and in the land of Babylon, in the battle that was fought against the Gauls, how they came to the battle with eight thousand in all, with four thousand Macedonians, and how, the Macedonians being hard pressed, the six thousand destroyed the hundred and twenty thousand because of the help which they had from heaven, and took a great deal of plunder.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 20. Galatians. That is, the Gauls, who having ravaged Italy and Greece, poured themselves in upon Asia in immense multitudes, where also they founded the kingdom of Galatia, or Gallo—Græcia. Challoner.—This battle is no where else recorded in Scripture. But it seems to allude to the aid given to Soter by the Jews, ( Worthington.) when he repulsed the Galatians. Appian.—Antiochus the great rewarded them for their valour shewn in behalf of his father. Joseph. xii. 3. Worthington.—Six. Greek “8,000.”—When. Greek “with 4,000 Macedonians; when the Macedonians being at a stand, the 6,000 (Grabe substitutes 8,000) slew twelve myriads,” and so forth Bible.—Historians have not specified this irruption, as it had no farther consequences. The Galatians were very powerful under Antiochus the great, and sided with him. The consul, Manlius, made them promise to keep within their own territories. But they did not observe this agreement, since they attacked Eumenes while Epiphanes persecuted the Jews. It is not agreed when they made the invasion of Babylonia, then defended by Jewish and Macedonian troops under the king of Syria.
Greek Galatians.
Some authorities read eight.