HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  12.29 Scythopolis, the Greek name (“city of Scythians”) for Beth-shan (see 1 Macc 5.52), west of the Jordan.

  12.31 The festival of weeks, or Shavuoth in Hebrew (Ex 23.16; Lev 23.15–22), marked the beginning of the grain harvest; its Greek name is Pentecost (v. 32), meaning “fifty” (days after Passover).

  12.32–37 For episodes similar to Judas’s defeat of Gorgias, see 1 Macc 5.55–68.

  12.32 Idumea, Edom in ancient times, south and east of Judea. For Gorgias and Idumea, see 10.14–15.

  12.35 Dositheus. See 12.19, 24. Marisa, called Mareshah in ancient times, one of the major cities of Idumea; see 1 Macc 5.66, where Judas is said to have passed through (the district of) Marisa.

  12.36 Esdris, perhaps Eleazar/Azariah of 8.23.

  12.37 Language of their ancestors. See note on 7.8.

  12.38–45 Judas’s perfect Torah observance in battle contrasts with that of the fallen soldiers. His sin offering for them receives a novel interpretation: it is proof of his belief in resurrection of the dead.

  12.38 Adullam, about eight miles northeast of Marisa. The purification involved ritual bathing after battle.

  12.40 Sacred tokens, perhaps amulets dedicated to foreign gods or other objects taken from pagan shrines, which were prohibited for Jews (see Deut 7.25–26).

  12.43 Judas’s sin offering was probably intended to ward off punishment against the living (see Josh 7), but the author of 2 Maccabees took it as applying to the dead and thus as proof of Judas’s belief in resurrection (see ch. 7; Dan 12.1–3).

  2 MACCABEES 13

  Menelaus Is Put to Death

  1In the one hundred forty-ninth yeara word came to Judas and his men that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great army against Judea, 2and with him Lysias, his guardian, who had charge of the government. Each of them had a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.

  3Menelaus also joined them and with utter hypocrisy urged Antiochus on, not for the sake of his country’s welfare, but because he thought that he would be established in office. 4But the King of kings aroused the anger of Antiochus against the scoundrel; and when Lysias informed him that this man was to blame for all the trouble, he ordered them to take him to Beroea and to put him to death by the method that is customary in that place. 5For there is a tower there, fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it has a rim running around it that on all sides inclines precipitously into the ashes. 6There they all push to destruction anyone guilty of sacrilege or notorious for other crimes. 7By such a fate it came about that Menelaus the lawbreaker died, without even burial in the earth. 8And this was eminently just; because he had committed many sins against the altar whose fire and ashes were holy, he met his death in ashes.

  A Battle Near the City of Modein

  9The king with barbarous arrogance was coming to show the Jews things far worse than those that had been doneb in his father’s time. 10But when Judas heard of this, he ordered the people to call upon the Lord day and night, now if ever to help those who were on the point of being deprived of the law and their country and the holy temple, 11and not to let the people who had just begun to revive fall into the hands of the blasphemous Gentiles. 12When they had all joined in the same petition and had implored the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying prostrate for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and ordered them to stand ready.

  13After consulting privately with the elders, he determined to march out and decide the matter by the help of God before the king’s army could enter Judea and get possession of the city. 14So, committing the decision to the Creator of the world and exhorting his troops to fight bravely to the death for the laws, temple, city, country, and commonwealth, he pitched his camp near Modein. 15He gave his troops the watchword, “God’s victory,” and with a picked force of the bravest young men, he attacked the king’s pavilion at night and killed as many as two thousand men in the camp. He stabbedc the leading elephant and its rider. 16In the end they filled the camp with terror and confusion and withdrew in triumph. 17This happened, just as day was dawning, because the Lord’s help protected him.

  Antiochus Makes a Treaty with the Jews

  18The king, having had a taste of the daring of the Jews, tried strategy in attacking their positions. 19He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews, was turned back, attacked again,d and was defeated. 20Judas sent in to the garrison whatever was necessary. 21But Rhodocus, a man from the ranks of the Jews, gave secret information to the enemy; he was sought for, caught, and put in prison. 22The king negotiated a second time with the people in Beth-zur, gave pledges, received theirs, withdrew, attacked Judas and his men, was defeated; 23he got word that Philip, who had been left in charge of the government, had revolted in Antioch; he was dismayed, called in the Jews, yielded and swore to observe all their rights, settled with them and offered sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and showed generosity to the holy place. 24He received Maccabeus, left Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to Gerar, 25and went to Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais were indignant over the treaty; in fact they were so angry that they wanted to annul its terms.e 26Lysias took the public platform, made the best possible defense, convinced them, appeased them, gained their goodwill, and set out for Antioch. This is how the king’s attack and withdrawal turned out.

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  a 163 B.C.

  b Or the worst of the things that had been done

  c Meaning of Gk uncertain

  d Or faltered

  e Meaning of Gk uncertain

  13.1–8 Menelaus, the Jewish high priest, receives just punishment for his evil deeds.

