V. ANTIOCHUS EUPATOR, Son of Antiochus Epiphanes, was but nine years old, when Epiphanes his Father died, and left him the Kingdom of Syria. Lysias, who governed the Kingdom in the name of this young Prince, led an Army against Judæa, consisting of an hundred thousand foot, twenty thousand horse, and thirty elephants. 2 Macc. xiii. & 1 Macc. vi.He laid siege to, and took, the fortress of Bethsura; from thence he marched against Jerusalem, notwithstanding the valour and resistance of the Maccabees. The City was ready to fall into the Enemy’s hands, when Lysias received news that Philip, whom King Antiochus Epiphanes, a little before his death, had trusted with the Regency of the Kingdom, during the minority of young Eupator his Son; that Philip, I say, was come to Antioch, to take the government upon him, according to the disposition of the late King, whereupon he proposed an an accommodation to the Jews, that he might return speedily to Antioch, and oppose the undertakings of Philip. Thus having made peace, he immediately returned with the young King and his Army into Syria.
In the mean time Demetrius Soter, Son of Seleucus Philopator, Nephew of Antiochus Epiphanes, to whom by right of birth the Kingdom belonged, (for Antiochus Epiphanes enjoyed it by usurpation only from his Nephew;) Demetrius, I say, having 1 Macc. vii. 2 Macc. xiii.made his escape from Rome, where he was an Hostage, came into Syria, where finding the people disposed for a revolt, he put himself at the head of an Army, and marched directly to Antioch, against Antiochus and Lysias. But the inhabitants did not wait till he besieged it, they opened the gates, and delivered to him Lysias, and the young King Antiochus Eupator, who were put to death by his orders, without suffering them to appear before him. Antiochus Eupator reigned but two years. He ascended the Throne of Syria in the year of the World 3840, and died in 3842. before J. C. 158. before the vulgar Æra 162.