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9:1 Eodem tempore, Antiochus inhoneste revertebatur de Perside.
*H At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia.


Ver. 1. At. Read 1 B. iv. 28. W. — Time, A. 3840. The motives and ill success of this journey are given 1 B. iii. 31. and vi. 1. C.

9:2 Intraverat enim in eam quae dicitur Persepolis, et tentavit expoliare templum, et civitatem opprimere : sed multitudine ad arma concurrente, in fugam versi sunt : et ita contigit ut Antiochus post fugam turpiter rediret.
*H For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight, returned with disgrace.


Ver. 2. Persepolis; otherwise called Elymais, (Ch.) a chief (W.) "city of Persia." Hence Elymais may be called Persepolis. H. — The famous city of this name, where Cyrus had built a palace to the astonishment of the world, had been (C.) burnt by Alexander when intoxicated, and urged on by a harlot. Curt. v. 15. — Noble ruins still remain on the Araxes.

9:3 Et cum venisset circa Ecbatanam, recognovit quae erga Nicanorem et Timotheum gesta sunt.
*H Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.


Ver. 3. Ecbatana, capital of Media. C. — See C. i. 16. H.

9:4 Elatus autem in ira, arbitrabatur se injuriam illorum qui se fugaverant posse in Judaeos retorquere : ideoque jussit agitari currum suum sine intermissione agens iter, caelesti eum judicio perurgente, eo quod ita superbe locutus est se venturum Jerosolymam, et congeriem sepulchri Judaeorum eam facturum.
*H And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.


Ver. 4. Forward. He felt a violent fit of the cholic.

9:5 Sed qui universa conspicit Dominus Deus Israel, percussit eum insanabili et invisibili plaga. Ut enim finivit hunc ipsum sermonem, apprehendit eum dolor dirus viscerum, et amara internorum tormenta :
But the Lord, the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts.
* Footnote * 2_Paralipomenon 16 : 9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee.
9:6 et quidem satis juste, quippe qui multis et novis cruciatibus aliorum torserat viscera, licet ille nullo modo a sua malitia cessaret.
And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.
9:7 Super hoc autem superbia repletus, ignem spirans animo in Judaeos, et praecipiens accelerari negotium, contigit illum impetu euntem de curru cadere, et gravi corporis collisione membra vexari.
Moreover, being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence, that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.
9:8 Isque qui sibi videbatur etiam fluctibus maris imperare, supra humanum modum superbia repletus, et montium altitudines in statera appendere, nunc humiliatus ad terram in gestatorio portabatur, manifestam Dei virtutem in semetipso contestans :
*H Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:


Ver. 8. Man. He seems to have claimed divine honours, v. 12. C. v. 21. and ix. 8. Dan. xi. 36. Arab. C.

9:9 ita ut de corpore impii vermes scaturirent, ac viventis in doloribus carnes ejus effluerent, odore etiam illius et foetore exercitus gravaretur :
So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army.
9:10 et qui paulo ante sidera caeli contingere se arbitrabatur, eum nemo poterat propter intolerantiam foetoris portare.
And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.
9:11 Hinc igitur coepit ex gravi superbia deductus ad agnitionem sui venire, divina admonitus plaga, per momenta singula doloribus suis augmenta capientibus.
And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.
9:12 Et cum nec ipse jam foetorem suum ferre posset, ita ait : Justum est subditum esse Deo, et mortalem non paria Deo sentire.
And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not equal himself to God.
9:13 Orabat autem hic scelestus Dominum, a quo non esset misericordiam consecuturus.
*H Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.


Ver. 13. Not like. Because his repentance was not for the offence committed against God, but barely on account of his present sufferings. Ch. — For these he really grieved. 1 B. vi. 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. W. — In like manner Esau repented for the loss of his birthright. Heb. xii. 17. M. — Epiphanes had abandoned God, who now laughs at him, (Prov. i. 26.) as some of the Machabees had threatened. C. vii. 14. 7. 9. 31. 2. 5. 6. He is the model of false penitents, who are actuated by servile fear.

9:14 Et civitatem, ad quam festinans veniebat ut eam ad solum deduceret ac sepulchrum congestorum faceret, nunc optat liberam reddere :
*H And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to make free:


Ver. 14. Free and independent, (C.) like Antioch. Pliny v. 21.

