“About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt:”
Second. After he had sent Apollonius, he proceeded no farther then Joppe and Jerusalem; being perhaps afraid of the Romans, chap. iv. 21. Three years after, as the regents of Egypt demanded Celosyria, he went to meet them in their own country. (The year [of the world] 3834.)
“And then it happened, that through all the city, for the space almost of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the air, in cloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of soldiers,”
Days. These things were not seen only by people inclined to superstition, or for a short time. There must be true prodigies, as so many false ones have been published. Josephus records what happened before the last siege of Jerusalem, in Jewish Wars vii. 12. (Calmet) — Miraculous visions foreshew the wrath of God against sinners, and admonish all to repent, as the emperor Charlemagne interpreted the appearance of a great comet. (Fascic. rerum.) (Worthington) — Yet such things are sometimes only natural effects, which the ignorant misapply. This was not here the case. (Haydock)
“Now when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men, and suddenly made an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the walls being put back, and the city at length taken, Menelaus fled into the castle:”
Dead. This rumour caused much evil to the Jews. Antiochus was informed that they had rejoiced at the news, and therefore fell upon the city.
“But Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, not considering that to get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day for him; but thinking they had been his enemies, and not his countrymen, whom he conquered.”
Evil, as the numbers are thus lessened. Thus Tacitus, speaking of the civil wars between Otho and Vitellius, says, detestanda vota, inter duos quorum bello solum id scires deteriorem fore qui vicisset.
“In the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused before Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and being had in abomination as an open enemy of his country and countrymen, he was cast out into Egypt.”
Shut up in prison, out of which he escaped to Egypt; (Menochius) or he was hard pressed, (Calmet) or accused. (Grotius)
“Thus he that had driven many out of their country perished in a strange land, retiring to the Lacedemonians, and thinking there to find succour by reason of his kindred:”
Lacedemon. Literally, “the Lacedemonians,” (Haydock) who served in the army of Philometor. (Grotius) — It is certain that this nation was then part of the Achean league, in alliance with Egypt. (Polybius) (Calmet) — Kindred. The Spartans sprung from Abraham, 1 Machabees xii. 2, (Worthington) 21. (Calmet)
“And he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him, nor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre with his fathers.”
Burial. Such as was not refused to strangers. The thirty pieces of silver purchased ground for that purpose, Matthew xxvii. 7. (Calmet)
“Now when this that was done came to the king's car, he thought that Judea had revolted: whereupon removing out of Egypt in a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms,”
Alliance with him, or refuse to submit. (Haydock) — The enterprise of Jason, and the account of their rejoicing, made him form this judgment. — Arms. Josephus (B.[Jewish Wars?] i. 1., and vi. p. 929) says the Jews came to meet him, and that he besieged and took the city. But (Antiquities xii. 7.) he asserts that his partisans opened the gates without fighting. How shall we reconcile these things!
“And there were destroyed within the space of three whole days fourscore thousand, whereof forty thousand were slain in the conflict; and no fewer sold than slain.”
Slain, or sold, the latter amounting to one-half of the 80,000.
“Nevertheless God did not choose the people for the place's sake, but the place far the people's sake.”
Place. Temples and victims are for our own advantage, Isaias i. 11., Jeremias vi. 20., and 3 Kings viii. 27. God has often suffered sacred places to be profaned, when piety had been disregarded. (Calmet) — All religious rites are designed for God’s glory and men’s welfare; and hence, when they cease to serve God, the holy things are destroyed or taken away. (Worthington)
“So when Antiochus had carried out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antiochia, weening in his pride to make the land navigable, and the sea passable by foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind.”
Foot. These are hyperbolical expressions, denoting the extravagance of Epiphanes after victory. Thus Xerxes made a bridge to join Asia and Europe together; and Caligula made one on the Lucrine lake, that he might have the pleasure of riding upon it. (Just. 2.; Suetonius) — Epiphanes had met with little resistance, so that he had no reason to boast.
“And at Garizim, Andronicus; and besides, Menelaus, who worse than all the rest bare an heavy hand over the citizens, having a malicious mind against his countrymen the Jews.”
Garizim, or the country of Samaria, over which Andronicus alone was governor. — Who bore. Greek and Syriac read in the singular, as this regards Menelaus.
“He sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius with an army of two and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those that were in their best age, and to sell the women and the younger sort:”
He. Syriac, “Epiphanes.” — Hateful. Greek musarchen, (Haydock) “prince of Mysia,” (Grotius) or of sinners. (Haydock)
“And so he slew all them that were gone to the celebrating of the sabbath, and running through the city with weapons slew great multitudes.”
To see, or celebrate the festival, 1 Machabees i. 30., &c. (Calmet)
“But Judas Maccabeus with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew himself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually, lest they should be partakers of the pollution.”
Was the tenth. That is, he had nine others in his company. (Challoner) — He was the tenth lawful pontiff, under the Greeks. (Worthington) — Judas is specified, because he was the most renowned. His father and five sons, joined by four others retired into desert places, and eat what they could find. (Calmet) — These ten dwelt in the mountains. (Salien) — They were conducted to battle by Judas, (Haydock) the Decurio. (Menochius)