“This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.”
Evils. Thus traitors generally calumniate good governors. The best remedy on such occasions is to apply to those in higher power, rather than to the people, who are but too often prone to favour the factious. (Worthington)
“Thus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved well of the city, and tendered his own nation, and was so zealous of the laws.”
To the. Greek, “of the affairs, who was the benefactor of the city.” (Haydock)
“But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were committed,”
Friends. He had gone to Apollonius.
“Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, as being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase Simon's malice,”
King. Philopator, (Menochius) who knew the real state of the matter.
“But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,”
Antiochus Epiphanes, who usurped the crown, chap. i. 11.
“Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:”
Sixty. We find 3660 in 4 Machabees, which sum is quite exorbitant.
“Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.”
Youth, under fourteen, to exercise. (Vitruvius v. 11.) — Men did the like naked in the gymnasium, as women did apart at Lacedemon. Jason wished to make his countrymen adopt the pagan customs, which tended to corrupt their morals, ver. 12. (Calmet) — Antiochians, to please the vanity of Antiochus, (Serarius) or that they might enjoy the like privileges. (Salien) (Mennochius)
“Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.”
Rule, as high priest, ver. 21., and 50.
“And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which were according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law:”
Alliance, afterwards under Judas, 1 Machabees viii. 17. (Calmet) — John had procured real advantages for the city. (Menochius)
“For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself, and brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear a hat.”
Houses. Greek, “he led them under the cap;” petasus, sacred to Mercury, or rather to Bacchus, and the emblem of liberty. (Calmet)
“Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest;”
Now. Greek, “Thus it was the height of hellenism, and the increase of foreign customs through,” &c. — No priest. He did not deserve the title, though he was really a descendant of Aaron. Greek, “not high priest.” (Haydock)
“That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth;”
Temple. Where true religion is abolished, most people follow none; but rather apply themselves to vanity and worse sins. (Worthington) — Allowance. They contributed money, (Grotius) or rather strove to obtain the prize. (Calmet) — Discus: “a round stone, with a hole in the middle.” (Protestant marginal note) (Haydock) — People threw it as high or as far as they could, having one foot up and the other upon something resembling a pine-apple. This game was very ancient. (Homer, Odyssey th.; Ovid, Metam. x.) — Greek, “after the invitation of the discus:” the prize was placed in the midst to excite emulation.
“Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.”
Glories; the honour of being gymnasiarch, or agonothete. (Calmet) — They sought after corruptible crowns, while many pay no regard to heaven, 1 Corinthians ix. 25. (Haydock)
“By reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had them to be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they followed so earnestly, and unto whom they desired to be like in all things.”
Dangerous. Greek, “misery, and those whose institutes they zealously adopted, and whom in all they wished to resemble, the same they found their enemies and chastisers.” (Haydock) — God thus punished (Calmet) their perfidy. (Haydock)
“Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at Tyrus, the king being present,”
Fifth; perhaps in imitation of the Olympic games, (Menochius) first instituted at Elea, and afterwards at Alexandria, Athens, &c. (Grotius) (Calmet)
“This ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem, who were Antiochians, to carry three hundred drachms of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought fit not to bestow upon the sacrifice, because it was not convenient, but to be reserved for other charges.”
Sinful. Greek, “spectators, being Antiochians, to carry 300 drachmas. (Haydock) — Didrachmas, or double drachmas of Alexandria, which amount only to one Roman. Hence Greek interpreters generally express thus the half sicle. — Silver, or money; (Calmet) gold. (Menochius) — Thus the value would be fourteen times greater. (Calmet) — In a manuscript of Arundel, 3300 occurs, (Usher) as well as in the Syriac. (Calmet) — Necessary. Literally and Greek, “proper.” Grabe supplies this as far as but, ver. 20. (Haydock)
“This money then, in regard of the sender, was appointed to Hercules' sacrifice; but because of the bearers thereof, it was employed to the making of gallies.”
