“But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.”
But. Read here 1 Machabees vii. 39. (Worthington) — Samaria. Arabic, “Sebaste,” which is the same. Yet Judas was at Adarsa, in the tribe of Ephraim. (Calmet) — Sabbath. The profane take advantage of people’s tender consciences. But Judas being well-informed, fought on the sabbath, 1 Machabees iii. 40.
“Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.”
Earth. O Luciferian blasphemy! (Worthington) — He seems to place himself above the Lord of heaven. (Calmet)
“So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.”
Public. Greek, “common trophy over all the men of Judas.” (Haydock) — Syriac, “he fortified himself exceedingly.” A trophy consisted of the trunk of a tree hung round with arms.
“And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.”
Oaths, of which Eupator had lately given an instance. Apollonius and the people of Joppe had acted perfidiously. (Calmet)
“Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.”
Not with, not only, or so much with, &c. (Haydock) — Dream. He knew it was supernatural (Calmet) by God’s light, as St. Joseph did, Matthew i. 20. (Worthington)
“And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.”
Onias III, who had been slain (Calmet) at Daphne, chap. iv. 34. (Haydock) — The Jewish and Christian Churches never doubted that the saints interceded in the other world for the living, in whose concerns they take part. (Calmet) — Protestants evade this text by denying the canonicity of the book. Yet the same is proved [in] Genesis xlviii., Exodus xxxii., Jeremias xv., Luke xvi., Apocalypse v. 6, 8., and 2 Peter i., and we have a right to produce the authority of this book, as Origen, (18 in Jo.) St. Bernard, (76 in Cant. & ser. 3. Nat., &c.) have done. Onias and Jeremias, in limbo, interested themselves for the faithful on earth, and no doubt the saints in glory will do as much. (Worthington)
“Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,”
Gold, such as kings and chief officers of Persia used. (Calmet) — Jeremias (xxxviii. 17.) had formerly dissuaded war: now he encourages it; as it also has a time, Ecclesiastes iii. 8. (Worthington)
“Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.”
Fight. Greek, “not to fortify the camp,” (Calmet) or “remain there:” (Haydock) me stratopedeuesthai. (Calmet) — Grabe reads strateuesthai, “to act as soldiers.” (Haydock) — Syriac, “not to trust in troops set in array, but to take courage, and to expose their lives, in this extremity, for their country and for the temple.”
“Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.”
Songs. Greek, “pean,” sung in honour of Apollo. (Calmet) — Before battle his aid was thus invoked, and he was thanked with songs after a victory. (Grotius)
“So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.”
Five. Josephus has only 30,000. (Antiquities xii. 17.) (Calmet) — Presence. He had granted them victory. (Menochius)
“Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.”
Armour, at the beginning of the battle, 1 Machabees vii. 44.
“Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.”
Language, composing a canticle in Hebrew or using such as had been written (Calmet) by David, &c. (Haydock)
“And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.”
Shoulder. Thus his bust was set up. But the right arm was hung over-against the temple, ver. 33., and 1 Machabees vii. 47. (Calmet)
“So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.”
Blessed. Greek, “raising their voices, (Menochius) or looking towards heaven, praised the Lord, who had made himself manifest:” epiphane kurion. (Haydock)
“Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.”
Adar; our February and March. The 13th was the feast, “of lots,” Esther ix. 23. (Calmet)
“And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.”
So. Read 1 Machabees viii. 1., where more on this subject is written. After other persecutors were overcome, the land was at rest, and the author adds this general conclusion. (Worthington)
“For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.”
So. Greek, “If in a frugal and middling style, this is as well as I was able.” (Haydock) — Perfectly. This is not said with regard to the truth of the narration, but with regard to the style and manner of writing, which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. Paul, 2 Corinthians xi. 6. (Challoner) — The style was frequently left to their choice. (Haydock) — Inspiration did not exclude natural acquirements. (Calmet) — The author is not afraid of having said any thing erroneous, though he might be less polished, like St. Paul: imperitus sermone sed non scientia. But we, having now come to the end of the Old Testament, must crave pardon for any mistakes into which we may have fallen, in the execution of this work, which is dedicated to the English (Worthington) and to all his majesty’s Catholic subjects, for whose benefit chiefly and for the sake of religion it has been undertaken. The many things hard to be understood, [2 Peter iii. 16.] which we did not wish to pass over, have swelled this work to a larger volume than was at first intended; larger, perhaps, than the purses of the poor and middle ranks, in the late hard times, could bear. But now the prospect is more cheering; and it is hoped that this profusion on a subject of such vast importance will be pardoned, particularly as we had also to comply with the desires of the more affluent, who repeatedly requested that the notes might be rather “more ample.” As they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of others, so we, for the sake of many, willingly undergo the labour, chap. ii. 28. The variety of matter and of style may well be compared to a mixture of wine and water, ver. 40. Yet our aim has not been merely to please, but rather to counteract the baneful influences of heresy and infidelity. Thomas Paine (Age of Reason, part 2nd) having touched upon a few difficulties in some of the books of Scripture, says exultingly: “I have gone through the Bible as a man would go through a wood, with an axe on his shoulders, and fell trees; here they lie, and the priests, if they can, may replant them. They may perhaps stick them in the ground, but they will never grow.” Yes, they will grow, and brave the fury of tempests, because they have been planted not by priest, but by the hand of God. The Scriptures and the Church will stand and support each other till time shall be no more. The true faith has been preserved from Adam through all succeeding generations, and antichrist himself will not be able to destroy it. My WORD shall not pass away, [Mark xiii. 31.] says our divine Master. As we have repeatedly proved this assertion in the foregoing notes, which are already perhaps too copious, we shall refer the more inquisitive reader to the remarks of Dr. Worthington on the six ages, in the Douay Bible.
Always. Greek, “only.” (Haydock) — Readers delight in variety. A middle style is adopted. (Calmet) — But. Greek, “But as wine mixed with water is pleasant, and affords delight, so the preparation (or style) of a discourse pleases the ears of those who read what is collected. But here shall be an end.” (Haydock)