Towns. Literally, "castles." Greek, "villages." It also means a town or village; and at this time, Judas chiefly dwelt in the deserts. (Haydock) --- Many particulars of this war are found [in] 1 Machabees iii. (Calmet)

Verse 2

Lord. Prayer is particularly requisite before battle. (Worthington)

Verse 3

Blood of the Jews justly slain. (Menochius) --- The voice of Abel's and of Christ's blood is very different, Genesis iv. 10., and Hebrews xii. 24.

Verse 8

Philip seeing, &c. The governor of Jerusalem found himself unable to contend with Judas, especially after the victories he had obtained over Apollonius and Seron, 1 Machabees iii. (Challoner) --- He was left two years before (Calmet) to afflict the Jews. (Worthington)

Verse 9

Twenty thousand. The whole number of the forces sent at that time into Judea, was 40,000 footmen and 7,000 horsemen; (1 Machabees iii. 30.) but only 20,000 are here taken notice of, because there were no more with Nicanor at that time of the battle. (Challoner)

Verse 10

Talents. So much the king was in arrear, owing to his prodigality. For which reason he was gone beyond the Euphrates [River] to raise money. His father had to pay the Romans 15,000 talents in twelve years.

Verse 11

Ninety. Often (Calmet) a talent was paid for one slave. (Josephus, Antiquities xii. 4.)

Verse 13

Justice. Greek diken, "vengeance" (Haydock) against the enemies. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Covenant. A just and religious cause is the best help in war. (Worthington)

Verse 16

Seven thousand. In the Greek it is six thousand. But then three thousand of them had no arms, 1 Machabees iv. 6. (Challoner) --- If the army was divided into four companies of 1,500, there would be only 6,000. But if Judas had with him 3,000, it would consist of 7,500. (Calmet) --- Reconciled. Greek, "consternated at," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 20

Galatians. That is, the Gauls, who having ravaged Italy and Greece, poured themselves in upon Asia in immense multitudes, where also they founded the kingdom of Galatia, or Gallo-Græcia. (Challoner) --- This battle is no where else recorded in Scripture. But it seems to allude to the aid given to Soter by the Jews, (Worthington) when he repulsed the Galatians. (Appian.) --- Antiochus the great rewarded them for their valour shewn in behalf of his father. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xii. 3.) (Worthington) --- Six. Greek, "8,000." --- When. Greek, "with 4,000 Macedonians; when the Macedonians being at a stand, the 6,000 (Grabe substitutes 8,000) slew twelve myriads," &c. (Haydock) --- Historians have not specified this irruption, as it had no farther consequences. The Galatians were very powerful under Antiochus the great, and sided with him. The consul, Manlius, made them promise to keep within their own territories. But they did not observe this agreement, since they attacked Eumenes while Epiphanes persecuted the Jews. It is not agreed when they made the invasion of Babylonia, then defended by Jewish and Macedonian troops under the king of Syria.

Verse 22

Joseph; perhaps the same with John Gaddis, or simply a relation.

Verse 23

Esdras. Greek and Syriac, "Eleazar;" probably the brother of Judas. Grotius thinks that the latter read the account of the death of Eleazar, which must be understood of the martyr, (chap. v.) as the brother of Judas was slain under Eupator. Perhaps the law regarding people going to fight was read; (Deuteronomy xx. 6., and 1 Machabees iii. 56.) or as Judas prepared for battle by prayer and fasting, some portions of Scripture might be selected while they were at Maspha. --- Help. So he specifies the victory of God, chap. xiii. 15. (Calmet)

Verse 24

Above nine thousand, viz., including the three thousand slain in the pursuit. (Challoner) --- Three thousand fell on the field of battle, 1 Machabees iv. 15.

Verse 26

Time. They wished to be in the camp before the sabbath, having designed to collect the spoils.

Verse 28

Widows. Judas follows the spirit rather than the letter of the law, Numbers xxxi. 27., and Deuteronomy xiv. 29.

Verse 30

Timotheus. Chap. x. 24. The particulars of this war are not given. It seems to have taken place after the temple was purified, ver. 31. We must distinguish this first war from another mentioned, chap. x. 24., and 1 Machabees v. 5. Judas defeated another Timotheus beyond the Jordan [River], chap. xii. 10., and 1 Machabees v. 11, 34, 37.

Verse 31

Jerusalem. They had taken all but he citadel, chap. x. 1.

Verse 35

Apparel, as a general. (Calmet) --- Fleeing. Greek, "like a fugitive, having rendered himself destitute, he came through the midland country to Antioch above all being fortunate himself in," &c. (Haydock) --- He was too happy in having escaped. The Roman edition and Syriac agree with us, "being very unhappy," &c., (Calmet) which is substituted by Grabe. (Haydock)

Verse 42