Scourges, made of leather thongs; taureis. (Haydock) --- These brethren are styled Machabees; as Judas rendered this name so famous, that all who suffered or fought valiantly for religion in those times, went by this appellation. Josephus has much embellished this history, and Erasmus still more. The tombs of these martyrs were shewn at Antioch. (Calmet) --- Their names are not known. (Haydock) --- Those who wish to see more, may consult the large discourse of Josephus on the Machabees, (Worthington) though this work be contested, and St. Cyprian iv. ep. 6; St. Ambrose i. of. 40.; St. Chrysostom; St. Augustine; St. Leo, &c. (Worthington)

Verse 6

Pleasure. Literally, "be comforted," as the Septuagint translate, (Haydock) Deuteronomy xxxii. 36. It may imply that God will avenge or chastise his servants, and then restore them to favour. This latter sense is here adopted, ver. 35.

Verse 8

Language. The Jews have always been very attentive to their own language, though they be forced to learn others for the sake of commerce, and to hold conversation with those among whom they live. This young man, no doubt, understood Greek, in which language his brother had probably spoken. The mother addressed her children in the Hebrew or Syriac tongue, ver. 21, 27. (Calmet)

Verse 9

Most wicked. The martyrs have sometimes been inspired by God to speak in harsh language to magistrates; though their office generally commands respect. (Haydock) --- Life. The resurrection is clearly specified in all these answers. The Redeemer was near at hand. (Calmet) --- Christiani fuerunt....factis. (St. Augustine, ser. i. 2.)

Verse 16

Power. Nothing could be more free than this answer, which greatly resembles that of Christ, John xix. 11. (Calmet)

Verse 20

Seven. the last was not yet dead: but he was before this was written, so that the mother's praise was perfect. (Haydock)

Verse 22

Womb. This has always astonished the learned, the infant being formed often against the woman's desire, Job x. 10., and Wisdom vii. 2. (St. Augustine, anima i. 15.) (Calmet)

Verse 24

Despising. Literally, "despising the voice of the insulter." Greek, "fearing or perceiving that the speech was reproachful." (Haydock) --- Syriac, "turned aside not to hear the reproaches," &c. He did not understand Hebrew; but perceiving the constancy of the young men, he thought that their mother exhorted them to refuse compliance. (Calmet) --- Happy. This is beyond the power of riches or of any king. (Haydock)

Verse 26

Promised. A promise regards something good; so that if a person should even bind himself by an oath to do evil, he must refrain, as to comply would he another sin. (Worthington) --- This woman promised to counsel, but not as the king wished, (Haydock) to gain a prolongation of life and worldly honours for her son. (Menochius) --- Such an equivocation was lawful. (Worthington) --- The king might blame himself if he was deceived. (Haydock)

Verse 27

Three years. So long physicians judged it best for children to suck, till they could take solid meat. (Vales. lxxxiii.) (Genesis xxi. 8.) (Calmet) --- "Chrysippus assigns three years for the nurse." (Quint. i. 1.)

Verse 28

Nothing, not out of pre-existent and eternal matter. (St. Augustine, Nat. boni xxvi.) (Romans iv. 17.) --- So God can reduce all to nothing, chap. viii. 18.

Verse 29

Mercy, in eternity of bliss, ver. 23. (Syriac) (Calmet)

Verse 30

CHAPTER VII.

Verse 36

Life. Greek, "short labour of eternal life, are fallen under the covenant of God." (Haydock) --- They enjoy that life which God promised.

Verse 37

God. This was accomplished, ver. 17., and chap. ix. 15.

Verse 38

Cease. The persecution was severe, but short. Judas the next year (the year [of the world] 3838.; Calmet) began to liberate the nation, (Haydock) by God's mercy, chap. viii. 5, 27.

Verse 40

Undefiled, by idolatry. We read [in] 4 Machabees that he threw himself into a boiling cauldron; (Calmet) and Josephus says his mother "jumped into the fire that she might not be touched by any." But this is uncertain. The Church honours St. Apollonia, who acted thus; (Feb.[February?] ix.) it is supposed by divine inspiration. (Haydock)

Verse 41

Consumed. Greek, "died" (Haydock) of joy: (Sixth. Bib. v. Victoria) she place herself amid the dead bodies, and begged of God to release her soul; which was granted. (Arabic) (Grotius) --- But most believe that she suffered martyrdom immediately after her children. (Josephus, &c.) --- The Church honoured these martyrs from the earliest ages, and before any other of the Old Testament. We may justly style them the martyrs of the resurrection, as none at that time had spoken of it so distinctly. Sts. Naz.[Gregory of Nazianzus?], Max. of Turin, Gaudentius, &c., have pronounced panegyrics upon them.

Verse 42

Sacrifices. Greek splagchnismous, chap. vi. 21. (Haydock) --- Read 1 Machabees ii. 1., where the wars begun by Mathathias, and persecuted by Judas, are recorded. (Worthington)