behold, they are written in the chronicles of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 24. Father. Such annals were kept; and from these Josephus has collected his account of the latter times. Calmet.—Some think that the Fourth B. of Mac. contains an extract of the work here mentioned. Six. Bib. i. Read 2 B. 1:1. Worthington.—What is preserved in the seven middle chapters in the Arabic version is given by Calmet who omits the 19 first and 32 last chapters. The whole has been published by Desprez. It differs in many points from Josephus, in the history of Hircan. A. 3869, Sidetes besieged the new governor in Jerusalem, and after granting him a truce, during the octave of tabernacles, makes peace on very hard terms. Hircan takes money from the tomb of David, or rather from the secret treasures of the kings of Juda, and attends the king in his expedition into Persia, where Sidetes is slain, and the Macedonian yoke is entirely thrown off. A. 3874. The pontiff obliges the Idumeans to receive circumcision the following year. In 3877, he renews the alliance with the Romans. 4 B. 3. Soon after, the Jews write to their brethren in Alexandria. 2 B. 1:10. In 3894, Hircan undertakes the siege of Samaria, which his two sons continue. They defeat Antiochus of Cizicum, while Hircan puts Lathyrus to flight, and Samaria is razed to the ground. After a reign of twenty-nine years, Hircan dies. A. 3898. Eus. Dem. viii. 2. Calmet.—Aristobulus, Alex. and Hircan, his children, succeed in order. Alexander Janneus, the son of the last, reigns prosperously, and his widow is afterwards regent for nine years. Her eldest son, Hircan, being opposed by Aristobulus, the interference of Pompey is desired. He takes the latter prisoner to Rome, A. 3955, when Augustus came into the world.—Cæsar being made dictator, liberated Aristobulus, who was now pontiff; but Pompey caused him, and Alex. his son, to be slain. Antipater, who had adhered to Hircan, procures Phasael and Herod, his sons, to be made governors of Judea and Galilee. The latter married Mariamne, daughter of Hircan, and the last of the Asmonean family, whom he afterwards put to death. He wrests the kingdom from Aristobolus; and having offended the people by some heathenish structures in compliment to Augustus, endeavours to please them by rebuilding the temple, A. 3982. Not long after, Christ appeared; and thus we are brought to the more happy days of the gospel. Bible.
2 MACHABEES
THE SECOND BOOK OF MACHABEES
Greek book of days.