City. Three things contribute to the well ordering of a state: first, the agreement of the principal men; secondly, the observance of the laws; and thirdly, the eminent virtue of the ruler. While three other things disturb it: first, the obstinacy of transgressors who refuse correction; secondly, their malice, seeking revenge against superiors; and thirdly, the avarice of princes, endeavouring to rob the public treasury, ver. 4. (Worthington) --- Onias III, son of Simon II, chap. xv. 12. (Calmet)

Verse 2

Place; city. (Haydock) --- See the letter of Antiochus the great. (Josephus, Antiquities xii. 3.) (Calmet)

Verse 3

Seleucus, son of Antiochus the great, and elder brother of Antiochus Epiphanes. (Challoner) --- His sending Heliodorus has tarnished his memory.

Verse 4

Overseer for repairs, which laics might be; (2 Paralipomenon xxxiv. 8.; Calmet) or Simon was advocate, (Grotius) like the Church defenders, so often mentioned in the councils. (Calmet) --- To bring. Greek, "about disorder in the city." (Haydock)

Verse 5

Apollonius, whom Jonathas defeated, 1 Machabees x. 69.

Verse 6

Store. He knew that the king provided victims. As Philopator was then in want of money, to pay the tribute imposed by the Romans on his father, he easily persuaded himself that he might seize such a common stock, the state requiring (Calmet) that individuals or cities (Haydock) should not be too rich.

Verse 7

Affairs. Roman Greek. Some copies read "effects," or money. All this is related of Apollonius. (4 Machabees i.)

Verse 10

And provisions is not in Greek or Syriac. (Calmet) --- Something was to be given for such feasts; (Deuteronomy xiv. 23.; Lyranus; Menochius) or people deposited in the temple their treasures; as all nations have judged that they would be there most secure. (Grotius; Tirinus; Calmet)

Verse 11

Tobias, or rather "son of Joseph and grandson of Tobias." (Josephus, Antiquities xii. 4.)

Verse 12

Done. It was contrary to justice.

Verse 19

Shut up. Hence they were styled alamoth, "hidden," till they were married. Nothing could give a better idea of the distress of the city. (Calmet) --- These virgins remained in places near the temple, spending their time in prayer, fasting, and works of piety, till they were espoused, 1 Kings ii. 22. (St. Ambrose, virg. 1.; St. Nys.[St. Gregory of Nyssa?] or Nativ.; St. Damas[St. John Damascene?] iv. 13.) (Worthington) --- There also pious widows dwelt. --- Walls of the temple, which they were not allowed to pass. (Menochius) --- The city seemed to be taken by an enemy. (Calmet)

Verse 21

Expectation. Greek, "prostration." (Haydock) It was not unusual to see the Jews fall prostrate on such occasions, to move God or the enemy to pity, ver. 15., and Judith iv. 9. (Calmet)

Verse 24

Obey. Greek, "attend." They designed to plunder, but in vain. (Haydock)

Verse 25

Horse. Fiery horses took Elias from the earth, (4 Kings ii. 11.) and the mountain where Eliseus was seemed full of such, (Ibid.[4 Kings] vi. 17.) which is not less wonderful than what we read here. See St. Ambrose (Of. i. 29.) treating of this history. (Worthington)

Verse 33

CHAPTER III.

Verse 39

Visiter. Greek, "epopt," (Haydock) or inspector. (Calmet) --- So those who had the care of a thing were styled. (Menochius)