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12:1 His factis pactionibus, Lysias pergebat ad regem, Judaei autem agriculturae operam dabant.
* Footnotes
-
A.M. 3841, A.C. 165.[163.?]
When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the Jews gave themselves to husbandry.
Γενομένων τῶν συνθηκῶν τούτων, ὁ μὲν Λυσίας ἀπῄει πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι περὶ τὴν γεωργίαν ἐγίνοντο.
12:2 Sed hi qui resederant, Timotheus, et Apollonius Gennaei filius, sed et Hieronymus, et Demophon super hos, et Nicanor Cypriarches, non sinebant eos in silentio agere et quiete.
*H But they that were behind, viz. Timotheus, and Apollonius, the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in peace, and to be quiet.
Ver. 2. Timotheus and Apolloinus. Others of the same name were slain before. C. x. 37. and 1 B. iii. 11. W. C.
Τῶν δὲ κατὰ τόπον στρατηγῶν Τιμόθεος καὶ Ἀπολλώνιος ὁ τοῦ Γενναίου, ἔτι δὲ Ἱερώνυμος καὶ Δημοφὼν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις Νικάνωρ ὁ Κυπριάρχης, οὐκ εἴων αὐτοὺς εὐσταθεῖς, καὶ τὰ τῆς ἡσυχίας ἄγειν.
12:3 Joppitae vero tale quoddam flagitium perpetrarunt : rogaverunt Judaeos cum quibus habitabant, ascendere scaphas quas paraverant, cum uxoribus et filiis, quasi nullis inimicitiis inter eos subjacentibus.
The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: they desired the Jews, who dwelt among them, to go with their wives and children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no enmity to them.
Ἰοππίται δὲ τηλικοῦτο συνετέλεσαν τὸ δυσσέβημα· παρακαλέσαντες τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς οἰκοῦντας Ἰουδαίους ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὰ παρασταθέντα ὑπʼ αὐτῶν σκάφη σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις, ὡς μηδεμιᾶς ἐνεστώσης πρὸς αὐτοὺς δυσμενείας,
12:4 Secundum commune itaque decretum civitatis, et ipsis acquiescentibus, pacisque causa nihil suspectum habentibus : cum in altum processissent, submerserunt non minus ducentos.
Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.
κατὰ δὲ τὸ κοινὸν τῆς πόλεως ψήφισμα, καὶ τούτων ἐπιδεξαμένων ὡς ἂν εἰρηνεύειν θελόντων, καὶ μηδὲν ὕποπτον ἐχόντων, ἐπαναχθέντας αὐτοὺς ἐβύθισαν, ὄντας οὐκ ἔλαττον τῶν διακοσίων.
12:5 Quam crudelitatem Judas in suae gentis homines factam ut cognovit, praecepit viris qui erant cum ipso : et invocato justo judice Deo,
But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having called upon God, the just judge,
Μεταλαβὼν δὲ Ἰούδας τὴν γεγονυῖαν εἰς τοὺς ὁμοεθνεῖς ὠμότητα, παραγγείλας τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνδράσι,
12:6 venit adversus interfectores fratrum, et portum quidem noctu succendit, scaphas exussit, eos autem qui ab igne refugerant, gladio peremit.
He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword them that escaped from the fire.
καὶ ἐπικαλεσάμενος τὸν δίκαιον κριτὴν Θεὸν, παρεγένετο ἐπὶ τοὺς μιαιφόνους τῶν ἀδελφῶν· καὶ τὸν μὲν λιμένα νύκτωρ ἐνέπρησε, καὶ τὰ σκάφη κατέφλεξε, τοὺς δὲ ἐκεῖ συμφυγόντας ἐξεκέντησε.
12:7 Et cum haec ita egisset, discessit quasi iterum reversurus, et universos Joppitas eradicaturus.
And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites.
