Verse 1. Time. About a year after Nicanor’s death, (Calmet. 7:50. and 2 B. 15:38. Worthington.) or in the same year, A. 3843; ( Calmet.) so that the Romans had not time to send Judas assistance. Bible.—Josephus (xii. 17.) erroneously supposes that Alcimus was dead, and Judas his successor, while Simon was the civil ruler and general. He afterwards (B. xx. 8.) asserts that Jonathas was next high priest to Alcimus, who certainly officiated after the death of Judas. verse 54.—Bacchides had been already in Judea. Calmet. 7:8. Now the right wing, composed of the best troops, and usually commanded by the prince when he was present, is entrusted to him.
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Verse 2. Galgal … in Arbella, or the Galilee, in the flat country, Araboth. Calmet. 5:23.—Masaloth, or Masal, was in the tribe of Asher. Jos. xvi. 30.—S. Jerom speaks of Arbela, nine miles from Legion. See Osee 10:14.
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Verse 4. Berea, or Beroth, in Benjamin, not far from Laisa, or Lesen, (Joshua 18:25) where Judas was encamped, ( Calmet.) with 3000 (Gorion); Josephus says 1000; Rufin translates 2000.
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Verse 7. Down. The strongest are not free from the first emotions of trouble; but trusting in God, they are assured either of a temporal or eternal victory. Worthington.
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Verse 10. Stain. Lit. “bring a crime.” Bible.—He seems to have thought God required him now to fight, and he was convinced that he could save by means of a few, which excuses him from rashness. The Church adopts his words, (Dom. iii. Oct. Mat.) and Saint Ambrose (Of. i. 41.) highly extols his bravery, in “preferring death before slavery and shame.”
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Verse 12. Legion. So the Vulg. commonly renders Greek “phalanx,” ( Calmet.) a compact body of 8000 men, used by the Macedonians. The Roman legion consisted of 6726, (Veget.) or 6666. The two phalanxes were in each wing supported by cavalry, which endeavoured to surround Judas.
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Verse 15. Azotus. Not belonging to the Philistines, but some place unknown, which Josephus styles Asa.
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Verse 18. Slain. Gorionides relates that the sight of Judas made Bacchides flee towards Azotus. He lost 15,000, when the rest of the army came upon Judas now fatigued; and as Bacchides returned to the charge, the hero fell upon heaps of the slain. Thus died this great man who saved Israel. verse 21. Calmet.—Gloriosiorem triumphis mortem invenit. The most mighty in the sight of men may fall; but the fortitude of Judas, proved by former heroic actions and by success, was now rendered perfect by this most glorious death. Saint Ambrose Of. i. 41. Worthington.—Never was there a more accomplished and virtuous champion. He had all the qualities of a holy priest and a valiant soldier, as well as of a religious prince, always bent on promoting the glory of his people. Calmet. 3:3. He was an admirable copy of Jesus Christ, the great original of all the saints. In the most dismal times he was chosen to save religion and the people. Almost alone, and wandering from place to place, he gains the most signal victories, forms a league with Gentiles, purifies the temple, acts both as high priest and as prince of the nation, and at last gives his life for his brethren. Thus Christ by his life and death unites all in one Church, and procures the remission of sin. Calmet.
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Verse 19. Modin. Their remains were seen there long after. Eus.—It is wonderful that they should be shewn at Antioch. Saint Jerome loc.—But these were the relics of the seven brothers. 2 B. 7:1. Calmet.
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Verse 22. Many. Thus only some of our Saviour’s actions are recorded, for the same reason. John ult. Bible.
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Verse 24. All. Josephus says, “Many.” We find some ( Calmet.) joining Jonathan, verse 28. Bible.—When the people are without a ruler, they fall. Proverbs 11:14. Worthington.
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Verse 26. Abused them, and “afterwards slew them all.” Jos. Ant. xiii. 1.
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Verse 27. No prophet since the days of Malachi, ( Calmet.) or the return from captivity. Jos.
