“And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.”
Thirteenth. Greek, 18th. — Month. Nisan, in spring.
“So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.”
Secret. Literally, “mystery,” Tobias xii. 7. (Calmet) — Abditos principis sensus exquirere illicitum. (Tacitus, An. vi.)
“Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the commandment of his mouth.”
Empire. “The thirst of empire and riches is an old and deep-rooted cause of making war.” (Sallust. Frag.) — Greek adds, “and they (counsellors) judged that all flesh must be destroyed of those who had not complied with his order.” (Haydock) — God laughs at the vain designs of men. (Calmet)
“And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him.”
Armies. Greek adds, “and the second after himself,” in the kingdom. (Menochius) — Casaubon suspects that this drunkard was the king mentioned in history, as having lost the kingdom of Cappadocia, by attempting to introduce the dissolute feasts of Bacchus. (Polyb. xxxii. ap. Athen. x. 11.) — He made his attack first upon this country, ver. 13.
“Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth, Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.”
Commandment. Greek adds, he must demand “earth and water,” as an acknowledgment of his dominion, and that all necessaries of life belonged to him. This custom prevailed in Persia. (Herodotus iv. 123.) (Polyb. xix.) (Brisson iii.)
“And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.”
Syria: part of which, it seems, had submitted. (Calmet) — Greek, “and corn for every man, in abundance,” (Haydock) for fear it should be carried off in the countries which he invaded. (Menochius)
“But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.”
Archers. Greek adds, “a mixed multitude,” not bearing arms, Exodus xii. 38.
“For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.”
When. Greek, “and they proceeded from Ninive, three days’ journey, to the plain of Bektileth,” or Bagdania, in Cappadocia, between Mount Argee and Taurus. Strabo (xii.) assures us that Argee is the highest mountain in the country, from which the two seas of Cilicia and the Euxine may be seen. (Calmet)
“And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and defer not to do them.”
Melothus, or Melita, built by Semiramis, (Pliny, [Natural History?] vi. 3.) in the same country. — Tharsis, or Cilicia, peopled by the son of Javan. — Ishmahel, on the Euphrates, east of the Desert Arabia.
“Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of Assur;”
Mambre. Greek, “Abrona, (Calmet) or Arbonai;” (Haydock) that is, from the river Chaboras to the Persian Gulf, or sea. (Calmet)
“And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;”
Japheth, or Joppe, now Jaffa. (Serarius) — Greek, “he cut in pieces all who opposed him; and he came to the borders of Japheth, which are on the south, over-against Arabia.”
“And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.”
Carried. Greek, “surrounded….and burnt their tents, and plundered their folds for cattle:” mandras. (Haydock) — Madian lay to the east of the Dead Sea. (Calmet)
“And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision:”
Harvest. The rapidity of his conquests was astonishing, as all this had been done in six or seven weeks, ver. 1. But Holofernes probably sent his lieutenants into different parts at the same time. (Calmet) — Caused. Greek, “he burnt all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and herds, and plundered their cities, and put to the sword all their young men.”
“And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver out of the king's house.”
Land. Greek adds, “on the sea-shore, in Sidon,…Ascalon,” &c. (Haydock)