8.8–9 In 1 Macc 3.38–41 the major opponent is Gorgias. This Nicanor may not be the same as the figure in 2 Macc 14–15.
8.10 Tribute due to the Romans, perhaps the payment imposed on Antiochus III by the treaty of Apamea in 188 BCE.
8.11 Ninety slaves for a talent, a very low price, thus expressing contempt toward Jews.
8.12–20 Judas gathers his army and exhorts them to fight bravely despite the numerical odds against them. See 1 Macc 3.42–60.
8.13 In 1 Macc 3.56 the desertion is explained in the light of Deut 20.5–8.
8.16–18 For another version of Judas’s exhortation, see 1 Macc 3.58–60.
8.19 For Sennacherib’s defeat in 701 BCE, see 2 Kings 19.35–36; Isa 37.36. For other allusions to this incident, see 1 Macc 7.41; 2 Macc 15.22.
8.20 Galatians in Babylonia, Celtic mercenaries defeated by Jews and Seleucids (Macedonians).
8.21–29 In defeating Nicanor Judas emerges as an exemplary biblical warrior. See 1 Macc 4.1–25.
8.22–23 Simon and Jonathan, Judas’s brothers. Eleazar may be Azariah (1 Macc 5.18, 55–62), the companion of Joseph. The help of God, the meaning of Eleazar in Hebrew.
8.24–25 For a fuller account, see 1 Macc 4.13–25. Nine thousand, three thousand in 1 Macc 4.15.
8.26–27 In 2 Maccabees Judas is very careful to observe the sabbath; 1 Macc 4.16–17 provides a different rationale for postponing the plundering.
8.28 For the division of spoils, see Num 31.25–47; 1 Sam 30.21–25. Widows and orphans. See Deut 26.12–13.
8.30–36 A summary of victories over Israel’s enemies.
8.30–31 For the defeats of Timothy and Bacchides, see 1 Macc 5.6–7; 7.8–25. For the policy regarding plunder, see v. 28.
8.32 Commander of Timothy’s forces, possibly the chief of the Arab mercenaries (see 1 Macc 5.37–44).
8.33 Gates. See 1 Macc 1.31. Nothing is known about Callisthenes.
8.34–35 The story returns to Nicanor (see v. 24), who suffers an appropriate punishment: one who sought to enslave Israel flees like a runaway slave.
8.36 Defender, the God of Israel.
2 MACCABEES 9
The Last Campaign of Antiochus Epiphanes
1About that time, as it happened, Antiochus had retreated in disorder from the region of Persia. 2He had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temples and control the city. Therefore the people rushed to the rescue with arms, and Antiochus and his army were defeated,a with the result that Antiochus was put to flight by the inhabitants and beat a shameful retreat. 3While he was in Ecbatana, news came to him of what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timothy. 4Transported with rage, he conceived the idea of turning upon the Jews the injury done by those who had put him to flight; so he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he completed the journey. But the judgment of heaven rode with him! For in his arrogance he said, “When I get there I will make Jerusalem a cemetery of Jews.”
5But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and invisible blow. As soon as he stopped speaking he was seized with a pain in his bowels, for which there was no relief, and with sharp internal tortures—6and that very justly, for he had tortured the bowels of others with many and strange inflictions. 7Yet he did not in any way stop his insolence, but was even more filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, and giving orders to drive even faster. And so it came about that he fell out of his chariot as it was rushing along, and the fall was so hard as to torture every limb of his body. 8Thus he who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman arrogance that he could command the waves of the sea, and had imagined that he could weigh the high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and carried in a litter, making the power of God manifest to all. 9And so the ungodly man’s body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and because of the stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay. 10Because of his intolerable stench no one was able to carry the man who a little while before had thought that he could touch the stars of heaven. 11Then it was that, broken in spirit, he began to lose much of his arrogance and to come to his senses under the scourge of God, for he was tortured with pain every moment. 12And when he could not endure his own stench, he uttered these words, “It is right to be subject to God; mortals should not think that they are equal to God.”b
Antiochus Makes a Promise to God
13Then the abominable fellow made a vow to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him, stating 14that the holy city, which he was hurrying to level to the ground and to make a cemetery, he was now declaring to be free; 15and the Jews, whom he had not considered worth burying but had planned to throw out with their children for the wild animals and for the birds to eat, he would make, all of them, equal to citizens of Athens; 16and the holy sanctuary, which he had formerly plundered, he would adorn with the finest offerings; and all the holy vessels he would give back, many times over; and the expenses incurred for the sacrifices he would provide from his own revenues; 17and in addition to all this he also would become a Jew and would visit every inhabited place to proclaim the power of God. 18But when his sufferings did not in any way abate, for the judgment of God had justly come upon him, he gave up all hope for himself and wrote to the Jews the following letter, in the form of a supplication. This was its content:
Antiochus’s Letter and Death
19“To his worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus their king and general sends hearty greetings and good wishes for their health and prosperity. 20If you and your children are well and your affairs are as you wish, I am glad. As my hope is in heaven, 21I remember with affection your esteem and goodwill. On my way back from the region of Persia I suffered an annoying illness, and I have deemed it necessary to take thought for the general security of all. 22I do not despair of my condition, for I have good hope of recovering from my illness, 23but I observed that my father, on the occasions when he made expeditions into the upper country, appointed his successor, 24so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm would not be troubled, for they would know to whom the government was left. 25Moreover, I understand how the princes along the borders and the neighbors of my kingdom keep watching for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. So I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I have often entrusted and commended to most of you when I hurried off to the upper provinces; and I have written to him what is written here. 26I therefore urge and beg you to remember the public and private services rendered to you and to maintain your present goodwill, each of you, toward me and my son. 27For I am sure that he will follow my policy and will treat you with moderation and kindness.”
