After training and disciplining his troops by many trials and adventures, Judas was bold enough to meet the king's general, Apollonius, who had gathered a large army at Samaria, of which place he was governor, in the open field. He totally defeated his army and slew him. He then divided the spoils, and took the sword of Apollonius for a trophy, which he used all his life afterwards in battle. Exasperated at the defeat of Apollonius, Seron, who was general of the army of Ccele-Syria, got together a force, partly composed of Jews, and came against Judas as far as Bethhoron, where he pitched his camp. This place, which had been rendered memorable many centuries before as the site of Joshua's great victory over the allied forces of the Canaanites, was destined now to witness a victory scarcely less glorious, wrought by a small band of Jews, spent and hungry, against the discip lined troops of Syria. Seron was completely over thrown, and his army scattered. Antiochus, though greatly enraged at this dishonour to his arms, was nevertheless compelled, by the condition of his treasury, to undertake an expedition to Ar menia and Persia, with a view to recruiting his exhausted finances. He therefore left Lysias, one of his highest lieutenants, to take charge of his kingdom, from the river Euphrates to the confines of Egypt; and having entrusted his son, Antiochus, to his care, and enjoined Lysias to conquer Judxa and destroy the nation of the Jews, he went into Persia. The success of Judas called for immediate attention. The governor of Jerusalem was urgent in his entreaties for assistance. Lysias, therefore, sent an army of 20,000 men, under the command of Nicanor and Gorgias, into Judxa. It was fol lowed by another of the same number, with an addition of 7000 horse, under Ptolemy Macron, the son of Dorymenes, as commander-in-chief. The united forces encamped in the plains of Emmaus. To oppose this formidable host, Judas could only muster 6000 men at Mizpeh. Here, as Samuel had done a thousand years before at a like period of national calamity, he fasted and prayed, and in compliance with the Mosaic injunction, advised those who were newly married, or had built houses, and the like, to return to their homes. This reduced his number to one-half. The heroic spirit of Judas, however, rose against every diffi culty, and he marched towards Emmaus. Having heard that Gorgias had been despatched with a force of 6000 men to surprise him in the passes by night, he instantly resolved to attack the enemies' camp. He rushed upon them unexpectedly, and completely routed them ; so that when Gorgias returned baffled and weary, he was dismayed at finding his camp in flames. In the brief struggle which ensued, the Jews were victorious, and took much spoil. The year following, Lysias gathered together an army of 6o,000 chosen men, with 5000 horse, went up in person to the hill country of Judxa, and pitched his camp at a place called Bethsura, the Bethzur of the O. T. Here Judas met him with ro,000 men, attacked his vanguard, and slew 5000 of them, whereupon Lysias retreated with the remainder of his army to Antioch. After this series of triumphs Judas proceeded to Jerusa lem. There he found the sanctuary desolate, shrubs growing in the courts of it, and the chambers of the priests thrown down ; so he set to work at once to purify the holy places, and restore the worship of God. In commemoration of this cleansing of the Temple, the Jews afterwards kept for eight days annually a festival which was called Lights, and was known as the Feast of Dedication (John x. 22 *). Judas, having strongly fortified the citadel of Mount Zion, and placed a garrison at Bethsura, made an expedition into Idumea. The Syrians meanwhile, frustrated in their efforts against Judxa, turned their attention to Galilee and the provinces beyond Jordan. A large army from Tyre and Ptolemais attacked the north, and Timotheus laid waste Gilead, whereupon Judas determined to divide his army into three. He himself, with Jonathan, led S000 men across the Jordan into Gilead; his brother, Simon, he sent with 300o into Galilee ; and the rest he left behind, under the command of Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, for the protec tion of Judxa, with strict injunctions to act only on the defensive. These orders, however, they imprudently violated by an attack upon the sea port Jamnia, where they met with a signal repulse. But the Maccabees in Gilead and Galilee were triumphant as usual, and added to their renown. Antiochus Epiphanes meanwhile had died in his Persian expedition, B.C. 164, and