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8:1 Et audivit Judas nomen Romanorum, quia sunt potentes viribus, et acquiescunt ad omnia quae postulantur ab eis, et quicumque accesserunt ad eos, statuerunt cum eis amicitias : et quia sunt potentes viribus.
*H Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.
Ver. 1. Romans. Many historians, Livy, Plutarch, &c. record the same. W. — Things. Gr. "people who join them." H. — They comply with their just requests. M. — The Scripture speaks of the fine times of the republic, and gives this temporal reward to the virtues of the Romans, which they so greatly sought, and to which alone they were entitled. C. — "Hitherto, says Florus, the Roman people was beautiful, noble, pious, holy, and magnificent." The Jews, first among the eastern nations, employed their friendship to secure their liberty. Facile tunc Romanis de alieno largientibus, Just. xxxvi.
Καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰούδας τὸ ὄνομα τῶν Ῥωμαίων, ὅτι εἰσὶ δυνατοὶ ἰσχύϊ· καὶ αὐτοὶ εὐδοκοῦσιν ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς προστιθεμένοις αὐτοῖς, καὶ ὅσοι ἂν προσέλθωσιν αὐτοῖς, ἱστῶσιν αὐτοῖς φιλίαν, καὶ ὅτι εἰσὶ δυνατοὶ ἰσχύϊ·
8:2 Et audierunt praelia eorum, et virtutes bonas, quas fecerunt in Galatia, quia obtinuerunt eos, et duxerunt sub tributum :
* Footnotes
*H And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute:
Ver. 2. They heard, &c. What is here set down of the history and character of the ancient Romans, is not an assertion, or affirmation of the sacred writer; but only a relation of what Judas had heard of them. Ch. — Fame generally magnifies. — Galatia, over which Volso triumphed. Livy xxxviii. C. — The Gauls near Narbonne were then tributary to the Romans. Harduin.
καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ τοὺς πολέμους αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰς ἀνδραγαθίας ἃς ποιοῦσιν ἐν τοῖς Γαλάταις, καὶ ὅτι κατεκράτησαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς ὑπὸ φόρον,
8:3 et quanta fecerunt in regione Hispaniae, et quod in potestatem redegerunt metalla argenti et auri, quae illic sunt, et possederunt omnem locum consilio suo, et patientia :
*H And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:
Ver. 3. Mines, for which Spain was most famous. Pliny iii. 3. Strabo iii. — The place, or every place in the world. M.
καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησαν ἐν χώρᾳ Ἱσπανιας, του κατακρατῆσαι τῶν μετάλλων τοῦ ἀργυρίου καὶ τοῦ χρυσίου τοῦ ἐκεῖ·
8:4 locaque quae longe erant valde ab eis, et reges, qui supervenerant eis ab extremis terrae, contriverunt, et percusserunt eos plaga magna : ceteri autem dant eis tributum omnibus annis.
*H And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.
Ver. 4. Earth, little known to the Jews, like Syphax, &c.
καὶ κατεκράτησαν τοῦ τόπου παντὸς τῇ βουλῇ αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, καὶ ὁ τόπος ἦν μακρὰν ἀπέχων ἀπʼ αὐτῶν σφόδρα· καὶ τῶν βασιλέων τῶν ἐπελθόντων ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἀπʼ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ἕως συνέτριψαν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐπάταξαν ἐν αὐτοῖς πληγὴν μεγάλην, καὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι διδόασιν αὐτοῖς φόρον κατʼ ἐνιαυτόν·
8:5 Et Philippum et Persen Ceteorum regem, et ceteros qui adversum eos arma tulerant, contriverunt in bello, et obtinuerunt eos :
*H And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:
Ver. 5. Ceteans. That is, the Macedonians. Ch. — Flaminius subdued the former, and P. Emilius the latter.
Καὶ τὸν Φίλιππον καὶ τὸν Περσέα Κιτιέων βασιλέα, καὶ τοὺς ἐπῃρμένους ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, συνέτριψαν αὐτοὺς ἐν πολέμῳ, καὶ κατεκράτησαν αὐτῶν·
8:6 et Antiochum magnum regem Asiae, qui eis pugnam intulerat habens centum viginti elephantos, et equitatum, et currus, et exercitum magnum valde, contritum ab eis :
* Footnotes
*H And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them.
Ver. 6. Twenty. Livy mentions only fifty-four. Florus allows that elephants were on both sides of the army, consisting of 300,000 foot. Appian admits but 70,000 men. C. — Polybius (5.) asserts that Antiochus had 102 elephants against Ptolemy. In this war he might well have 120. W.