Τοῦ δὲ χωρίου συγκλεισθέντος, ἀνέλυσεν, ὡς πάλιν ἥξων καὶ τὸ σύμπαν τῶν Ἰοππιτῶν ἐκριζῶσαι πολίτευμα.
12:8 Sed cum cognovisset et eos qui erant Jamniae, velle pari modo facere habitantibus secum Judaeis,
*H But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them,
Ver. 8. Designed. The heart is the source of sin, and God thus punished the intentions of the Jamnites. H.
Μεταλαβὼν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐν Ἰαμνείᾳ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐπιτελεῖν βουλομένους τρόπον τοῖς παροικοῦσιν Ἰουδαίοις,
12:9 Jamnitis quoque nocte supervenit, et portum cum navibus succendit : ita ut lumen ignis appareret Jerosolymis a stadiis ducentis quadraginta.
*H He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set the haven on fire, with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off.
Ver. 9. Off, or ten leagues. Jerusalem was on elevated ground. C. — A furlong is about the eighth part of a mile, (others say the fifth, or a thousand feet) so that the fire was seen at the distance of thirty or forty-eight miles. W.
καὶ τοῖς Ἰαμνίταις νυκτὸς ἐπιβαλὼν, ὑφῆψε τὸν λιμένα σὺν τῷ στόλῳ, ὥστε φαίνεσθαι τὰς αὐγὰς τοῦ φέγγους εἰς τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα, σταδίων ὄντων διακοσίων τεσσαράκοντα.
12:10 Inde cum jam abiissent novem stadiis, et iter facerent ad Timotheum, commiserunt cum eo Arabes quinque millia viri, et equites quingenti.
And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen, and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians, set upon them.
Ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπασθέντων σταδίους ἐννέα, ποιουμένων τὴν πορείαν ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον, προσέβαλον Ἄραβες αὐτῷ οὐκ ἐλάττους τῶν πεντακισχιλίων, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακόσιοι.
12:11 Cumque pugna valida fieret, et auxilio Dei prospere cessisset, residui Arabes victi petebant a Juda dextram sibi dari, promittentes se pascua daturos, et in ceteris profuturos.
*H And after a hard fight, in which, by the help of God, they got the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other things.
Ver. 11. Rest. Gr. "the Nomades," (H.) who dwelt in tents, and lived on plunder, (Strabo xvi.) like Ismael. Gen. xvi. 12.
Γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης, καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν διὰ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ βοήθειαν εὐημερησάντων, ἐλαττωθέντες οἱ Νομάδες Ἄραβες ἠξίουν δοῦναι τὸν Ἰούδαν δεξιὰν αὐτοῖς, ὑπισχνούμενοι καὶ βοσκήματα δώσειν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ὠφελήσειν αὐτούς.
12:12 Judas autem arbitratus vere in multis eos utiles, promisit pacem : dextrisque acceptis, discessere ad tabernacula sua.
And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they departed to their tents.
Ἰούδας δὲ ὑπολαβὼν ὡς ἀληθῶς ἐν πολλοῖς αὐτοὺς χρησίμους, ἐπεχώρησεν εἰρήνην ἄξειν πρὸς αὐτούς· καὶ λαβόντες δεξιὰς, εἰς τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν ἐχωρίσθησαν.
12:13 Aggressus est autem et civitatem quamdam firmam pontibus murisque circumseptam, quae a turbis habitabatur gentium promiscuarum : cui nomen Casphin.
*H He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, the name of which is Casphin.
Ver. 13. Casphin; Chasbon, or Hesebon. 1 B. v. 26. Num. xxi. 25. It was famous for its waters.
Ἐπέβαλε δὲ καὶ ἐπί τινα πόλιν γεφυροῦν ὀχυρὰν καὶ τείχεσι περιπεφραγμένην, καὶ παμμιγέσιν ἔθνεσι κατοικουμένην, ὄνομα δὲ Κάσπιν.
