Judas Maccabæus (II)

II. JUDAS MACCABÆUS¹, the son of Mattathias, succeeded his father in the charge of Captain of the people, during the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes². He had before given marks of his valour, conduct, and zeal for God’s law, by opposing those who forsook the Lord, and sacrificed to Idols. This obliged Mattathias his Father to declare him his successor, and place him at the head of his brethren. One of the first expeditions of Judas Maccabæus was against Apollonius general of 1 Macc. iii. 1, 2, 3, &c. In the year 3838.the Syrian troops, which were in Palestine. Judas marched against him, killed him, cut in pieces, or put to flight his whole army; he took Apollonius’s sword, and generally made use of it in times of action during the remainder of his life. Seron, a Syrian Captain, thinking to get honour by defeating Judas; on the contrary did but increase that of Judas by his own 1 Macc. ii. 13, 14, &c.defeat.

Antiochus, surprized at the valour of Judas, sent three Generals of reputation against him, Nicanor, Gorgias, and Ptolemy the son of Dorimenes³. Judas assembled his army at Maspha, prepared for battle by prayer, marched against the Enemy, attacked Nicanor alone, and in the absence of Gorgias, beat him and routed his army. Gorgias coming afterwards, and seeing Nicanor’s camp on fire, made haste back again, without daring to engage. The year following⁴ Lysias, Regent of the kingdom, in the absence of Antiochus Epiphanes, who was gone beyond the Euphrates, Lysias, I say, came into Judea with an army of sixty thousand 1 Macc. iii. 38, 39, &c. 1 Macc. iv. 21, 29, 30, &c.chosen men, and five thousand horse. Judas went to meet them as far as Bethoron, and having said his prayers, attacked them, killed five thousand of them upon the spot, and put the rest to flight. Lysias was obliged to return to Antioch, in order to raise a new army.

Judas seeing himself thus master of the field, went up to Jerusalem with his forces⁵. They saw the holy Places quite deserted, the Altar profaned, the courts filled with briars, and the chambers joining to the Temple all destroyed. Judas divided his people, employed part of them in cleansing the holy places, and posted the rest between the Citadel and the Temple, that they might hinder the Syrian troops, which were in possession of the fortress, from incommoding those who were endeavouring to purify the holy Place, and put it once more in a condition to have Sacrifices offered in it. They laid by the stones of the old Altar, which had been profaned, built a new one of rough stones, rebuilt the Holy and the Sanctuary, made new sacred vessels, and on the 25th of the month called Casleu, in the hundred and forty eighth year of the Greeks, which answers to the year of the world 3840, before J. C. 160, before the vulgar Æra 164, they offered the morning Sacrifice upon the Altar of burnt-offerings, and restored the publick worship in the Temple, which had been interrupted for three whole years. They made a new dedication of the Temple with all the pomp they could, according to the present state of their affairs, and celebrated this feast for eight days. The memorial of this dedication is spoken of in the Gospel, 1 Macc. iv. 53, 54, 55, &c.wherein it is said, that Jesus came to the Temple of Jerusalem at the dedication in the winter, John x. 22.

In a little time after, and probably the same year, Judas again defeated two Syrian Generals, Timotheus and Bacchides, and caused the booty which he had taken from them to be carried to Jerusalem. 2 Macc. viii. 30. and x. 24. 1 Macc. iv. 61. 1 Macc. v. 3, 4, 5, &c. and 2 Macc. x. 24, &c.Bethsura likewise was fortified by his order, that being a fort of barrier, which covered Jerusalem on the side of Idumea. Judas attacked the Idumeans, the inhabitants of the Acrabatene, the sons of Bean, the Ammonites, and Timotheus, who had entred Judea, and performed every where prodigies of valour: he beat, cut in pieces, and dispersed all his enemies. The people of Gilead⁶ having conspired against the Israelites, who were in their country, the Israelites fled into the fortress of Dathema. Judas being informed of it, made haste to their assistance, and at the same time sent his brother Simon to the relief of the Israelites of Galilee, who were threatned with intire ruin by the people of Tyre and Sidon, and other strangers who had invaded their country. He gave Simon three thousand men, and took eight thousand with himself.

Simon worsted the enemy, killed near three thousand men, and taking with him the Jews of Galilee, he brought them into Judea, that they might remain there more in safety. Judas passed the river Jordan, took Bosor, and set it on fire. He arrived at Dathema in the very time when the assault was made, but the enemies no sooner discerned him, than they abandoned their undertaking and fled. From thence he went to Maspha, Casphon, Meged, and Bosor, and took all these cities. Timotheus having again got together some troops, Judas marched against him, and defeated him; he afterwards took Aztaroth-Carnaim, and reduced it to ashes.

