WAR BETWEEN THE JEWS AND SYRIANS, 165–163 B. C. about the hall, run round the whole circuit of the tables, receive standing the cups which were drunk to him, and banter the musicians. When the feast had continued till late at night and most of the guests had retired, he rolled himself up in a cloth, and in this manner he was carried out and laid on the ground by the comedians. As soon as the music began to sound, he sprang up naked, played antics with the comedians, and joined them in the most ludicrous and comic dances.* While Antiochus was spending his time in these ridiculous frolics at Daphne, Judas, after the example of his father, continued to purify Judea from idolaters; and he took possession of some cities and provided them with garrisons. He defeated Apollonius, the governor of Samaria, who had drawn out his army against him; and also Seron, the lieutenant of Colosyria, under the governor Ptolemy Macro, who had advanced with all his army to the heights near Beth-horon. By these conflicts the Jews were inured to war, their courage was confirmed, and their fallen enemies supplied them with suitable arms.† When Antiochus heard of these successes of the Jews, he determined to exterminate the whole nation and give their country to others. (Dan. xi. 39.) But his treasures were exhausted by his expensive games, and extravagant donations, and he found it difficult to raise a large army; and at the same time he received intelligence that the Persians, and Artaxias the tributary king of Armenia, had refused to make him any more remittances. (Dan. xi. 44.) This was the effect of his religious persecutions, which could not but be odious in the eyes of those Madejesnans, who abhorred the worship of idols. Accordingly Antiochus was obliged to weaken his forces by dividing them. One division of his army he sent to Judea, under the command of Lysias, a nobleman of royal blood; and the other he himself led to Armenia in the year 165 B. C., after he had made Lysias regent of the countries west of the Euphrates, and had committed to the care of this officer, his son, and the heir to his crown, then but seven years old. He soon subdued the Armenians, and then marched against Persia. After Philip, governor of Judea, had informed Ptolemy Macro, governor of Calosyria, of the proceedings of Judas Maccabeus, and he again had sent word to Lysias; these officers collected a force of forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse. One half of this army was brought out under the command of Nicanor, who was accompanied by Gorgias, an experienced warrior; and with the other half, Ptolemy Macro, the commander in chief, formed a junction with Nicanor at Em maus. Here they were joined by many Syrians Polybius in Athenæus, v. 4; x. 12 Diodor. Sic. Fragm. xxxi. 7-9, compare Dan. xi. 21, 38, 39. + 1 Macc. iii. 1-26. 2 Macc. viii. 1-7. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 1. 11 Macc. iii. 27-36, comp. Dan. xi. 39, 44, 45. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 2. Porphyry in Jerome, Comment. in Dan. xi. 44. Appian, Syriac. xlvi. 80. 109 and Philistines, and by more than one thousand merchants who came for the purpose of purchasing such Jews as should be taken prisoners; for it was then customary, as Polybius testifies, for slave-dealers to attend the march of armies.“ To this strong army Judas could oppose only six thousand men; and after they had commended themselves to God at Mizpeh, (Maoonpá,) he separated them into three divisions. But the small army of Judas became still less, when he gave permission for those to withdraw who were exempt from military duty by the law of Moses; for many, terrified by the number of their enemies, took advantage of this law, and it appears that only three thousand remained with their leader. Notwithstanding this desertion, Judas, confiding in the help of God, was preparing to meet his foes the next day, when he learned that Gorgias, with five thousand foot and one thousand horse, designed to attack him by surprise during the night. Judas seized this opportunity to give the enemy a fatal blow, and leaving his encampment early in the evening, he rushed on the forces of Nicanor in the night, when they, not expecting any attack, fell into confusion, forsook their camp, and endeavoured to save themselves by flight. Three thousand Syrians were put to the sword, and many soldiers and slave dealers were made prisoners. Early in the morning, as Gorgias was returning from his abortive attempt to surprise the Jews, he saw the Syrian camp in flames; when his soldiers in a panic immediately betook themselves to flight, while the Jews pressed on so zealously after the fugitives, that on that day they slew nine thousand of their enemies and wounded many more. Nicanor made his escape to Antioch in the habit of a slave, and acknowledged that the Jews were aided by a mighty God. In the camp of the Syrians, the Jews found great quantities of gold and silver, and they celebrated their glorious victory by a thanksgiving festival.