Verse 7. But Ptolemy Eueregetes, having succeeded Philadelphus, his father, revenged his sister's death by invading Syria, slaying Laodice, and expelling Seleucus.

Verse 8. This Ptolemy received the title of Eueregetes (benefactor) from the Epytians, because he brought back their images which had been captured and carried into Syria in previous wars. Seleucus died in 226 B. C., Ptolemy four years later.

Verse 9. Ptolemy returned to Egypt and Seleucus came back to his throne. Verses Antiochus the great, who loses a great battle at Raphio.

10-11.

Verse 12. Ptolemy Philopater harasses Syria and Palestine, and dies in 205 B. C.

Verse 13. Antiochus renews hostilities.

Verse 14. Philip of Macedon, and the Jews join Antiochus. But A. being called into the north, the Egyptians ("robbers of thy people") sieze the opportunity to ("exalt themselves" and) pillage Jerusalem; but they fell, for

Verse 15. Antiochus returns after a very successful campaign in the north, lasting about seven years, and completely subdues the Egyptians. Verse 16. Antiochus is welcomed by the Jews, but the land is "consumed " by the armies.

Verse 17 A. gives his daughter Cleopatra in marriage to Ptolemy (Epi

phanes) thinking that she will influence her husband, so as to further his own ambitious designs; but she prefers to further her husband's interests, and disappoints A.

Verse 18. A. invades Greece, takes many islands and portions of the main land; but is beaten by Glabrio, the Roman Consul, and later again by Scipio, and a heavy war indemnity is exacted from him. Verse 19. Being straitened for money he plunders a temple at Elymais, and is slain by a sudden assault of the incensed devotees B. C 187. Verse 20. Another Seleucus who was assassinated B. C. 175.

Verse 21. Antiochus Epiphanes obtained the throne by artful diplomacy.

Verse 22. He defeats and kills Heliodorus the usurper,-the Chief (or

prince) of the conspiracy (or covenant).

Verse 23. He enters Egypt suddenly and succeeds in taking possession of

Pelusium, the military key of that kingdom.

Verse 24. He is welcomed by the Asiatic provinces that had been given to

Egypt as Cleopatra's dowry. He captures several cities in Egpyt. He was noted for his prodigality. His largesses exhausted his treasury.

Verse 25. The second Egyptian expedition of A. E. in 170 B. C. Verse 26. A. E. conquers Ptolemy Macon, who surrenders Cyprus. Verse 27. A. E. took P. M. captive; but treated him courteously, admitting him to his own table; but each sought to deceive and circumvent the other.

Verse 28.On his return to Syria A. E. pillaged Jerusalem in a barbarous

manner.

Verse 29, A. E. makes another attempt on Egypt, which fails, because;Verse 30.Ships from Greece arrive bringing an embassy from Rome, commanding him to retire, which he does through fear.

Verse 31.Greatly enraged at this failure, he harassed the Jews and forbade them the exercise of their religion.

Verse 32 Some Jews apostatized; but Mattathias and his sons headed a successful resistance.

Verse 33. There was fearful persecution and slaughter.

Verse 34. Judas Maccabeus gains some victories.

Verse 35.There were many who suffered as martyrs, steadfast to the last. Verse 36. A. E. was utterly unprincipled and poured contempt on all wor

ship.

Verse 37. He was bred at Rome and hence came to disregard his own nation's deities. He assaulted a temple dedicated to Diana (“the desire of women").

Verse 38. The Roman war-god.

Verse 39. He commanded his subjects to conform to his own religious

forms.

Ver Recapitulation of the doings of Antiochus Epiphanes.

40-43.

Verse 44.Artaxias, King of Armenia revolted, and Persia disaffected by the religious edict, refused the tribute, and A. E. marched to subdue them.

Verse 45. But he was attacked by a painful disease and died miserably while on his way back, having declared that he would utterly destroy the Jews.

A fuller statement of these events may be found in Rollin's Ancient History (Vol. II, pp. 173-202), from which these notes have been mainly extracted. Rollin's view is on the whole satisfactory, though not without some difficulties; specially in the application of verses 40-43.

THIRTY AND SIX YEARS, ETC.-About ten years after John saw his visions on Patmos, the date of which is now fixed at about 96 A. D. by the Page best authorities. Thus it appears that the apostle's visions gave him a continuous, synoptical view of the history of the church from his time through to the end.

95.

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AND I SAW WHEN THE LAMB, ETC.-The quotations from the Apocalypse in this and subsequent chapters are from the Revised New Testament.

99.

SAYS SISMONDI, ETC.-(Page 104.) As quoted by Elliott.

106.

a

AND I SAW *** A BLACK HORSE, ETC.-The era of the black horse may, perhaps, be definitely dated from the accession of Caracalla, Page who conferred citizenship on the provinces, ostensibly as gift of royal grace, but really because they were thus brought under the tax laws of Italy, and thereby the revenues increased.

Page 107.

were

A MEASURE OF WHEAT FOR A PENNY, ETC.-The reference may be to the practice of some emperors, who fixed the price at which the farmer might pay his tax in money instead of produce.

CARRIED OFF ONE OF THE EMPERORS, ETC.-The captive emperor

CHAPTER II.

LONG ENOUGH HAVE THEY WAITED, ETC.-The language of Rev. 6.9-11 points unmistakably to a culminating period of persecution to be followed by retributive judgments upon the persecutors; and scarcely had the ten years persecution ended, ere the persecuting power received its death-blow by Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge.

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121.

HE SAW A SHINING CROSS, ETC.-Some writers regard the legend of Constantine's vision as utterly baseless. But Neander's opinion that it has a foundation of fact is probably correct.

Page 123.

THE SUN OF PAGANISM GOES DOWN, ETC.-The finishing stroke to Paganism is ascribed to Theodosius the Great, who died in Page A. D. 395, but it was only some remnants of power that remained for him to deal with. See Chapter III.

125.

GODS OF ROME AND GODS OF HELLAS, ETC.-From Mrs. Browning's poem entitled "The Dead Pan," with some slight adaptations.

Page 126.

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CHAPTER III.

THE BRILLIANT JULIAN, ETC.-Julian himself was not a Christian. This fact, however, was not made public till his accession to the throne. And as he reigned less than two years, his attempts to restore Paganism amounted to little. It can hardly be said that the empire ceased to be Christian.

132.

AND WHEN HE OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL, ETC.-The "voices" mentioned in this passage are by some applied to the heresies that arose at about this period. This seems plausible; especially when we remember that the controversy between different factions was not a war of words only, but oftener of weapons, and not a little blood was shed.

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MY COURSE WAS LIKE A RIVER DEEP, ETC.-This is from Everett's "Alaric", with slight alterations. The closing quotation is from Byron's "Childe Harold."

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144.