7:1 Contigit autem et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas, flagris et taureis cruciatos.
*H It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges.
Ver. 1. Scourges, made of leather thongs; taureis. H. — These brethren are styled Machabees; as Judas rendered this name so famous, that all who suffered or fought valiantly for religion in those times, went by this appellation. Josephus has much embellished this history, and Erasmus still more. The tombs of these martyrs were shewn at Antioch. C. — Their names are not known. H. — Those who wish to see more, may consult the large discourse of Josephus on the Machabees, (W.) though this work be contested, and S. Cyp. iv. ep. 6. S. Amb. i. of. 40. S. Chrys. Aug. Leo, &c. W.
A.M. 3837, A.C. 167.
7:2 Unus autem ex illis, qui erat primus, sic ait : Quid quaeris, et quid vis discere a nobis ? parati sumus mori, magis quam patrias Dei leges praevaricari.
But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers.
7:3 Iratus itaque rex, jussit sartagines et ollas aeneas succendi : quibus statim succensis,
Then the king being angry, commanded fryingpans and brazen caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated,
7:4 jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam, et cute capitis abstracta, summas quoque manus et pedes ei praescindi, ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.
He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had spoken first: and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.
7:5 Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri, et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine : in qua cum diu cruciaretur, ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,
And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the fryingpan: and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully,
7:6 dicentes : Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem, et consolabitur in nobis, quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses : Et in servis suis consolabitur.
*H Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle; And in his servants he will take pleasure.
Ver. 6. Pleasure. Lit. "be comforted," as the Sept. translate, (H.) Deut. xxxii. 36. It may imply that God will avenge or chastise his servants, and then restore them to favour. This latter sense is here adopted. v. 35.
7:7 Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo, sequentem deducebant ad illudendum : et cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta, interrogabant si manducaret, priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.
So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the next to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he were punished throughout the whole body in every limb.
7:8 At ille respondens patria voce, dixit : Non faciam. Propter quod et iste, sequenti loco, primi tormenta suscepit :
*H But he answered in his own language, and said: I will not do it. Wherefore he also, in the next place, received the torments of the first:
Ver. 8. Language. The Jews have always been very attentive to their own language, though they be forced to learn others for the sake of commerce, and to hold conversation with those among whom they live. This young man, no doubt, understood Greek, in which language his brother had probably spoken. The mother addressed her children in the Hebrew or Syriac tongue. v. 21. 27. C.
7:9 et in ultimo spiritu constitutus, sic ait : Tu quidem scelestissime in praesenti vita nos perdis : sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in aeternae vitae resurrectione suscitabit.
*H And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou indeed, O most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the resurrection of eternal life.
Ver. 9. Most wicked. The martyrs have sometimes been inspired by God to speak in harsh language to magistrates; though their office generally commands respect. H. — Life. The resurrection is clearly specified in all these answers. The Redeemer was near at hand. C. — Christiani fuerunt...factis. S. Aug. ser. i. 2.
7:10 Post hunc tertius illuditur, et linguam postulatus cito protulit, et manus constanter extendit :
After him the third was made a mocking-stock, and when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched out his hands:
7:11 et cum fiducia ait : E caelo ista possideo, sed propter Dei leges nunc haec ipsa despicio, quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero :
And said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now despise them, because I hope to receive them again from him.
7:12 ita ut rex, et qui cum ipso erant, mirarentur adolescentis animum, quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.
So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing.
7:13 Et hoc ita defuncto, quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.
And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like manner.
7:14 Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait : Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo, iterum ab ipso resuscitandos : tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.
And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up again by him; for, as to thee, thou shalt have no resurrection unto life.
7:15 Et cum admovissent quintum, vexabant eum. At ille respiciens in eum,
And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he, looking upon the king,
7:16 dixit : Potestatem inter homines habens, cum sis corruptibilis, facis quod vis : noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum :
*H Said: Whereas thou hast power among men though thou art corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt but think not that our nation is forsaken by God.
Ver. 16. Power. Nothing could be more free than this answer, which greatly resembles that of Christ. John xix. 11. C.
7:17 tu autem patienter sustine, et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius, qualiter te et semen tuum torquebit.
But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his great power, in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed.
7:18 Post hunc ducebant sextum, et is, mori incipiens, sic ait : Noli frustra errare : nos enim propter nosmetipsos haec patimur, peccantes in Deum nostrum, et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis :
After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of admiration are done to us:
7:19 tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum, quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.
But do not think that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou hast attempted to fight against God.
7:20 Supra modum autem mater mirabilis, et bonorum memoria digna, quae pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens, bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat :
*H Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be remembered by good men, who beheld her seven sons slain in the space of one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in God:
Ver. 20. Seven. The last was not yet dead: but he was before this was written, so that the mother's praise was perfect. H.
7:21 singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter, repleta sapientia : et, femineae cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,
And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, being filled with wisdom; and joining a man's heart to a woman's thought,
7:22 dixit ad eos : Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis, neque enim ego spiritum et animam donavi vobis et vitam, et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi :
*H She said to them: I know not how you were formed in my womb; for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the limbs of every one of you.
Ver. 22. Womb. This has always astonished the learned, the infant being formed often against the woman's desire. Job x. 10. Wisd. vii. 2. S. Aug. anima i. 15. C.
7:23 sed enim mundi Creator, qui formavit hominis nativitatem, quique omnium invenit originem, et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam, sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.
But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, and that found out the origin of all, he will restore to you again, in his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.