καὶ Ἀντίοχον τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα τῆς Ἀσίας, τὸν πορευθέντα ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς εἰς πόλεμον ἔχοντα ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ἐλέφαντας καὶ ἵππον καὶ ἅρματα καὶ δύναμιν πολλὴν σφόδρα, καὶ συνετρίβη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν·
8:7 et quia ceperunt eum vivum, et statuerunt ei ut daret ipse, et qui regnarent post ipsum, tributum magnum, et daret obsides, et constitutum,
*H And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
Ver. 7. Alive. He was forced to submit to conditions, as hard as if he had been prisoner. C. — He was present with the ambassabors at Lysimachia, to see the conditions put in execution. Polyd. xvii. — Tribute. He had to pay all the expenses of the war, 15,000 talents of Eubea, 350 to Eumenes, and 127 for wheat. Twenty hostages were required to be exchanged every three years. — Upon. Gr. "the division," (C.) or all Europe, and from Halys as far as Mount Taurus. All his elephants at Apamea, and his ships of war, were also ceded. Livy xxxviii.
καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὸν ζῶντα, καὶ ἔστησαν αὐτοῖς διδόναι αὐτόν τε καὶ τοὺς βασιλεύοντας μετʼ αὐτὸν φόρον μέγαν, διδόναι ὅμηρα καὶ διαστολήν,
8:8 et regionem Indorum, et Medos, et Lydos, de optimis regionibus eorum : et acceptas eas ab eis, dederunt Eumeni regi,
*H And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them, they gave to king Eumenes.
Ver. 8. Indians. So the Ionians and Carians might be styled, from the Indus or Kalbit, which flows through their country. The Midæi dwelt in those regions. Harduin. — Some think the Ionians and Mysians should be put for the Indians and Medes, (Grot.) as they were given up to Eumenes. Livy — Yet the name of Indian was very vague, and denoted the Ethiopians, Arabs, &c. C. — Eumedes. King of Pergamus. Ch.
καὶ χώραν τὴν Ἰνδικὴν, καὶ Μήδειαν, καὶ Αυδίαν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν καλλίστων χωρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὰς παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἔδωκαν αὐτὰς Εὐμένει τῷ βασιλεῖ.
8:9 et quia qui erant apud Helladam, voluerunt ire, et tollere eos : et innotuit sermo his,
*H And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
Ver. 9. Greece, in league with Antiochus, (Grot.) or the Etolians, whom Glabrio conquered, may be meant. Salien.
Καὶ ὅτι οἱ ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐβουλεύσαντο ἐλθεῖν καὶ ἐξᾶραι αὐτούς,
8:10 et miserunt ad eos ducem unum, et pugnaverunt contra illos, et ceciderunt ex eis multi, et captivas duxerunt uxores eorum et filios, et diripuerunt eos, et terram eorum possederunt, et destruxerunt muros eorum, et in servitutem illos redegerunt usque in hunc diem :
And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.
καὶ ἐγνώσθη ὁ λόγος αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς στρατηγὸν ἕνα, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔπεσον ἐξ αὐτῶν τραυματίαι πολλοὶ, καὶ ᾐχμαλώτευσαν τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ προενόμευσαν αὐτοὺς, καὶ κατεκράτησαν τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν, καὶ καθεῖλον τὰ ὀχυρώματα αὐτῶν, καὶ κατεδουλώσαντο αὐτοὺς ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
8:11 et residua regna, et insulas, quae aliquando restiterant illis, exterminaverunt, et in potestatem redegerunt.
And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.
Καὶ τὰς ἐπιλοίπους βασιλείας, καὶ τὰς νήσους, ὅσοι ποτὲ ἀντέστησαν αὐτοῖς, κατέφθειραν, καὶ ἐδούλωσαν αὐτούς· μετὰ δὲ τῶν φίλων αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἐπαναπαυομένων αὐτοῖς συνετήρησαν φιλίαν,
8:12 Cum amicis autem suis, et qui in ipsis requiem habebant, conservaverunt amicitiam, et obtinuerunt regna, quae erant proxima, et quae erant longe : quia quicumque audiebant nomen eorum, timebant eos :
But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.
καὶ κατεκράτησαν τῶν βασιλειῶν τῶν ἐγγὺς καὶ τῶν μακρὰν, καὶ ὅσοι ἤκουον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἐφοβοῦντο ἀπʼ αὐτῶν·
8:13 quibus vero vellent auxilio esse ut regnarent, regnabant : quos autem vellent, regno deturbabant : et exaltati sunt valde.
*H That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
Ver. 13. Reigned, like Masinissa, Prusias, Eumenes, Eupator, and Phiolmetor.
ὅσοις δʼ ἂν βούλωνται βοηθεῖν καὶ βασιλεύειν, βασιλεύουσιν· οὓς δʼ ἂν βούλωνται, μεθιστῶσι, καὶ ὑψώθησαν σφόδρα·
8:14 Et in omnibus istis nemo portabat diadema, nec induebatur purpura, ut magnificaretur in ea.
