Nations. They were always ready to oppress the Jews. Thus God punished or tried his people. (Calmet) --- Judas, or his brethren, here gains eight victories over them. (Worthington)

Verse 3

Idumea. Alexandrian manuscript has, "Judea." Both may be right. The country had been wrested from Juda by the Idumeans. --- Acrabathane is "the ascent of scorpions," (hakrabim) which were probably numerous, to the south of the Dead Sea, Numbers xxxiv. 4., and Deuteronomy viii. 15.

Verse 4

Bean; perhaps Beon, near the sea of Sodom, (Calmet) or Bathaner, beyond the Jordan [River]. (Serarius)

Verse 5

Destruction. Sometimes the people were spared. All depended on the wording of the vow, Leviticus xxvii. 28., and Numbers xxi. 1. See other particulars, 2 Machabees x. 16., to 23. (Calmet)

Verse 8

Gazer, in Ephraim. But Jazer, in the tribe of Gad, seems to be meant, as the Greek expresses it. (Menochius) --- Towns. Literally, "daughters," or dependant (Haydock) villages. (Worthington) --- Afterwards Judas returned and defeated Timotheus, 2 Machabees x. 24.

Verse 9

Galaad. Most of the towns had been seized by the Ammonites, &c. After the return of the captives, they were probably driven out. They attempted to regain possession, when Epiphanes declared against the Jews. --- Datheman; Petra, (Calmet) or perhaps Rathma, Numbers xxxiii. 18. (Drusius)

Verse 11

Timotheus. Another of this name had been slain the preceding year, [the year of the world] 3840, at Gazara, 2 Machabees x. 37.

Verse 13

Tubin, or Tob, to the south of Gad, Judges xi. 3. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Is filled. Greek Alexandrian, "All Galilee of the Gentiles to destroy us." (Haydock) --- This part of Galilee was occupied by pagans, who were excited by Epiphanes to fall upon the Jews, 2 Machabees vi. 8.

Verse 23

Arbatis. Arboth means "deserts" uncultivated, here probably denoting the valley of Jezrahel. Simon wisely concentrated the people, as Judas did in Galaad, ver. 45.

Verse 24

Desert; probably from Bethsan to Bosor, marching with all secrecy.

Verse 25

Nabutheans; descendants of Ismael's eldest son, whose capital was Petra. They continued friends to the Jews.

Verse 26

Barasa; probably the Bozra of Moab. Greek, "Bosorra." (Jos.[Josephus?]) --- Bosor means a fortress. It is not wonderful that there should be many places of this name in Arabia, to defend the people from robbers. --- Alima; Elim, or Almon, Isaias xv. 8. --- Casphor, or rather Casbon, (ver. 36.) the famous Hesebon, Numbers xxi. 26. (Calmet) --- Mageth, or Machati; (Grotius) though it seems too far off, Deuteronomy iii. 14. --- Carnaim, "horns," being sacred to the moon, (Calmet) called Astaroth, Genesis xiv. 5. (Haydock) --- Strabo styles it Carna.

Verse 29

Fortress of Datheman, ver. 9.

Verse 36

Bosor, or Bosra, ver. 26. Bosor was taken before, ver. 28.

Verse 37

After. Judas had in the mean time defeated Lysias, 2 Machabees xi. 1., &c. (Calmet) --- Raphon, or Raphana; (Grotius) or as that was too remote, probably Saphon, Numbers xxxii. 35. (Calmet)

Verse 41

Afraid. He interpreted the delay in this sense, which was very precarious, (Haydock) as nothing could be more superstitious. Jonathan begged for a similar proof of God's favour. But Timotheus consulted only himself, 1 Kings xiv. 9. (Calmet)

Verse 42

Scribes; tribunes, who kept a register of the soldiers. (Menochius) --- They were officers of great power.

Verse 44

Temple of Atergata, or Astarte. Judas slew 55,000. Timotheus was spared, 2 Machabees xii. 20, 26.

Verse 46

Ephron, beyond the Jordan [River]. The situation is unknown. With regard to the right which Judas had to treat it with such severity, see Numbers xx. 18., and Judges viii. 5. (Calmet) --- It probably belonged to God's people, and was unjustly detained. (Haydock)

Verse 52

Plain, extending beyond Jezrahel.

Verse 53

Hindmost: the place of danger. (Calmet) --- A good general takes care of the weakest, and exhorts all to behave valiantly. (Worthington)

Verse 54

Not one. The 12,000 who defeated the Madianites, were preserved by God in like manner, Numbers xxxi. 49. (Haydock)

Verse 56

And Azarias. These two are known only for the disobedience and misconduct. In holy wars, God does not favour those who are actuated by base motives, ver. 18, 60. (Calmet) --- Men who depend on themselves, and who are not properly authorized, receive not assistance from above; so these failed, as they were not chosen like those who were to save Israel, (Worthington) of the family of the Machabees. (Menochius)

Verse 58

Jamnia, a maritime city of the Philistines near Joppe. Gorgias, an experienced warrior, had retired thither, chap. iv. 5., and 2 Machabees viii. 9. (Calmet)

Verse 61

CHAPTER V.

Verse 62

Israel. The late Rev. Robert Bannister applied this to Protestant writers of sermons, to dissuade young divines from applying to such authors as Tillotson, &c. It may also shew the reason why heretics succeed so ill in their foreign missions. (Haydock) --- They know how to pervert Catholics, not how to convert infidels. (Tertullian)

Verse 63

Men. Greek, "man, Judas, and his brethren were," &c. (Haydock) --- See a similar expression [in] Exodus xiv. 3., respecting Moses.

Verse 65

Chebron, or Hebron, which the Idumeans had seized. Judas retook it after he had defeated Gorgias, 2 Machabees xii. 32.

Verse 66

Aliens; Philistines, ver. 68. --- Samaria. This seems too remote. Some substitute Saraia; (Jos.[Josue?] xv. 35.) others Maresa, (2 Machabees xii. 35.) Marissa, (Jos.[Josephus?]) the same as Ressa, Numbers xxxiii. 21.

Verse 67

Desiring. They were only too brave. This quality was not incompatible with the priesthood. Greek Alexandrian has, "while he (Judas) was desiring," &c. Others have, "priests of the cities, while they," &c. The Roman edition agrees with us, (Calmet) and Grabe prints accordingly. (Haydock)