So they decided that day, saying, “Whoever comes against us to battle on the Sabbath day, let’s fight against him, and we will in no way all die, as our kindred died in the secret places.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 41. Come up. They say not that they will attack. Calmet.—Pompey perceived this, and made his advances and works on the sabbath, without opposition. Jos. Bel. i. 5.—Pompey I had thus taken Jerusalem. Jos. Ant. xii. 1.—The Samaritans will not more on that day. Exodus 16:29 ep. 2. ad Scaliger—The Jews now take care of the sick, but will not help a beast out of the ditch on the sabbath, though in our Saviour’s time they did just the reverse. Lu. 14:5. The law has thus been variously explained. The Machabees judged with prudence. Yet superstition had again gained ground, when Josephus (vita) would not fight of assemble his forces on the sabbath, as being contrary to the law. In a storm, a Jewish pilot abandoned the helm till the danger was evident. Synes. ep. iv.