“It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.”
Scourges, made of leather thongs; taureis. (Haydock) — These brethren are styled Machabees; as Judas rendered this name so famous, that all who suffered or fought valiantly for religion in those times, went by this appellation. Josephus has much embellished this history, and Erasmus still more. The tombs of these martyrs were shewn at Antioch. (Calmet) — Their names are not known. (Haydock) — Those who wish to see more, may consult the large discourse of Josephus on the Machabees, (Worthington) though this work be contested, and St. Cyprian iv. ep. 6; St. Ambrose i. of. 40.; St. Chrysostom; St. Augustine; St. Leo, &c. (Worthington)
“The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants.”
Pleasure. Literally, “be comforted,” as the Septuagint translate, (Haydock) Deuteronomy xxxii. 36. It may imply that God will avenge or chastise his servants, and then restore them to favour. This latter sense is here adopted, ver. 35.
“But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.”
Language. The Jews have always been very attentive to their own language, though they be forced to learn others for the sake of commerce, and to hold conversation with those among whom they live. This young man, no doubt, understood Greek, in which language his brother had probably spoken. The mother addressed her children in the Hebrew or Syriac tongue, ver. 21, 27. (Calmet)
“And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.”
Most wicked. The martyrs have sometimes been inspired by God to speak in harsh language to magistrates; though their office generally commands respect. (Haydock) — Life. The resurrection is clearly specified in all these answers. The Redeemer was near at hand. (Calmet) — Christiani fuerunt….factis. (St. Augustine, ser. i. 2.)
“Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God;”
Power. Nothing could be more free than this answer, which greatly resembles that of Christ, John xix. 11. (Calmet)
“But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.”
Seven. The last was not yet dead: but he was before this was written, so that the mother’s praise was perfect. (Haydock)
“I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;”
Womb. This has always astonished the learned, the infant being formed often against the woman’s desire, Job x. 10., and Wisdom vii. 2. (St. Augustine, anima i. 15.) (Calmet)
“Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.”
Despising. Literally, “despising the voice of the insulter.” Greek, “fearing or perceiving that the speech was reproachful.” (Haydock) — Syriac, “turned aside not to hear the reproaches,” &c. He did not understand Hebrew; but perceiving the constancy of the young men, he thought that their mother exhorted them to refuse compliance. (Calmet) — Happy. This is beyond the power of riches or of any king. (Haydock)
“And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.”
Promised. A promise regards something good; so that if a person should even bind himself by an oath to do evil, he must refrain, as to comply would he another sin. (Worthington) — This woman promised to counsel, but not as the king wished, (Haydock) to gain a prolongation of life and worldly honours for her son. (Menochius) — Such an equivocation was lawful. (Worthington) — The king might blame himself if he was deceived. (Haydock)
“But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.”
Three years. So long physicians judged it best for children to suck, till they could take solid meat. (Vales. lxxxiii.) (Genesis xxi. 8.) (Calmet) — “Chrysippus assigns three years for the nurse.” (Quint. i. 1.)
“I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.”
Nothing, not out of pre-existent and eternal matter. (St. Augustine, Nat. boni xxvi.) (Romans iv. 17.) — So God can reduce all to nothing, chap. viii. 18.
“Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.”
Mercy, in eternity of bliss, ver. 23. (Syriac) (Calmet)
“For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.”
Life. Greek, “short labour of eternal life, are fallen under the covenant of God.” (Haydock) — They enjoy that life which God promised.
“But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he alone is God;”
God. This was accomplished, ver. 17., and chap. ix. 15.
“And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.”
Cease. The persecution was severe, but short. Judas the next year (the year [of the world] 3838.; Calmet) began to liberate the nation, (Haydock) by God’s mercy, chap. viii. 5, 27.
“So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.”
Undefiled, by idolatry. We read [in] 4 Machabees that he threw himself into a boiling cauldron; (Calmet) and Josephus says his mother “jumped into the fire that she might not be touched by any.” But this is uncertain. The Church honours St. Apollonia, who acted thus; (Feb.[February?] ix.) it is supposed by divine inspiration. (Haydock)
“Last of all after the sons the mother died.”
Consumed. Greek, “died” (Haydock) of joy: (Sixth. Bib. v. Victoria) she placed herself amid the dead bodies, and begged of God to release her soul; which was granted. (Arabic) (Grotius) — But most believe that she suffered martyrdom immediately after her children. (Josephus, &c.) — The Church honoured these martyrs from the earliest ages, and before any other of the Old Testament. We may justly style them the martyrs of the resurrection, as none at that time had spoken of it so distinctly. Sts. Naz.[Gregory of Nazianzus?], Max. of Turin, Gaudentius, &c., have pronounced panegyrics upon them.
“Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures.”
Sacrifices. Greek splagchnismous, chap. vi. 21. (Haydock) — Read 1 Machabees ii. 1., where the wars begun by Mathathias, and persecuted by Judas, are recorded. (Worthington)