12:14 Hi vero qui intus erant, confidentes in stabilitate murorum et apparatu alimoniarum, remissius agebant, maledictis lacessentes Judam et blasphemantes, ac loquentes quae fas non est.
*H But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
Ver. 14. Spoken. The enemy generally reviled the Jews.
Οἱ δʼ ἔνδον πεποιθότες τῇ τῶν τειχέων ἐρυμνότητι, τῇ τε τῶν βρωμάτων παραθέσει, ἀναγωγότερον ἐχρῶντο, τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν λοιδοροῦντες, καὶ προσέτι βλασφημοῦντες, καὶ λαλοῦντες ἃ μὴ θέμις.
12:15 Machabaeus autem, invocato magno mundi Principe, qui sine arietibus et machinis temporibus Jesu praecipitavit Jericho, irruit ferociter muris :
* Footnotes
*H But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho, in the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls.
Ver. 15. World. Thus setting a pattern to virtuous generals.
Οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν ἐπικαλεσάμενοι τὸν μέγαν τοῦ κόσμου δυνάστην, τὸν ἄτερ κριῶν καὶ μηχανῶν ὀργανικῶν κατακρημνίσαντα τὴν Ἱεριχὼ κατὰ τοὺς Ἰησοῦ χρόνους, ἐνέσεισαν θηριωδῶς τῷ τείχει.
12:16 et capta civitate per Domini voluntatem, innumerabiles caedes fecit, ita ut adjacens stagnum stadiorum duorum latitudinis sanguine interfectorum fluere videretur.
And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining, of two furlongs broad, seemed to run with the blood of the slain.
Καταλαβόμενοί τε τὴν πόλιν τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ θελήσει, ἀμυθήτους ἐποιήσαντο σφαγὰς, ὥστε τὴν παρακειμένην λίμνην τὸ πλάτος ἔχουσαν σταδίων δύο, κατάῤῥυτον αἵματι πεπληρωμένην φαίνεσθαι.
12:17 Inde discesserunt stadia septingenta quinquaginta, et venerunt in Characa ad eos, qui dicuntur Tubianaei, Judaeos :
*H From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa, to the Jews that are called Tubianites.
Ver. 17. Characa, or Carcar. Judg. viii. 10. and xi. 3. C. — Tubianites, "religiously good;" probably the Assideans, (1 B. ii. 42. W.) or inhabitants of Tob. H.
Ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπάσαντες σταδίους ἑπτακοσίους πεντήκοντα διήνυσαν εἰς τὸν Χάρακα, πρὸς τοὺς λεγομένους Τουβιήνους Ἰουδαίους.
12:18 et Timotheum quidem in illis locis non comprehenderunt, nulloque negotio perfecto regressus est, relicto in quodam loco firmissimo praesidio.
*H But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold:
Ver. 18. Things. The Jews had retired to Characa or Dathema, so that he ravaged the country and left garrisons, which were cut in pieces. Judas soon after with 6000 routed Timotheus, though he had 122,500 men. 1 B. v. 8. 37. 43.
Καὶ Τιμόθεον μὲν ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων οὐ κατέλαβον, ἄπρακτόν τε ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ἐκλελυκότα, καταλελοιπότα δὲ φρουρὰν ἔν τινι τόπῳ, καὶ μάλα ὀχυράν.
12:19 Dositheus autem et Sosipater, qui erant duces cum Machabaeo, peremerunt a Timotheo relictos in praesidio, decem millia viros.
But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten thousand men.
Δωσίθεος δὲ καὶ Σωσίπατρος τῶν περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον ἡγεμόνων, ἐξοδεύσαντες ἀπώλεσαν τοὺς ὑπὸ Τιμοθέου καταλειφθέντας ἐν τῷ ὀχυρώματι πλείους τῶν μυρίων ἀνδρῶν.
