Robert Henry Charles

“ The authors protest against the Asmonaean (i.e. the Maccabees) for usurping the throne of David and laying violent hands on the high priesthood (xvii. 5, 6, 8) , and proclaim the coming of the Messiah, the true son of David (xvii. 23–25) , who is to set all things right and establish the supremacy of Israel. The Messiah is to be pure from sin (xvii. 41) , purge Jerusalem from the defilement of sinners and of the Gentiles (xvii. 29, 30, 36) , destroy the hostile nations and extend his righteous rule over all the remaining peoples of the earth (xvii. 27, 31, 32, 34, 38) . ”

“ Thus the book opens with the alarms of war (i. 2, viii. 1) , in the midst of a period of great prosperity (i. 3, 4, viii. 7) , but the prosperity is merely material, for from the king to the vilest of his subjects they are altogether sinful (xvii. 21, 22) . The king, moreover, is no descendant of David, but has usurped his throne (xvii. 6–8) . But judgment is at hand. ”

“ But the dragon who conquered Jerusalem (ii. 29) , and thought himself to be more than man (ii. 32, 33) , at last meets with shameful death on the shores of Egypt (ii. 30, 31) .
The above allusions are easy to interpret. The usurping kings who are not descended from David are the Maccabeans. The “mighty striker” is Pompey. ”