28So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the more intense suffering, such as he had inflicted on others, came to the end of his life by a most pitiable fate, among the mountains in a strange land. 29And Philip, one of his courtiers, took his body home; then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he withdrew to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.
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a Gk they were defeated
b Or not think thoughts proper only to God
9.1–12 After undergoing various gruesome but appropriate punishments, Antiochus finally recognizes the power of Israel’s God. For different accounts of his end, see 1 Macc 6.1–17; 2 Macc 1.13–17; Dan 11.40–45.
9.2–3 Persepolis, the old capital of the Persian Empire, founded by Darius I. Ecbatana, in Media, northwest of Persepolis.
9.4 The judgment of heaven (God) imposes the misfortunes that Antiochus undergoes: pains in his bowels (v. 5–6), fall from the chariot (v. 7), and worms and stench (vv. 9–10).
9.8 For an earlier display of Antiochus’s arrogance, see 5.21. Cf. Isa 40.12.
9.9 For worms as a punishment for the wicked, see Isa 14.11; 66.24; Jdt 16.17; Sir 7.17; Acts 12.23.
9.12 For a similar acknowledgment by K
ing Nebuchadnezzar, see Dan 4.34–37.
9.13–18 No other ancient source verifies Antiochus’s promises to the God of Israel, and they are historically unlikely. At any rate, God does not accept Antiochus’s prayer.
9.14 Jerusalem was to be free of taxes (see 1 Macc 10.31).
9.15 Athens was not part of Antiochus’s empire. To be equal to citizens of Athens probably meant that Jews were to enjoy freedom and democracy.
9.19–29 The tone of the letter appointing Antiochus V as successor does not fit this context well, but its content is probably authentic.
9.19 Rather than addressed to his worthy Jewish citizens, the letter was more likely meant for the people of Antioch.
9.21 In view of vv. 5–12 an annoying illness is understatement and probably reflects Antiochus’s true condition (exaggerated in vv. 5–12).
9.23 Antiochus’s father, Antiochus III, appointed Seleucus IV as his successor.
9.25 My son, Antiochus V Eupator (“of a good father”), who was still a young boy and needed a regent (1 Macc 3.33; 6.14–15).
9.28 According to 2 Maccabees Antiochus died before the purification of the Jerusalem temple, whereas in 1 Maccabees (6.1–17) he died afterward. In fact he died just about the same time, and both writers drew a connection.
9.29 When Philip tried to seize the government (1 Macc 6.55–56), he could not hold Antioch (6.63) and so he fled to Egypt.
2 MACCABEES 10
Purification of the Temple
1Now Maccabeus and his followers, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city; 2they tore down the altars that had been built in the public square by the foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts. 3They purified the sanctuary, and made another altar of sacrifice; then, striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of two years, and they offered incense and lighted lamps and set out the bread of the Presence. 4When they had done this, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if they should ever sin, they might be disciplined by him with forbearance and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations. 5It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev. 6They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not long before, during the festival of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals. 7Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place. 8They decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that the whole nation of the Jews should observe these days every year.
9Such then was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.
Accession of Antiochus Eupator
10Now we will tell what took place under Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of that ungodly man, and will give a brief summary of the principal calamities of the wars. 11This man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to have charge of the government and to be chief governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 12Ptolemy, who was called Macron, took the lead in showing justice to the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, and attempted to maintain peaceful relations with them. 13As a result he was accused before Eupator by the king’s Friends. He heard himself called a traitor at every turn, because he had abandoned Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Unable to command the respect due his office,a he took poison and ended his life.
