2 Machabees xv.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. But. Read here 1 Machabees vii. 39. (Worthington) — Samaria. Arabic, “Sebaste,” which is the same. Yet Judas was at Adarsa, in the tribe of Ephraim. (Calmet) — Sabbath. The profane take advantage of people’s tender consciences. But Judas being well-informed, fought on the sabbath, 1 Machabees iii. 40.
Ver. 5. Earth. O Luciferian blasphemy! (Worthington) — He seems to place himself above the Lord of heaven. (Calmet)
Ver. 6. Public. Greek, “common trophy over all the men of Judas.” (Haydock) — Syriac, “he fortified himself exceedingly.” A trophy consisted of the trunk of a tree hung round with arms.
Ver. 10. Oaths, of which Eupator had lately given an instance. Apollonius and the people of Joppe had acted perfidiously. (Calmet)
Ver. 11. Not with, not only, or so much with, &c. (Haydock) — Dream. He knew it was supernatural (Calmet) by God’s light, as St. Joseph did, Matthew i. 20. (Worthington)
Ver. 12. Onias III, who had been slain (Calmet) at Daphne, chap. iv. 34. (Haydock) — The Jewish and Christian Churches never doubted that the saints interceded in the other world for the living, in whose concerns they take part. (Calmet) — Protestants evade this text by denying the canonicity of the book. Yet the same is proved [in] Genesis xlviii., Exodus xxxii., Jeremias xv., Luke xvi., Apocalypse v. 6, 8., and 2 Peter i., and we have a right to produce the authority of this book, as Origen, (18 in Jo.) St. Bernard, (76 in Cant. & ser. 3. Nat., &c.) have done. Onias and Jeremias, in limbo, interested themselves for the faithful on earth, and no doubt the saints in glory will do as much. (Worthington)
Ver. 15. Gold, such as kings and chief officers of Persia used. (Calmet) — Jeremias (xxxviii. 17.) had formerly dissuaded war: now he encourages it; as it also has a time, Ecclesiastes iii. 8. (Worthington)
Ver. 17. Fight. Greek, “not to fortify the camp,” (Calmet) or “remain there:” (Haydock) me stratopedeuesthai. (Calmet) — Grabe reads strateuesthai, “to act as soldiers.” (Haydock) — Syriac, “not to trust in troops set in array, but to take courage, and to expose their lives, in this extremity, for their country and for the temple.”
Ver. 25. Songs. Greek, “pean,” sung in honour of Apollo. (Calmet) — Before battle his aid was thus invoked, and he was thanked with songs after a victory. (Grotius)
Ver. 27. Five. Josephus has only 30,000. (Antiquities xii. 17.) (Calmet) — Presence. He had granted them victory. (Menochius)
Ver. 28. Armour, at the beginning of the battle, 1 Machabees vii. 44.
Ver. 29. Language, composing a canticle in Hebrew or using such as had been written (Calmet) by David, &c. (Haydock)
Ver. 30. Shoulder. Thus his bust was set up. But the right arm was hung over-against the temple, ver. 33., and 1 Machabees vii. 47. (Calmet)
Ver. 34. Blessed. Greek, “raising their voices, (Menochius) or looking towards heaven, praised the Lord, who had made himself manifest:” epiphane kurion. (Haydock)
Ver. 37. Adar; our February and March. The 13th was the feast, “of lots,” Esther ix. 23. (Calmet)
Ver. 38. So. Read 1 Machabees viii. 1., where more on this subject is written. After other persecutors were overcome, the land was at rest, and the author adds this general conclusion. (Worthington)
Ver. 39. So. Greek, “If in a frugal and middling style, this is as well as I was able.” (Haydock) — Perfectly. This is not said with regard to the truth of the narration, but with regard to the style and manner of writing, which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. Paul, 2 Corinthians xi. 6. (Challoner) — The style was frequently left to their choice. (Haydock) — Inspiration did not exclude natural acquirements. (Calmet) — The author is not afraid of having said any thing erroneous, though he might be less polished, like St. Paul: imperitus sermone sed non scientia. But we, having now come to the end of the Old Testament, must crave pardon for any mistakes into which we may have fallen, in the execution of this work, which is dedicated to the English (Worthington) and to all his majesty’s Catholic subjects, for whose benefit chiefly and for the sake of religion it has been undertaken. The many things hard to be understood, [2 Peter iii. 16.] which we did not wish to pass over, have swelled this work to a larger volume than was at first intended; larger, perhaps, than the purses of the poor and middle ranks, in the late hard times, could bear. But now the prospect is more cheering; and it is hoped that this profusion on a subject of such vast importance will be pardoned, particularly as we had also to comply with the desires of the more affluent, who repeatedly requested that the notes might be rather “more ample.” As they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of others, so we, for the sake of many, willingly undergo the labour, chap. ii. 28. The variety of matter and of style may well be compared to a mixture of wine and water, ver. 40. Yet our aim has not been merely to please, but rather to counteract the baneful influences of heresy and infidelity. Thomas Paine (Age of Reason, part 2nd) having touched upon a few difficulties in some of the books of Scripture, says exultingly: “I have gone through the Bible as a man would go through a wood, with an axe on his shoulders, and fell trees; here they lie, and the priests, if they can, may replant them. They may perhaps stick them in the ground, but they will never grow.” Yes, they will grow, and brave the fury of tempests, because they have been planted not by priest, but by the hand of God. The Scriptures and the Church will stand and support each other till time shall be no more. The true faith has been preserved from Adam through all succeeding generations, and antichrist himself will not be able to destroy it. My WORD shall not pass away, [Mark xiii. 31.] says our divine Master. As we have repeatedly proved this assertion in the foregoing notes, which are already perhaps too copious, we shall refer the more inquisitive reader to the remarks of Dr. Worthington on the six ages, in the Douay Bible.
