| I Maccabees 5:1
| Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up, as before, that they were exceeding angry.
| Nations. They were always ready to oppress the Jews. Thus God punished or tried his people. (Calmet) --- Judas, or his brethren, here gains eight victories over them. (Worthington)
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| I Maccabees 5:2
| And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute them.
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| I Maccabees 5:3
| Then Judas fought against the children of Esau, in Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites around about, and he made a great slaughter of them.
| Idumea. Alexandrian manuscript has, "Judea." Both may be right. The country had been wrested from Juda by the Idumeans. --- Acrabathane is "the ascent of scorpions," (hakrabim) which were probably numerous, to the south of the Dead Sea, Numbers 34:4., and Deuteronomy 8:15.
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| I Maccabees 5:4
| And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a snare and a stumbling-block to the people, by lying in wait for them in the way.
| Bean; perhaps Beon, near the sea of Sodom, (Calmet) or Bathaner, beyond the Jordan [River]. (Serarius)
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| I Maccabees 5:5
| And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were in them.
| Destruction. Sometimes the people were spared. All depended on the wording of the vow, Leviticus 27:28., and Numbers 21:1. See other particulars, 2 Machabees 10:16., to 23. (Calmet)
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| I Maccabees 5:6
| Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain:
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| I Maccabees 5:7
| And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in their sight, and he smote them:
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| I Maccabees 5:8
| *And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into Judea.
| Year of the World 3481, Year before Christ 163. Gazer, in Ephraim. But Jazer, in the tribe of Gad, seems to be meant, as the Greek expresses it. (Menochius) --- Towns. Literally, "daughters," or dependant (Haydock) villages. (Worthington) --- Afterwards Judas returned and defeated Timotheus, 2 Machabees 10:24.
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| I Maccabees 5:9
| And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman.
| Galaad. Most of the towns had been seized by the Ammonites, etc. After the return of the captives, they were probably driven out. They attempted to regain possession, when Epiphanes declared against the Jews. --- Datheman; Petra, (Calmet) or perhaps Rathma, Numbers 33:18. (Drusius)
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| I Maccabees 5:10
| And they sent letters to Judas, and his brethren, saying, The heathens that are round about are gathered together against us, to destroy us:
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| I Maccabees 5:11
| And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host.
| Timotheus. Another of this name had been slain the preceding year, [the year of the world] 3840, at Gazara, 2 Machabees 10:37.
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| I Maccabees 5:12
| Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many of us are slain.
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| I Maccabees 5:13
| And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a thousand men.
| Tubin, or Tob, to the south of Gad, Judges 11:3. (Calmet)
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| I Maccabees 5:14
| And while they were yet reading these letters, behold there came other messengers out of Galilee with their garments rent, who related according to these words:
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| I Maccabees 5:15
| Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, were assembled against them, and all Galilee is filled with strangers, in order to consume us.
| Is filled. Greek Alexandrian, "All Galilee of the Gentiles to destroy us." (Haydock) --- This part of Galilee was occupied by pagans, who were excited by Epiphanes to fall upon the Jews, 2 Machabees 6:8.
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| I Maccabees 5:16
| Now when Judas and all the people heard these words, a great assembly met together to consider what they should do for their brethren that were in trouble, and were assaulted by them.
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| I Maccabees 5:17
| And Judas said to Simon, his brother: Choose thee men, and go, and deliver thy brethren in Galilee: and I, and my brother Jonathan, will go into the country of Galaad:
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| I Maccabees 5:18
| And he left Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the army in Judea, to keep it:
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| I Maccabees 5:19
| And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of this people; but make no war against the heathens, till we return.
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| I Maccabees 5:20
| Now three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go into Galilee: and eight thousand to Judas, to go into the land of Galaad.
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| I Maccabees 5:21
| And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before his face, and he pursued them even to the gate of Ptolemais.
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| I Maccabees 5:22
| And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand men, and he took the spoils of them.
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| I Maccabees 5:23
| And he took with him those that were in Galilee and in Arbatis, with their wives, and children, and all that they had, and he brought them into Judea with great joy.
| Arbatis. Arboth means "deserts" uncultivated, here probably denoting the valley of Jezrahel. Simon wisely concentrated the people, as Judas did in Galaad, ver. 45.
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| I Maccabees 5:24
| And *Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan, his brother, passed over the Jordan, and went three days' journey through the desert.
| Year of the World 3481. Desert; probably from Bethsan to Bosor, marching with all secrecy.