† On the news of this defeat, Lysias himself led an army of sixty thousand foot and five thousand horse into Idumea, and through that country invaded the Jews. But while he was besieging Bethsura, (Bairovoa,) a frontier fortress which lay south-west of Jerusalem, he was attacked by Judas with ten thousand men, and put to flight with the loss of five thousand soldiers, who were slain in the engagement. This heroic exploit of Judas so disheartened the soldiers of Lysias, that he was forced to return to Antioch, and issue orders to raise recruits in distant countries for a new expedition.‡ By this victory Judas became master of the whole country, and he determined to return to Jerusalem, to repair and purify the temple, which was then dilapidated and deserted. New utensils were provided for the sacred services; the old altar, which had been polluted by heathen sacrifices, was taken away and a new one * 2 Macc. v. 22; viii. 8, comp. Zech. x. 5. 1 Macc iii. 38-41. 2 Macc. viii. 9-11. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 3. Polybius, iii. 83. +1 Macc. iii. 42-60; iv. 1-26. 2 Macc. viii. 12, 13, 16-29, 34-36. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 3, 4. comp. Zech. ix. x. xii 1 Macc. iv. 26-35. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 5. Jewish War, i. 1. 5, comp. Zech. x. 5. erected. The sacrifices were recommenced on the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev, (XaoAɛu, December,) the same day on which, three years before, the temple had been dedicated to Jupiter Olympius; and after three years and a half had elapsed since the city was laid waste in June, 167 B. C. The festival of this new dedication was celebrated for eight days, with great joy and heartfelt gratitude; and it was resolved that an annual feast should be observed in commemoration of this event.* But the joy of the Jews for the restoration of the public solemnities of their religion was often interrupted by their enemies in the castle on mount Zion; for the apostate Jews who had taken refuge there, made frequent sallies, and slew their countrymen who were repairing to the temple. The army of Judas was so small, that he could not leave a force sufficient to hold the castle in blockade; but he fortified the temple by surrounding it with a high and strong wall furnished with towers, and stationed there soldiers enough to protect the worshippers from the Syrian garrison of the castle. At the same time, he strengthened and secured the fortress of Bethsura, on the frontiers.† These successes of the Jews awakened the hatred of their neighbours, who viewed them as the enemies of their king and their gods; and they began to commit hostilities against such Jews as fell into their power. The Idumeans especially, who possessed the southern parts of Judea, and the Baianites, (vioi Batav,) who were probably a tribe of Arabians, laid in wait for the Jews by the public roads, and slew all who came in their way. Judas marched against these enemies, subdued them, and burned their towers. This is the expedition of which a particular account is given in 2 Macc. x. 15-23. He then proceeded against Timotheus, the chief of the hostile Ammonites, defeated him and Bacchides, his ally, and subdued the whole country about Jazer. The battle described in 2 Macc. x. 24-38, in which the Jews slew Timotheus, and conquered Gazara, is one of the many battles mentioned in 1 Macc. v. 7, as having occurred between Judas and Timotheus. (1 Macc. v. 1-8; 2 Macc. x. 15–23; viii. 30—33; x. 24-38.) As the pagans east of the Jordan had lost many friends and relatives in these defeats of Timotheus, they rose up against the Jews who dwelt in their country, put them to the sword, plundered their property, and made slaves of their wives and children. In the land of Tob (ἐν τοῖς Τωβίου) not one Jew escaped the bloody massacre; but several from other places had fled to the fortress of Dathema, where they were besieged by another Timotheus, a pagan chief. At the same time the inhabitants of Ptolemais, Tyre, Zidon, and the neighbouring cities, united to destroy the Jews of Galilee. The Syrian governors, if they did not themselves instigate, undoubtedly encouraged these attacks; for they all 1 Macc. i. 59; iv. 54, comp. Zech. vi. 13-15; viii. 3. 