Lysias immedi ately proclaimed his son Antiochus Eupator king ; the true heir, Demetrius,± the son of Seleucus, being a hostage at Rome. One of the first acts of Lysias was directed against the Jews. He assembled an enormous army of too,000 men and 32 elephants, and proceeded to invest Bethsura. The city de fended itself gallantly. Judas marched from Jeru salem to relieve it, and slew about 5000 of the Syrians. It was upon this occasion that his brother Eleazar sacrificed himself by rushing under an ele phant which he supposed carried the young king, and stabbing it in the belly, so that it fell upon him. The Jews, however, were compelled to re treat to Jerusalem, whereupon Bethsura surrendered, and the royal army advanced to besiege the capital. Here the siege was resisted with vigour, but the defenders of the city suffered from straitness of pro visions, because of its being the Sabbatical year. They would therefore have had to surrender, but Lysias was recalled to Antioch by reports of an insurrection under Philip, who at the death of Antiochus had been appointed guardian of the young king. He was consequently glad to make proposals of peace, which were as readily accepted by the Jews. He had no sooner, however, effected an entrance into the city, than he violated his engagements by destroying the fortifications, and immediately set out with all haste for the north. There Demetrius Soter, the lawful heir to the Syrian throne, encountered him, and after a struggle Antiochus and Lysias were slain, leaving Demetrius in undisputed possession of the kingdom.
Menelaus, the high-priest at this time, had pur chased his elevation to that rank by selling the sacred vessels of the temple. Hoping to serve his own ends, he joined himself to the army of Lysias, but was slain by command of Antiochus. Onias, the son of the high-priest whom Menelaus had sup planted, fled into Egypt, and Alcimus or Jacimus, not of the high-priestly family, was raised to the dignity of high-priest. By taking this man under his protection, Demetrius hoped to weaken the power of the Jews. He despatched Bacchides with Alcimus to Jerusalem, with orders to slay the Maccabees and their followers. Jerusalem yielded to one who came with the authority of the high priest, but Alcimus murdered sixty of the elders as soon as he got them into his power. Bacchides also committed sundry atrocities in other parts. No sooner, however, had he left Judo. than Mac cabmus again rose against Alcimus, and drove him to Antioch, where he endeavoured as far as pos sible to injure Judas with the king. Upon this Demetrius sent Nicanor with a large army to rein state Alcimus, and when he came to Jerusalem, which was still held by the Syrians, he endeavoured to get Judas into his power by stratagem, but the plot being discovered, he was compelled to meet him in the field. They joined battle at Caphar salama, and Nicanor lost about 5000 men ; the rest fled to the stronghold of Zion. Here he revenged himself with great cruelty, and threatened yet further barbarities unless Judas was delivered up. As the people refused to betray their cham pion, Nicanor was again compelled to fight. He pitched his camp ominously enough in Bethhoron ; his troops were completely routed, and he himself slain. The next act of Judas was to make an alli ance with the Romans, who entered into it eagerly; but no sooner was it contracted than the king made one more determined effort for the subjugation of Palestine, sending Alcimus and Bacchides, with all the flower of his army, to a place called Berea or Beth zetho, apparently near Jerusalem. The terror excited by this host was such, that Judas found himself deserted by all but Soo followers, who would fain have dissuaded him from encountering the enemy. His reply was worthy of him, If our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.' He fought with such valour that the right -wing, commanded by Bac chides, was repulsed and driven to a hill called Azotus or Aza, but the left wing doubled upon the pursuers from behind, so that they were shut in as it were between two armies. The battle lasted from morning till night. Judas was killed, and his followers, overborne by numbers, were dispersed. His brothers Jonathan and Simon received his body by a treaty from the enemy, and buried it in the sepulchre of his fathers at Modin, B.C. 161. Thus fell the greatest of the Maccabees, a hero worthy of being ranked with the noblest of his country, and conspicuous among all, in any age or clime, who have drawn the sword of liberty in defence of their dearest and most sacred rights.