7:24 Antiochus autem, contemni se arbitratus, simul et exprobrantis voce despecta, cum adhuc adolescentior superesset, non solum verbis hortabatur, sed et cum juramento affirmabat se divitem et beatum facturum, et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum, et res necessarias ei praebiturum.
*H Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with things necessary.
Ver. 24. Despising. Lit. "despising the voice of the insulter." Gr. "fearing or perceiving that the speech was reproachful." H. — Syr. "turned aside not to hear the reproaches," &c. He did not understand Hebrew; but perceiving the constancy of the young men, he thought that their mother exhorted them to refuse compliance. C. — Happy. This is beyond the power of riches or of any king. H.
7:25 Sed ad haec cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur, vocavit rex matrem, et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.
But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young man to save his life.
7:26 Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus, promisit suasurum se filio suo.
*H And when he had exhorted her with many words she promised that she would counsel her son.
Ver. 26. Promised. A promise regards something good; so that if a person should even bind himself by an oath to do evil, he must refrain, as to comply would he another sin. W. — This woman promised to counsel, but not as the king wished, (H.) to gain a prolongation of life and worldly honours for her son. M. — Such an equivocation was lawful. W. — The king might blame himself if he was deceived. H.
7:27 Itaque inclinata ad illum, irridens crudelem tyrannum, ait patria voce : Fili mi, miserere mei, quae te in utero novem mensibus portavi, et lac triennio dedi et alui, et in aetatem istam perduxi.
*H So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in her own language: My son have pity upon me, that bore thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age.
Ver. 27. Three years. So long physicians judged it best for children to suck, till they could take solid meat. Vales. lxxxiii. Gen. xxi. 8. C. — "Chrysippus assigns three years for the nurse." Quint. i. 1.
7:28 Peto, nate, ut aspicias ad caelum et terram, et ad omnia quae in eis sunt, et intelligas quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus, et hominum genus :
*H I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also:
Ver. 28. Nothing, not out of pre-existent and eternal matter. S. Aug. Nat. boni xxvi. Rom. iv. 17. — So God can reduce all to nothing. C. viii. 18.
7:29 ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum, sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps, suscipe mortem, ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.
*H So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may receive thee again with thy brethren.
Ver. 29. Mercy, in eternity of bliss. v. 23. Syr. C.
7:30 Cum haec illa adhuc diceret, ait adolescens : Quem sustinetis ? non obedio praecepto regis, sed praecepto legis, quae data est nobis per Moysen.
While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: For whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the commandment of the law which was given us by Moses.
7:31 Tu vero, qui inventor omnis malitiae factus es in Hebraeos, non effugies manum Dei.
But thou that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God.
7:32 Nos enim pro peccatis nostris haec patimur.
For we suffer thus for our sins.
7:33 Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est : sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.
And though the Lord, our God, is angry with us a little while, for our chastisement and correction, yet he will be reconciled again to his servants.
7:34 Tu autem, o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime, noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus :
But thou, O wicked, and of all men most flagitious, be not lifted up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against his servants.
7:35 nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis, judicium effugisti.
For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the Almighty God, who beholdeth all things.
7:36 Nam fratres mei, modico nunc dolore sustentato, sub testamento aeternae vitae effecti sunt : tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiae tuae poenas exsolves.
*H For my brethren having now undergone a short pain, are under the covenant of eternal life: but thou, by the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.
Ver. 36. Life. Gr. "short labour of eternal life, are fallen under the covenant of God." H. — They enjoy that life which God promised.
7:37 Ego autem, sicut fratres mei, animam et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus, invocans Deum maturius genti nostrae propitium fieri, teque cum tormentis et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.
*H But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he alone is God.
Ver. 37. God. This was accomplished, v. 17. C. ix. 15.
7:38 In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira, quae super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.
*H But in me, and in my brethren, the wrath of the Almighty, which hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease.
Ver. 38. Cease. The persecution was severe, but short. Judas the next year (A. 3838. C.) began to liberate the nation, (H.) by God's mercy. C. viii. 5, 27.
7:39 Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc, super omnes crudelius desaevit, indigne ferens se derisum.
Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked.
7:40 Et hic itaque mundus obiit, per omnia in Domino confidens.
*H So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord.
Ver. 40. Undefiled, by idolatry. We read 4 Mac. that he threw himself into a boiling cauldron; (C.) and Josephus says his mother "jumped into the fire that she might not be touched by any." But this is uncertain. The Church honours S. Apollonia, who acted thus; (Feb. ix.) it is supposed by divine inspiration. H.
7:41 Novissime autem post filios, et mater consumpta est.
*H And last of all, after the sons, the mother also was consumed.
Ver. 41. Consumed. G. "died" (H.) of joy: (Sixth. Bib. v. Victoria) she placed herself amid the dead bodies, and begged of God to release her soul; which was granted. Arab. Gorion. — But most believe that she suffered martyrdom immediately after her children. Jos. &c. — The Church honoured these martyrs from the earliest ages, and before any other of the Old Testament. We may justly style them the martyrs of the resurrection, as none at that time had spoken of it so distinctly. SS. Naz. Max. of Turin, Gaudentius, &c. have pronounced panegyrics upon them.
7:42 Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.
*H But now there is enough said of the sacrifices and of the excessive cruelties.
Ver. 42. Sacrifices. Gr. ` splagcnismouV. C. vi. 21. H. — Read 1 B. ii. 1. where the wars begun by Mathathias, and persecuted by Judas, are recorded. W.