II. ALEXANDER BALAS, so called from Bala his Mother, was the natural Son of Antiochus Epiphanes, and in Medals is surnamed Theopator Euergetes. Some Historians will not allow him to be even the natural Son of Antiochus Epiphanes. Florus1 calls him an unknown person, and of an uncertain extraction. Justin2 says, that the Enemies of Demetrius King of Syria suborned a young Man, who was of the very meanest of the people, to declare himself to be the Son and Heir of Antiochus; and that he having made war with success against the King of Syria, got possession of his Kingdom. Appian3 says plainly, that he took upon him to be of the family of the Seleucidæ, without any title to this pretension. And Athenæus affirms4, that he was the supposed Son of Antiochus Epiphanes. But let this be as it will, the Roman Senate and the Jews, as well as the Egyptians and Syrians, acknowledged him to be the Son and Heir of this Prince.
Heraclides of Byzantium was the person who undertook to place Alexander Balas on the throne of Syria, and to pull down Demetrius, who was his particular Enemy. He carried Alexander whom we are speaking of, to Rome, and Laodicea the Daughter of Antiochus Epiphanes. He had the address to gain many of the Senators by his presents, and to persuade them that Alexander was the natural Son of Antiochus. When he thought every thing was well enough disposed, he brought young Alexander and his pretended Sister Laodicea, into the Senate-house. They desired assistance from the Senate, that they might be enabled to recover their Father’s Inheritance, and the Kingdom of Syria, which was usurped by Demetrius. Heraclides seconded their petition with a long harangue; and altho’ the Men of best understanding looked upon all this as so much farce, yet those of the Senators, who had been gained by Heraclides, and were the most numerous, carried it; and it was immediately resolved, that Alexander and Laodicea might endeavour to recover the dominions of their Father; that the Senate and Roman People would support them, and furnish them with succours to this purpose. Immediately Heraclides set about the levying of troops; and having conducted Alexander and Laodicea to Ephesus, he made preparations to carry on the war in earnest against Demetrius.
Alexander Balas went into Syria, and upon his first appearance Ptolemaïs, which was in the custody of some Malecontents, belonging to Demetrius’s troops, opened the gates to him. Then he writ to Jonathan Maccabæus, to engage him in his party: The Letter run thus, King Alexander to his Brother Jonathan sendeth greeting. We have heard of thee that thou art a Man of great power, and meet to be our friend; wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the High-Priest of thy Nation, and to be called the King’s friend, and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us. At the same time he sent him a purple Robe, and a Crown of Gold. Jonathan therefore embraced Alexander’s party, notwithstanding all the offers and sollicitations of Demetrius King of Syria. After this Alexander thought of nothing but of going to attack Demetrius. The two Kings engaged in the year 3853. The left wing of Demetrius broke and put to flight Alexander’s right wing, which was placed opposite to it; but the right wing, where Demetrius commanded in person, was obliged to retreat. Demetrius being deserted by his Men, tho’ alone, made resistance, and performed prodigies of valour. At last unhappily plunging into the mire, he fell from his horse, and was pierced through with arrows, fighting valiantly to the last gasp.
In the Year of the World 3854. before J. C. 146. before the vulg. Æra 150.Thus Alexander Balas got full possession of the Kingdom of Syria. When this was accomplished, he considered how to strengthen himself by an alliance with the King of Egypt. He demanded his Daughter in marriage, and Ptolemy Philometor gave her to him. The two Kings met at Ptolemaïs, where the marriage was concluded. 1 Macc. x. 51, & seq. 1 Macc. x. 69, & seq. 1 Macc. xi. 17.Jonathan Maccabæus was invited to it by King Alexander; he went, and appeared there with great splendor. He brought large presents to Alexander, and was very well received by both Princes. The King of Syria shewed him all the marks of honour, cloathed him in purple, placed him in the number of his principal friends, and made him his Master of the Horse.
In the Year of the World 3856. before J.C. 144. before the vulg. Æra 150.Alexander had not been above two years upon the throne of Syria, when Demetrius Nicator, the eldest Son of Demetrius Soter, put himself at the head of some troops which he had received from Lasthenes of Crete, and passed into Cilicia. Alexander was then in Phœnicia, and as soon as he received news of it, he returned with all speed to Antioch, that he might put his affairs in order before the arrival of Demetrius.
In the mean time Demetrius gave the general command of his troops to Apollonius, who came and bid defiance to Jonathan, challenging him with very insolent language to engage him in a set battle. Jonathan and his Brother Simon marched against him, and came near Joppa; the Enemy’s horse, after having suffered great fatigues all the day, was at last put to flight by Simon’s Infantry: After which the two Brothers took Azothus and Ascalon, and returned loaden with spoil to Jerusalem. King Alexander being informed of this good success, advanced Jonathan to new honours, and sent him the buckle of gold which was given generally to near relations only of the King. Moreover, he gave him Accaron, and the territory belonging to it, to be enjoyed by him as his own property.
While this was transacting, Ptolemy Philometor, the Father-in-law of Alexander Balas, was considering how he might join the Kingdom of Syria to that of Egypt, and took private measures to destroy both Demetrius Nicator and Alexander Balas, that so he might become master of the In the Year of the World 3858, before J. C. 142, before the vulgar Æra 146.Kingdom, which they were both contending for. To this end he levied a powerful army, and under the pretence of going to the assistance of his Son-in-law, he entered Syria, and was received as a friend into all the Cities of the Country; after which having 1 Macc. xi. 1,2, & seq.seized them5, he gave out that Balas had prepared several ambuscades for him in Ptolemaïs, with an intention to surprize him. Jonathan Maccabæus came to join him near Joppa; and tho’ the inhabitants of the Country did all they could to render him odious to Ptolemy, by shewing him the heaps of dead bodies which Jonathan had slain in the preceding war, the Temple of Dagon, which he had burnt, and the City of Azotus, which he had destroyed, the King nevertheless received him with great 1 Macc. xi. 4, 5, 6, 7.marks of distinction; and Jonathan having attended him as far as the river Eleutherus, beyond Phœnicia, returned to Jerusalem.
Thus Ptolemy advanced as far as Antioch, without meeting any resistance, seated himself in the throne of Syria, and put the two Diadems upon his head of Egypt and Syria.
Balas, who had retreated into Cilicia, gathered there a numerous army together, marched against Ptolemy and Demetrius Nicator, who were both confederated against him, gave them battle upon the river OEnæparas, was overcome, and obliged to save himself by flight, with five hundred horse that followed him, in Arabia: where Zabdiel Prince of the Arabians had his head cut off, and sent it to Ptolemy. This is what the Author of the first book of Maccabees tells us. But other Historians6 relate, that Alexander’s Generals considering their own interests and security, treated privately with Demetrius, treacherously killed their Master, and sent his head to Ptolemy at Antioch. This happened in the year of the world 3859. before J. C. 141. before the vulg. Æra 145. Alexander Balas left a Son very young, called Antiochus Theus, whom Tryphon raised to the Ver. 39.Throne of Syria, as we shall see under the title Antiochus.
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