| Judith 5:22
| And even some years ago when they had revolted from the way which God had given them, to walk therein, they were destroyed in battles by many nations, and very many of them were led away captive into a strange land.
| Battles. He seems to speak of the captivity of Manasses, (Worthington) of the ten tribes, and of the loss sustained by Achaz, 2 Paralipomenon 28:5. (Menochius) --- By many. Greek, "exceedingly; and they were led captive into a land which was not their own, and the temple of their God became as a pavement, and their cities were taken by the enemies. But now, returning to their God, they are come up from the places to which they had been scattered, and have possession of Jerusalem, where is their sanctuary; and they have inhabited the mountainous country, for it was a desert." (Haydock) --- Our adversaries would infer from this, and similar passages, that the siege of Bethulia could not have taken place till after the captivity at Babylon; and this many Catholics allow. But the proof is not conclusive, as all this might be verified under Manasses: (Calmet) "the temple was trampled on," (Syriac, egennethe eis edaphos) and profaned. See Judith 4:2., and 1 Machabees 3:51., and Luke 21:24. It had been pillaged by Sesac and the Assyrians, and had stood in need of great repairs under Ezechias, Josias, etc. Several of the Israelites had escaped from the hands of their oppressors, (2 Paralipomenon 34:9.) and the Jews had regained their strength after the captivity of Manasses, (Calmet) having retired before into their strong holds in the deserts. (Haydock)
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