the vile Jason sent sacred envoys, as being Antiochians of Jerusalem, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought not right to use for any sacrifice, because it was not fit, but to spend it for another purpose.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Sinful. Greek “spectators, being Antiochians, to carry 300 drachmas. Bible.—Didrachmas, or double drachmas of Alexandria, which amount only to one Roman. Hence Greek interpreters generally express thus the half sicle.—Silver, or money; ( Calmet.) gold. Menochius.—Thus the value would be fourteen times greater. Calmet.—In a MS. of Arundel, 3300 occurs, (Usher.) as well as in the Syr. Calmet.—Necessary. Lit. and Greek “proper.” Grabe supplies this as far as but, verse 20. Bible.
See ver. 9.