12:20 At Machabaeus, ordinatis circum se sex millibus, et constitutis per cohortes, adversus Timotheum processit, habentem secum centum viginti millia peditum, equitumque duo millia quingentos.
And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, and divided them by bands, went forth against Timotheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.
Ὁ δὲ Μακκαβαῖος διατάξας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στρατιὰν σπειρηδὸν, κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν σπείρων, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον ὥρμησεν ἔχοντα περὶ αὐτὸν μυριάδας δώδεκα πεζῶν, ἱππεῖς δὲ χιλίους πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις.
12:21 Cognito autem Judae adventu, Timotheus praemisit mulieres et filios, et reliquum apparatum, in praesidium quod Carnion dicitur : erat enim inexpugnabile, et accessu difficile propter locorum angustias.
*H Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage, before him into a fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable, and hard to come at, by reason of the straitness of the places.
Ver. 21. Carnion, or Asteroth Carnaim.
Τὴν δὲ ἔφοδον μεταλαβὼν Ἰούδα, ὁ Τιμόθεος προεξαπέστειλε τὰς γυναῖκας, καὶ τὰ τέκνα, καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἀποσκευὴν εἰς τὸ λεγόμενον Καρνίον· ἦν γὰρ δυσπολιόρκητον καὶ δυσπρόσιτον τὸ χωρίον διὰ τὴν τῶν πάντων τῶν τόπων στενότητα.
12:22 Cumque cohors Judae prima apparuisset, timor hostibus incussus est ex praesentia Dei, qui universa conspicit : et in fugam versi sunt alius ab alio, ita ut magis a suis dejicerentur, et gladiorum suorum ictibus debilitarentur.
But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of their own swords.
Ἐπιφανείσης δὲ τῆς Ἰούδα σπείρας πρώτης, καὶ γενομένου δέους ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, φόβου τε ἐκ τῆς τοῦ πάντα ἐφορῶντος ἐπιφανείας γενομένου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, εἰς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν ἄλλος ἀλλαχῃ φερόμενος, ὥστε πολλάκις ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων βλάπτεσθαι, καὶ ταῖς τῶν ξιφῶν ἀκμαῖς ἀναπείρεσθαι.
12:23 Judas autem vehementer instabat puniens profanos, et prostravit ex eis triginta millia virorum.
But Judas pursued them close, punishing the profane, of whom he slew thirty thousand men.
Ἐποιεῖτο δὲ τὸν διωγμὸν εὐτονώτερον Ἰούδας, συγκεντῶν τοὺς ἀλιτηρίους, διέφθειρέ τε εἰς μυριάδας τρεῖς ἀνδρῶν.
12:24 Ipse vero Timotheus incidit in partes Dosithei et Sosipatris : et multis precibus postulabat ut vivus dimitteretur, eo quod multorum ex Judaeis parentes haberet ac fratres, quos morte ejus decipi eveniret.
*H And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived.
Ver. 24. Deceived. Gr. "if they slew him, would not be regarded," (H.) but slain without mercy. C.
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐμπεσὼν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Δωσίθεον καὶ Σωσίπατρον, ἠξίου μετὰ πολλῆς γοητείας ἐξαφεῖναι σῶον αὐτόν· διὰ τὸ πλειόνων μὲν γονεῖς, ὧν δὲ ἀδελφοὺς ἔχειν, καὶ τούτους ἀλογηθῆναι συμβήσεται, εἰ ἀποθάνοι.
12:25 Et cum fidem dedisset restituturum se eos secundum constitutum, illaesum eum dimiserunt propter fratrum salutem.
And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the saving of their brethren.
Πιστώσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ διὰ πλειόνων τὸν ὁρισμὸν ἀποκαταστήσειν τούτους ἀπημάντους, ἀπέλυσαν αὐτὸν ἕνεκα τῆς τῶν ἀδελφῶν σωτηρίας.
12:26 Judas autem egressus est ad Carnion, interfectis viginti quinque millibus.