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Verse 28. Jonathan, or ( Bible.) Jonathas, was the third general captain of this family, and succeeded Judas in the pontificate, though Alcimus still usurped the dignity (Calmet. 9:9) as in the lifetime of Judas. Worthington.
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Verse 33. Thecua, seven miles south of Bethlehem. Saint Jerome pref. in Amos.—Asphar, or “asphaltite lake” (Gorion) of Sodom; so called on account of the bitumen, or asphalte. Calmet.
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Verse 34. Sabbath, out of contempt, like Nicanor; (2 B. 15) or thinking that the Jews would not then fight. Menochius.
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Verse 35. Lend. Some copies read, “to entrust unto them.” They wished not to be embarrasses with useless baggage. It all fell into the hands of Jambri, ( Calmet.) who slew John. Worthington.
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Verse 37. Madaba. Greek “Nadabath.” Jos. “Gabatha.” It seems, as the sons of Jamri lived at Madaba, the spouse would not be conducted out of that place, ( Calmet.) unless they might reside sometimes in the country. Bible.—Chanaan, or “Arabia.” Jos.—Chanaan denotes any infidel. Calmet.
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Verse 42. Revenge. To punish faults with moderation and justice, is a virtue. Children and subjects are sometimes exposed to temporal chastisements, for the faults of their parents or leaders; yet this is for their own advancement in piety, or in punishment for the share they have had in the crime, or to prevent them from imitating it. Saint Thomas Aquinas ii. 2. q. 108. Worthington.
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Verse 44. Before, when we were in the desert of Thecua, and could decline fighting; ( Menochius.) or, notwithstanding the sabbath, we must engage. Calmet. 2:41.
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Verse 48. To them. Jonathas swam to another place on the same side, otherwise there would have been no battle. Worthington.—But this had taken place, when a thousand were slain; though Bacchides fled from Jonathan, verse 47. 49. Bible.—The Greek and Josephus seem more full: ( Calmet.) “Swam over, and they (the enemies) did not cross the Jordan after them.” Bible.—Bacchides did not pursue the Jews. Menochius.—Prot. marg. quotes Josephus, (xiii. 1.) who says two thousand were slain. Bible.
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Verse 50. Thopo, or Taphua. The two last were in Ephraim.
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Verse 53. Castle, on the highest part of Sion. verse 52. Calmet. 1:35.—Custody, without doing them any farther injury. Calmet.
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Verse 54. Alcimus. Josephus (xii. 17.) confesses that Judas was high priest. But he mistakes when he says he succeeded Alcimus, who it hence appears survived him a year, (verse 3, 18.) and was only an usurper. He should therefore be corrected by this book, rather than it should be rejected because it differs from him, or any such authors. Worthington. verse 1, 28. Bible.—Walls, before the most holy place, (Jos. Lyr.) or between the priests and people, (Salien. Menochius.) or which separated the Jews from the Gentiles, as if to remove all distinction. Grot.—It is probable that he removed the wall which went round the inner temple and the altar of holocausts, ( Calmet.) which Alexander restored. Jos. Ant. xiii. 21.—Prophets. Aggeus and Zac. had been as it were the architects and directors of the temple. Calmet.
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Verse 55. House. He could not make his will.
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Verse 61. He. Jonathas slew those who had given information.
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Verse 62. Bethbessen, in the desert of Jericho, ( Menochius.) the same with Bethagla. Jos. “Bethalaga.”
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Verse 66. Odares, people of the country who adhered to Bacchides.—Increase, or shew himself in the field with a large army, ( Calmet.) or to penetrate the army of the enemy. Syr. Jos. Grot.
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Verse 69. Slew. Evil counsel is prejudicial to the giver. Worthington.
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Verse 73. Machmas. The capital of Sion was still in the hands of the enemy. Jonathas made good use of the alliance with the Romans, and began to lay the foundations of the national independence, and to act like the ancient judges. Calmet.