9:15 et Judaeos, quos nec sepultura quidem se dignos habiturum, sed avibus ac feris diripiendos traditurum, et cum parvulis exterminaturum dixerat, aequales nunc Atheniensibus facturum pollicetur :
*H And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.


Ver. 15. Athenians. This seems to have been put for Antiochians, C. iv. 9. in Greek; which name would suit better here, as Epiphanes had no power over Athens. Grot. C. — Yet it was highly privileged (H.) above all the cities of Greece. M. — Jason had obtained for the citizens of Jerusalem to be called Antiochians. C. vi. 1. But this grant had been revoked, or not carried into effect since the late troubles. C. — Here the privilege is to be extended to all the Jews. H. — Ptolemais and Calliroe enjoyed the same. Harduin.

9:16 templum etiam sanctum, quod prius expoliaverat, optimis donis ornaturum, et sancta vasa multiplicaturum, et pertinentes ad sacrificia sumptus de redditibus suis praestaturum :
*H The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.


Ver. 16. Sacrifices, as Darius, Philometor, and afterwards (1 B. x. 39.) Nicator did. 1 Esd. vi. 9. C.

9:17 super haec, et Judaeum se futurum, et omnem locum terrae perambulaturum, et praedicaturum Dei potestatem.
Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God.
9:18 Sed non cessantibus doloribus (supervenerat enim in eum justum Dei judicium), desperans scripsit ad Judaeos in modum deprecationis epistolam haec continentem :
But his pains not ceasing, (for the just judgment of God was come upon him) despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:
9:19 Optimis civibus Judaeis plurimam salutem, et bene valere, et esse felices, rex et principes Antiochus.
*H To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness.


Ver. 19. Subjects. Lit. "citizens." H. — Similar addresses (v. 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.

9:20 Si bene valetis, et filii vestri, et ex sententia vobis cuncta sunt, maximas agimus gratias.
If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.
9:21 Et ego in infirmitate constitutus, vestri autem memor benigne reversus de Persidis locis, et infirmitate gravi apprehensus, necessarium duxi pro communi utilitate curam habere :
As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:
9:22 non desperans memetipsum, sed spem multam habens effugiendi infirmitatem.
Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.
9:23 Respiciens autem quod et pater meus, quibus temporibus in locis superioribus ducebat exercitum, ostendit qui post se susciperet principatum :
*H But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:


Ver. 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 Dan. xi.) 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.

A.M. 3817, A.C. 187.
9:24 ut si quid contrarium accideret, aut difficile nuntiaretur, scientes hi qui in regionibus erant, cui esset rerum summa derelicta, non turbarentur.
To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.
9:25 Ad haec, considerans de proximo potentes quosque et vicinos temporibus insidiantes, et eventum exspectantes, designavi filium meum Antiochum regem, quem saepe recurrens in superiora regna multis vestrum commendabam : et scripsi ad eum quae subjecta sunt.
*H Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.


Ver. 25. Antiochus Eupator, nine years old. — Below. This is lost.

9:26 Ora itaque vos, et peto memores beneficiorum publice et privatim, ut unusquisque conservet fidem ad me et ad filium meum.
*H I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.


Ver. 26. Favours. He must have been deranged. C.

9:27 Confido enim eum modeste et humane acturum, et sequentem propositum meum, et communem vobis fore.
For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.
9:28 Igitur homicida et blasphemus pessime percussus, et ut ipse alios tractaverat, peregre in montibus miserabili obitu vita functus est.
*H Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country, among the mountains.


Ver. 28. Mountains, at Tabes, (Polyb.) in Patacene. Curt. v. — Historians relate that he lost his senses, ( δαιμονησας ) being terrified by a demon, on account of his criminal attempt against the temple of Diana. Polyb. excerp. Vales. S. Jer. — 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. C. — S. Cyprian (exhort.) styles him "an inveterate enemy to all good; nay, in Antiochus antichrist is expressed." W.

A.M. 3839.
9:29 Transferebat autem corpus Philippus collactaneus ejus : qui, metuens filium Antiochi, ad Ptolemaeum Philometorem in Aegyptum abiit.
*H But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.


Ver. 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. C. — Read 1 B. vi. 17. W.

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