Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Now. Lit. “And.” Bible.—Thus many Hebrew books commence, as Ex. Jos. Bar. and so forth Calmet.—Greece, over the whole. He was chosen generalissimo. Bible.—He conquered many of the Greeks, and overthrew Darius Condomanus, A. 3674. Calmet.—His dominion in Syria may be meant. Grot.—Alexander was the first who reigned in that great monarchy, which he founded. Worthington.
Verse 2. Holds. He was never defeated. Just. xii.
Verse 3. Earth, even to India, beyond which the ancients knew of nothing.—Quiet, or silent; depopulated, (Isaiah 14:7) and obedient. Habakkuk 2:20.
Verse 4. Up. He was spoiled by prosperity, ( Calmet.) and would pass for a god, and be styled “king of the world.” Just. xii.
Verse 6. Bed. Some suppose through poison, (Diod. xvii. Saint Jerome ad Lætam.) or excess of wine. Athen. x. 11.—This was enough. Bible.—So perished the man who would claim divine honours! Calmet.
Verse 7. Servants. On the ninth day of sickness which preceded his death, he admitted all his soldiers to kiss his hand. Then he asked his friends, if they thought they should find such another king? As they were silent, he predicted what bloodshed would ensue, and told them to bury him in the temple of Ammon. When they asked to whom he left the throne, he said, “to the most worthy.” He gave his ring to Perdiccas; whence all inferred, that he should be regent till the proper heirs came of age. Perdiccas desired to know when he would have divine honours: to which Alexander replied with these his last words, “when you are happy:” (Just. xii. Diod. xvii.) as much as to say, never. Bible.—This seems contrary to the sacred historian. But his authority is far superior. Calmet.—Kingdom. This is otherwise by Q. Curtius; though he acknowledges that divers were of that opinion, and that it had been delivered by some authors. l. x. But here we find from the sacred text that he was in error. Challoner.—By delivering his ring to Perdiccas, Alexander gave him authority to make this division. Worthington.—Many assert, that he gave him directions in his last will. This was observed for some time. verse 10.
Verse 8. Twelve. Jos. and so forth Some add, a few months. He was about thirty-three years old.
Verse 10. Death, twelve years being expired, when all the posterity of Alexander were dead. His generals gradually destroyed each other, and four took the diadem at the same time: Ptolemy, in Egypt; Seleucus, in Syria; Cassander, in Macedonia; and Lysimachus, in Thrace. Just. xiii. and xv. Calmet.—Those who choose to read in order, may, after the preface 2 B. 2:20 read the above, then 2 B. 3:1. Worthington.
Verse 11. Antiochus the illustrious; Epiphanes, the younger son of Antiochus the great, who usurped the kingdom, to the prejudice of his nephew Demetrius, son of his elder brother, Seleucus Philopater. Challoner.—Epiphanes means “renowed.” Worthington.—He took this title, particularly after the Samaritans had offered it to him. Joshua 12. Vaillant. A. 145.—His medals have always God prefixed, “the god appearing;” as he came opportunity, like a god, to defend the kingdom against the Egyptians, after he had been fourteen years a hostage at Rome. Calmet.—Nothing could be more abject than his character. Saint Jerome in Dan. viii. and ix. Athen. verse 4. and x. 12.—Greeks, counting not from the beginning of the reign of Alexander, but from the first year of Seleucus Nicator. Challoner.—The era of the Seleucides began in spring or autumn, A. 3692, B.Calmet. 312, though the Chaldees and Ptolemy date from the following spring. Calmet.—The Grecian monarchy had then stood twenty years. Eus. Worthington.
Verse 12. Men. Jason attempted to supplant Onias III. and introduced pagan customs, when he was dead. Menelaus treated him in like manner. Being cited to pay what he had promised, he left Lysimachus in his place, who was slain in the temple, which he was robbing. 2 Maccabees 4.—Us. Thus the Jews complained in the days of Jeremias, (44:18) and the Christian religion was blamed for all the miseries which fell upon the Roman empire. Calmet.—Saint Augustine proves in his City of God, that this accusation was false. Bible.
Verse 15. Exercise, to wrestle ( Calmet.) and teach. Lyran.
Verse 16. Made. S. Jerom thinks the attempt useless. But the Jews discovered the art. S. Epip. Pond. xvi. Bartol. 1 Corinthians 7:18.—Sold to the devil, becoming his instruments. 3 Kennicott. 21:25. Romans 7:14. Calmet.—Go to 2 Maccabees 4:7.