*H Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
Ver. 26. Carnion. Gr. adds, "and the temple of Astergata," (H.) the idol Astarte, or Derceto of the Philistines.
Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ Καρνίον καὶ τὸ Ἀταργατεῖον, κατέσφαξε μυριάδας σωμάτων δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.
12:27 Post horum fugam et necem, movit exercitum ad Ephron civitatem munitam, in qua multitudo diversarum gentium habitabat : et robusti juvenes pro muris consistentes fortiter repugnabant : in hac autem machinae multae et telorum erat apparatus.
* Footnotes
And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls, made a vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, and a provision of darts.
Καὶ μετὰ τὴν τούτων τροπὴν καὶ ἀπώλειαν ἐπεστράτευσεν Ἰούδας καὶ ἐπὶ Ἐφρὼν, πόλιν ὀχυρὰν, ἐν ᾗ κατῴκει Λυσίας, καὶ πάμφυλα πλήθη· νεανίαι δὲ πρὸ τῶν τειχῶν καθεστῶτες ῥωμαλέοι ἀπεμάχοντο εὐρώστως, ἐνθάδε ὀργάνων καὶ βελῶν πολλαὶ παραθέσεις ὑπῆρχον.
12:28 Sed cum Omnipotentem invocassent, qui potestate sua vires hostium confringit, ceperunt civitatem : et ex eis qui intus erant, viginti quinque millia prostraverunt.
But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city: and slew five and twenty thousand of them that were within.
Ἐπικαλεσάμενοι δὲ τὸν Δυνάστην τὸν μετὰ κράτους συντρίβοντα τὰς τῶν πολεμίων ἀλκὰς, ἔλαβον τὴν πόλιν ὑποχείριον, καὶ κατέστρωσαν τῶν ἔνδον εἰς μυριάδας δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.
12:29 Inde ad civitatem Scytharum abierunt, quae ab Jerosolymis sexcentis stadiis aberat.
*H From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem.
Ver. 29. Scythopolis. Formerly called Bethsan, (Ch.) near the lake of Tiberias.
Ἀναζεύξαντες δὲ ἐκεῖθεν, ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Σκυθῶν πόλιν, ἀπέχουσαν ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων σταδίους ἑξακοσίους.
12:30 Contestantibus autem his, qui apud Scythopolitas erant, Judaeis, quod benigne ab eis haberentur, etiam temporibus infelicitatis quod modeste secum egerint :
But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their adversity they had treated them with humanity:
Ἀπομαρτυρησάντων δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ κατοικούντων Ἰουδαίων, ἣν οἱ Σκυθοπολίται ἔσχον πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὔνοιαν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς τῆς ἀτυχίας καιροῖς ἥμερον ἀπάντησιν ἐποιοῦντο,
12:31 gratias agentes eis, et exhortati etiam de cetero erga genus suum benignos esse, venerunt Jerosolymam die solemni septimanarum instante.
*H They gave them thanks, exhorting them to be still friendly to their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks being at hand.
Ver. 31. Weeks of Pentecost, celebrated seven weeks after the Passover. Lev. xxiii. 15. C.
εὐχαριστήσαντες αὐτοῖς, καὶ προσπαρακαλέσαντες καὶ εἰς τὰ λοιπὰ πρὸς τὸ γένος εὐμενεῖς εἶναι, παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, τῆς τῶν ἑβδομάδων ἑορτῆς οὕσης ὑπογύου.
12:32 Et post Pentecosten abierunt contra Gorgiam praepositum Idumaeae.
*H And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea.
Ver. 32. Gorgias, who had been twice defeated. C. x. 14. and 1 B. iv. 1. W. — Idumea. Grotius would read Jamnia. But he might govern the southern parts of Juda, (C.) then occupied by the Idumeans. H.
Μετὰ δὲ τὴν λεγομένην Πεντηκοστὴν, ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Γοργίαν τὸν τῆς Ἰδουμαίας στρατηγόν.
