HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

2 MACHABEES 13

CHAPTER XIII.

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.

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 that 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ver. 9. With. Gr. "rendered barbarous by his designs," (H.) intending to punish the Jews worse than his father.

Ver. 13. Ancients. The people were not convoked. C.

Ver. 15. Watchword that night. W. --- He usually gave some pious sentence. C. vii. 23. --- Quarter. Lit. "hall," (H.) a prÃ¦torium, 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 troops 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.

Ver. 21. Prison. This traitor was either in the camp or at Bethsura. C.

Ver. 22. Away. CÃ¦sar said in the same laconic style, Veni, vidi, vici. H.

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.

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.

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.