“Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:”
City. He had done both before the death of Epiphanes, (Calmet) after the fourth battle against Lysias, 1 Machabees iv. (Worthington) — The author has given the journey and death of Antiochus together, and now returns to his subject.
“But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down.”
Altars. Such were erected before the houses, 1 Machabees i. 50., and Jeremias xi. 13.
“And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and shewbread.”
Stones; “heated,” (Greek; Syriac; Serarius) or by miracle, (Arabic; Gorionides; Tirinus) or striking fire with a flint upon tinder. In this manner the Church still renews fire on Holy Saturday. The Jews could not use profane fire in the temple, Leviticus x. 1. God restored the sacred fire by miracle, chap. i. 18., &c. Pagans have had many superstitious customs with regard to fire. (Calmet)
“And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.”
Manner, with the like ceremonies and solemnity. (Calmet) — Green branches might be procured in November and December, as those months in Palestine are as fine as our spring. (Roger.)
“Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.”
Green. Greek, “beautiful;” probably the orange tree, Leviticus xxiii. 40. See diss.[dissertation?] on mandrakes. (Calmet) (Haydock)
“They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.”
Days. Beza allows that Christ complied, John x. It is wonderful then that Protestants should reject this book.
“And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.”
Illustrious. Go to 1 Machabees v. 1. (Worthington)
“So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria and Phenice.”
Appointed. So Lysias gave out, chap. ix. 29. He had been governor before the journey of Epiphanes, 1 Machabees iii. 32.
“For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do justice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them, endeavoured to continue peace with them.”
Macer, “lean.” Greek makros, “tall.” See chap. iv. 45., and viii. 8. Polybius styles him “a prudent and active man.” (Calmet)
“Whereupon being accused of the king's friends before Eupator, and called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus, that Philometor had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself and died.”
Revolted. So they interpreted (Haydock) his disapprobation of the cruelties exercised upon the Jews. (Calmet) — Greek, “had not yet any honourable place o[][of?] power entrusted to him, being dispirited, he,” &c. (Haydock) — It is never a proof of fortitude, but of pusillanimity, to kill oneself to get rid of temporal misery. But it is very heroical to die willingly for God’s glory.
“But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:”
Gorgias, who had been defeated, 1 Machabees iv. (Worthington) — He was an experienced captain in Idumea, and the country south of Carmel. (Calmet) — Fought. Greek, “prolonged the war.” (Grotius)
“And therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.”
The Jews, &c. He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed their countrymen. (Challoner) — Greek and Syriac, “Idumeans,” who appear in the sequel.
“And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege,”
Some; probably the sons of Bean, 1 Machabees v. 4.
“And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty thousand.”
Holds; strong places, defended with towers. Some Judas burnt. (Calmet)
“Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of arms.”
Timotheus, who had been defeated (1 Machabees viii. 30.; Worthington) soon after Nicanor.
“And fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.”
Altar, between it and the porch, Joel ii. 17. — Law. Exodus xxiii. 22., Leviticus xxvi. 7., and Deuteronomy vii. 15. (Calmet)
“As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.”
Gazara, different from Gaza, which is so called elsewhere. (Menochius) — This Gazara was a fortress against the inroads of the Idumeans. — Chereas, brother of Timotheus. (Calmet)
“Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabeus' company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage killed all that they met withal.”
Men. Gorionides (iii. 13.) says they were Assideans, mentioned before [in] 1 Machabees ii. 42., and vii. 13. (Worthington) — Got. Greek, “slew every one they met.” (Haydock)
“Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them that were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates, and, having received in the rest of the army, took the city,”
After. Greek, “by a back way (Haydock; undefended, perispasmo. Grotius) to those within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive. But these cut down the gates; and giving entrance to the rest of the army, took the city and killed Timotheus, who had hidden in a hole,” (Haydock) or cistern; lakko. (Calmet) — Vulgate had perhaps lacu. (Sa) (Menochius)