1 Macc. iv. 36-59. 2 Macc. x. 1-7. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 6, 7. Jewish War, i. 1. 4, comp. John x. 22. +1 Macc. i. 36, 37; iv. 60, 61, comp. Zech. vi. 13-15. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 7. 7. contributed to accomplish the purpose of the king, who had determined to annihilate the Jewish nation and religion. (1 Macc. v. 9—14.) When Judas heard of the sufferings of his countrymen in Gilead and Galilee, he sent three thousand chosen troops to Galilee, under the command of his brother Simon Thassi, who defeated the enemy in several engagements, and then conducted the Jews of this country, with their wives and children, to Judea, as it was impossible to secure them from the assaults of their foes in any other way. Judas himself, attended by his youngest brother Jonathan Apphus, (,) led eight thousand men to Gilead. After a march of three days east of the Jordan, he came into the region of the friendly Nabathaans, (Naßaraio,) and from them he obtained accurate intelligence of the true state of affairs in that quarter. He heard that the Jews were kept prisoners in many cities, and against these cities he immediately directed his efforts. He fell upon Bosora (Bozrah) by surprise, and laid it in ashes. He then marched all night, and early in the morning attacked the besiegers of Dathema, who fell into disorder and fled, and the Jews slew seven thousand men in the pursuit. After this he took Maspha, (Mizpeh,) Casphor, Maked, Bosor, and other cities, put all the males to the sword, gave up the houses to pillage, and laid them in ashes. Among these expeditions was the conquest of the city of Caspis, mentioned in 2 Macc. xii. 13-16; but in all probability this is the city already referred to under the name of Casphor. Timotheus now drew up a numerous army; but the Jews defeated him, took possession of Carnein or Carnion, and burnt the city and temple of Atargatis. (1 Mace. v. 21-44, comp. Zech. x. 6-10. 2 Macc. xii. 10-31.) This is undoubtedly the expedition of which a particular account is given in 2 Macc. xii. 19-31. Though the Jews had now humbled their enemies, they were in these regions continually exposed to new hostilities. Judas, accordingly, transferred them with their wives and children to Judea, by means of which the strength of the nation was concentrated, and its metropolis supplied with inhabitants. Judas, on his return, conquered the city of Ephron, which had closed its gates against him. He then came to the city of Bethsan (Beth-shan) or Scythopolis, west of the Jordan; expressed his gratitude to its citizens for their kind treatment of the Jews who dwelt among them, and finally arrived in safety at Jerusalem. (1 Macc. v. 45-54, comp. Zech. x. 6-10. 2 Macc. xii. 29-31.) Judas during his absence had left Jerusalem under the command of Joseph and Azarias, with express orders that they should keep within the walls, and make no attack on the enemy. They, however, disobeyed their instructions, and assaulted Jamnia, but were repulsed with considerable loss by Gorgias, the Syrian governor. (1 Macc. v. 55-63.) It was probably to revenge this repulse, that Judas, after he had taken Hebron and the adjacent territory from the Idumeans, invaded the land of the Philistines, and took the city of Azotus or Ashdod, though in a previous skirmish he had suffered some loss from the enemy. In the second Book of Maccabees, this expedition is mentioned as having been undertaken against Gorgias, who had defeated Joseph and Azarias. (1 Macc. v. 65-68. 2 Macc. xii. 32-45.) Antiochus Epiphanes received intelligence of the success of the Jewish arms and the overthrow of the Syrians, at Elymais in Persia; and as he was then detained there by an insurrection of the people, occasioned by his robbing the celebrated temple in which his father, Antiochus the Great, lost his life, his vexation was almost beyond endurance. He set out on his return with a determination to make every possible effort to exterminate the Jews; but during his journey he was attacked by a disease in which he suffered excessive pain, and was tormented by the bitterest anguish of conscience on account of his sacrilege and other crimes. He finally died at Tabæ, in Paratacene, on the frontiers of Persia and Babylonia, in the year 163 B. C., 147 or 148 of the Greek era, after a reign of eleven years. Coins of his are still to be found, bearing the date of 147 of the Greek era.