Commentaria in II Machabaeorum
CHAPTER ELEVEN. SYNOPSIS. Judas, and an Angel leading Judas, lay low the huge army of Lysias. Wherefore Lysias makes peace with them. Hence from verse 16 onward are recounted the letters, both of Lysias and of Antiochus Eupator, and of the Romans, to the Jews on this matter.
1. But within a very short time after, Lysias, the king’s treasurer and cousin, and chief of the affairs, took grievously the things that were done, 2. And having gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to take the city and make it a habitation for the Gentiles, 3. And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: 4. Not considering the power of God, but puffed up with his many thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants. 5. So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem five furlongs, he pressed it hard. 6. Now when Maccabeus and his company heard that the strongholds were besieged, they and all the people with lamentations and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel. 7. And Maccabeus himself first of all taking his weapons, exhorted the rest together with himself to expose themselves to the danger, and to help their brethren: and when they were going out together with a willing mind, 8. There appeared before them at Jerusalem a horseman in white clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear. 9. Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and were encouraged in their hearts: not only to fight with men, but with the most fierce beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron. 10. So they went forward in readiness, having a helper from heaven, and the Lord, who had mercy on them. 11. And rushing violently like lions upon the enemy, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, 12. And put all the others to flight: very many of them being wounded escaped naked: and Lysias himself escaped by a shameful flight. 13. And as he was a man of sense, considering with himself the loss he had suffered, and understanding that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the almighty God helped them, he sent to them, 14. And promised that he would agree to all things that are reasonable, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend. 15. Then Maccabeus consented to the petitions of Lysias, providing in all things for the common good: and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted. 16. For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this effect:
Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. 17. John and Absalom, who were sent from you, delivering the writing underneath, requested that I would fulfil the things that were signified by them. 18. Therefore whatsoever things could be represented to the king, I have declared to him; and he hath granted as much as the case would permit. 19. If then you will keep yourselves faithful to the state, I will endeavour hereafter also to be a means of your good. 20. But concerning the particulars, I have given orders both to these and to them that are sent from me, to confer with you. 21. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorus.
22. Now the king’s letter contained these words: King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. 23. Our father being translated among the gods, we desiring that they who are in our realm live quietly, and apply themselves to their own affairs, 24. Have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to be turned to the customs of the Greeks, but would keep their own way of living, and therefore they request of us that we would allow them their own laws. 25. Wherefore we, being desirous that this nation also should be in peace, have ordained and decreed that their temple be restored to them, that they may live according to the customs of their ancestors. 26. Thou shalt do well therefore to send to them and give them peace: that when they are assured of our pleasure, they may be of good cheer, and apply themselves with comfort to the management of their own affairs.
27. And the letter of the king to the Jews was in this manner:
King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting. 28. If you are well, it is as we desire: we also ourselves are in good health. 29. Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to return to your own, that are with us. 30. Therefore they that will come, and return home till the thirtieth day of the month Xanthicus, shall have our friendship and full leave, 31. That the Jews may use their own kind of meats and laws, as before: and none of them any way be molested for things done through ignorance. 32. And I have sent Menelaus to comfort you. 33. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
34. And the Romans also sent them a letter, containing these words:
Quintus Memmius and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting. 35. Whatsoever Lysias, the king’s kinsman, hath granted you, we also have granted. 36. But as for such things as he judged should be referred to the king, as soon as you have considered among yourselves, send one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch. 37. Therefore make haste, and send some back, that we may know of what mind you are. 38. Fare you well. In the year one hundred forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
1. LYSIAS, THE KING’S TREASURER (of Antiochus Eupator, who, a boy, had succeeded his father Antiochus Epiphanes now dead, and was brought up and governed by Lysias), AND COUSIN,—that is, kinsman by blood or “cognate,” as is said in verse 35. Lysias, hearing that the camps of both Gorgias and Timothy had been cut down by Judas, levied a new army of 80 thousand footmen with all the cavalry and 80 elephants, with which he hoped to devour the Jews and Judea. But Judas, calling upon God, obtained an Angel, under whose leadership he cut down the whole camp of Lysias.
3. AND TO MAKE A GAIN OF THE TEMPLE.—Lysias intended to lay a great tax on the temple, and to assign the gifts offered to the temple, either all or in great part, to the royal treasury and turn them to his own uses, as tyrants are wont to do with the shrines of the Gentiles. And these were many and very precious; for the temple was most opulent.
AND TO SET THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD TO SALE—namely that he would sell the Pontificate every year to a Jew at a great price.
6. THEY BESOUGHT THE LORD WITH LAMENTATIONS AND TEARS, etc., THAT HE WOULD SEND A GOOD ANGEL TO DELIVER ISRAEL,—as he had sent to Moses, Gedeon, Manue. For he had promised this to Moses, Exodus xxiii, 20, saying: “Behold I will send my Angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee.” See what is said there; for there I have recounted all the visions and helps of Angels granted to the Hebrews.
8. THERE APPEARED BEFORE THEM A HORSEMAN IN WHITE CLOTHING, WITH GOLDEN ARMOUR, SHAKING A SPEAR.—This was St. Michael, protector of Israel, or at least an Angel of a lower order sent by Michael to help the Jews, to go before the camp as leader, and to add courage to Judas and the Jews, but strike the enemies with fear and dread, as in fact he did. Hence he went before in the form of an armoured horseman in golden arms, shaking a spear, clothed in white. For the whiteness of Angels signifies purity, splendour, joy, immortality, victory and glory, as I said on Ecclesiastes ix, 8, on the words: “At all times let thy garments be white.”
9. AND WERE ENCOURAGED IN THEIR HEARTS (they took vast and strong courage, seeing an armed Angel go before them as their leader. For they knew that an Angel is invincible, and that by an Angel alone the whole camp of the enemies can be laid low, as 185 thousand soldiers of Sennacherib were laid low by one under Ezechias. Wherefore under the Angel’s leadership, sure of victory, they advanced boldly to battle), NOT ONLY TO FIGHT WITH MEN, BUT WITH THE MOST FIERCE BEASTS (elephants) AND TO PIERCE THROUGH WALLS OF IRON.—For to an Angel nothing is impenetrable, nothing invincible, nothing impossible; indeed nothing arduous and difficult. The Angel therefore put into Judas and the Jews this courage and ardour, kindled by which they at once scattered and dispersed like chaff the very numerous and very strong camp of Lysias. For nothing is so arduous that the ardour of soldiers will not break through it. Wherefore Vegetius teaches that generals ought above all to rouse and kindle these ardours in their soldiers; for thence arises sure hope and omen of victory. And he adds that the general must carefully inquire what the soldiers about to fight think of the outcome of the battle, so that if they augur a happy one he may fight, and if an unhappy one he may refrain from battle. Hear Vegetius, Book III, chapter xii: “On the very day on which the soldiers are to fight, it is fitting to explore carefully what they feel. For confidence or fear is seen in the face, the words, the gait and the movements. Nor be confident if the recruit desires battle; for to the inexperienced battle is sweet, and you should know that you must put it off if the trained warriors fear to fight. Yet by the warnings and speech of the general the army’s virtue and spirit grow: especially if they receive such an account of the coming contest as to hope that they will easily come to victory. Then the cowardice or error of the enemies is to be shown: or, if they were conquered by us before, it is to be recalled. Those things also are to be said by which the minds of the soldiers are moved to hatred of their adversaries, with anger and indignation.”