Ver. 40. Always. Greek, “only.” (Haydock) — Readers delight in variety. A middle style is adopted. (Calmet) — But. Greek, “But as wine mixed with water is pleasant, and affords delight, so the preparation (or style) of a discourse pleases the ears of those who read what is collected. But here shall be an end.” (Haydock)
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N.B.[Note Well:] The Third and Fourth Book of Machabees, as also the Third and Fourth Book of Esdras, (which some call the First and Second of Esdras) and the Prayer of Manasses, are here omitted, because they have never been received by the Church. (Challoner)
END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Judas, encouraged by a vision, gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The conclusion.
1 But *when Nicanor understood that Judas was in the places of Samaria, he purposed to set upon him with all violence, on the sabbath day.
2 And when the Jews that were constrained to follow him, said: Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honour to the day that is sanctified: and reverence him that beholdeth all things:
3 That unhappy man asked, if there were a mighty One in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.
4 And when they answered: There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the mighty One, that commanded the seventh day to be kept.
5 Then he said: And I am mighty upon the earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king’s business. Nevertheless he prevailed not to accomplish his design.
6 So Nicanor being puffed up with exceeding great pride, thought to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas.
7 But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help them.
8 And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now to hope for victory from the Almighty.
9 And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made them more cheerful:
10 Then after he had encouraged them, he shewed withal the falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths.
11 So he armed every one of them, not with defence of shield and spear, but with very good speeches and exhortations, and told them a dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all.
12 Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues, holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews:
13 After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty:
14 Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God.
15 Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:
16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people, Israel.
17 Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the temple were in danger.
18 For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and for their brethren, and kinsfolks: but their greatest and principal fear was for the holiness of the temple.
19 And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for them that were to be engaged in battle.
20 And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the horsemen ranged in convenient places,
21 Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, that worketh wonders, who giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to the power of their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him.
22 And in his prayer he said after this manner: *Thou, O Lord, who didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib:
23 Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm,
24 That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer.
25 But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with trumpets and songs.
26 But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling upon God by prayers:
27 So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly cheered with the presence of God.
28 And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour.
29 Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty Lord in their own language.
30 And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor’s head, and his hand, with the shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.
31 And when he was come thither, having called together his countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castle,
32 And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the Almighty God,
33 He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor, should be cut out and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious man to be hanged up over-against the temple.
34 Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.
35 And he hung up Nicanor’s head in the top of the castle, that it might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.
36 And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this day pass without solemnity:
37 But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias’ day.
38 So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my narration.
39 Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.
40 For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. But here it shall be ended.
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1: Year of the World 3843, Year before Christ 161.; 1 Machabees vii. 26.
22: 2 Machabees viii. 19.