Chapter Eleven

Victory over Lysias (cf. 1 Macc 4:26-35) (2 Macc 11:1-12). Conclusion of peace (2 Macc 11:13-15). Four letters on the conclusion of peace (2 Macc 11:16-38).

2 Maccabees 11:1. Very shortly after this, Lysias, the king’s guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of the government, greatly displeased by what had happened, On Lysias, see note on 1 Macc 3:32.

2 Maccabees 11:2. assembled about eighty thousand infantry and all his cavalry and marched against the Jews with the intention of making their city a residence for Greeks, Instead of “80,000 infantry” and all his cavalry, 1 Macc 4:28 gives 60,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. — “Their city...” — that is, Jerusalem.

2 Maccabees 11:3. to impose a tax on the temple just as on the other pagan sanctuaries, and to put the office of high priest up for sale annually. “To put the office of high priest up for sale annually...” This served not only material interests but also political ones, since the sale of the high-priestly office was better suited to the selection of more compliant and politically convenient persons.

2 Maccabees 11:4–5. He gave no thought at all to God’s power, but was emboldened by his tens of thousands of infantry, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants. Entering Judea and approaching Beth-zur, a fortified place some five stades from Jerusalem, he pressed it hard. On Beth-zur, see 1 Macc 4:29. The indication that Beth-zur was five stades from Jerusalem is evidently in error, since Beth-zur is in fact 160 stades (4 miles) from Jerusalem. The figure of stades varies also across other manuscripts: one of them gives 500, while the Syriac text even gives 10,005; the Alexandrian codex uses σχοίνους instead of σταδίους. This is more correct (a σχοῖνος is about 30 stades), though the author normally measures distances in stades (cf. XII: 9 ff., 17, and 29); it is therefore possible that the error here lies only in the number of stades given.

2 Maccabees 11:6. When Maccabeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people together with lamentations and tears implored the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. “A good angel...” — that is, an angel who would defend and help them.

2 Maccabees 11:7–8. Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms and urged the others to risk their lives with him and come to the aid of their kinsmen; they then set out with him eagerly. When they were close to Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head in white clothing and brandishing golden weapons. “A horseman in white clothing, brandishing golden weapons...” — this was indeed the angel, as is clear also from v. 10.

2 Maccabees 11:9–14. They all together gave thanks to the merciful God and were strengthened in spirit, ready to pierce not only men but the fiercest wild animals and even iron walls. So they advanced in ordered ranks, with the heavenly ally fighting beside them, since the Lord had mercy on them. Springing on the enemy like lions, they struck down eleven thousand infantry and sixteen hundred cavalry, and put all the rest to flight. Many of the enemy escaped wounded and stripped naked, and Lysias himself escaped by shameful flight. But since he was not senseless and was reflecting on the defeat he had suffered, he understood that the Hebrews were invincible, because the Almighty God was their fighting ally; and so he sent to them and persuaded them that he agreed to all just demands and would convince the king to become their friend. 2 Maccabees 11:15–17. Maccabeus, looking to what was advantageous, agreed to all that Lysias proposed; for the king approved everything that Maccabeus had submitted to Lysias in writing regarding the Jews. The letter written by Lysias to the Jews was as follows: “Lysias to the people of the Jews — greetings. John and Absalom, who were sent by you, transmitted the signed petition and asked about the matters written therein. “Signed...” — that is, signed by the elders of the people — “the petition,” that is, with the peace terms.

2 Maccabees 11:18–21. “Whatever needed to be reported to the king I have explained, and he has agreed to what could be accepted. If you will maintain your goodwill toward the government, I will endeavor in the future as well to be of benefit to you. As for the particular matters, I have directed your representatives and mine to confer with you about them. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, the twenty-fourth day of Dioscorinthius. “Year 148” — 166–164 B.C. — “The month of Dioscorinthius” — Διοσκορινθίου (genitive of Ζεὺς Κορίνθιος) — it is difficult to determine more precisely which month is meant here. The Syriac translation gives the second month of Tishri (Marcheshvan, cf. Josephus in this passage), which corresponds to the Macedonian Dius — our November. This appears to be the correct date, and Δίου is the original reading of this month name.