12:33 Exivit autem cum peditibus tribus millibus, et equitibus quadringentis.
And he came out with three thousand footmen and four hundred horsemen.
Ἐξῆλθε δὲ μετὰ πεζῶν τρισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ τετρακοσίων.
12:34 Quibus congressis, contigit paucos ruere Judaeorum.
And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were slain.
Καὶ παραταξαμένων συνέβη πεσεῖν ὀλίγους τῶν Ἰουδαίων.
12:35 Dositheus vero quidam de Bacenoris eques, vir fortis, Gorgiam tenebat : et, cum vellet illum capere vivum, eques quidam de Thracibus irruit in eum, humerumque ejus amputavit : atque ita Gorgias effugit in Maresa.
*H But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor's band, a valiant man, took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and so Gorgias escaped to Maresa.
Ver. 35. Maresa. Syr. "Samaria," as the Vulg. has. 1 B. v. 66.
Δωσίθεος δέ τις τῶν τοῦ Βακήνορος, ἔφιππος ἀνὴρ καὶ καρτερὸς, εἴχετο τοῦ Γοργίου, καὶ λαβόμενος τῆς χλαμύδος, ἦγεν αὐτὸν εὐρώστως, καὶ βουλόμενος τὸν κατάρατον λαβεῖν ζωγρίαν, τῶν ἱππέων Θρακῶν τινὸς ἐπενεχθέντος αὐτῷ καὶ τὸν ὦμον καθελόντος, διέφυγεν ὁ Γοργίας εἰς Μαρισά.
12:36 At illis qui cum Esdrim erant diutius pugnantibus et fatigatis, invocavit Judas Dominum adjutorem et ducem belli fieri :
But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the battle:
Τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἔσδριν ἐπιπλεῖον μαχομένων, καὶ κατακόπων ὄντων, ἐπικαλεσάμενος ὁ Ἰούδας τὸν Κύριον σύμμαχον φανῆναι καὶ προοδηγὸν τοῦ πολέμου,
12:37 incipiens voce patria, et cum hymnis clamorem extollens, fugam Gorgiae militibus incussit.
Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a loud voice, he put Gorgias's soldiers to flight.
καταρξάμενος τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ τὴν μεθʼ ὕμνων κραυγὴν, ἀναβοήσας, καὶ ἐνσείσας ἀπροσδοκήτως τοῖς περὶ τὸν Γοργίαν, τροπὴν αὐτῶν ἐποιήσατο.
12:38 Judas autem collecto exercitu venit in civitatem Odollam : et cum septima dies superveniret, secundum consuetudinem purificati, in eodem loco sabbatum egerunt.
*H So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the same place.
Ver. 38. Place. Probably without the walls. Num. xix. 2. 17. and xxxi. 19.
Ἰούδας δὲ ἀναλαβὼν τὸ στράτευμα, ἦγεν εἰς Ὀδολλὰμ πόλιν· τῆς δὲ ἑβδομάδος ἐπιβαλλούσης, κατὰ τὸν ἐθισμὸν ἁγνισθέντες αὐτόθι τὸ σάββατον διήγαγον.
12:39 Et sequenti die venit cum suis Judas, ut corpora prostratorum tolleret, et cum parentibus poneret in sepulchris paternis.
*H And the day following Judas came with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers.
Ver. 39. Following, on Saturday evening, or on Sunday. — Fathers, with those of the same nation.
Τῇ δὲ ἐχομένῃ ἦλθον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν καθʼ ὃν τρόπον τὸ τῆς χρείας ἐγεγόνει, τὰ τῶν προπεπτωκότων σώματα ἀνακομίσασθαι, καὶ μετὰ τῶν συγγενῶν ἀποκαταστῆσαι εἰς τοὺς πατρῴους τάφους.
