and how they commit their government to one man year by year, that he should rule over them, and control all their country, and all are obedient to that one, and there is neither envy nor emulation among them.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 16. To one man. There were two consuls; but one only ruled at one time, each in his day. Challoner.—Of this we have an example in the battle of Cannæ. The first of the consuls wore the ornaments. Livy—It would have been more dreadful to have two than one ruler. Worthington.—One of them governed at home; the other in the armies, and this latter alone was known to the Jews. They might also be falsely informed that a dictator was chosen every year. This was only done on great emergencies. Calmet.—No envy, and so forth So Judas had heard; and it was so far true, with regard to the ancient Romans: that as yet no envy or jealousy had divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and Sylla, and so forth Challoner.—Before they seemed all bent on promoting the public good. Sallust. Catiline.