The friends of Judas, after his death, chose Jona than for their leader. He was glad to seek safety from Bacchides among the pools and marshes of the Jordan, whither he was pursued by him. At
the same time, also, his brother John was killed by a neighbouring Arab tribe. Jonathan took occasion to revenge his brother's death upon a marriage party, for which he lay in wait, and then repulsed an attack of Bacchides and slew a thousand of his men. At this point Alcimus died, and Bacchides, after fortifying the strong towns of Judxa, returned to Antioch ; but upon Jonathan again emerging from his hiding-place, Bacchides came back with a formidable army, and was for some time exposed to the desultory attacks of Jonathan, till weary of this mode of fighting, or for other reasons, he thought fit to conclude a peace with him, and returned to his master. The Maccabee was thus left in possession of Judma, and had not long after wards an opportunity offered him of consolidating his position ; for there sprung up one Alexander Bolas, who was believed to be a son of Antiochus Epiphanes, and laid claim to the throne of Syria. Demetrius and Alexander mutually competed for the alliance of Jonathan, but Alexander was suc cessful, having offered him the high-priesthood, and sent him a purple robe and a golden crown—the insignia of royalty—and promised him exemption from tribute as well as other advantages. Jonathan thereupon assumed the high-priesthood, and be came the friend of Alexander, who forthwith met Demetrius in the field, slew him, usurped his crown, and allied himself (B.C. 150) in marriage with Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy Philo-. metor, king of Egypt. Jonathan was invited to the wedding, and was made much of at court. In return, he attacked and defeated Apollonius, the general of Demetrius Nicator, who aspired to his father's throne, besieged Joppa, captured Azotus, and destroyed the temple of Dagon. The pros perity, however, of Alexander was of short dura tion, for Ptolemy, being jealous of his power, marched with a large army against him, and after putting him to flight, seized his crown, and gave his wife to Demetrius. On the other hand, the overthrow of Alexander was speedily followed by the death of Ptolemy, and Demetrius was left in possession of the throne of Syria. Jonathan, meanwhile, besieged Jerusalem, and leaving it invested repaired to Antioch. Demetrius not only welcomed but entered into a treaty with him, upon terms that greatly augmented the power of the Maccabee. After this Demetrius disbanded the greater part of his army and lessened their pay, which being a course contrary to that pursued by former kings of Syria, who kept up large standing armies in time of peace, created great dissatisfac tion, so that upon the occasion of Jonathan writing to him to withdraw his soldiers from the strong holds of Judma, he not only complied but was glad to ask for the assistance of 3000 men, who were forthwith sent to Antioch. Here they rendered him signal service in rescuing him from an insur rection of his own citizens that his behaviour to them had aroused. His friendship for Jonathan, however, was soon at an end, and, contrary to his promises, he threatened to make war upon him unless he paid the tribute which previous kings had exacted. This menace might have been carried out had not a formidable antagonist at home arisen in the person of Trypho, who had formerly been an officer of Alexander Bolas, and had espoused the cause of his young son Antiochus Theos, This man attacked Demetrius, defeated him in battle, captured his city, drove him into exile, and placed his crown on the head of Antiochus, B. C. 144. One of the first acts of the new king was to ingratiate himself with Jonathan ; he therefore confirmed him in the high-priesthood, and appointed him gov ernor over Judma and its provinces, besides showing him other marks of favour. His brother Simon he appointed to be general over the king's forces from what was called the Ladder of Tyre—viz., a mountain lying on the sea-coast between Tyre and Ptolemais, even to the borders of Egypt. Jona than in return rendered good service to Antiochus, and twice defeated the armies of Demetrius. He then proceeded to establish his own power by re newing the treaty with Rome, entering into one also with Lacedmmon, and strengthening the fortifications in Judma. He was destined, however, to fall by treachery, for Trypho, having persuaded him to dismiss a large army he had assembled to support Antiochus, decoyed him into the city of Ptolemais, and then took him prisoner. The Jews imme diately raised Simon to the command, and paid a large sum to ransom Jonathan. Trypho, how ever, took the money, but instead of