12:40 Invenerunt autem sub tunicis interfectorum de donariis idolorum quae apud Jamniam fuerunt, a quibus lex prohibet Judaeos : omnibus ergo manifestum factum est, ob hanc causam eos corruisse.
* Footnotes
*H And they found under the coats of the slain, some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain.
Ver. 40. Of the donaries, &c. That is, of the votive offerings, which had been hung up in the temples of the idols, which they had taken away when they burnt the port of Jamnia, (v. 9.) contrary to the prohibition of the law. Deut. vii. 25. Ch. — All such things should have been destroyed, (Jos. vii. and 1 K. xv. W.) or melted down. Perhaps the soldiers intended to bring them to Judas. He excused them charitably, and hoped that their temporal chastisement might have served to expiate their fault.
Εὗρον δὲ ἑκάστου τῶν τεθνηκότων ὑπὸ τοὺς χιτῶνας ἱερώματα τῶν ἀπὸ Ἰαμνείας εἰδώλων, ἀφʼ ὧν ὁ νόμος ἀπείργει τοὺς Ἰουδαίους· τοῖς δὲ πᾶσι σαφὲς ἐγένετο διὰ τήνδε τὴν αἰτίαν τούσδε πεπτωκέναι.
12:41 Omnes itaque benedixerunt justum judicium Domini, qui occulta fecerat manifesta :
Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden.
Πάντες οὖν εὐλογήσαντες τοῦ δικαιοκρίτου Κυρίου τοῦ τὰ κεκρυμμένα φανερὰ ποιοῦντος,
12:42 atque ita ad preces conversi, rogaverunt ut id quod factum erat delictum oblivioni traderetur. At vero fortissimus Judas hortabatur populum conservare se sine peccato, sub oculis videntes quae facta sunt pro peccatis eorum qui prostrati sunt.
*H And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain.
Ver. 42. Forgotten. Syr. "imperfect." Gr. "effaced." C. — Some copies, "that they might not, on account of the sin committed, be entirely blotted out." Ald. Usher. — They were convinced that some sins might be forgiven in the other world, particularly when the living interceded. C. — The Jews began to pray for the dead after the captivity, (Grot.) when the prophets had more clearly explained what took place after death. C. — Yet the doctrine and practice might still be as ancient as the world. H. — If it had not prevailed before, Judas would never have entertained such sentiments. W. — The Jews admit a sort of purgatory for "the prevaricators of Israel," which differs from hell only in duration. They assert that the damned of their nation are exempt from suffering on the sabbath. Bartolocci. Leo v. 10. T. E. — Some Christians have supposed that the sin here specified was mortal, and the deceased in hell, yet prayer might be of service to them. Origen (Prin. iii. 6.) thought that even the devils would one day be liberated. S. Augustine (Ench. cx. 29.) says prayers "are of service, either that the remission may be entire, or surely that damnation itself may be more tolerable." Most understand this of purgatory: but several explain it of the damned. Rrot. Bened. — A mass was formerly composed for this purpose, tolerabilia fiant ipsa tormenta: and some monks prayed for certain robbers slain, "that their pains might be diminished by the severe judge." Aldrev. xxi. Excommunication might be taken off from the deceased. S. Greg. Dial. ii. 29. — Purgatory is for venial sins. Ib. iv. 39. This doctrine is proved beyond reply by various controvertists. C.
εἰς ἱκετείαν ἐτράπησαν, ἀξιώσαντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἁμάρτημα τελείως ἐξαλειφθῆναι· ὁ δὲ γενναῖος Ἰούδας παρεκάλεσε τὸ πλῆθος συντηρεῖν ἑαυτοὺς ἀναμαρτήτους εἶναι, ὑπʼ ὄψιν ἑωρακότας τὰ γεγονότα, διὰ τὴν τῶν προπεπτωκότων ἁμαρτίαν.
12:43 Et facta collatione, duodecim millia drachmas argenti misit Jerosolymam offerri pro peccatis mortuorum sacrificium, bene et religiose de resurrectione cogitans
*H And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection.