  13.1–2 In 163 BCE Antiochus V succeeded his father, with Lysias serving as his chief adviser (1 Macc 6.17). The Greek force was composed of mercenaries. The scythes on the chariots kept infantry away.

  13.3–4 The King of kings (God) aroused anger against Menelaus, who may have fallen behind on paying his taxes (4.27, 43–47).

  13.4 Beroea, the name given to Aleppo in Syria by Seleucus I.

  13.5–6 The method of execution was used by the Persians; the person died by suffocation (if the ashes were cold) or burning (if they were hot).

  13.8 Menelaus’s mode of death was just, since his punishment fit his crimes.

  13.9–17 After appropriate preparations for battle, Judas engages the Seleucid army near Modein.

  13.9 There is no explanation for Antiochus V’s actions beyond his barbarous arrogance (see, however, 11.22–26). In any case, it was Lysias’s policy, since Antiochus V was a boy.

  13.10–12 For battle preparations, see 1 Macc 3.44–47.

  13.14 Modein, the hometown of the Maccabees (1 Macc 2.1), allowed Judas to make a preemptive strike.

  13.15 For Eleazar’s heroic death while stabbing an elephant, see 1 Macc 6.43–46.

  13.18–26 The peace treaty between Antiochus V and the Jews is due also to events back in Antioch.

  13.18–22 For the siege of Beth-zur, see 1 Macc 6.31, 49–50. 2 Maccabees blames its fall on the treachery of Rhodocus, a Jew with a Persian name.

  13.23 Philip (see 9.29) was appointed by Antiochus IV (1 Macc 6.14–15) and took control of Antioch (1 Macc 6.63).

  13.24 From Ptolemais to Gerar, i.e., the coastal plain from north to south.

  13.25 For Ptolemais as hostile to Jews, see 6.8; 1 Macc 5.15.

  2 MACCABEES 14

  Alcimus Speaks against Judas

  1Three years later, word came to Judas and his men that Demetrius son of Seleucus had sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a strong army and a fleet, 2and had taken possession of the country, having made away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.

  3Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had willfully defiled himself in the times of separation,a realized that there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy altar, 4and went to King
Demetrius in about the one hundred fifty-first year,b presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and besides these some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he kept quiet. 5But he found an opportunity that furthered his mad purpose when he was invited by Demetrius to a meeting of the council and was asked about the attitude and intentions of the Jews. He answered:

  6“Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas Maccabeus, are keeping up war and stirring up sedition, and will not let the kingdom attain tranquility. 7Therefore I have laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood—and have now come here, 8first because I am genuinely concerned for the interests of the king, and second because I have regard also for my compatriots. For through the folly of those whom I have mentioned our whole nation is now in no small misfortune. 9Since you are acquainted, O king, with the details of this matter, may it please you to take thought for our country and our hard-pressed nation with the gracious kindness that you show to all. 10For as long as Judas lives, it is impossible for the government to find peace.” 11When he had said this, the rest of the king’s Friends,c who were hostile to Judas, quickly inflamed Demetrius still more. 12He immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, appointed him governor of Judea, and sent him off 13with orders to kill Judas and scatter his troops, and to install Alcimus as high priest of the greatd temple. 14And the Gentiles throughout Judea, who had fled beforee Judas, flocked to join Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.

  Nicanor Makes Friends with Judas

  15When the Jewsf heard of Nicanor’s coming and the gathering of the Gentiles, they sprinkled dust on their heads and prayed to him who established his own people forever and always upholds his own heritage by manifesting himself. 16At the command of the leader, theyg set out from there immediately and engaged them in battle at a village called Dessau.h 17Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor, but had been temporarilyi checked because of the sudden consternation created by the enemy.

  18Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the valor of Judas and his troops and their courage in battle for their country, shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed. 19Therefore he sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to give and receive pledges of friendship. 20When the terms had been fully considered, and the leader had informed the people, and it had appeared that they were of one mind, they agreed to the covenant. 21The leadersj set a day on which to meet by themselves. A chariot came forward from each army; seats of honor were set in place; 22Judas posted armed men in readiness at key places to prevent sudden treachery on the part of the enemy; so they duly held the consultation.

  23Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem and did nothing out of the way, but dismissed the flocks of people that had gathered. 24And he kept Judas always in his presence; he was warmly attached to the man. 25He urged him to marry and have children; so Judask married, settled down, and shared the common life.

  Nicanor Turns against Judas

  26But when Alcimus noticed their goodwill for one another, he took the covenant that had been made and went to Demetrius. He told him that Nicanor was disloyal to the government, since he had appointed that conspirator against the kingdom, Judas, to be his successor. 27The king became excited and, provoked by the false accusations of that depraved man, wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the covenant and commanding him to send Maccabeus to Antioch as a prisoner without delay.

  28When this message came to Nicanor, he was troubled and grieved that he had to annul their agreement when the man had done no wrong. 29Since it was not possible to oppose the king, he watched for an opportunity to accomplish this by a stratagem. 30But Maccabeus, noticing that Nicanor was more austere in his dealings with him and was meeting him more rudely than had been his custom, concluded that this austerity did not spring from the best motives. So he gathered not a few of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor. 31When the latter became aware that he had been cleverly outwitted by the man, he went to the greatl and holy temple while the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and commanded them to hand the man over. 32When they declared on oath that they did not know where the man was whom he wanted, 33he stretched out his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: “If you do not hand Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground and tear down the altar, and build here a splendid temple to Dionysus.”

