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*H At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia.
Ver. 1. At. Read 1 B. iv. 28. W. — Time, A. 3840. The motives and ill success of this journey are given 1 B. iii. 31. and vi. 1. C.
*H For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight, returned with disgrace.
Ver. 2. Persepolis; otherwise called Elymais, (Ch.) a chief (W.) "city of Persia." Hence Elymais may be called Persepolis. H. — The famous city of this name, where Cyrus had built a palace to the astonishment of the world, had been (C.) burnt by Alexander when intoxicated, and urged on by a harlot. Curt. v. 15. — Noble ruins still remain on the Araxes.
*H Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.
Ver. 3. Ecbatana, capital of Media. C. — See C. i. 16. H.
*H And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
Ver. 4. Forward. He felt a violent fit of the cholic.
* Footnotes
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2_Paralipomenon
16:9
For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee.
*H Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:
Ver. 8. Man. He seems to have claimed divine honours, v. 12. C. v. 21. and ix. 8. Dan. xi. 36. Arab. C.
*H Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.
Ver. 13. Not like. Because his repentance was not for the offence committed against God, but barely on account of his present sufferings. Ch. — For these he really grieved. 1 B. vi. 11. Yet was not sorry for the offence against God and men. So the damned acknowledge that their punishments are inflicted on account of their sins, yet have not true repentance. W. — In like manner Esau repented for the loss of his birthright. Heb. xii. 17. M. — Epiphanes had abandoned God, who now laughs at him, (Prov. i. 26.) as some of the Machabees had threatened. C. vii. 14. 7. 9. 31. 2. 5. 6. He is the model of false penitents, who are actuated by servile fear.
* Summa
*S Part 4, Ques 86, Article 1
[III, Q. 86, Art. 1]
Whether All Sins Are Taken Away by Penance?
Objection 1: It would seem that not all sins are taken away by Penance. For the Apostle says (Heb. 12:17) that Esau "found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it," which a gloss explains as meaning that "he found no place of pardon and blessing through Penance": and it is related (2 Macc. 9:13) of Antiochus, that "this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of Whom he was not to obtain mercy." Therefore it does not seem that all sins are taken away by Penance.
Obj. 2: Further, Augustine says (De Serm. Dom. in Monte i) that "so great is the stain of that sin (namely, when a man, after coming to the knowledge of God through the grace of Christ, resists fraternal charity, and by the brands of envy combats grace itself) that he is unable to humble himself in prayer, although he is forced by his wicked conscience to acknowledge and confess his sin." Therefore not every sin can be taken away by Penance.
Obj. 3: Further, our Lord said (Matt. 12:32): "He that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come." Therefore not every sin can be pardoned through Penance.
_On the contrary,_ It is written (Ezech. 18:22): "I will not remember" any more "all his iniquities that he hath done."
_I answer that,_ The fact that a sin cannot be taken away by Penance may happen in two ways: first, because of the impossibility of repenting of sin; secondly, because of Penance being unable to blot out a sin. In the first way the sins of the demons and of men who are lost, cannot be blotted out by Penance, because their will is confirmed in evil, so that sin cannot displease them as to its guilt, but only as to the punishment which they suffer, by reason of which they have a kind of repentance, which yet is fruitless, according to Wis. 5:3: "Repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit." Consequently such Penance brings no hope of pardon, but only despair. Nevertheless no sin of a wayfarer can be such as that, because his will is flexible to good and evil. Wherefore to say that in this life there is any sin of which one cannot repent, is erroneous, first, because this would destroy free-will, secondly, because this would be derogatory to the power of grace, whereby the heart of any sinner whatsoever can be moved to repent, according to Prov. 21:1: "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever He will He shall turn it."
It is also erroneous to say that any sin cannot be pardoned through true Penance. First, because this is contrary to Divine mercy, of which it is written (Joel 2:13) that God is "gracious and merciful, patient, and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil"; for, in a manner, God would be overcome by man, if man wished a sin to be blotted out, which God were unwilling to blot out. Secondly, because this would be derogatory to the power of Christ's Passion, through which Penance produces its effect, as do the other sacraments, since it is written (1 John 2:2): "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
Therefore we must say simply that, in this life, every sin can be blotted out by true Penance.