releasing Jonathan put him to death, and then, thinking that the main hindrance to his own ambitious designs was removed, caused Antiochus to be treated in the same manner. Thus fell the third of the illustrious Maccabxan race, who distinguished himself nobly in the defence of his country, B. C. When Simon heard of his brother's death he fetched his bones from Bascama, where he had been buried, and had them interred at Modin. Here he erected to his memory a famous monu ment of a great height, built of white marble, elaborately wrought, near which he placed seven pyramids, for his father and mother and their five sons, the whole being surrounded with a stately portico. For many years afterwards this monument served the purpose of a beacon for sailors, and it was standing in the time of Eusebius. The policy of Simon led him to espouse the cause of Demetrius against Trypho. He was consequently confirmed in his position of sovereign high-priest. He then turned his attention to establishing the in ternal peace and security of his kingdom. He fortified Bethsura, Jamnia, Joppa, and Gaza, and garrisoned them with Jewish soldiers. The Lace dmmonians sent him a flattering embassy, desiring to renew their treaty ; to Rome also he sent a shield of gold of immense value, and ratified his league with that nation. He moreover took the citadel of Jerusalem by siege, and besides pulling it down, even levelled the hill on which it was built, with im mense labour, that so the temple might not be exposed to attacks from it. Under the wise govern ment of this member of the Asmonamn family Judwa seems to have attained the greatest height of prosperity and freedom she had known for centuries, or even knew afterwards. The writer of the first book of the Maccabees evidently re joices to remember and record it. The ancient men,' he says, 'sat all in the streets communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy. For every man sat under his vine and his fig-tree, and there was none to fray them' (xiv. g, is, 12). This time of quiet repose Simon employed in ad ministering justice and restoring the operation of the law. He also beautified the sanctuary, and re furnished it with sacred vessels. In the meantime Demetrius had been taken prisoner in an expedition against the Parthians, whereupon his brother An tiochus Sidetee immediately endeavoured to over throw the usurper Trypho. Availing himself of a defection in his troops, he besieged him in Dora, a town upon the sea-coast a little south of Mount Cannel. Simon sent him 2000 chosen men, with arms and money, but Antiochus was not satisfied with this assistance while he remembered the inde pendence of Palestine. He therefore refused to receive them, and moreover despatched Athenobius to demand the restoration of Joppa, Gaza, and the fortress of Jerusalem, or else the payment of a thousand talents of silver ; but when the legate saw the magnificence of the high-priest's palace at Jerusalem he was astonished, and as Simon deli berately refused to comply with the terms of the king's message, and offered by way of compensation only a hundred talents for the places in dispute, Athenobius was obliged tib return disappointed and enraged. Trypho meanwhile escaped from Dora by ship to Orthosia, a maritime town in Phoenicia, and Antiochus, having deputed Cendebceus to in vade Judma, pursued him in person. The king's armies proceeded to Jamnia, and having seized Ce dron and fortified it, Cendebmus made use of that place as a centre from which to annoy the surround ing country. Simon at this time was too old to engage actively in the defence of his native land, and therefore appointed his two eldest sons, Judas and John Hyrcanus, to succeed him in the command of the forces. They forthwith set themselves at the head of 20,000 men, and marched from Modin to meet the king's general : they utterly discomfited and scattered his host, drove him to Cedron, and thence to Azotus, which they set on fire, and after wards returned in triumph to Jerusalem. But destruction threatened their house from nearer home ; for Ptolemy, the son of Abubus, who had married a daughter of Simon, and was governor in the district of Jericho, with plenty of money at his command, aspired to reduce the country under his dominion, and took occasion, upon a visit that Simon paid to that neighbourhood, to invite him and two of his sons with their followers to a ban quet, and then slew them. John alone, whose forces were at Gaza, now survived to carry on the line of the Maccabees, and sustain their glory, B.C. 135• He likewise had been included in the trea cherous designs of Ptolemy, but found means to elude them. With the death of Simon the narrative of the first book of the Maccabees concludes.