Quest. 40. How Antiochus vsed as his instruments certaine wicked persons of the Iewes, that forsooke the lawe.

1. The second kind of helpe which Antiochus vsed, was beside his captaines and souldi∣ers, certaine wicked factious people among the Iewes: which were seduced by his flatterie to betray their owne countrey. Such were wicked Iason, that entred into the citie with a thousand men, and slue his owne citizens without mercie: and wicked Menelaus that was himselfe a guide vnto Antiochus, and brought him into the Temple, to robbe and spoile it, 2. Macchab. 5. As these assisted Antiochus in his first taking of the citie: so afterward when he sent Apollonius, diuerse of the people ioyned with him: as 1. Macchab. 1. 55. then went many of the people vnto them by heapes, euerie one that forsooke the lawe. And after these times such an one was Alcimus the high Priest, who came with Bacchides, the kings cap∣taine: the people trusted Alcimus, because he was the high Priest, and he sware vnto them, that he would doe them no harme, but he tooke 60. men and killed them, 1. Mac. 7. 15. 16.

2. The other part of the verse is diuersly read. 1. Iunius and Polan. thus interpret, and the people of those that knowe God, they shall apprehend, that is, the wicked apostataes shall betray their owne brethren: but in this sense the word chazak is put with the preposition beth most commonly: as Isay. 4. 1. and Zachar. 8. 13. as our English phrase is, to lay hold on, and the word people, beeing set first, is rather the nominatiue then the accusatiue case, which for the Page  424 most part followeth the verbe in the Hebrewe tongue. 2. Therefore here I rather approoue the receiued interpretation: that though many shall fall away, yet those among the people, which feare and knowe God, shall encourage themselues, and goe on in their dutie: which is the meaning of the last word: they shall doe, doe their part and office, Bulling. Melan. Calv. Osiand. Genevens. cum caeter.