Reply Obj. 1: Esau did not truly repent. This is evident from his saying (Gen. 27:41): "The days will come of the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob." Likewise neither did Antiochus repent truly; since he grieved for his past sin, not because he had offended God thereby, but on account of the sickness which he suffered in his body.
Reply Obj. 2: These words of Augustine should be understood thus: "So great is the stain of that sin, that man is unable to humble himself in prayer," i.e. it is not easy for him to do so; in which sense we say that a man cannot be healed, when it is difficult to heal him. Yet this is possible by the power of God's grace, which sometimes turns men even "into the depths of the sea" (Ps. 67:23).
Reply Obj. 3: The word or blasphemy spoken against the Holy Ghost is final impenitence, as Augustine states (De Verb. Dom. xi), which is altogether unpardonable, because after this life is ended, there is no pardon of sins. Or, if by the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, we understand sin committed through certain malice, this means either that the blasphemy itself against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable, i.e. not easily pardonable, or that such a sin does not contain in itself any motive for pardon, or that for such a sin a man is punished both in this and in the next world, as we explained in the Second Part (III, Q. 14, A. 3). _______________________
SECOND
*H And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to make free:
Ver. 14. Free and independent, (C.) like Antioch. Pliny v. 21.
*H And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.
Ver. 15. Athenians. This seems to have been put for Antiochians, C. iv. 9. in Greek; which name would suit better here, as Epiphanes had no power over Athens. Grot. C. — Yet it was highly privileged (H.) above all the cities of Greece. M. — Jason had obtained for the citizens of Jerusalem to be called Antiochians. C. vi. 1. But this grant had been revoked, or not carried into effect since the late troubles. C. — Here the privilege is to be extended to all the Jews. H. — Ptolemais and Calliroe enjoyed the same. Harduin.
*H The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.
Ver. 16. Sacrifices, as Darius, Philometor, and afterwards (1 B. x. 39.) Nicator did. 1 Esd. vi. 9. C.
*H To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness.
Ver. 19. Subjects. Lit. "citizens." H. — Similar addresses (v. 20.) were sent by the emperors to the Romans; and by Cæsar and Anthony to their allies. Jos. Ant. xiv. 17. and 22. Tull. Epist.
* Footnotes
- A.M. 3817, A.C. 187.
*H But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:
Ver. 23. Father: Antiochus the great. The Persian monarchs generally took this precaution. — Countries. So profane authors style the provinces beyond the Euphrates. Diodorus, S. Jerom (in Dan. xi.) and others, inform us that Antiochus attempted to plunder the temple of Belus, at Elymais, and took off a vast sum of money under pretext of paying the tribute to the Romans. But the neighbouring nations fell upon him, and cut him with his army to pieces. Philopator succeeded to the throne.
*H Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.
Ver. 25. Antiochus Eupator, nine years old. — Below. This is lost.
*H I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.
Ver. 26. Favours. He must have been deranged. C.
* Footnotes
- A.M. 3839.
*H Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country, among the mountains.
Ver. 28. Mountains, at Tabes, (Polyb.) in Patacene. Curt. v. — Historians relate that he lost his senses, ( δαιμονησας ) being terrified by a demon, on account of his criminal attempt against the temple of Diana. Polyb. excerp. Vales. S. Jer. — This was a real crime in him, as he took the idol for a deity. But his conduct towards the temple and nation of the Jews would probably weigh heavier upon his conscience. C. — S. Cyprian (exhort.) styles him "an inveterate enemy to all good; nay, in Antiochus antichrist is expressed." W.
*H But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.
Ver. 29. That was. Syr. "son of his nurse," appointed regent. — Philometor Lysias asserted his title to the regency, and had the young king, so that Philip applied to the Egyptians to help in the execution of the last will of the deceased. C. — Read 1 B. vi. 17. W.