* NOTE.--The materials for the history of Antiochus Epiphanes are very scanty, for the writings which treat of this period, by Callinicus Sutoricus, Diodorus Siculus, Hieronymus the historian, Polybius, Posidonius, Claudius Theon, and Andronicus Alypius, are all lost except a few fragments preserved by other authors; and we have these only from the second or third hand. Porphyry, in the third century of the Christian era, introduced copious extracts from these works into his fifteen books against the Christians, especially into the twelfth book, where he treats of Daniel, and endeavours to prove, from the agreement of the book of Daniel with history, that it must have been written after the occurrence of the events to which it refers. But the work of Porphyry has perished, excepting a few fragments preserved by St. Jerome in his commentary on Daniel. The treatises written against Porphyry by Apollinarius, Eusebius, and Methodius, are also lost, excepting a few sentences quoted by Nicetas and John Damascenus. The loss of Apollinarius is particularly to be regretted, since he, according to the testimony of Philostorgius, viii. 14, was a very accurate writer. Had we all these writings, or at least the fifteen books of the learned Porphyry, they would throw great light on the obscurities of the Book of Daniel; for Jerome says of this opposer of the prophet: "Cujus impugnatio testimonium veritatis est, tanta enim dictorum fides fuit, ut propheta incredulis hominibus non videretur futura dixisse, sed narrasse præterita."† XCVII. ANTIOCHUS EUPATOR, 164-163 B. C. Antiochus Epiphanes, before his death, delivered to his flatterer Philip the regal insignia, and appointed him regent to the empire and guardian to his son Antiochus, who was then but 1 Macc. vi. 1-16. 2 Macc. ix. Josephus, Antiq xii. 9. 1. Polybius in Excerpta Valesii de Virtutibus et Vitiis, xxxi. Appian, Syriac. xlvi. so. + Præfat. Comment. in Dan. nine years old. But Lysias, who had the young king in his power and gave him the surname of Eupator, was determined not to relinquish so important a charge. Philip accordingly fled to Egypt to solicit the support of the Ptolemies; but when he saw that the two contending brothers and rival kings needed an umpire themselves to settle their own difficulties, he withdrew to Persia, whence he afterwards returned with an army to assert his claims to the regency.* Demetrius, the son of Seleucus Philopator, who was sent to Rome as a hostage in the place of Antiochus Epiphanes, had now reached his twenty-third year; and when he heard of the death of Antiochus, made an effort to get himself established in his father's kingdom. But the wisdom of the senate decided that it would be more advantageous for the Romans to have a minor on the throne of Syria than the able Demetrius, and they rejected his suit. Cneius Octavius, Spurius Lucretius, and Lucius Aurelius, were then sent from Rome to Syria as ambassadors, to confirm Antiochus Eupator on the throne, and to arrange all the affairs of his empire according to the treaty which had been concluded with Antiochus the Great.† After the death of Antiochus Epiphanes the Jews were kindly treated by Ptolemy Macro, the governor of Cœlosyria; but this season of tranquillity was of short continuance, and productive of but little benefit; for when Ptolemy saw that he was universally despised as a traitor for having betrayed into the hands of Antiochus Epiphanes the island of Cyprus, when he held it as Egyptian governor, he destroyed his own life by poison. Soon after, in the year 163 B. C., Lysias invaded Judea with an army of eighty thousand foot, eighty elephants, and a large body of cavalry. He laid siege to Bethsura, but was repulsed by Judas with the loss of eleven thousand foot and one thousand six hundred horse, and his whole army was broken up. Lysias was now convinced that all efforts against the heroic Jews were unavailing, and he gave them peace on reasonable terms. The Roman ambassadors, Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, afforded efficient aid in obtaining of this treaty. (2 Macc. x. 12, 