Whereupon being accused by the king’s friends before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn because he had abandoned Cyprus which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiochus Epiphanes, and failing to uphold the honor of his office, he took poison and did away with himself.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. Revolted. So they interpreted ( Bible.) his disapprobation of the cruelties exercised upon the Jews. Calmet.—Greek “had not yet any honourable place of power entrusted to him, being dispirited, he,” and so forth Bible.—It is never a proof of fortitude, but of pusillanimity, to kill oneself to get rid of temporal misery. But it is very heroical to die willingly for God’s glory.
See 2 Maccabees 8:9
The Greek text here is corrupt.