“Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.”
Kings. Greek, “they sent to him ambassadors, with proposals for peace, saying: Behold we, the servants of Nabuchodonosor, the great king, lay before thee; use us as thou thinkest best,” &c. These proposals were made by those on the sea-coast, from Sidon and Tyre to Ascalon, from whom Holofernes took “the choicest men,” being received with honour, ver. 10. (Haydock) — Syria, &c. These are not specified in the Greek. — Sobal, or Soba, (1 Kings xiv. 47.) near Damascus, where Ptolemy (v.) places Samoulis. — Lybia seems too remote, and had not been attacked: some therefore would read Lycia, or Lygia, (Herodotus vii. 72.) or rather Lydia, (Calmet) which Holofernes had “cut in pieces,” according to the Greek, chap. ii. 13. (Haydock)
“Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:”
Great. This was his usual title, Daniel ii. 30., and 4 Kings xviii. 19. (Calmet) — Slavery. Yet they make an unconditional submission. (Haydock) — It is better for us to submit to servitude than to be slaughtered like our brethren. (Menochius)
“For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.”
Sight, at thy disposal, Genesis xiii. 9., and Proverbs xv. 11.
“Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.”
Lights. Torches were used to testify joy, 2 Machabees iv. 22.
“Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,”
Though. Greek, “He demolished all their borders, and cut down their groves.”
“So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.”
Called. Greek, “Worshipped by all nations, and that all their tongues and tribes might call him god.” (Haydock) — Behold to what lengths ambition may be carried. If he had only claimed a place among the other pagan deities, his title was as good as theirs. (Calmet) — He is a figure of Antichrist; for whom all heretics pave the way, 2 Thessalonians ii. (Worthington)
“And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,”
Apamea, on the river Orontes, between which and the river Eleutherus, lay the Mesopotamia here mentioned. — Idumeans, or to “Rama,” near Gabaa, which was on the north of Jerusalem; whereas Idumea lay far to the south. (Calmet) — Yet (Haydock) Gabaa may designate a mountainous country, as 1 Kings vii. 1., (Menochius) and there is no reason why Idumea might not have felt the power of Holofernes, as well as Madian, &c. (Haydock) — The order of conquests is not observed, (Menochius) for while the commander-in-chief was in one place, his generals were dispersed into different parts. He had now advanced as far as Gabaa of Saul, (Haydock) when meditating a serious attack upon Egypt, he thought proper to concentrate his forces; little expecting to meet with such a check at Bethulia. (Calmet) — Greek, “He came to Esdrelon, near Dotaia, (or Dothaim, north of Sichem) which is opposite the great saw of Judea,” or the range of mountains of Ephraim. (Calmet) — Old Vulgate, “of Juda,” dividing it from Idumea. The kings of Israel had fortified the defiles, 3 Kings xv. 17.
“And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel graciously.”
Took. Greek, “encamped between Gaba and Scythopolis, (Bethsan, Josue xvii. 11.) and he was there a month of days, to collect all the burden of his army.”