13; xi.) But the Jews were exposed to continual injury from the Syrian garrison, which still held possession of the castle of Acra on mount Zion. Judas, therefore, laid siege to this fortress, in order, if possible, to subdue it and secure his country from future depredations. But some apostate Jews, who had taken refuge with the Syrian garrison, and knew that if the castle should fall into the power of Judas they could have no hope of pardon, stole out of the fort and made their way to Antioch, where they excited Lysias and the king to undertake a new war against Judea. The Syrian army which was raised for this purpose in the year 163 B. c. consisted of one hundred thousand foot, twenty thousand horse, thirty-two elephants, and three hundred 1 Macc. vi. 17; 2 Macc. ix. 26, 29; x. 10, 11. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 9. 1. Appian, Syriac. xlvi. 80-85. Eusebius, Chron. Justin, xxxiv. 3. Appian, + Polybius, Legat. s. 107. Syriac. xlvi. 85-95. chariots armed with scythes; a very great force ancestor of Octavius Cæsar Augustus, was assasfor those times, when, on account of the extrava- sinated by Leptines while he was anointing himgant wages soldiers received, it was difficult to self in the gymnasium at Laodicea. Lysias was keep more than eighty thousand men in the suspected of having been at the bottom of this field. The Jews could make no open resistance murder, and he immediately despatched an emto so numerous a host, but while the Syrians bassy to Rome to clear himself and the king from were besieging Bethsura Judas fell upon them in this imputation; but the senate dismissed his the night, and before they were aware who had ambassadors without giving them any answer.* entered their camp he slew four thousand men In Egypt, the contest between the two brothers, and drew off in safety by break of day. On Philometor and Physcon, was every day growing the following morning they came to battle, and more violent. The Roman senators wrote to Judas, that he might not be surrounded by the their ambassadors, Octavius, Lucretius, and numbers of his enemy, was forced to retire Aurelius, to settle the difficulties; but before the to Jerusalem, the fortifications of which he now letter arrived, Philometor had been expelled by strengthened, and put in a state of defence. In his younger brother Physcon. Philometor immethis battle he lost his younger brother, the brave diately sailed to Italy and went to Rome on foot Eleazar Savaran or Auran, (ò Lavapáv, or 1,) and in a miserable habit, in order to move the who fell while performing a deed of desperate senate to compassion, and for the same reason he valour. (1 Macc. vi. 19-51. 2 Macc. xiii. refused the royal robes and diadem which were 15-22.) offered him by Demetrius, the son of Seleucus Philopator, who was then detained at Rome as a hostage. The senate received Philometor very favourably, and sent Quintus and Canuleius as ambassadors to Alexandria, to re-establish him in his kingdom. As the result of their negotiation it was agreed that Physcon should reign over Lybia and Cyrene, and Philometor retain Egypt and Cyprus. But a new quarrel soon broke out between the brothers respecting the possession of the island of Cyprus. Physcon now in his turn repaired to Rome, and the senate despatched a second embassy to Egypt; but nothing was accomplished, for Philometor insisted on the terms of the first agreement. Polybius remarks, in his account of these embassies, that it was by taking advantage of such imprudent contentions that the Romans extended their dominion.† The Jews were now reduced to great distress. Bethsura was forced to surrender, Jerusalem was closely besieged, and could not have held out long against the attacks of the enemy. All the advantages which had been obtained at the expense of so much blood seemed now about to be lost for ever, when, fortunately for the besieged, Lysias received intelligence that Philip, whom Antiochus Epiphanes had appointed regent, had entered Syria with an army drawn from Media and Persia, and taken possession of Antioch, the metropolis of the empire. Lysias accordingly found it necessary to make peace with the Jews. He acceded to all their demands, and was admitted into Jerusalem, when, in violation of the treaty he had sworn to observe, he threw down the walls of the city, and then returned to Syria, where his victorious army forced Philip to retreat.