Campaign in Idumea
14When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept attacking the Jews. 15Besides this, the Idumeans, who had control of important strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they received those who were banished from Jerusalem, and endeavored to keep up the war. 16But Maccabeus and his forces, after making solemn supplication and imploring God to fight on their side, rushed to the strongholds of the Idumeans. 17Attacking them vigorously, they gained possession of the places, and beat off all who fought upon the wall, and slaughtered those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.
18When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers well equipped to withstand a siege, 19Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and his troops, a force sufficient to besiege them; and he himself set off for places where he was more urgently needed. 20But those with Simon, who were money-hungry, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and on receiving seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip away. 21When word of what had happened came to Maccabeus, he gathered the leaders of the people, and accused these men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22Then he killed these men who had turned traitor, and immediately captured the two towers. 23Having success at arms in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.
Judas Defeats Timothy
24Now Timothy, who had been defeated by the Jews before, gathered a tremendous force of mercenaries and collected the cavalry from Asia in no small number. He came on, intending to take Judea by storm. 25As he drew near, Maccabeus and his men sprinkled dust on their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God. 26Falling upon the steps before the altar, they implored him to be gracious to them and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares. 27And rising from their prayer they took up their arms and advanced a considerable distance from the city; and when they came near the enemy they halted. 28Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord, while the other made rage their leader in the fight.
29When the battle became fierce, there appeared to the enemy from heaven five resplendent men on horses with golden bridles, and they were leading the Jews. 30Two of them took Maccabeus between them, and shielding him with their own armor and weapons, they kept him from being wounded. They showered arrows and thunderbolts on the enemy, so that, confused and blinded, they were thrown into disorder and cut to pieces. 31Twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, besides six hundred cavalry.
32Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well garrisoned, where Chaereas was commander. 33Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged the fort for four days. 34The men within, relying on the strength of the place, kept blaspheming terribly and uttering wicked words. 35But at dawn of the fifth day, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, fired with anger because of the blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they met. 36Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders and set fire to the towers; they kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of the force, and they occupied the city. 37They killed Timothy, who was hiding in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollo-phanes. 38When they had accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them the victory.
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a Cn: Meaning of Gk uncertain
10.1–9 2 Maccabees portrays Judas’s restoration of the temple as a purification; 1 Macc 4.36–59 presents it more as a dedication.
10.1–2 1 Maccabees mentions neither the recovery of the city nor the altars…built in the public square.
10.3 For the fire, see 1.19–2.1, which gives a very different account; the use of flint guaranteed a new fire. Two years seems one year short (see 1 Macc 1.54; 4.52).
10.4 In accord with 6.12–17 the desecration of the temple is explained as punishment for Israel’s sins (especially for following Jason and Menelaus) and as a discipline.
10.5–6
For the date, see 1 Macc 4.52, 54. For the comparison with the festival of booths, see 2 Macc 1.9. For the allusion to Judas in the mountains, see 5.27.
10.7 Although the ivy-wreathed wands (Greek thyrsoi) were carried in processions honoring the god Dionysus (6.7), here they were probably not perceived as distinctively pagan.
10.8 The whole nation of the Jews was expected to observe the feast, though Jews in Egypt still needed encouragement to do so (see 1.1–9; 2.16–18).
10.10–13 On the death of Antiochus IV the Seleucid Empire passes to his son Antiochus V Eupator.
10.10 Antiochus V Eupator (“of a good father”); see 9.25, 29. He was about nine years old. He reigned until 162 BCE, when he was murdered by Demetrius I.
10.11 Lysias had been regent over the western territories (1 Macc 3.32–33). Since Antiochus V was very young, Lysias was responsible for making policy.
10.12 Ptolemy…Macron (“large-headed”) supported Antiochus IV when Antiochus’s fleet invaded Cyprus in 168 BCE and so incurred suspicion from both Ptolemies and Seleucids.
10.14–23 In Idumea (see 1 Macc 5.1–54) Judas is successful. Whatever success he lacks is due to the treachery of some of his troops.
10.14 Gorgias, governor of Idumea (12.32).
10.15–17 For another account of the war against the Idumeans, see 1 Macc 5.3.
10.17–18, 23 Twenty thousand, nine thousand, and twenty thousand, exaggerated.
10.18–23 For Judas’s attack on towers of the sons of Baean, see 1 Macc 5.4–5.
10.19 Joseph. See 1 Macc 5.18, 56; 2 Macc 8.22. Nothing is known of Zacchaeus.
10.24–38 In his battles with Timothy, Judas prays and gives thanks, and so gets additional victories.
10.24 For the defeat of Timothy before, see 8.30–33.
10.26 As the law declares, in Ex 23.22.
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