*H In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas understood that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a multitude against Judea,
Ver. 1. Eupator. Several of his generals had been already defeated. He therefore comes in person. 1 B. vi. 28. C. — He was not above ten years old. But Lysias thought that his presence would animate the soldiers. H.
*H And with him Lysias the regent, who had charge over the affairs of the realm, having with him a hundred and ten thousand footmen, five thousand horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.
Ver. 2. A hundred and ten thousand, &c. The difference between the numbers here set down and those recorded 1 Mac. iv. is easily accounted for, if we consider that such armies as these are liable to be at one time more numerous than at another, either by sending away large detachments, or being diminished by sickness, or increased by receiving fresh supplies of troops, according to different exigencies or occurrences. Ch. — There are many such difficulties in the Books of Kings, &c. Only some of the troops were permanent. W. — Most were auxiliaries, so that the number might often vary. Nothing is said of the chariots. 1 B. vi. 30.
*H Menelaus also joined himself with them: and with great deceitfulness besought Antiochus, not for the welfare of his country, but in hopes that he should be appointed chief ruler.
Ver. 3. Country. He had continued at Antioch, as the Jews would not receive him. C. iv. 24. C. — Yet now he pretended to be solicitous for their welfare, (H.) only that he might obtain power.
*H But the King of kings stirred up the mind of Antiochus against the sinner, and upon Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of all the evils, he commanded (as the custom is with them) that he should be apprehended and put to death in the same place.
Ver. 4. Evils. The ambition of Jason and of Menelaus had brought on all these disturbances. C. iv. 7. &c. and 1 B. i. 12. — Place. It would seem on the journey to Judea: but Josephus says he was slain after the king's return, at Antioch. The sacred historian relates what concerns him together. C. — In the. Gr. "conducting him to Berea." H.
*H Now there was in that place a tower fifty cubits high, having a heap of ashes on every side: this had a prospect steep down.
Ver. 5. Down. A beam was laid across the walls, on which the criminal, having been well regaled with wine, was placed till he fell among the ashes. V. Max. ix. 2. — Hystaspes invented this punishment. C. — Prospect. Gr. "organ, (or round instrument)" (Prot.) like a wheel, (C.) "hanging (or whirling a person) on all sides headlong over the ashes. Thence all pushed him who was guilty of sacrilege, or of other crimes, forward to ruin." H. — Syr. passes over v. 5. and 6. C.
*H But the king, with his mind full of rage, came on to shew himself worse to the Jews than his father was.
Ver. 9. With. Gr. "rendered barbarous by his designs," (H.) intending to punish the Jews worse than his father.
*H But he, with the ancients, determined before the king should bring his army into Judea, and make himself master of the city, to go out, and to commit the event of the thing to the judgment of the Lord.
Ver. 13. Ancients. The people were not convoked. C.
*H And having given his company for a watchword, The victory of God, with most valiant chosen young men, he set upon the king's quarter by night, and slew four thousand men in the camp, and the greatest of the elephants, with them that had been upon him,
Ver. 15. Watchword that night. W. — He usually gave some pious sentence. C. vii. 23. — Quarter. Lit. "hall," (H.) a prætorium, or tent. — Four. Some Gr. and Lat. copies have "two." Syr. "three," though the old edit. of the Vulg. read, 14,000. — Greatest, carrying thirty-two men. 1 B. vi. 37. Gr. also, "the chief over the elephants, with all his troop in the house," (H.) or the servants. C. — Prot. "will all that were upon him." H. — This office was very considerable. C. xiv. 12. Grot. C.
*H But Rhodocus, one of the Jews' army, disclosed the secrets to the enemies, so he was sought out, and taken up, and put in prison.
Ver. 21. Prison. This traitor was either in the camp or at Bethsura. C.
*H Again the king treated with them that were in Bethsura: gave his right hand: took theirs: and went away.
Ver. 22. Away. Cæsar said in the same laconic style, Veni, vidi, vici. H.
*H He fought with Judas: and was overcome. And when he understood that Philip, who had been left over the affairs, had rebelled at Antioch, he was in a consternation of mind, and entreating the Jews, and yielding to them, he swore to all things that seemed reasonable, and, being reconciled, offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and left gifts.
Ver. 23. Overcome. Hence Eleazar signalized himself. 1 B. vi. 43. — Rebelled. Lysias persuaded him to treat the just exertions of Philip in this light. He was himself the usurper of the regency. He easily persuaded the young prince that peace was now most expedient; and conditions were granted to the Jews, which would have been very advantageous if they had been observed. But the king having offered sacrifice by the hands of the priests, and seeing the strength of the wall round Sion, ordered them to be demolished. C.
*H He embraced Machabeus, and made him governor and prince from Ptolemais unto the Gerrenians.
Ver. 24. Gerrenians. Gerrus was on the frontiers of Egypt. Ptol. — It was formerly called Gerara. Gen. xx. 1. The successors of Judas afterwards possessed this government. C. — Gr. "He made Hegemonides governor from," &c. Usher, A. 3841.
*H But when he was come to Ptolemais, the men of that city were much displeased with the conditions of the peace, being angry for fear they should break the covenant.
Ver. 25. Of the. They disliked a Jewish governor, being always bitter against that nation. C. vi. 8. and 1 B. v. 15. and xii. 48. C. — Gr. "they or he raged, because they would break the agreements" (H.) with the Jews, (C.) or would revolt. Syr. Grot.