* Menelaus, the apostate high priest, who had attended the king in this expedition against the Jews, was now viewed by his royal master as the author of all these unhappy wars, and by the orders of Antiochus he was suffocated in the ashtower of Berea. The king then nominated to the priesthood Alcimus or Jacimus, whom we shall find by the subsequent history to have been an unprincipled and impious man. was not of the lineage of the high priest, Onias, the son of Onias III. the high priest who had been murdered at Daphne near Antioch, having no hope of attaining his father's dignity, fled to Egypt, where he established a new priesthood, and filled the office himself, as we shall see in the sequel.† As Alcimus In the following year, 162 B. C., Octavius, Aurelius, and Lucretius, the Roman ambassadors already mentioned, arrived at Antioch, in order that they, while the sceptre was held by a child of eleven years of age and the kingdom was in a very weakened state, might enforce the observ ance of the treaty concluded after the battle of Sipylus; accordingly, they burnt all the shipping except twelve vessels, and slew all the elephants; but these measures were so odious to the Syrians, that Octavius, the head of the embassy and an 1 Macc. vi. 43-65. 2 Macc. xiii. 3-23. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 9., 7. + 2 Macc. xiii. 3-8; xiv. 3. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 9.7. XCVIII. DEMETRIUS SOTER, 162-154 B. C. While the Roman senate were disaffected tomurder of the ambassador Octavius, Demetrius wards Antiochus Eupator, on account of the again attempted to obtain from them an appointunavailing. He, therefore, by the advice of his ment to his father's throne, but his efforts were friends, particularly of Polybius the historian, privately embarked on board a Carthaginian till the fifth day after his departure. The senate ship, and his designs were not known at Rome despatched an ambassador to observe his movemade no attempt to recall him, but immediately he industriously spread a report that the Romans ments. As soon as Demetrius landed at Tyre had given him the crown of his father. This flocked to him from every quarter, and even intimation had the desired effect, for the soldiers Lysias and Antiochus Eupator delivered themselves into his hands. He put them to death, and took possession of the throne of Syria.‡ clides from Babylonia, where they were endeaDemetrius then expelled Timarchus and Hera 90-100. Cicero, Philippica, IX. ii. 4, 5. + Diodor. Sic. xxxi. 10. Porphyry in Græc. Eusebian. vouring to make themselves independent, and for this service the Babylonians gave him the surname of Soter, which he ever after retained. Timarchus was slain; but Heraclides saved himself by flight, and was soon engaged in other projects for his own aggrandisement. Demetrius now desired to have his claims to the throne acknowledged by the Romans; and for this purpose he sent an embassy with a golden crown as a gift to the Roman senate, and at the same time delivered up to them Leptines, the murderer of the ambassador Octavius. The senate accepted the present, but dismissed the murderer; for they intended to take some opportunity to avenge the death of Octavius on the whole Syrian empire.* In the mean time, Alcimus, the high priest appointed by Antiochus Eupator, was preparing new distresses for the Jews who refused to acknowledge him in his official capacity. He repaired, with his adherents, to the king, and made complaint against Judas and the Assideans, that they were continually disobedient to the orders of their sovereign. Accordingly Demetrius, in the year 161 B. C., 151 of the Greek era, sent an army to Judea under the command of Bacchides, to establish Alcimus in his office by force. Bacchides entered the country under pretence of friendship, and many Jews, relying on his professions, intrusted themselves to his power, when they were treacherously put to death. Bacchides, after having confirmed the authority of Alcimus, withdrew his troops, leaving with the high priest a force which seemed sufficient for his security. But now Judas, who had retired before Bacchides, again made his appearance, marched through the land with his people, and punished the apostate Jews. Alcimus could offer no effectual resistance, and he, therefore, went again to Antioch, and renewed his complaints against Judas. Demetrius then sent another army to Judea, under the command of Nicanor, with orders to kill Judas or take him prisoner, and secure