| II Maccabees 14:3
| Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
| Priest, after Menelaus, (1 Machabees 7:5.) but never recognized, as Judas was then pontiff. He had, moreover, voluntarily defiled himself during the times of persecution; or, according to most Greek copies, (Calmet) when there was "no mixture" of Gentiles in the land to instigate him. (Haydock) --- Though he was of Aaron's stock, this apostacy rendered him ineligible; Mathathias was chosen, being also descended from Aaron, and more sincere in religion. (Worthington)
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