Galleys, or adorning them for the sports. The deputies were ashamed to comply with Jason’s order; or they judged this use of the money more agreeable to the king. (Calmet) — Go to 1 Machabees i. 17. (Worthington)
“Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the coronation of king Ptolemeus Philometor, Antiochus, understanding him not to be well affected to his affairs, provided for his own safety: whereupon he came to Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem:”
Treat. Greek, “when king Ptolemy Philometor ascended the throne;” protoklisia. (Haydock) — Grotius would substitute protokouria, “the first hair cutting,” which was a great festival, the hair being presented to some deity. Apollonius was sent under the pretence of honouring Philometor, but in reality to sound the dispositions of the nobility respecting the claims of Epiphanes to be the king’s tutor. Cleopatra died this year, the year [of the world] 3831. The regents of Egypt demanded Celosyria, her portion, and war commenced. (Calmet) — Epiphanes pretended to defend Philometor against his younger brother, (Livy xliv.) but he wished to seize the kingdom, 1 Machabees i. 17. (Worthington)
“Where he was honourably received of Jason, and of the city, and was brought in with torch alight, and with great shoutings: and so afterward went with his host unto Phenice.”
Lights, usual in testimony of joy. (Calmet) — The roofs at Athens were all illuminated when Anthony entered; (Plutarch) and Cæsar ascended the capitol, while forty elephants on each side bore torches. (Suetonius xxxvii.)
“Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid Simon's brother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters.”
Brother, and of course a Benjamite, so that the usurpation was doubly criminal. (Tirinus) — But St. Thomas Aquinas, Petau, &c., suppose that he resembled Simon in guilt, or was his brother-in-law. Josephus informs us that Menelaus was brother of Onias and of Jason; though his authority is not great, as he contradicts himself, (Antiquities xii. 6., and xv.; see chap. i. 7.; Calmet) though not in this point. (Haydock) — By the law, those of the tribe of Benjamin could not be priests. Thus the succession was broken and restored in Mathathias, 1 Machabees ii. (Worthington)
“Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.”
Succeeding to the high priesthood, (Greek; Haydock) after the death of Menalaus[Menelaus?]. (Josephus) — Yet some think he was only his “vicar,” diadochon, (Grotius; Usher) and he seems never to have been recognised. (Calmet) — Was. Greek, “left Crates, who was over the Cyprians,” to act for him, while he sent to arraign Menelaus, or to testify that he had demanded the money in vain. (Haydock)
“While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made insurrection, because they were given to the king's concubine, called Antiochus.”
Mallos, in Cilicia. The Greek cities were more delicate in this respect than those of Persia, which were frequently given to the king’s wives or friends.
“Now Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a convenient time, stole certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave some of them to Andronicus, and some he sold into Tyrus and the cities round about.”
Temple. He was no longer there, but Lysimachus complied with his orders, (Calmet) ver. 39., or Menelaus had taken the vessels with him. (Haydock)
“Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.”
Daphne. This was a famous asylum, to which Onias retreated without worshipping Apollo. He had gone to Antioch to answer the calumnies of Simon; and though Jason got his place, (Calmet) the king could not help respecting him, (Haydock) and wept at his death. This it the highest praise of Onias, as even such a monster acknowledged his merit. (Calmet) — Cæsar wept when the head of Pompey was shewn to him. (V. Max. i. 5.)
“For the which cause not only the Jews, but many also of other nations, took great indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of the man.”
Man. The people, (Worthington) and even the king, admired his solid piety. Thus (Haydock) the Tyrians buried the innocent, ver. 49. (Worthington)
“Whereupon the common people rising, and being filled with rage, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began first to offer violence; one Auranus being the leader, a man far gone in years, and no less in folly.”
Tyrannus. One of this name occurs [in] Acts xix. 9. Greek, “Auranus,” (Haydock) or one from Auran, near Damascus.
“They then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus, some of them caught stones, some clubs, others taking handfuls of dust, that was next at hand, cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and those that set upon them.”
Ashes. Greek adds, “lying there,” (Haydock) in the temple, near the altar, or in the place assigned for them, Leviticus i. 16. (Calmet)
“But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.”
Ptolemee, the son of Dorymenus, a favourite of the king, (Challoner) whose perfidy had procured him the government of Celosyria, chap. x. 3., and 1 Machabees iii. 38.
“Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery, as it were to take the air, brought him to be of another mind:”
Court. Greek, “peristyle,” or gallery supported by pillars. (Calmet)