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| I Maccabees 5:25
| And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a peaceable manner, and told them all that happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad,
| Nabutheans; descendants of Ismael's eldest son, whose capital was Petra. They continued friends to the Jews.
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| I Maccabees 5:26
| And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in Bosor, and in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in Carnaim; all these strong and great cities.
| Barasa; probably the Bozra of Moab. Greek, "Bosorra." (Jos.[Josephus?]) --- Bosor means a fortress. It is not wonderful that there should be many places of this name in Arabia, to defend the people from robbers. --- Alima; Elim, or Almon, Isaias 15:8. --- Casphor, or rather Casbon, (ver. 36.) the famous Hesebon, Numbers 21:26. (Calmet) --- Mageth, or Machati; (Grotius) though it seems too far off, Deuteronomy 3:14. --- Carnaim, "horns," being sacred to the moon, (Calmet) called Astaroth, Genesis 14:5. (Haydock) --- Strabo styles it Carna.
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| I Maccabees 5:27
| Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of the cities of Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring their army on the morrow near to these cities, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.
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| I Maccabees 5:28
| Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march into the desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew every male by the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire.
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| I Maccabees 5:29
| And they removed from thence by night, and went till they came to the fortress.
| Fortress of Datheman, ver. 9.
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| I Maccabees 5:30
| And it came to pass that early in the morning, when they lifted up their eyes, behold there were people without number, carrying ladders and engines to take the fortress, and assault them.
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| I Maccabees 5:31
| And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry of the battle went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great cry out of the city:
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| I Maccabees 5:32
| And he said to his host: Fight ye to-day for your brethren.
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| I Maccabees 5:33
| And he came with three companies behind them, and they sounded their trumpets, and cried out in prayer.
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| I Maccabees 5:34
| And the host of Timotheus understood that it was Machabeus, and they fled away before his face: and they made a great slaughter of them: and there fell of them in that day almost eight thousand men.
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| I Maccabees 5:35
| And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and took it, and he slew every male thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.
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| I Maccabees 5:36
| From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth, and Bosor, and the rest of the cities of Galaad.
| Bosor, or Bosra, ver. 26. Bosor was taken before, ver. 28.
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| I Maccabees 5:37
| But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and camped over-against Raphon, beyond the torrent.
| After. Judas had in the mean time defeated Lysias, 2 Machabees 11:1., etc. (Calmet) --- Raphon, or Raphana; (Grotius) or as that was too remote, probably Saphon, Numbers 32:35. (Calmet)
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| I Maccabees 5:38
| And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought him word, saying: All the nations, that are round about us, are assembled unto him an army exceeding great:
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| I Maccabees 5:39
| And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against thee. And Judas went to meet them.
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| I Maccabees 5:40
| And Timotheus said to the captains of his army: When Judas and his army come near the torrent of water, if he pass over unto us first, we shall not be able to withstand him: for he will certainly prevail over us.
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| I Maccabees 5:41
| But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the other side of the river, we will pass over to them and shall prevail against him.
| Afraid. He interpreted the delay in this sense, which was very precarious, (Haydock) as nothing could be more superstitious. Jonathan begged for a similar proof of God's favour. But Timotheus consulted only himself, 1 Kings 14:9. (Calmet)
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| I Maccabees 5:42
| Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he set the scribes of the people by the torrent, and commanded them, saying: Suffer no man to stay behind: but let all come to the battle.
| Scribes; tribunes, who kept a register of the soldiers. (Menochius) --- They were officers of great power.
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| I Maccabees 5:43
| And he passed over to them first, and all the people after him, and all the heathens were discomfited before them, and they threw away their weapons, and fled to the temple that was in Carnaim.
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| I Maccabees 5:44
| And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with fire, with all things that were therein: and Carnaim was subdued, and could not stand against the face of Judas.
| Temple of Atergata, or Astarte. Judas slew 55,000. Timotheus was spared, 2 Machabees 12:20, 26.
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| I Maccabees 5:45
| And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the land of Galaad, from the least even to the greatest, and their wives and children, and an army exceeding great, to come into the land of Juda.
