2 Maccabees
Verse 1. At. Read 1 B. 4:28. Worthington.—Time, A. 3840. The motives and ill success of this journey are given 1 B. 3:31 and 6:1. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
2 Maccabees 9
Historical chapter commentary
2 Maccabees
Verse 2. Persepolis; otherwise called Elymais, ( Challoner.) a chief ( Worthington.) “city of Persia.” Hence Elymais may be called Persepolis. Bible.—The famous city of this name, where Cyrus had built a palace to the astonishment of the world, had been ( Calmet.) burnt by Alexander when intoxicated, and urged on by a harlot. Curt. verse 15.—Noble ruins still remain on the Araxes.
2 Maccabees
Verse 3. Ecbatana, capital of Media. Calmet.—See Calmet. 1:16. Bible.
2 Maccabees
Verse 4. Forward. He felt a violent fit of the cholic.
2 Maccabees
Verse 8. Man. He seems to have claimed divine honours, verse 12. Calmet. 5:21. and 9:8. Daniel 11:36. Arab. Calmet.
2 Maccabees
Verse 13. Not like. Because his repentance was not for the offence committed against God, but barely on account of his present sufferings. Challoner.—For these he really grieved. 1 B. 6:11. Yet was not sorry for the offence against God and men. So the damned acknowledge that their punishments are inflicted on account of their sins, yet have not true repentance. Worthington.—In like manner Esau repented for the loss of his birthright. Hebrews 12:17. Menochius.—Epiphanes had abandoned God, who now laughs at him, (Proverbs 1:26) as some of the Machabees had threatened. Calmet. 7:14. 7. 9. 31. 2. 5. 6. He is the model of false penitents, who are actuated by servile fear.
2 Maccabees
Verse 14. Free and independent, ( Calmet.) like Antioch. Pliny verse 21.
2 Maccabees
Verse 15. Athenians. This seems to have been put for Antiochians, Calmet. 4:9. in Greek; which name would suit better here, as Epiphanes had no power over Athens. Grot. Calmet.—Yet it was highly privileged ( Bible.) above all the cities of Greece. Menochius.—Jason had obtained for the citizens of Jerusalem to be called Antiochians. Calmet. 6:1. But this grant had been revoked, or not carried into effect since the late troubles. Calmet.—Here the privilege is to be extended to all the Jews. Bible.—Ptolemais and Calliroe enjoyed the same. Harduin.
2 Maccabees
Verse 16. Sacrifices, as Darius, Philometor, and afterwards (1 B. 10:39.) Nicator did. 1 Ezra 6:9. Calmet.
2 Maccabees
Verse 19. Subjects. Lit. “citizens.” Bible.—Similar addresses (verse 20.) were sent by the emperors to the Romans; and by Cæsar and Anthony to their allies. Jos. Ant. xiv. 17. and 22. Tull. Epist.
2 Maccabees
Verse 23. Father: Antiochus the great. The Persian monarchs generally took this precaution.—Countries. So profane authors style the provinces beyond the Euphrates. Diodorus, S. Jerom (in Daniel 11.) and others, inform us that Antiochus attempted to plunder the temple of Belus, at Elymais, and took off a vast sum of money under pretext of paying the tribute to the Romans. But the neighbouring nations fell upon him, and cut him with his army to pieces. Philopator succeeded to the throne.
2 Maccabees
Verse 25. Antiochus Eupator, nine years old.—Below. This is lost.
2 Maccabees
Verse 26. Favours. He must have been deranged. Calmet.
2 Maccabees
Verse 28. Mountains, at Tabes, (Polyb.) in Patacene. Curt. v.—Historians relate that he lost his senses, (daimonesas) being terrified by a demon, on account of his criminal attempt against the temple of Diana. Polyb. excerp. Vales. Saint Jerome—This was a real crime in him, as he took the idol for a deity. But his conduct towards the temple and nation of the Jews would probably weigh heavier upon his conscience. Calmet.—S. Cyprian (exhort.) styles him “an inveterate enemy to all good; nay, in Antiochus antichrist is expressed.” Worthington.
2 Maccabees
Verse 29. That was. Syr. “son of his nurse,” appointed regent.—Philometor Lysias asserted his title to the regency, and had the young king, so that Philip applied to the Egyptians to help in the execution of the last will of the deceased. Calmet.—Read 1 B. 6:17. Worthington.
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Or, with dishonor
2 Maccabees
Or, temples
2 Maccabees
Greek remediless.
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Or, showing manifestly to all the power of God
2 Maccabees
Greek build.