*H And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.
Ver. 14. Crown, after the expulsion of the Tarquins.
καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐκ ἐπέθετο οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν διάδημα, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλοντο πορφύραν, ὥστε ἁδρυνθῆναι ἐν αὐτῇ.
8:15 Et quia curiam fecerunt sibi, et quotidie consulebant trecentos viginti consilium agentes semper de multitudine, ut quae digna sunt, gerant :
*H And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in counsel always for the people, that they might do the things that were right:
Ver. 15. Twenty. These latter were people in office, the two consuls, pretors, and questors, the four ediles, and ten tribunes. After Sylla the number of senators was augmented from 300 to 1000. Alex. Genial iv. 11. C.
Καὶ βουλευτήριον ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ καθʼ ἡμέραν ἐβουλεύοντο τριακόσιοι καὶ εἴκοσι βουλευόμενοι διαπαντὸς περὶ τοῦ πλήθους, τοῦ εὐκοσμεῖν αὐτούς·
8:16 et committunt uni homini magistratum suum per singulos annos dominari universae terrae suae, et omnes obediunt uni, et non est invidia, neque zelus inter eos.
*H And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy nor jealousy amongst them.
Ver. 16. To one man. There were two consuls; but one only ruled at one time, each in his day. Ch. — Of this we have an example in the battle of Cannæ. The first of the consuls wore the ornaments. Livy — It would have been more dreadful to have two than one ruler. W. — One of them governed at home; the other in the armies, and this latter alone was known to the Jews. They might also be falsely informed that a dictator was chosen every year. This was only done on great emergencies. C. — No envy, &c. So Judas had heard; and it was so far true, with regard to the ancient Romans: that as yet no envy or jealousy had divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and Sylla, &c. Ch. — Before they seemed all bent on promoting the public good. Sallust. Catil.
καὶ πιστεύουσιν ἑνὶ ἀνθρώπῳ τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτῶν κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν, καὶ κυριεύειν πάσης τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν, καὶ πάντες ἀκούουσι τοῦ ἑνὸς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι φθόνος οὐδὲ ζῆλος ἐν αὐτοῖς·
8:17 Et elegit Judas Eupolemum filium Joannis filii Jacob, et Jasonem filium Eleazari, et misit eos Romam constituere cum illis amicitiam et societatem :
So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them:
Καὶ ἐπέλεξεν Ἰούδας τὸν Εὐπόλεμον υἱὸν Ἰωάννου τοῦ Ἀκκὼς, καὶ Ἰάσονα υἱὸν Ἐλεαζάρου, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς Ῥώμην, στῆσαι αὐτοῖς φιλίαν καὶ συμμαχίαν,
8:18 et ut auferrent ab eis jugum Graecorum, quia viderunt quod in servitutem premerent regnum Israel.
And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
καὶ τοῦ ἆραι τὸν ζυγὸν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἴδον τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν Ἑλλήνων καταδουλουμένους τὸν Ἰσραὴλ δουλείαν.
8:19 Et abierunt Romam viam multam valde, et introierunt curiam, et dixerunt :
And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:
Καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς Ῥώμην, καὶ ἡ ὁδὸς πολλὴ σφόδρα, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον, καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον,
8:20 Judas Machabaeus, et fratres ejus, et populus Judaeorum, miserunt nos ad vos statuere vobiscum societatem et pacem, et conscribere nos socios et amicos vestros.
Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.
Ἰούδας ὁ Μακκαβαῖος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπέστειλαν ἡμᾶς πρὸς ὑμᾶς, στῆσαι μεθʼ ὑμῶν συμμαχίαν καὶ εἰρήνην, καὶ γραφῆναι ἡμᾶς συμμάχους καὶ φίλους ὑμῶν.
8:21 Et placuit sermo in conspectu eorum.
*H And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
Ver. 21. Sight. The Romans expected they should soon be at war with Demetrius, and had heard of the exploits of Judas.
Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.
8:22 Et hoc rescriptum est quod rescripserunt in tabulis aereis, et miserunt in Jerusalem, ut esset apud eos ibi memoriale pacis et societatis :
And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance.
Καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῆς ἐπιστολῆς ἧς ἀντέγραψεν ἐπὶ δέλτοῖς χαλκαῖς, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἶναι παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἐκεῖ μνημόσυνον εἰρήνης καὶ συμμαχίας·
8:23 Bene sit Romanis, et genti Judaeorum, in mari et in terra in aeternum : gladiusque et hostis procul sit ab eis.
GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by sea, and by land, for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
καλῶς γένοιτο Ῥωμαίοις καὶ τῷ ἔθνει Ἰουδαίων ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ξηρᾶς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ ῥομφαία καὶ ἐχθρὸς μακρυνθείη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν.