2 Maccabees 11:22–25. The king’s letter was as follows: “King Antiochus to his brother Lysias — greetings. Now that our father has gone to join the gods, we wish that the subjects of the kingdom should be undisturbed in conducting their own affairs. When we heard that the Jews do not consent to our father’s intention of adopting Greek customs but prefer their own way of life and therefore request that their own laws be allowed them, choosing that this people should not be troubled, we determine that their temple shall be restored to them and that they shall live according to the custom of their ancestors. “That their temple shall be restored to them...” — τὸ ἱερὸν ἀποκατασταθῆναι ... — here the reference is not to the physical restoration of the temple, but to the restoration or reinstatement of its rights and privileges. — “That they shall live according to the custom of their ancestors...” — πολιτεύεσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν προγόνων αὐτῶν ἔθη — here the reference is to the civil life of the petitioners (πολιτεύεσθαι).

2 Maccabees 11:26–27. Therefore you will do well to send word to them and give them right hands of fellowship, so that they, knowing our intentions, may be of good cheer and gladly carry on in the conduct of their own affairs.” The letter of the king to the people was as follows: “King Antiochus to the elders of the Jews and to the other Jews — greetings. “To the elders of the Jews...” — see 1 Macc 12:6.

2 Maccabees 11:28–29. If you are in good health, it is as we desire; we ourselves are also in good health. Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return to your own people who are with us. “Menelaus...” — in all likelihood the high priest appointed by Antiochus Epiphanes (IV: 23 ff., 50).

2 Maccabees 11:30. Therefore, a pledge of safety is extended to those who come by the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus: The month of Xanthicus — the 6th Macedonian month (according to Jos. Fl. Archaeol. I, 3, 3; X, 3) — corresponds to the Hebrew Nisan, our April.

2 Maccabees 11:31–34. The Jews may use their own foods and observe their own laws, just as before, and none of them shall be disturbed in any way for what may have been done in ignorance. I have sent Menelaus to reassure you. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.” The Romans also sent them a letter with the following content: “Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the Jews — greetings. “The Romans” through their representatives mentioned below. The names of these representatives appear in the manuscripts with some variation: instead of Μάνλιος one finds Μάνιος; the Syriac text has Quintus Menisthius Manius; the Latin has Titius instead of Titus. These “envoys of the Romans” are unknown from other sources, though this of course gives no grounds for denying the possibility of an actual embassy from Rome, whose legates were spread throughout the then-known world and exerted decisive influence on all major political affairs. And there is nothing surprising in the fact that many of the names of Rome’s representatives have been forgotten or lost: Tous fere terrarum orbis a Romanis legatis et civibus erat obsessus (qui populi Romani auctoritate freti omnibus se immiscebant rebus, praesertim quun regum nomini Romano infestorum potestatem possent infringere), quotum nomine nobis servata non putem (Bertheleau, p. 34).

2 Maccabees 11:35. What Lysias, the king’s kinsman, has conceded to you, we also have ratified. On Lysias’s kinship with the king, see note on 1 Macc 3:32. — The conclusion of peace with the Jews mentioned in this chapter most probably took place in year 150 of the Seleucid era — 162 B.C., when Lysias received news of Philip’s advance and was compelled to turn his forces against this more serious adversary (1 Macc 6:42-62). The date of the letters (year 148) is then explained by supposing that Jason of Cyrene or the “compiler” of his work (the author of 2 Mac.) himself corrected year 150 to year 148 — on the assumption that the text referred to the peace after the first and not the second war with Lysias.

2 Maccabees 11:36–38. As for what needs to be referred to the king, send someone promptly, so that we can determine what is right for you, for we are on our way to Antioch. Make haste, therefore, and send us word, so that we also may know your mind. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.