1 Maccabees — Chapter 5

Et factum est ut audierunt gentes in circuitu

VERSE 1. ET FACTUM EST UT AUDIERUNT GENTES IN CIRCUITU QUIA REEDIFICATUM EST ALTARE ET SANCTIFICATUM EST SANCTUARIUM. — When the Gentiles round about heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary dedicated as before, they were very angry, and they determined to destroy the descendants of Jacob who lived among them. Lapide notes the irony: the very success of the Maccabees in purifying the Temple provoked new attacks from the surrounding peoples. Victory breeds envy. He draws a general lesson: the renewal of true religion always provokes persecution from those who prefer the old disorder.

Et bellum fecit contra filios Esau in Idumaea

VERSE 3. ET BELLUM FECIT CONTRA FILIOS ESAU IN IDUMAEA. — Then Judas fought against the descendants of Esau in Idumea, at Akrabattene, because they kept lying in wait for Israel. He dealt them a heavy blow and humbled them and despoiled them. Lapide provides the historical geography of these campaigns: Judas had to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously — Idumeans (Edomites) to the south, Ammonites to the northeast, Gentiles in Galilee to the north, and the Seleucid forces to the west. He explains that these campaigns were defensive responses to attacks on Jewish communities in the surrounding territories.

Et congregati sunt gentes in Galaaditim

VERSE 9. ET CONGREGATI SUNT GENTES IN GALAADITIM AD INTERFICIENDOS ISRAELITAS QUI ERANT IN FINIBUS EORUM. — The Gentiles in Gilead gathered together against the Israelites who lived in their territory, and planned to destroy them. They fled to the stronghold of Dathema, and sent to Judas and his brothers: \"The Gentiles around us have gathered together against us to destroy us.\" Lapide explains the strategic situation in Gilead (Transjordan): the Jewish communities there were surrounded and threatened with annihilation. Their appeal to Judas created a crisis of priorities — he could not be everywhere at once.

Et reliquit Joseph filium Zacharias et Azariam

VERSE 18. ET RELIQUIT JOSEPH FILIUM ZACHARIAS ET AZARIAM PRINCIPES POPULI CUM RELIQUO EXERCITU IN JUDAEA IN CUSTODIAM. — He left Joseph son of Zechariah and Azariah as commanders of the people, with the rest of the forces, in Judea to guard it; and he gave them this command: \"Take charge of this people, but do not engage in battle with the Gentiles until we return.\" Lapide discusses the command to Joseph and Azariah not to engage in battle — a command they famously disobeyed (verses 55-62). The story of their unauthorized attack and defeat is used by Lapide as a lesson on the necessity of obedience in military operations.

Et abiit Joseph filius Zacharias et Azarias

VERSE 55. ET ABIIT JOSEPH FILIUS ZACHARIAS ET AZARIAS CUM EXERCITU IN JAMNIAM ET EXIVIT GORGIAS DE CIVITATE CONTRA EOS. — But Joseph the son of Zechariah, and Azariah, the commanders of the forces, heard of their brave deeds and of the war that had been fought. So they said, \"Let us also make a name for ourselves; let us go and fight against the Gentiles around us.\" Lapide uses their disobedience as a case study in the vice of vainglory masquerading as military courage. They went into battle specifically \"to make a name for themselves\" — the very opposite of the Maccabean spirit of fighting for God's glory. As a result, they were defeated, and \"two thousand of the people of Israel fell that day\" (verse 60).

Et ceciderunt de populo virorum duo millia

VERSE 61. ET CECIDERUNT DE POPULO VIRORUM DUO MILLIA. — About two thousand of the people of Israel fell that day. \"Because they did not listen to Judas and his brothers, but thought to do a brave deed, they were not of the family of those men through whom deliverance was given to Israel.\" Lapide draws the theological lesson explicitly from the text: the Maccabean victories were not mere military successes but acts of divine providence channeled through specific individuals (the Maccabees themselves) who acted with divine authorization. Those who imitated the external acts without the divine commission were defeated.