8:24 Quod si institerit bellum Romanis prius, aut omnibus sociis eorum in omni dominatione eorum,
But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
Ἐὰν δὲ ἐνστῇ πόλεμος ἐν Ῥώμῃ προτέρᾳ ἢ πᾶσι τοῖς συμμάχοις αὐτῶν ἐν πάσῃ κυρείᾳ αὐτῶν,
8:25 auxilium feret gens Judaeorum, prout tempus dictaverit, corde pleno :
The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:
συμμαχήσει τὸ ἔθνος τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὡς ἂν ὁ καιρὸς ὑπογραφῇ αὐτοῖς, καρδίᾳ πλήρει.
8:26 et praeliantibus non dabunt, neque subministrabunt triticum, arma, pecuniam, naves, sicut placuit Romanis : et custodient mandata eorum, nihil ab eis accipientes.
*H Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.
Ver. 26. Shall they. The Jews and Romans shall pay their own forces. T. M. — Grotius explains it, as if the former were to give no aid to the enemies of Rome.
Καὶ τοῖς πολεμοῦσιν οὐ δώσουσιν οὐδὲ ἐπαρκέσουσι σῖτον, ὅπλα, ἀργύριον, πλοῖα, ὡς ἔδοξε Ῥωμαίοις· καὶ φυλάξονται τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτῶν οὐθὲν λαβόντες·
8:27 Similiter autem et si genti Judaeorum prius acciderit bellum, adjuvabunt Romani ex animo, prout eis tempus permiserit :
In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them:
κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ ἐὰν ἔθνει Ἰουδαίων συμβῇ προτέροις πόλεμος, συμμαχήσουσιν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι ἐκ ψυχῆς, ὡς ἂν αὐτοῖς ὁ καιρὸς ὑπογραφῇ.
8:28 et adjuvantibus non dabitur triticum, arma, pecunia, naves, sicut placuit Romanis : et custodient mandata eorum absque dolo :
*H And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.
Ver. 28. To them. Grotius adds, "to the enemies and to them," &c. which is the sense of the Syr. and Arab. and the most natural.
Καὶ τοῖς συμμαχοῦσιν οὐ δοθήσεται σῖτος, ὅπλα, ἀργύριον, πλοῖα, ὡς ἔδοξε Ῥώμῃ· καὶ φυλάξονται τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ μετὰ δόλου.
8:29 secundum haec verba constituerunt Romani populo Judaeorum.
According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.
Κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἔστησαν Ῥωμαῖοι τῷ δήμῳ τῶν Ἰουδαίων.
8:30 Quod si post haec verba hi aut illi addere aut demere ad haec aliquid voluerint, facient ex proposito suo : et quaecumque addiderint, vel dempserint, rata erunt.
And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.
Ἐὰν δὲ μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους βουλεύσωνται οὗτοι καὶ οὗτοι προσθεῖναι ἢ ἀφελεῖν, ποιήσονται ἐξ αἱρέσεως αὐτῶν, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν προσθῶσιν ἢ ἀφέλωσιν, ἔσται κύρια.
8:31 Sed et de malis, quae Demetrius rex fecit in eos, scripsimus ei, dicentes : Quare gravasti jugum tuum super amicos nostros, et socios Judaeos ?
*H Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews.
Ver. 31. Jews. He and his predecessors had abused their power. Yet Rupert and Peter of Blois (ep. 146.) disapprove of the Jews having recourse to the Romans: they might flee away. It is not lawful to take arms against the sovereign. God had, however, sufficiently evinced by miracles that the conduct of the Machabees was pleasing to him. 2 B. xv. 12. C. — The Jews were not properly subjects, though tributary to foreign kings, whose design was to exterminate them. C. iii. 39. Self-preservation dictated that they should call in the aid of others. H. — To die for religion was a great blessing. C. — But God would not have his people thus entirely destroyed. The obligations of rulers and of the people are reciprocal. All nations have asserted their right to seek redress under oppression. Yet few have been treated so ill as the Jews. Few have acted with equal zeal and justice. H.
Καὶ περὶ τῶν κακῶν ὧν ὁ βασιλεὺς Δημήτριος συντελεῖται εἰς αὐτούς, ἐγράψαμεν αὐτῷ, λέγοντες, διατί ἐβάρυνας τὸν ζυγόν σου ἐπὶ τοὺς φίλους ἡμῶν τοὺς συμμάχους Ἰουδαίους;
8:32 si ergo iterum adierint nos, adversum te faciemus illis judicium, et pugnabimus tecum mari terraque.
If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.
Ἐὰν οὖν ἔτι ἐντύχωσιν κατὰ σοῦ, ποιήσομεν αὐτοῖς τὴν κρίσιν, καὶ πολεμήσομέν σε διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ διὰ τῆς ξηρᾶς.