Then Judas having assembled all the Jews whom he could find in the country beyond Jordan, brought them into Judea. On the way he took and pillaged the city of Ephron, which had denied him passage. Being happily arrived at Jerusalem, they went up to the Temple, and there offered sacrifices of thanksgiving. Judas afterwards made war with the Idumeans; he took Hebron from them, entred into the country of the Philistines, took Azotus, run thro’ all Samaria, and returned loaded with a rich booty into the land of Judah.

2 Macc. xi. 1, 2, &c. 27, 28, &c.In the mean time Lysias came a second time into Judea at the head of a powerful army⁷. He advanced as far as Beth-sura, about six leagues from Jerusalem. Judas marched against him, and when he departed from Jerusalem, an Angel appeared at the head of his troops under the form of a man on horseback, who filled them with joy and courage. They fell upon their enemies, killed eleven thousand foot, and sixteen hundred horse, put the rest to flight, and Lysias himself was forced to save himself with dishonour, and make peace with Judas. Eupator, who succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes, permitted the Jews to live according to their own laws, and to perform all their offices with all sort of liberty in the Temple of Jerusalem.

This treaty having been concluded, Lysias returned to Antioch. But Timotheus2 Macc. xii. 1, 2, 3, &c. in the same year 3841., Apollonius, Hieronymus, Demophon, and Nicanor, who stayed in the country, would not suffer the Jews to rest, and sought all opportunities of interrupting the peace. And the inhabitants of Joppa having invited the Jews, who dwelt in their city, to come aboard their vessels, as it were to divert themselves upon the sea, drowned all of them together with their wives and children. Judas to revenge this perfidiousness marched against them, burnt their ships, and set fire to their harbour; he had done the same to their city, if he had not received news that the people of Jamnia designed likewise to extirpate the Jews out of their city. Judas prevented them, burnt their harbours and their vessels. From thence he went beyond Jordan, where he was attacked by a body of five thousand five hundred Arabians; he beat them, and compelled them to sue for peace. He attacked Caspis or Esebon, took it, sacked it, and there was so great a number slain, that the water of a neighbouring lake was dyed with their blood. He advanced as far as Characa in the land of the Tubienians, but not finding Timotheus there, whom he was in pursuit of, he met him soon after at the head of an hundred and twenty thousand foot, and two thousand five hundred horse. Altho Judas had but six thousand soldiers, he dispersed this army, and killed thirty thousand men. From thence he went to Carnion or Carnaim, and there flew five and twenty thousand persons: he afterwards removed towards Ephron, and killed the same number there. He came to Jerusalem a little before the Pentecost.

After this festival he marched against 2 Macc. xii. 32,33.Gorgias. The Jews at first had some disadvantage; but Judas having called upon the Lord, put to flight the enemies army: and Gorgias himself escaped not without great difficulty. Judas gathered his people together at Odollam, to celebrate the sabbath; and the day after, when they came to bury the Jews, who had been killed in the battle, they found under the clothes of the dead bodies some particular things which had been consecrated to Idols in Jamnia. And all imputed their death to their stealing what was so impure and profane. Judas made a gathering of twelve thousand drachms of silver, which he sent to Jerusalem, that sacrifices might be offered for the souls of the dead , he having good and holy thoughts concerning the resurrection. For if he had not hoped, that they who had been killed, would one day be revived, he would have esteemed praying for the dead to be an useless and superfluous ceremony.

Antiochus Eupator being made acquainted with the success of Judas Maccabæus⁸, came himself into Judea; attended by Lysias, and at the head of an army consisting of an hundred thousand foot, twenty thousand horse, and two and thirty elephants. He laid siege to Bethsura; 1 Macc. vi. 28, 29, &c. and 2 Macc. xiii.Judas marched to the relief of his brethren; at the first onset he defeated six hundred of the Enemies, and his brother Eleazar with his own hand killed the finest elephant in the army, believing that the King rode upon it. The small number of troops which Judas had with him being unable to make head against the King’s forces, retired to Jerusalem. Eupator followed them, and besieged the city, particularly the Temple, which Judas had fortified, and retreated to. The Siege continuing a long time, and Lysias fearing least Philip, who had been declared regent of the Kingdom by Antiochus Epiphanes, might make himself master of Antioch, concluded a peace with Judas, and returned with speed into Syria. Demetrius the son of Seleucus Eupator’s Uncle, and lawful heir to the Kingdom of Syria, having put to death Eupator and Lysias, and procured himself to be acknowledged King of Syria⁹, gave the High Priesthood of the Jews to Alcimus, and sent Bacchides with him into Judea, with an army, to put a stop to the enterprizes of Judas. Bacchides entered Jerusalem, and fixed Alcimus in the possession of this high dignity. In the mean time, Judas having fled from thence, continued for some time without undertaking any thing. But observing the excesses and many acts of violences, which Alcimus committed, he gathered some troops, and slew those who had forsaken his party. So that Alcimus finding himself not to be the strongest in the Province, fled to Antioch, and accused Judas of several crimes.