Verse 17. Egypt. He coveted this kingdom, having Syria already. Worthington.—He was not very fit for war: but Egypt was not under Philometor a child, and Ephphanes made an easy conquest. This was his second visit to that country. While he besieged Alexandria, a report of his death was spread; and as he was informed that the Jews rejoiced at it, he fell upon them. verse 21. Calmet.—After verse 20, read 2 B. 4:21. Worthington.
Verse 23. Sanctuary. Josephus (xii. 6.) writes that Antiochus slew such as opposed his entrance into the city, and afterwards those who opened the gates, but would have prevented his plundering the temple. Worthington.—Menelaus conducted the king. 2 Maccabees 5:15. Profane authors condemn this conduct of the king towards a city subject to him. Jos. c. App. 2.—Diodorus relates several fables on this occasion. Calmet.
Verse 30. The chief collector, and so forth Apollonius. Challoner. 2 Maccabees 5:24. Worthington.—He basely fell upon the unsuspecting citizens on a sabbath day. Bible.
Verse 33. Fire, thus destroying a great part. Jos. Ant. xii. 7.
Verse 35. The city of David. That is, the castle of Sion. Challoner.—In it was placed a garrison of Macedonians. Worthington.—This castle had been occupied by Syrians before. It was now enlarged. 2 Maccabees 4:27 and 5:5.
Verse 38. Sanctuary, to pillage all who came to the temple. Calmet.—An evil devil. Literally, an adversary, watching constantly to do harm, as the evil spirit is always watching and seeking whom he could devour. Challoner.
Verse 40. Fled with Judas, &chapter 2 Maccabees 5. Josephus (xii. 7.) assures us that the Samaritans flattered Epiphanes, and begged their temple might be consecrated to Jupiter, and so forth The pretended that they were of Sidonian extraction.
Verse 43. Be one. This reason herself teaches. But the king wished to establish a false religion, or rather he desired to root out all religion, and to shew his authority. Bible.—Demere superstitionem & mores Græcorum dare adnixus. Tacit. v.—He was not content with plunder, unless he ruined souls. Worthington.
Verse 45. Service, or worship, ( Calmet.) introduced by Epiphanes. Bible.
Verse 49. People. He forced them to eat forbidden meat.
Verse 57. Fifteenth. In all other places the 25th, whence this may be incorrect, ( Calmet.) or the altar was now set up, ( Bible.) though sacrifices were not yet offered. Calmet.—Idol. The statue of Jupiter Olympius, ( Challoner.) as Daniel (9) had foretold, as a figure of what antichrist would do, (Matthew 24. Worthington.) as well as the Romans, when they took Jerusalem.
Verse 58. Doors, to Trivia. Isaiah 57:8. Calmet.
Verse 59. Law, and all the sacred writings. Jos. Sulpit. ii.—The pious Jews secreted what they could, and Judas took care to collect them. 2 B. 1:14 and 3:38. Calmet.
Verse 61. After month. The officers took an account of the slain, (Grot.) or the dedication of the statue was renewed, or rather the king’s nativity was kept. 2 B. 6:7. Calmet.—But this would only occur once a-year. People were compelled to sacrifice on the same day of each month on which the statue had been dedicated. verse 62.
Verse 62. Over-against, or ( Bible.) “upon,” επι. The Greek altars were of a smaller size.
Verse 65. Many. Eleazar, and the seven Machabees, and so forth Calmet.
Verse 67. Wrath. God seemed displeased, as he was with too many. The pious were exposed to various trials, and to the fury of persecutors. Bible.—Read 2 B. 5:11. Worthington.
That is, the Greek Empire. Compare 1 Maccabees 1:10 and 1 Maccabees 6:2.
circa B.Calmet. 176.
Or, nations: and so throughout this book.
Or, nations: and so throughout this book.
See 2 Maccabees 4:9, 12.
Or, nations: and so throughout this book.
Or, nations: and so throughout this book
Greek heavy.
Or, armament
circa B.Calmet. 170. See 2 Maccabees 5:11-16.
Greek heavy.
See 2 Maccabees 5:24.
Greek heavy.
See 2 Maccabees 6:6.
circa B.Calmet. 168. See 2 Maccabees 5:11.
The two words rendered altar are different in the Greek: and so in 1 Maccabees 1:59.
The two words rendered altar are different in the Greek: and so in 1 Maccabees 1:59.
See 2 Maccabees 6:10.
See 2 Maccabees 6:19 and 7:1, and so forth