still in the hands of the enemy. Jonathas made good use of the alliance with the Romans, and began to lay the foundations of the national independence, and to act like the ancient judges. (Calmet)