Antiochus Epiphanes (IV)

IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, was the Son of Antiochus the Great, whom we have been speaking of, and Brother to Seleucus Philopator King of Syria. Having continued as an hostage at Rome for fourteen years, his Brother Seleucus resolved to procure his return to Syria. It is thought that he intended to make use of him in the design which he had formed, of conquering Egypt, a Country that the Kings of Syria had for a long time looked on, as an object worthy of their ambition. However this might be, Seleucus sent his own Son Demetrius as an hostage to Rome, in the room of Antiochus; but while this last was upon his journey SeleucusIn the Year of the World 3829, before J. C. 171, before the vulgar Æra 175. died, so that when he landed in Syria, the people received him as some propitious Deity, come to take upon him the Government, and oppose the Enterprizes of Ptolemy King of Egypt, who threatned to invade Syria. For this reason Antiochus had the Sirname given him of Epiphanes, that is, of one appearing as it were like a God, and manifesting himself to men.

This Prince thought betimes of possessing In the Year of the World 3831, before J. C. 169. before the vulgar Æra 173. 2 Macc. iv. 21. seq.himself of Egypt, which was then injoyed by Ptolemy Philometor his nephew, Son to his Sister Cleopatra. He sent Apollonius one of his Officers into Egypt, under pretence of being present at Ptolemy’s Coronation; but in reality to observe how the great men of the Kingdom were disposed towards him, and to get intelligence, whether they were inclined to put the Government of Egypt into his hands, during the minority of the King his Nephew. But Apollonius found them no way disposed in favour of his Master, which obliged Antiochus to make war against Philometor. He came to Jerusalem in 3831, and was received there by Jason, to whom he had sold the High-Priesthood. He designed to attack Egypt, but returned without doing any thing.

The Ambition of the Jews, who sought after the High-Priesthood, and bought it of Antiochus, was the beginning of those Calamities which overwhelmed their Nation, under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jason procured himself to be established in this Dignity in the room of his brother Onias III. Menelaus having offered more, Jason was deprived, and he confirmed in his place. These Usurpers of the High-Priesthood, to gratify the Syrians, took up all the Manners of the Greeks, their Games and Exercises, and neglected the Worship of the Lord, and the Service of the Temple. In the mean time the War broke out between Antiochus Epiphanes, and Ptolemy Philometor. Antiochus entred Egypt in 3833, and reduced it almost all intirely to his obedience¹. The next year he returned, and while he was taken up with the Siege of Alexandria, a false report was spread of his Death; and the inhabitants of Jerusalem shewing their joy on this occasion, Antiochus as he came back from Egypt entred this City by force, treated the Jews as Rebels, and commanded his Troops to put all they met with to the sword. Fourscore thousand of them were killed in three days time, forty thousand were made captives, and as many sold². He entred into the Holy of Holies in the Temple conducted by the pretended High-Priest Menelaus, took and carried off the most precious vessels of this holy place, to the value of eighteen hundred talents.

2 Macc. v. 24, 25. 2 Macc. v. 29.In 3835 Antiochus made a third Expedition against Egypt, werein he subdued it intirely³. The year following he sent Apollonius into Judæa, with an army of two and twenty thousand men, and gave him orders to kill all those who were of full age, and to sell the women and young men. Apollonius executed these Orders but too punctually. It was upon this occasion that Judas Maccabæus retired into the wilderness with his Father and his Brethren. But these misfortunes were no more than preludes to those which they were afterwards to suffer. Antiochus apprehended, that the Jews would never be constant in their obedience to him, unless he oblig’d them to change their Religion, and embrace the ceremonies and worship of the Greeks. He commanded therefore an Edict to be published, injoining them to conform themselves to the laws of other Nations, and forbidding them to offer their usual Sacrifices in the Temple, and to celebrate their Festivals and Sabbath. Many corrupt Jews complied with these Orders, but others opposed them. Mattathias and his Sons retired to the mountains: Old Eleazar and the seven Bre thren, Maccabees, suffered death with great 2 Macc. vii.courage at Antioch. The Statue of Jupiter Olympias was placed upon the Altar of the Temple, and the abomination of desolation was seen in the House of God.

Mattathias being dead, Judas Maccabæus put himself at the head of those Jews, who continued faithful to the Lord. He made war against the Generals, whom King Antiochus sent into Judæa, with the success which we shall see in another place: The King being informed of Judas’s valour, and of the resistance of the Jews, sent new forces against them; and observing his treasures to be exhausted, resolved to go into 1 Macc. iii. 27.Persia, there to levy the Tributes due from the people, and gather large sums of money, which he was to pay the Romans. He understood that there was a very great mass of riches in the Temple of Elymais, and he determined to carry it off with him. But the Ch. v. 1, 2, 3, &c and 2 Macc. ix. 1, 2, 3.inhabitants of the Country made so vigorous a resistance, that he was forced to retreat towards Babylonia. When he was come to Ecbatana, he received news of Nicanor’s and Timotheus’s defeat; and that Judas Maccabæus had retaken the Temple of Jerusalem, and restored the worship of the Lord, and Sacrifices.

Upon this intelligence the King, transported with indignation, commanded the person who drove his chariot to make the horses put on, and hasten his journey, threatning to make Jerusalem a grave for the Jews. But the Divine Vengeance soon overtook him; for he fell from his chariot and bruised all his limbs. He was tormented with such a pain in his bowels, as would allow him no rest. Grief and vexation at so much ill success concurring with his disease, reduced him speedily to death’s door. In this condition he wrote to the Jews, in a very submissive manner, made them large promises, and engaged even to turn Jew, if God restored him to his health. He recommended his Son Antiochus to them very earnestly, who was to succeed him, and intreated them to favour him, and to continue faithful to him. He died overwhelmed with pain and grief, in the mountains of Paratacene, in the little town of Tabes, in the year of the World 3840. before J. C. 160. before the vulgar Æra 164.

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