Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, April 25th, 2024
the Fourth Week after Easter
the Fourth Week after Easter
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Bible Commentaries
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary Haydock's Catholic Commentary
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentary on Baruch 9". "Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/hcc/baruch-9.html. 1859.
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentary on Baruch 9". "Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/
Verse 1
Time. About a year after Nicanor’s death, (chap. vii. 50., and 2 Machabees xv. 38.; Worthington) or in the same year, the year [of the world] 3843; (Calmet) so that the Romans had not time to send Judas assistance. (Haydock) --- Josephus ([Antiquities?] xii. 17.) erroneously supposes that Alcimus was dead, and Judas his successor, while Simon was the civil ruler and general. He afterwards (B.[Antiquities?] xx. 8.) asserts that Jonathas was next high priest to Alcimus, who certainly officiated after the death of Judas, ver. 54. --- Bacchides had been already in Judea, chap. vii. 8. Now the right wing, composed of the best troops, and usually commanded by the prince when he was present, is entrusted to him.
Verse 2
Galgal....in Arbella, or the Galilee, in the flat country, Araboth, chap. v. 23. --- Masaloth, or Masal, was in the tribe of Asher, Josue xvi.[xxi.?] 30. --- St. Jerome speaks of Arbela, nine miles from Legion. See Osee x. 14.
Verse 4
Berea, or Beroth, in Benjamin, not far from Laisa, or Lesen, (Josue xviii. 25.) where Judas was encamped, (Calmet) with 3000 (Gorion) ; Josephus says 1000; Rufin translates 2000.
Verse 7
Down. The strongest are not free from the first emotions of trouble; but trusting in God, they are assured either of a temporal or eternal victory. (Worthington)
Verse 10
Stain. Literally, "bring a crime." (Haydock) --- He seems to have thought God required him now to fight, and he was convinced that he could save by means of a few, which excuses him from rashness. The Church adopts his words, (Dom. iii. Oct. Mat.) and St. Ambrose (Of. i. 41.) highly extols his bravery, in "preferring death before slavery and shame."
Verse 12
Legion. So the Vulgate commonly renders Greek "phalanx," (Calmet) a compact body of 8000 men, used by the Macedonians. The Roman legion consisted of 6726, (Veget.) or 6666. The two phalanxes were in each wing supported by cavalry, which endeavoured to surround Judas.
Verse 15
Azotus. Not belonging to the Philistines, but some place unknown, which Josephus styles Asa.
Verse 18
Slain. Gorionides relates that the sight of Judas made Bacchides flee towards Azotus. He lost 15,000, when the rest of the army came upon Judas now fatigued; and as Bacchides returned to the charge, the hero fell upon heaps of the slain. Thus died this great man who saved Israel, ver. 21. (Calmet) --- Gloriosiorem triumphis mortem invenit. The most mighty in the sight of men may fall; but the fortitude of Judas, proved by former heroic actions and by success, was now rendered perfect by this most glorious death. (St. Ambrose, Of. i. 41.) (Worthington)
Verse 19
Modin. Their remains were seen there long after. (Eusebius) --- It is wonderful that they should be shewn at Antioch. (St. Jerome, loc.) --- But these were the relics of the seven brothers, 2 Machabees vii. 1. (Calmet)
Verse 22
Many. Thus only some of our Saviour’s actions are recorded, for the same reason, John xxi. 25.
Verse 24
All. Josephus says, "Many." We find some (Calmet) joining Jonathan, ver. 28. (Haydock) --- When the people are without a ruler, they fall, Proverbs xi. 14. (Worthington)
Verse 26
Abused them, and "afterwards slew them all." (Josephus, Antiquities xiii. 1.)
Verse 27
No prophet since the days of Malachi, (Calmet) or the return from captivity. (Josephus)
Verse 28
Jonathan, or (Haydock) Jonathas, was the third general captain of this family, and succeeded Judas in the pontificate, though Alcimus still usurped the dignity (chap. ix. 9.) as in the lifetime of Judas. (Worthington)
Verse 31
CHAPTER IX.