Ver. 43. Twelve. Gr. "two." Syr. "three." S. Prosper. reads "12,000 talents." Sacrifices for the dead were not enjoined, but the practice was then established, and this author takes every opportunity of proving the resurrection against the Sadducees, who then began to appear. The Church of Christ has adopted the same practice. See Bellarm. Serar. &c. Our adversaries confess that such was the opinion of the Jews, and of the ancient doctors of the Church. But they declare it superstitious, and deny the authority of these books, which has been sufficiently established. Could such holy personages authorize superstition? Would Christ and his apostles have tolerated it? S. Paul prayed for Onesiphorus after his decease. 2 Tim. i. 16. See Mat. xii. 33. Lu. xvi. 9. and 1 Cor. iii. 13. and xv. 29. Eus. Vita Const. iv. S. Epip. hær. lxxv. S. Cyp. i. ep. 9. Tert. &c. C.
Ποιησάμενός τε κατʼ ἀνδραλογίαν κατασκευάσματα εἰς ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς δισχιλίας, ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα προσαγαγεῖν περὶ ἁμαρτίας θυσίαν, πάνυ καλῶς καὶ ἀστείως πράττων, ὑπὲρ ἀναστάσεως διαλογιζόμενος·
12:44 (nisi enim eos qui ceciderant resurrecturos speraret, superfluum videretur et vanum orare pro mortuis),
(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοὺς προπεπτωκότας ἀναστῆναι προσεδόκα, περισσὸν ἂν ἦν καὶ ληρῶδες ὑπὲρ νεκρῶν προσεύχεσθαι·
12:45 et quia considerabat quod hi qui cum pietate dormitionem acceperant, optimam haberent repositam gratiam.
*H And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.
Ver. 45. With godliness. Judas hoped that these men who died fighting for the cause of God and religion, might find mercy; either because they might be excused from mortal sin by ignorance, or might have repented of their sin at least at their death. Ch. — Charity requires us to judge thus, when there are no positive proofs to the contrary. C. — Pope John VIII. answered the bishops of France, that those who died fighting against infidels were saved. Mabil. T. iii. An. Ben. — Judas might entertain the like hopes, though they are not always well grounded. H.
εἶτʼ ἐμβλέπων τοῖς μετʼ εὐσεβείας κοιμωμένοις κάλλιστον ἀποκείμενον χαριστήριον· ὁσία καὶ εὐσεβὴς ἡ ἐπίνοια· ὅθεν περὶ τῶν τεθνηκότων τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν ἐποιήσατο, τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολυθῆναι.
12:46 Sancta ergo et salubris est cogitatio pro defunctis exorare, ut a peccatis solvantur.
*H It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
Ver. 46. Holy. This text is so clear, that our adversaries judge it best to deny the book to be canonical. As that has been authentically proved, (Pref.) we shall only add that the Greek version, though differing in many points, is here as express as the Vulg. (W.) 45. "considering that the best grace is laid up for those who sleep in piety. Holy and pious is the thought. (H.) Wherefore he made reconciliation (or expiation) for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin," or punishment due to it. W. — Sin is often taken for the punishment; and this effect of mortal sin may be remitted in purgatory, when the person has sincerely repented in this life. H. — To pass over other proofs, we will only mention S. Aug. (hær. liii.) and S. Bernard, (Cant. lxvi.) who plainly account those "heretics," who deny purgatory. It is also worthy of notice that Judas, who acted thus charitably, was the high priest and defender of the true faith; and that the Jews still pray for the dead, as the book Mahzor, published by Genebrard, 1569, evinces. There they say, "Let him rest in peace," and "ye angels of peace come forth to meet him." But this is acknowledged by Munster and Fagius, (in Deut. xiv.) and by Whitaker. — Sins. Go to 1 B. vi. 18. W.