MODIN, a celebrated City or Town in the Tribe of Dan, from whence arose Mattathias and his Sons, so well known by the Name of Maccabees. This Place could not be far from the Sea, since the Mariners from their Ships might see the Mausoleum, that was there erected in Honour of Mattathias. 1 Macc. xiii. 29, 30.Eusebius says, that Modin was not far from Diospolis, and that in his Time was still to be seen the Tomb of the Maccabees. St. Jerome upon Isai. xxx, insinuates that it was but a small Place, since he calls it viculus, or a little Village. See the Article of MATTATHIAS. But Modin is not only famous for the Tomb of the Maccabees, but also for that Battle that was there succesfully fought by an handful of Men, under the Conduct of Judas Maccabæus, against Antiochus Eupator. Thus was this Matter performed.
Judas Maccabæus being informed, that Antiochus Eupator was coming into Judæae, in Order to reduce it to his Obedience, and to treat the Jews still worse than had been done by his Father Antiochus 2 Macc. xiii. 9, &c.Epiphanes: He held a Council with the Elders of the People, and resolved to be beforehand with him. Referring all Things therefore to the Power of God, the Creator of the Universe, he exhorted his People to behave themselves valiantly, and to sacrifice their Lives to the Defence of their Laws, their Temple, their City, their Nation and Countreymen. He marched out with his Army, and encamped near Modin. When he had given out the Watch-word to his Soldiers, which was, The Victory of God, he took with him the bravest Part of his Army, attacked the King’s Quarters by Night, and slew four Thousand Men in his Camp, together with one of the largest of the Elephants, and all those that were upon him. Thus having filled the Enemies whole Camp with Rout and Confusion, he retired safely by the Lord’s Assistance, crowned with Victory and Success.
☞ Judas Maccabæus was an excellent Observations upon the Battle of Judas Maccabæus against Antiochus, near Modin. 2 Macc. xiii. 15, &c.General of an Army. His Actions and Conduct, in all the Wars that he maintained against so many formidable Enemies, have something in them very great and surprizing. A Sertorius, a Scanderberg, have done nothing that can come up to the Actions of this Hero. I can perceive nothing in all History more skilful and profound, than the Method of the Jews in the Art of fighting and setting themselves in Array. They are always fewest in Number, and yet always superior to their Enemies, by their Bravery in Undertaking, by the Prudence of their Conduct, and by their Skill in the Art of War.
It is indeed surprizing, that Polybius an Historian, otherwise so punctual, and so well acquainted with the Affairs of Asia, should make no Mention of the Maccabees, nor of the Wars they maintained with so much Glory against Antiochus and his Successor: Since he describes the Wars of the same Antiochus with all the Care and Exactness that could be desired, and with the same Accuracy as the Wars of the Romans. This is a Circumstance that I do not pretend to understand.
‘Tis given out as a Maxim, that Force should never be made Use of, when we may attain our Ends by Stratagem. But this Maxim has only the Appearance of Truth, and is not always true, as will appear upon a little Attention. All the Stratagems of the Maccabees are very common ones, they are but few in Number, and they have but seldom made Use of them. They generally fought by broad Day-light, and Skill had a greater Share in their Victories, than Craft or Artifice. As their whole Art consisted only in the judicious Disposition of their Troops, so that Art contributed mostly to the Success of so many bold and brave Undertakings. But when Stratagem, which is no Part of this Art, goes along with a prudent and ingenious Distribution of an Army, then the Ability of the General displays it self, who discovers that he is capable of whatever is grand and noble in the most profound Parts of the Art of War.
2 Macc. xiii. 15.The Enterprize of Judas Maccabæus upon the Camp of Antiochus Eupator, may be placed in the Number of those, in which Science had not less Share than Cunning. He conceals from Antiochus a whole Night’s March; this indeed was not difficult for a small Army to do, but it was a great Advantage gained. For a General surprized in his Camp, though even he had Time to prepare for Battle, is a General already half conquered. This Maxim is without Dispute, and so Antiochus found it. For no sooner did he arrive at the Frontiers of Judæa, but Judas committing to the Lord the Success of his Enterprize, marched boldly to meet him, and gave him such a terrible Shock, that he spread Confusion and Dismay through his whole Camp, having killed him four Thousand Men, and the finest of his Elephants.
The sacred Author says nothing concerning the Order in which Judas fought; but we cannot be ignorant of his Method. Being infinitely inferior to his Enemies, he must fight in separate Corps of a very great Depth; and it was sufficient to him to penetrate into the Enemy, in Order to be assured of the Victory. We see clearly enough by this Passage, With the most valiant and choice young Men; that he formed a Body of the Flower of his Troops, to fall upon the King’s Quarters. Thus I range his Army in three Bodies: The Body12 where Judas himself commanded, must be in the Center, because the General of the Army usually incamped in the midst of his Camp. It is likely that Judas found Resistance, and that the Enemies had Time to oppose him with a Body of Troops, which was broken and routed. Otherwise he must have routed and put to Flight the whole Army of Antiochus. But fearing he should be born down with Numbers, he chose to retire, after having succeeded in this Expedition.
There is a seeming Contradiction in the sacred Author. He says, ℣ 15, that Judas went into the King’s Tent by Night; and ℣ 17, that this was done in the Break of the Day. To reconcile these two Passages, I imagine the Attack to be begun in the Night, but the Action not to be compleated till the Break of Day.
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