Commentaria in II Machabaeorum
AND HAD GIVEN THEM FOR A WATCHWORD,—that is, the military token, THE HELP OF GOD; as if to say, Judas gave his men this watchword of the war, by which allies might be distinguished from enemies: “God is the helper of his own.” This was the omen and cause of all his victories, that Judas placed all hope of victory not in his own strength but in God’s: so the Gentiles often gave this watchword in war: “God with us,” says Vegetius, Book III, chapter iii. So Cyrus’ watchword in war was: “Jupiter, ally and leader in war,” says Xenophon, Book III. Pompey’s, in the Pharsalian line, was this: “Invincible Hercules;” but Julius Caesar’s this: “Victorious Venus,” as Appian testifies, Book II On the Civil Wars. So Sanchez, Serarius, Salian and others.
HIMSELF (Judas) LEADING THE FIRST BAND, HE JOINED BATTLE (the fight) WITH NICANOR.
24. AND THE ALMIGHTY BEING THEIR HELPER, THEY SLEW ABOVE NINE THOUSAND MEN,—the rest being put to flight or taken.
26. BUT COMING BACK FOR WANT OF TIME THEY WERE HINDERED,—as if to say, the evening hour which preceded the sabbath coming on, they were restricted and forbidden to pursue the fleeing enemies, for rest had been enjoined on them by the law on the sabbath; and the sabbath began from the evening hour of the day before.
28. THEY GAVE PART OF THE SPOILS TO THE WEAK, AND TO THE ORPHANS AND THE WIDOWS.—See here the charity and liberality of Judas and his soldiers, who in thanksgiving for the victory obtained from God distribute the spoils to the needy, and therefore obtained new victories from God, who is more gracious to the grateful and more liberal to the liberal: for verse 30, from the camp of Timothy “they slew above twenty thousand, and made themselves masters of high strongholds, and divided very many spoils.” Let confessors and preachers set this example of the Jews before Christian generals and soldiers, that by imitating it in like manner they may deserve to be blessed by God and loaded with victories. Indeed the Turk, when he has obtained some signal victory over enemies, is wont in thanksgiving to erect some hospital to feed the poor, and to endow it.
29. AND WHEN THEY HAD ALL MADE A COMMON SUPPLICATION (let our soldiers imitate this common litany also), THEY BEGGED OF THE MERCIFUL LORD TO BE RECONCILED TO HIS SERVANTS FOR EVER,—namely that he who had hitherto been offended by the sins of the Jews, and therefore chastised them through Antiochus, being at last appeased by common prayers, would remove this scourge, and deliver them fully and entirely from every inroad of enemies.
30. GIVING AN EQUAL PORTION TO THE MAIMED, TO THE ORPHANS, TO THE WIDOWS, YEA, AND TO THE AGED ALSO.—(The Greek: making equal portions with the maimed, the orphans, the widows, and the priests; as if to say, they divided the spoils into two equal portions. One of these the soldiers kept for themselves; the other they distributed among the maimed especially, who had been wounded, mutilated or disabled in the battle, and likewise among the orphans and widows whose parents and husbands had fallen in the line. For piety and the merits of the parents and husbands demanded this. In addition, to the priests, as being consecrated to God, and who had besought God for the fighting soldiers that he would grant them victory.)
32. THEY ALSO SLEW PHILARCHES, WHO WAS WITH TIMOTHY,—Philarches is not a proper name, but a name of office and dignity; for phylarch is a tribune, prefect of tribes, and is the name of a magistracy in an army: for phyle is a tribe, family, cohort; archos is a prefect, chief. So Salian.
33. AND WHEN THEY KEPT THE FEAST OF THE VICTORY AT JERUSALEM.—He calls epinicia the public feasts, applause and ovations for a victory gained. Then likewise, as a sign of triumph, they burnt Callisthenes, who had burned the doors of the temple with fire, with a like fire. This was a just penalty of retaliation.
36. PROCLAIMED (Nicanor, conquered and slain by Judas) THAT THE JEWS HAD GOD FOR THEIR PROTECTOR, AND THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT BE HURT (Vatablus, could not be conquered), BECAUSE THEY FOLLOWED THE LAWS APPOINTED BY HIM.—This is a great testimony from an enemy.
Learn here, Christian, that in every temptation, persecution, conflict and hardship you will be unhurt and unconquered, if you keep the laws of God. For God will be your protector, and will either deliver you from these things, or by patience and magnanimity will make you bravely endure and conquer them, that he may prepare a greater crown in heaven for you who strive and conquer.
CHAPTER IX. Therefore, eaten up by worms, with an intolerable stench, he expired in the mountains.
1. At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia. 2. For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city: but the multitude running to arms, they were put to flight: and so it happened that Antiochus being put to flight by the inhabitants, returned with shame. 3. And when he was come as far as Ecbatana, he received the news of what had been done to Nicanor and Timothy. 4. And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by those that had put him to flight. Therefore he ordered his chariot to be driven, without ceasing to go on 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. 5. But he who beholds all things, the Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and invisible plague: for as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels seized him, and bitter torments of the inner parts. 6. And indeed justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means gave over his wicked purpose. 7. Moreover he was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the work to be hastened: but it came to pass that he fell from his chariot as it ran violently, and with the grievous fall his limbs were much pained. 8. And he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being exalted above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, was now cast down to the ground, and carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself: 9. So that worms swarmed out of the body of this wicked man, and while he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army. 10. And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the stars of heaven, no one could endure to carry for the intolerable stench. 11. Here therefore, 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. 12. And when he himself could not now abide his own smell, he said these words: It is just to be subject to God, and not to equal himself to God who is mortal. 13. Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not to obtain mercy. 14. And the city, to which he was coming in haste, to level it with the ground, and to make it a common burying-place, he now desired to set at liberty: 15. And the Jews, whom he had determined not so much as to bury, but to deliver up to be devoured by birds and wild beasts, and to destroy utterly with their children, he now promised to make equal to the Athenians: 16. And the holy temple, which before he had plundered, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to furnish out of his own revenues the charges belonging to the sacrifices: 17. Yea and that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and preach the power of God. 18. But as his pains did not cease (for the just judgment of God was come upon him), despairing of himself he wrote to the Jews the letter underwritten, in the manner of a supplication, to this effect: 19. To his very good subjects, the Jews, Antiochus, king and governor, wisheth much health, and welfare, and prosperity. 20. If you and your children are well, and your affairs to your content, we give very great thanks. 21. And as for me, being in infirmity, I was mindful of you with kindness. Returning out of the countries of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good of all: 22. Not distrusting my state, but having great hope to escape the sickness. 23. But considering that my father also, at what times he led his army into the higher appointed who should reign after him: 24. To the end that if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any bad tidings were brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the state of affairs was left, might not be troubled. 25. Moreover considering that the princes that are borderers and neighbours to my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often recommended and commended to many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; and I have written to him what is underwritten. 26. I pray you therefore and request you, that remembering the benefits, both in general and in particular, you will every man continue faithful to me and to my son. 27. For I trust that he will act modestly and kindly, and following my intentions will be gracious to you. 28. So this murderer and blasphemer, being grievously struck, as he had treated other men, died a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains. 29. And Philip, who was brought up together with him, carried away his body: who fearing the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.