  34Having said this, he went away. Then the priests stretched out their hands toward heaven and called upon the constant Defender of our nation, in these words: 35“O Lord of all, though you have need of nothing, you were pleased that there should be a temple for your habitation among us; 36so now, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been so recently purified.”

  Razis Dies for His Country

  37A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a man who loved his compatriots and was very well thought of and for his goodwill was called father of the Jews. 38In former times, when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and he had most zealously risked body and life for Judaism. 39Nicanor, wishing to exhibit the enmity that he had for the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him; 40for he thought that by arrestingm him he would do them an injury. 41When the troops were about to capture the tower and were forcing the door of the courtyard, they ordered that fire be brought and the doors burned. Being surrounded, Razisn fell upon his own sword, 42preferring to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth. 43But in the heat of the struggle he did not hit exactly, and the crowd was now rushing in through the doors. He courageously ran up on the wall, and bravely threw himself down into the crowd. 44But as they quickly drew back, a space opened and he fell in the middle of the empty space. 45Still alive and aflame with anger, he rose, and though his blood gushed forth and his wounds were severe he ran through the crowd; and standing upon a steep rock, 46with his blood now completely drained from him, he tore out his entrails, took them in both hands and hurled them at the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to give them back to him again. This was the manner of his death.

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  a Other ancient authorities read of mixing

  b 161 B.C.

  c Gk of the Friends

  d Gk greatest

  e Meaning of Gk uncertain

  f Gk they

  g Gk he

  h Meaning of Gk uncertain

  i Other ancient authorities read slowly

  j Gk They

  k Gk he

  l Gk greatest

  m Meaning of Gk uncertain

  n Gk he

  14.1–14 For another account of Alcimus’s criticism of Judas, see 1 Macc 7.1–7, 25–26. 2 Maccabees omits Bacchides (1 Macc 7.8–24).

  14.1–2 In 161 BCE Demetrius I, son of Seleucus IV, arrived at Tripolis, a port city named “Three Cities” because merchants from three other cities controlled parts of it. For more vivid descriptions of the fates of Antiochus V and Lysias, see 1 Macc 7.1–4.

  14.3–5 Alcimus had been appointed high priest by Antiochus V after Menelaus was executed. His “defilement” probably consisted in collaborating with the Seleucid regime. He seems to have had two meetings with Demetrius I (vv. 4–5).

  14.6 In 1 Macc 2.42; 7.12–17 the Hasideans constitute a party separate from the Maccabees. Here Judas is portrayed as their leader.

  14.7 For the ancestral claim to the high priesthood by Alcimus, see 1 Macc 7.14.

  14.11 The rest of the king’s Friends suggests that Alcimus was a member of the inner circle of royal advisers.

  14.12 Nicanor. See 2 Macc 8.9–36. His appointment as governor was probably temporary until he cleared up matters in Judea.

  14.14 These Gentiles may have been settled in Judea under Antiochus IV.

  14.15–2
5 For another view of Nicanor’s relationship with Judas, see 1 Macc 7.27–29.

  14.16–17 Dessau. Location uncertain, though it seems to have been in Judea. The encounter with Nicanor appears to have been a defeat for Simon.

  14.19 Mattathias, a Hebrew name. Theodotus, a Greek name often taken by Jews. Both mean “gift of God.”

  14.21–25 The private discussion between Nicanor and Judas issues in a warm friendship; see 1 Macc 7.27, where Nicanor is accused of treachery from the start.

  14.26–36 For another version of Nicanor’s change in attitude toward Judas, see 1 Macc 7.30–38.

  14.26–27 It is possible that, in the interests of peace in Judea, Nicanor viewed Judas as his successor or deputy. Alcimus sought to wreck that plan by denouncing Nicanor and having Judas taken prisoner.

  14.28–30 According to 1 Macc 7.30–32, Judas was informed about Nicanor’s treacherous intent and defeated Nicanor in battle near Caphar-salama.

  14.31–33 Cf. 1 Macc 7.33–38, where Nicanor threatens to burn the temple. His threat to turn the Jerusalem temple into a splendid temple to Dionysus may be the author’s embellishment (see 6.7).

  14.34 For God as Israel’s Defender, see 8.36.

  14.35–36 For the fulfillment of the prayer, see 15.34.

  14.37–46 There is no parallel in 1 Maccabees to the martyrdom of Razis; see the other martyrdoms in 2 Macc 6–7.

  14.37 Razis (Persian name), possibly a convert to Judaism (as v. 38 suggests). As an elder he may have been a member of the council; as father of the Jews he was acknowledged as their benefactor.

  14.42 Razis’s decision to die nobly rather than to fall into enemy hands had a biblical precedent in Saul (1 Sam 31.4).