Alcimus in the quiet possession of his office. Nicanor at first disguised his real intentions and appeared as a friend, though he soon threw off the mask and made every exertion to get Judas into his power; but this hero baffled all the efforts of his enemy, and escaped. Hostilit es were now renewed, for Nicanor ravaged the country with his troops, and massacred the people.t During this year, 161 B. C., a battle was fought at Capharsalama, in which Nicanor lost five hundred men, and was forced to seek refuge in the castle of Zion. Thence he sent out a party of soldiers to seize Razis, a Jew of great influence, and celebrated for his justice and piety; but he chose to lay violent hands on himself, rather than fall into the power of his enemies. Nicanor, enraged at his disappointment, then demanded of the Jews, with blasphemies and threats of vengeance in case of a refusal, that Judas and his army should be delivered up to him; but in a battle which took place soon after, he was himself slain, and his whole army, consisting of two thousand five hundred men, was routed and entirely dispersed. Judas cut off the head and the Polybius, Legat. s. 122. Appian, Syriac. xlvii. 5—10. + 1 Mace. vii. 5-7, 25, 26. 2 Macc. xiv. 3-25. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 10.1-4. right hand of Nicanor, and brought them to Jerusalem as trophies of his victory. This battle was fought on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, (March,) and it was deemed of so much importance by the Jews, that they kept that day as an annual festival in commemoration of the event.* After this victory, the Jews enjoyed a season of tranquillity. At this time Judas sent an embassy to Rome, to solicit the friendship of that powerful nation. The ambassadors employed in this negociation were Jason, the son of Eleazar, and Eupolemus, who had formerly obtained permission from Seleucus Eupator for the Jews to live according to their own laws. The Romans, who knew how to render alliances with other nations the means of their future subjugation, readily concluded a treaty on such terms as could do no injury to themselves, and might yet be of some advantage to the Jews. At the same time they sent orders to Demetrius to make no encroachments on Judea. Justin writes respecting this transaction: "A Demetrio, cum defecissent Judæi, amicitia Romanorum petita, primi omnium ex orientalibus libertatem receperunt, facile tunc Romanis de alieno largientibus."+ But before Demetrius had received the letter of the Romans, he had sent a large army to Judea under the command of Bacchides, which on its march subdued the famous cave of Mesaloth in Arbela of Galilee. He then, in the month Nisan (April) of the year 160 B. C., encamped near Eerusalem, whence he marched to Berea with twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse. Judas was stationed at Eleasa with three thousand men; and when this small number, by continual desertion, was at last dwindled down to eight hundred, he ventured on an attack in which he lost his life. The apostate Jews now regained their power, under the protection of the Syrians; and as Bacchides gave them all the offices of trust in the country, their insolence was without restraint. A severe famine occurring at the same time, they monopolized the provisions, and in this manner reduced their countrymen to great distress. Bacchides, meanwhile, ravaged the country with his soldiers, and massacred all the adherents of Judas who fell in his way.§ In this extremity of suffering, the pious Jews repaired to Jonathan Apphus, the youngest brother of Judas, and choosing him for their leader, they withdrew to the wilderness of Thecoe, (Oɛkwέ,) and encamped at the cistern of Aspher, (inì rò vowp λáккov 'Aσpáp.) After a few skirmishes with the Arabic tribes in that neighbourhood, Jonathan sent the wives and children, and the most valuable property of his soldiers, to the Nabathæans, under a convoy commanded by his oldest brother, Johanan, or John Caddis, (Kaðdig, ".) But while on their way, they were attacked and plundered, and John himself was slain, by the Arabic tribe of Jambri, from Medaba, (vioì 'Iaμßpì ir Mŋdaßá.) Jonathan, soon 1 Macc. vii. 25-50. 2 Macc. xiv. 37-46; xv. 1-36. + 2 Macc. iv. 11. 1 Macc. viii. 1-30. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 10. 6. Justin, xxxvi. 3. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 10. 4, 5. 1 Mace. ix. 1-22. Josephus, Antiq. xii. 11. 1. H |