Verse 1. Kings. Greek “they sent to him ambassadors, with proposals for peace, saying: Behold we, the servants of Nabuchodonosor, the great king, lay before thee; use us as thou thinkest best,” and so forth These proposals were made by those on the sea-coast, from Sidon and Tyre to Ascalon, from whom Holofernes took “the choicest men,” being received with honour, verse 10. Bible.—Syria, and so forth These are not specified in the Greek.—Sobal, or Soba, (1 Kennicott. 14:47) near Damascus, where Ptolemy (v.) places Samoulis.—Lybia seems too remote, and had not been attacked: some therefore would read Lycia, or Lygia, (Herod. vii. 72.) or rather Lydia, ( Calmet.) which Holofernes had “cut in pieces,” according to the Greek. Calmet. 2:13. Bible.
Judith
Verse 2. Great. This was his usual title. Daniel 2:30. 4 Kennicott. 18:19. Calmet.—Slavery. Yet they make an unconditional submission. Bible.—It is better for us to submit to servitude than to be slaughtered like our brethren. Menochius.
Judith
Verse 3. Sight, at thy disposal. Genesis 13:9. Proverbs 15:11.
Judith
Verse 10. Lights. Torches were used to testify joy. 2 Maccabees 4:22.
Judith
Verse 11. Though. Greek, “He demolished all their borders, and cut down their groves.”
Judith
Verse 13. Called. Greek “Worshipped by all nations, and that all their tongues and tribes might call him god.” Bible.—Behold to what lengths ambition may be carried. If he had only claimed a place among the other pagan deities, his title was as good as theirs. Calmet.—He is a figure of Antichrist; for whom all heretics pave the way. 2 Thes. 2. Worthington.
Judith
Verse 14. Apamea, on the river Orontes, between which and the river Eleutherus, lay the Mesopotamia here mentioned.—Idumeans, or to “Rama,” near Gabaa, which was on the north of Jerusalem; whereas Idumea lay far to the south. Calmet.—Yet ( Bible.) Gabaa may designate a mountainous country, as 1 Kennicott. 7:1. ( Menochius.) and there is no reason why Idumea might not have felt the power of Holofernes, as well as Madian, and so forth Bible.—The order of conquests in not observed, ( Menochius.) for while the commander-in-chief was in one place, his generals were dispersed into different parts. He had now advanced as far as Gabaa of Saul, ( Bible.) when meditating a serious attack upon Egypt, he thought proper to concentrate his forces; little expecting to meet with such a check at Bethulia. Calmet.—Greek “He came to Esdrelon, near Dotaia, (or Dothaim, north of Sichem) which is opposite the great saw of Judea,” or the range of mountains of Ephraim. Calmet.—Old Vulg. “of Juda,” dividing it from Idumea. The kings of Israel had fortified the defiles. 3 Kennicott. 15:17.
Judith
Verse 15. Took. Greek “encamped between Gaba and Scythopolis, (Bethsan. Joshua 17:11) and he was there a month of days, to collect all the burden of his army.”