Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all the nation.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Demetrius. Soter, and brother of Nicator, ( Calmet.) now a captive. Worthington.—When the latter went beyond the Euphrates, he wandered for fear of Tryphon, till he found rest at Rhodes, where he heard of his brother’s misfortune, and was invited by his wife to marry her. He therefore took the title of king, when he wrote to Simon from the isle of Rhodes. Soon after he landed ( Calmet.) at Seleucia, and married Cleopatra, who was indignant that her husband had taken to wife the daughter of Mithridates. Just. xxxvi.—Tryphon’s adherents flocked to him: exolescente favore recentis imperii. Trog. xxxix. Eusebius—Demetrius was styled Sidetes, either because he came from Side, in Pamphylia, or because he was fond of “hunting.” Yet his medals have, “Euergetes.” Vaillant, Usher, A. 3864. Calmet.—Prince. Greek “Ethnarch.” Bible.—Josephus often uses this title for an independent prince, beneath the dignity of a king. Calmet.
Greek ethnarch.