Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: The Bible Douay-Rheims Book 46: 2 Machabees The Challoner Revision by
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page
Ebook has 61 lines and 20138 words, and 2 pages
Edition: 10
THE HOLY BIBLE
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek, and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT First Published by the English College at Douay A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT First Published by the English College at Rheims A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner A.D. 1749-1752
THE SECOND BOOK OF MACHABEES
This second book of MACHABEES is not a continuation of the history contained in the first: nor does is come down so low as the first does: but relates many of the same facts more at large, and adds other remarkable particulars, omitted in the first book, relating to the state of the Jews, as well before as under the persecution of ANTIOCHUS. The author, who is not the same with that of the first book, has given a short abstract of what JASON of Cyrene had written in the five volumes, concerning JUDAS and his brethren. He wrote in Greek, and begins with two letters, sent by the Jews of Jerusalem to their brethren in Egypt.
Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.
Scenopegia... Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of the altar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from being celebrated with the like solemnity.
Such a king... Viz., Antiochus Sidetes, who began to make war upon the Jews, whilst Simon was yet alive. 1 Mac. 15.39. And afterwards besieged Jerusalem under John Hircanus. So that the Judas here mentioned, ver. 10, is not Judas Machabeus, who was dead long before the year 188 of the kingdom of the Greeks, for he died in the year 146 of that epoch, but either Judas the eldest son of John Hircanus, or Judas the Essene, renowned for the gift of prophecy, who flourished about that time.
Nanea... A Persian goddess, which some have taken for Diana, others for Venus.
Persia... Babylonia, called here Persia, from being afterwards a part of the Persian empire.
A temple... That is, an enclosure, or a wall round about the place where the fire was hid, to separate it from profane uses, to the end that it might be respected as a holy place.
A continuation of the second letter. Of Jeremias' hiding the ark at the time of the captivity. The author's preface.
The descriptions... That is, the records or memoirs of Jeremias, a work that is now lost.
The purification... That is, the feast of the purifying or cleansing of the temple.
No easy task, etc... The spirit of God, that assists the sacred penmen, does not exempt them from labour in seeking out the matter which they are to treat of, and the order and manner in which they are to deliver it. So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all things. Luke 1. ver. 3.
Heliodorus is sent by king Seleucus to take away the treasures deposited in the temple. He is struck by God, and healed by the prayers of the high priest.
Seleucus... Son of Antiochus the Great, and elder brother of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Onias has recourse to the king. The ambition and wickedness of Jason and Menelaus. Onias is treacherously murdered.
Ptolemee... The son of Dorymenus, a favourite of the king.
Wonderful signs are seen in the air. Jason's wickedness and end. Antiochus takes Jerusalem, and plunders the temple.
Was the tenth... That is, he had nine others in his company.
Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar.
That in Gazarim... Viz., the temple of the Samaritans. And as they were originally strangers, the name of Hospitalis was applicable to the idol set up in their temple.
Philip... The governor of Jerusalem.
Wicked pity... Their pity was wicked, inasmuch as it suggested that wicked proposal of saving his life by dissimulation.
The glorious martyrdom of the seven brethren and their mother.
Judas Machabeus gathering an army gains divers victories.
Philip seeing, etc... The governor of Jerusalem found himself unable to contend with Judas, especially after the victories he had obtained over Apollonius and Seron. 1 Mac. 3.
Twenty thousand... The whole number of the forces sent at that time into Judea, was 40,000 footmen, and 7000 horsemen, 1 Mac. 3.30. But only 20,000 are here taken notice of, because there were no more with Nicanor at the time of the battle.
Seven thousand... In the Greek it is six thousand. But then three thousand of them had no arms. 1 Mac. 4.6.
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 Graecia.
Above nine thousand... Viz., including the three thousand slain in the pursuit.
Laying aside his garment of glory... That is, his splendid apparel, which he wore through ostentation; he now throws it off, lest he should be known on his flight.
The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus.
Persepolis... Otherwise called Elymais.
Of whom he was not like to obtain mercy... Because his repentance was not for the offence committed against God: but barely on account of his present sufferings.
The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His victory over Timotheus.
The Jews, etc... He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed their countrymen.
Timotheus... This man, who was killed at the taking of Gazara, is different from that Timotheus who is mentioned in the fifth chapter of the first book of Machabees, and of whom there is mention in the following chapter.
Lysias is overthrown by Judas. He sues for peace.
In the year 148... Viz., according to the computation followed by the Greeks; which was different from that of the Hebrews, followed by the writer of the first book of Machabees. However, by this date, as well as by other circumstances, it appears that the expedition of Lysias, mentioned in this chapter, is different from that which is recorded, 1 Mac. 6.
The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.
Rams... That is, engines for battering walls, etc., which were used in sieges in those times.
Scythopolis... Formerly called Bethsan.
Of the donaries, etc... That is, of the votive offerings, which had been hung up in the temples of the idols, which they had taken away when they burnt the port of Jamnia, ver. 9., contrary to the prohibition of the law, Deut. 7.25.
With godliness... Judas hoped that these men who died fighting for the cause of God and religion, might find mercy: either because they might be excused from mortal sin by ignorance; or might have repented of their sin, at least at their death.
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page