suit of the enemy, till they should have defeated that body al. so, he was successful without coming to a battle; for Gorgias, after failing to meet with Judas in his camp, and having sought for him in vain in the mountains, whither he supposed he had retired, withdrew at last into his camp: and finding it in a blaze, and his soldiers straggling and flying away, it was impossible for him to keep them in order; so that these threw down their arms, and fled also. Then Judas, and the men under his command, pursued them vigorously, and cut to pieces a greater number on this occasion than they had before done in the camp. 9000 Syrians were left dead in the field, and the greatest part of those who fled were either maimed or wounded. After this, Judas marched back his soldiers, in order to plunder the camp, where they met with immense booty; and great numbers who were come, as to a fair, to buy the captive Jews, were themselves taken prisoners and sold.. The next day being the sabbath, was solemnized in the most religious manner. The Hebrews, on that occasion, gave themselves up to a holy joy, and unanimously returned thanks to the Creator, for the great and signal deliverance he had wrought in their favour. We have here a sensible image of the feeble opposition which the human arm is able to make against that of the Almighty, in whom only the fate of battles depends. It is evident that Judas was fully sensible of his own weakness. "How can we,”says he to the Almighty before the battle, "stand before them, "unless thou thyself assisteth us?" And it is as evident that he was no less firmly persuaded of the success of his arms. "The victory," he had said above, "does not depend on the "number of soldiers, but it is from heaven that all our strength "comes." But although Judas had so entire a confidence in God, he employs all those expedients which the most experienced and bravest general could use, in order to obtain the victory. How excellent a pattern have we here for generals! To pray with humility because all things depend on God; and to act with vigour, as if all things depended on man.-We are still possessed, thanks to the Almighty, of generals who believe it glorious to entertain such thoughts; and who, at the head of great armies, composed of as brave soldiers as ever were, as well as of officers and commanders of an almost unparalleled courage and zeal, do not rely on all those human advantages, but solely on the protection of the God of armies. Judas, encouraged by the important victory he had gained,.. * 2 Maccab. viii. 30-33 d reinforced by a grest number of troops, whom this success ought to him, employed the advantage which this gave him distress the rest of his enemies. Knowing that Timotheus d Bacchides, two of Antiochus's lieutenants were raising oops to fight him, he marched against them, defeated them a great battle, and killed upwards of 20,000 of their men. * Lysias hearing of the ill success which Antiochus's arms ad met with in Judæa, and the great losses be had sustained 1 that country, was in great astonishment and perplexity. However, knowing that the king had a strong desire to extirate that nation, he made mighty preparations for a new expelition against the Jews. Accordingly he levied an army of 10,000 foot and 5000 horse, all chosen troops; and putting himself at their head, he marched into Judæa, firmly resolved o lay waste the whole country, and to destroy all the inhabitants. He encamped at Bethsura, a city standing to the south of Je rusalem, towards the frontiers of Idumæa. Judas advanced towards him at the head of 10,000 men; and fully persuaded that he Lord would assist him, he engaged the enemy with his inconsiderable body of troops, killed 5000 of them, and put the rest to flight. Lysias, dismayed at the surprising valour of Julas's soldiers, who fought with intrepid courage, determined to conquer or die, led back his conquered army to Antioch; inending, nevertheless, to come and attack them again the next year with a still more powerful body of forces. † Judas being left master of the field by the retreat of Lysias, took advantage of this opportunity, and marched to Jerusalem, where he recovered the sanctuary from the heathens, purified and dedicated it again to the service of God. This solemn dedication continued a week, all which was spent in thanksgiving for the delivery that God had vouchsafed them; and it was ordained that the anniversary of it should be solemnized every year. The neighbouring nations, jealous of the prosperity of the Jews, made a league to destroy them, and resolved to join Antiochus, in order to extirpate that people. This prince was then in Persia, levying the tribute which had not been paid regularly. He was informed, that Elymass * A. M 3839. Ant. J. C. 165. Antiq. 1. xii. c: 11. ti Maccab. iv. 36-61. et v. 1, 2. Antiq. 1. xii c. II. A. M. 3840. Ant J. C. 164. 1 Maccab. iv. 26-35. Joseph. 2 Maccab. x. 1-8. Joseph. 1 Maccab. vi. 1-16. 2 Maccab. iz. 1-29. Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 145. Appian. in Syr. p. 131 was thought to abound with riches; and especially, that in a temple of that city, which Polybius says was dedicated to Diana, and to Venus, according to Appian, prodigious sums were laid up. He went thither with a design to take the city and plunder the temple, as he had before done Jerusalem ; but his design having taken vent, the country people and the inhabitants of the city took up arms to defend their temple, and gave him a shame. ful repulse. Antiochus, thunderstruck at this disgrace, with. drew to Ecbatana. To add to his affliction, news were there brought him of the defeat of Nicanor and Timotheus in Judea. In the violence of his rage, he set out with all possible expedition, in order to make that nation feel the dreadful effects of his wrath, venting nothing but menaces on his march, and breathing only final ruin and destruction. Advancing in this disposition towards Babylonia, which was in his way, fresh expresses came to him with advice of Lysias' defeat, and also that the Jews had