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| I Maccabees 5:46
| And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a great city, situate in the way, strongly fortified, and there was no means to turn from it on the right hand or on the left, but the way was through the midst of it.
| Ephron, beyond the Jordan [River]. The situation is unknown. With regard to the right which Judas had to treat it with such severity, see Numbers 20:18., and Judges 8:5. (Calmet) --- It probably belonged to God's people, and was unjustly detained. (Haydock)
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| I Maccabees 5:47
| And they that were in the city, shut themselves in, and stopped up the gates with stones: and Judas sent to them with peaceable words,
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| I Maccabees 5:48
| Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into our country: and no man shall hurt you; we will only pass through on foot. But they would not open to them.
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| I Maccabees 5:49
| Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the camp, that they should make an assault, every man in the place where he was.
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| I Maccabees 5:50
| And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted that city all the day, and all the night; and the city was delivered into his hands:
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| I Maccabees 5:51
| And they slew every male with the edge of the sword; and he razed the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through all the city over them that were slain.
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| I Maccabees 5:52
| Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain that is over-against Bethsan.
| Plain, extending beyond Jezrahel.
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| I Maccabees 5:53
| And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he exhorted the people, all the way through, till they came into the land of Juda.
| Hindmost: the place of danger. (Calmet) --- A good general takes care of the weakest, and exhorts all to behave valiantly. (Worthington)
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| I Maccabees 5:54
| And they went up to Mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain, till they had returned in peace.
| Not one. The 12,000 who defeated the Madianites, were preserved by God in like manner, Numbers 31:49. (Haydock)
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| I Maccabees 5:55
| Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, *and Simon, his brother, in Galilee, before Ptolemais,
| Year of the World 3841, Year before Christ 163.
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| I Maccabees 5:56
| Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captain of the soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles that were fought,
| And Azarias. These two are known only for their disobedience and misconduct. In holy wars, God does not favour those who are actuated by base motives, ver. 18, 60. (Calmet) --- Men who depend on themselves, and who are not properly authorized, receive not assistance from above; so these failed, as they were not chosen like those who were to save Israel, (Worthington) of the family of the Machabees. (Menochius)
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| I Maccabees 5:57
| And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight against the Gentiles that are round about us.
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| I Maccabees 5:58
| And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and they went towards Jamnia.
| Jamnia, a maritime city of the Philistines near Joppe. Gorgias, an experienced warrior, had retired thither, 1 Machabees 4:5., and 2 Machabees 8:9. (Calmet)
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| I Maccabees 5:59
| And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give them battle.
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| I Maccabees 5:60
| And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there fell on that day, of the people of Israel, about two thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the people:
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| I Maccabees 5:61
| Because they did not hearken to Judas and his brethren, thinking that they should do manfully.
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| I Maccabees 5:62
| But they were not of the seed of those men by whom salvation was brought to Israel.
| Israel. The late Rev. Robert Bannister applied this to Protestant writers of sermons, to dissuade young divines from applying to such authors as Tillotson, etc. It may also shew the reason why heretics succeed so ill in their foreign missions. (Haydock) --- They know how to pervert Catholics, not how to convert infidels. (Tertullian)
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| I Maccabees 5:63
| And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the nations where their name was heard.
| Men. Greek, "man, Judas, and his brethren were," etc. (Haydock) --- See a similar expression [in] Exodus 14:3., respecting Moses.
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| I Maccabees 5:64
| And people assembled to them with joyful acclamations.
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| I Maccabees 5:65
| Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked the children of Esau, *in the land towards the south, and he took Chebron and her towns: and he burnt the walls thereof, and the towers all round it.
| Year of the World 3841. Chebron, or Hebron, which the Idumeans had seized. Judas retook it after he had defeated Gorgias, 2 Machabees 12:32.
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| I Maccabees 5:66
| And he removed his camp to go into the land of the aliens, and he went through Samaria.
| Aliens; Philistines, ver. 68. --- Samaria. This seems too remote. Some substitute Saraia; (Jos.[Josue?] 15:35.) others Maresa, (2 Machabees 12:35.) Marissa, (Jos.[Josephus?]) the same as Ressa, Numbers 33:21.
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| I Maccabees 5:67
| In that day some priests fell in battle, while desiring to do manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight.
| Desiring. They were only too brave. This quality was not incompatible with the priesthood. Greek Alexandrian has, "while he (Judas) was desiring," etc. Others have, "priests of the cities, while they," etc. The Roman edition agrees with us, (Calmet) and Grabe prints accordingly. (Haydock)
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| I Maccabees 5:68
| And Judas turned to Azotus, into the land of the strangers, and he threw down their altars, and he burnt the statues of their gods with fire: and he took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the land of Juda.
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