2 “The exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest” (2 Macc. iv. 13).
3 Antiochus’s surname, self-assumed or given by the flattery of his courtiers, of “Epiphanes” (the Illustrious), was jestingly changed by his subjects through the alteration of a single letter into, “Epimanes” (Madman).
4 The Suburra was one of the least reputable quarters in Rome.
5 “He came with the King’s mandate, bringing nothing worthy the high priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast” (2 Macc. iv. 25).
6 Son and successor of Seleucus Nicator, the first of the dynasty of the Greek Syrian kings.
7 The wine of Mount Tmolus, a mountain near Smyrna, before which, as Virgil says (Georgics ii. 184), all other wines rise as before their betters.
9 Charles Martel defeated the Saracens between Poictiers and Tours (A.D. 732).
10 Not to be confounded with the village near Jerusalem.
11 The talent must have been a talent of gold, which may be reckoned as equal to £3,300.
12 This is the meaning of the name Eleazar.
15 Hebrews xi. 37-38. Compare ii. Macc. x. vi. “When as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.”
17 There seems to have been a belief among the Jews of this time in the efficacy of prayers for the dead. So we read in 2 Maccabees xii. 45: “Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead that they might be delivered from sin.” This is probably the chief reason why the Council of Trent included the Books of Maccabees and other Apocryphal writings in the Canon of Scripture.
18 The month Chisleu about corresponds to our December.
19 See S. John x. 22, 23: “And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple, in Solomon’s porch.”
20 Eupator means “Born of a great father.”
23 Alcimus seems to have been an adaptation, not a little remote, however, from the original, of the Hebrew name Eliakim.
24 “Bezeth,” it is called. Possibly it may be identified with Bezetha, which was afterwards part of the city.
25 Copious draughts of wine were an important part of the customary celebration of the Purim festival.
26 “Et pater Æneas et avunculus excitet Hector.”
27 Observe the Greek names of the two. In each case the father’s name is Hebrew, and the son’s Greek. This seems to show how far the Hellenization of the people had proceeded.