retaken the temple, thrown down the altars and idols which he had set up in them, and re-established their ancient worship. At this news his fury increased. Immediately he commands his coachman to drive with the utmost speed, in order that he might have an opportunity to satiate fully his vengeance, threatening to make Jerusalem the burying plaec of the whole Jewish nation, and not leave one single inhabitant in it. He had scarce uttered that blasphemous expression, but he was struck by the hand of God. He was seized with incredible pains in his bowels, and the most excessive pangs of the colic. "Thus the "murderer and blasphemer," says the author of the Maccabees, "having suffered most grievously, as he treated other men, "so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the "mountains." But still his pride was not abated by this first shock; so far from it, that suffering himself to be hurried away by the wild transports of his fury, and breathing nothing but vengeance against the Jews, he gave orders for proceeding with all possible speed in the journey. But as his horses were running forwards impetuously, he fell from his chariot, and thereby bruised, in a grievous manner, every part of his body; so that his attendants were forced to put him into a litter, where he suffered inexpressible torments. Worms crawled from every part of him; his flesh fell away piece-meal, and the stench was so great, that it became intolerable to the whole army. Being himself unable to bear it; it is meet," says he, "to be sub"ject unto God; and man who is mortal, should not think of "himself as if he were a god." Acknowledging that it was the hand of the Lord of Israel which struck him, because of the calamities he had brought upon Jerusalem, he promises to exert his utmost liberality towards his chosen people; to enrich with precious gifts the holy temple of Jerusalem, which he had plundered; to furnish, from his revenues, the sums necessary for defraying the expence of the sacrifices; to turn Jew himself; and to travel into every part of the world, in order to publish the power of the Almighty. He hoped he should calm his wrath by these mighty promises, which the violence of his present affliction, and the fear of future torments, extorted from bis mouth, but not from his heart. But, adds the author in question, "This wicked person vowed unto the Lord, who 66 now no more would have mercy upon him." And indeed this murderer and blasphemer (these are the names which the writer of the Maccabees substituted in the place of illustrious, which men had bestowed on that prince,) being struck in a dreadful manner, and treated as he treated others, finished an impious life by a miserable death.‡ Before he expired, he sent for Philip, who had been brought up with him from his infancy, was his favourite, and had bestowed on him the regency of Syria during the minority of his son, then nine years of age. He had put into his hands the diadem, the seal of the empire, and all the other ensigns of roy alty; exhorting him, especially, to employ his utmost endeavours to give him such an education as would best teach him the art of reigning, and how to govern his subjects with justice and moderation. Few princes give such instructions to their children till they are near their end; and that, after having set them a quite different example during their whole lives. Philip caused the king's body to be conveyed to Antioch. This prince had sat 11 years on the throne. # 2 Maccab. ix. 12. + 2 Maccab. ix. 13. Polybius attests the truth of this, and relates, that Antiochus was troubled with a perpetual delir um; imagining, that spectres stood perpetually before him, reproaching him with his crimes. This historian, who was unacquainted with the scriptures, assigns, as the cause of this punishment, the sacrilegious attempt formed by this prince against the temple of Diana in Elymais. Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 145. SECTION IV. PROPHECIES OF DANIEL RELATING TO ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. As Antiochus Epiphanes was a violent persecutor of the people of God, who formed the Jewish church, and was, at the same time, the type of the antichrist, who, in after-ages, was to afflict the christian church; the prophecies of Danid expatiate much more on this prince than on any other menti oned in them. This prophecy consists of two parts; one of which relates to his wars in Egypt, and the other to the perse cution carried on by him against the Jews. We shall treat these separately, and unite together the various places where mention is made of them. 1. The Wars of Antiochus Epiphanes against Egypt foretold by Daniel the Prophet. *AND in his" (Seleucus Philopater's) " estate shall stand "up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of "the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." This verse, which points out the accession of Antiochus to the crown, has been already ex plained. "And with the arms of a flood shall they" (the Syrians) "be overflown before him," Antiochus Epiphanes, "and shall "be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant." Heliodorus, the murderer of Seleucus, and his adherents, with those the Egyptian king, who had formed designs against Syria, were defeated by the forces of Attalus and Eumenes, and dis persed by the arrival of Antiochus, whose presence disconcert ed all their projects. By the "prince of the covenant" we may suppose to be meant, either Heliodorus, the ringleader of the conspirators, who had killed Seleucus; or rather Ptolemy Epiphanes, king of Egypt, who lost his life by a conspiracy of his own subjects when he was meditating a war against Syria. Thus Providence removed this powerful adversary, to make way for Antiochus, and raise him to the throne. It appears that the prophet, in the following verses, points out clearly enough the four different expeditions of Antiochus into Egypt. Antiochus's first Expedition into Egypt. "AND after the league made with him," with Ptolemy • Dan. xi. 21. † Ver. 22. Dan. xi. 23. |