Demetrius sent Nicanor with troops into Judea. Before he entred Jerusalem, he dispatch’d deputies to Judas with proposals of peace, which Judas laid before the people and Senators, and all were of opinion to accept them. A day therefore was appointed for the ratification of them. Judas and Nicanor had an interview in the plain; and Judas for fear of a surprize posted armed men in all the advantageous places. The conference passed as it should do. Nicanor continued afterwards at Jerusalem in the citadel, and Judas in the city. Nicanor conceived a very great esteem for Judas, and loved him with a most sincere affection; he requested him to marry, which accordingly he did, and they lived together with great familiarity.

But Alcimus observing the good understanding which was between them, went to Demetrius and told him, that Nicanor betrayed his interests. The King exasperated by these calumnies, wrote to Nicanor, and told him that he took it ill that he had made such a friendship with Judas, and commanded him to send him instantly in chains to Antioch. Nicanor having received these orders, sought an opportunity to execute them. Judas perceiving him to be grown cold, distrusted him; and gathering some troops together, stole privately from Nicanor, and kept the field with his people. Nicanor marched against him, and attacked him at Caphar-Salama: but he was repulsed with the loss of above five thousand men, and obliged to retreat to Jerusalem. He threatned to destroy the Temple, if Judas was¹⁰ not put into his hands; and being departed in order to go to Bethoron, where the Syrian army came and joined him, Judas attacked him with so much impetuosity, that he routed his troops, and Nicanor himself was one of the first who were killed. The rest of his army betaking themselves to flight, were cut in pieces by the inhabitants of the country, so that not one of them remained. Nicanor’s head and right hand were hung up over against Jerusalem, and a feast was instituted on the 13th of Adar, to celebrate the memory of this victory. Upon this occasion it was, that Judas in a vision saw the High Priest Onias, who prayed for all the people; and afterwards the Prophet Jeremiah, who presented him with a sword of gold, telling him, that with it he should conquer the enemies of Israel.

1 Macc. ix. 19, 20, &c.Demetrius being informed that Nicanor was killed in battle¹¹, and his army defeated, sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea, with the right wing 1 Macc. ix. 1, 2, 3, &c.of his troops. They came first of all to Jerusalem, from thence they went to Berea or Beroth, a city in the Tribe of Benjamin. Judas was at Laish, or Bethel, with three thousand chosen men. His people seeing so great an army were terrified, and many fled from the camp; so that not above eight hundred remained with him. Judas finding himself thus forsaken, was discouraged, and said to those who still continued with him: let us go, and, if we can, engage the enemy. As his people diverted him from it, and remonstrated to him, that he should wait for some reinforcement, he said to them; God forbid we should do so. If our hour is come, let us die courageously for our brethren, and not sully our glory with such a blemish. They marched therefore against the enemy. Judas having observed the right wing which Bacchides commanded to be the strongest, attacked it, broke and pursued it, as far as the mountain of Azotus. But they who were in the left wing, followed Judas in the rear, and hemmed him in; so that after a long and obstinate fight, wherein many on both sides were killed or wounded, Judas himself fell dead, and all the rest fled. Then Jonathan and Simon carried off their brother’s body, and laid it in their Sepulchre at Modin. All Israel made great lamentations at his death; and said, how is the invincible man fallen, he who delivered the people of Israel. The other wars which Judas was engaged in, and the instances of his courage, are too numerous Gorionid. l. 3. c. 2.to be all related. Josephus Ben-Gorion says, that Judas had children, but that they died young. The Scripture says nothing of them; and Judas dying the same year that he was married, it is very credible that he left no issue. This great man was one of the most express figures of the Messiah, the true saviour of Israel; and it is our opinion, that the encomium recorded in Isaiah is to be refer’d to him, as a figure of Jesus Christ, chap. lxiii. Who is he that cometh from Edom, with died garments from Bozrah, &c.

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