Verse 33
Thecua, seven miles south of Bethlehem. (St. Jerome, pref. in Amos.) --- Asphar, or "asphaltite lake" (Gorion) of Sodom; so called on account of the bitumen, or asphalte. (Calmet)
Verse 34
Sabbath, out of contempt, like Nicanor; (2 Machabees xv.) or thinking that the Jews would not then fight. (Menochius)
Verse 35
Lend. Some copies read, "to entrust unto them." They wished not to be embarrasses with useless baggage. It all fell into the hands of Jambri, (Calmet) who slew John. (Worthington)
Verse 37
Madaba. Greek, "Nadabath." Josephus, "Gabatha." It seems, as the sons of Jamri lived at Madaba, the spouse would not be conducted out of that place, (Calmet) unless they might reside sometimes in the country. (Haydock) --- Chanaan, or "Arabia." (Josephus) --- Chanaan denotes any infidel. (Calmet)
Verse 42
Revenge. To punish faults with moderation and justice, is a virtue. Children and subjects are sometimes exposed to temporal chastisements, for the faults of their parents or leaders; yet this is for their own advancement in piety, or in punishment for the share they have had in the crime, or to prevent them from imitating it. (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] ii. 2. q. 108.) (Worthington)
Verse 44
Before, when we were in the desert of Thecua, and could decline fighting; (Menochius) or, notwithstanding the sabbath, we must engage, chap. ii. 41.
Verse 48
To them. Jonathas swam to another place on the same side, otherwise there would have been no battle. (Worthington) --- But this had taken place, when a thousand were slain; though Bacchides fled from Jonathan, ver. 47, 49. (Haydock) --- The Greek and Josephus seem more full: (Calmet) "Swam over, and they (the enemies) did not cross the Jordan after them." (Haydock) --- Bacchides did not pursue the Jews. (Menochius) --- Protestant marginal note quotes Josephus, ([Antiquities?] xiii. 1.) who says two thousand were slain. (Haydock)
Verse 50
Thopo, or Taphua. The two last were in Ephraim.
Verse 53
Castle, on the highest part of Sion, ver. 52., and chap. i. 35. --- Custody, without doing them any farther injury. (Calmet)
Verse 54
Alcimus. Josephus ([Antiquities?] xii. 17.) confesses that Judas was high priest. But he mistakes when he says he succeeded Alcimus, who it hence appears survived him a year, (ver. 3, 18.) and was only an usurper. He should therefore be corrected by this book, rather than it should be rejected because it differs from him, or any such authors, (Worthington) ver. 1, 28. (Haydock) --- Walls, before the most holy place, (Josephus; Lyranus) or between the priests and people, (Salien; Menochius) or which separated the Jews from the Gentiles, as if to remove all distinction. (Grotius) --- It is probable that he removed the wall which went round the inner temple and the altar of holocausts, (Calmet) which Alexander restored. (Josephus, Antiquities xiii. 21.) --- Prophets. Aggeus and Zacharias had been as it were the architects and directors of the temple. (Calmet)
Verse 55
House. He could not make his will.
Verse 61
He. Jonathas slew those who had given information.
Verse 62
Bethbessen, in the desert of Jericho, (Menochius) the same with Bethagla. Josephus, "Bethalaga."
Verse 66
Odares, people of the country who adhered to Bacchides. --- Increase, or shew himself in the field with a large army, (Calmet) or to penetrate the army of the enemy. (Syriac; Josephus; Grotius)
Verse 69
Slew. Evil counsel is prejudicial to the giver. (Worthington)
Verse 73
Machmas. The capital of Sion was still in the hands of the enemy. Jonathas made good use of the alliance with the Romans, and began to lay the foundations of the national independence, and to act like the ancient judges. (Calmet)