Nicanor (I)

2 Macc. viii. 9. 2 Macc. xiv. 12.I. NICANOR, Son of Patroclus, he returned from Rome along with King Antiochus Epiphanes, and had a great Share in his Favour¹. The Author of the second Book of Maccabees says, that he was the Master of the Elephants. He was sent into Judæa the first Time², in the Year of the World 3839, by Antiochus Epiphanes, or rather by Lysias, who governed the Kingdom in the Absence of Antiochus, who was then gone into Persia. Nicanor therefore was sent into Judæa with Gorgias, to stop the great Progress then made by Judas Maccabeus. He thought himself so sure of Victory, that he pretended to pay³ the two Thousand Talents that the King owed the Romans for Tribute, with the Money that should arise from the Sale of the Jewish Slaves. And at the same Time sent to the Cities on the Sea-Coast, to invite Merchants to come and buy such Slaves as he should make by this War, promising to give them four Score and ten for one Talent.

Nicanor and Gorgias being therefore arrived in Judæa with a powerful Army, in Order to exterminate the Jews, and to distribute their Country to Strangers, according to the Commands that Antiochus Epiphanes had left with them at his Departure for Persia; Judas Maccabæus had Intelligence of it, and assembling together about seven Thousand of his Troops, he exhorted them to fight bravely, and not to fear the Multitude of their Enemies, but to call to Mind the Wonders that God had heretofore done in Favour of their Fathers, by defeating the Army of Sennecharib, and again in the Defeat of the six Score Thousand Gauls or Galatians.

1 Macc. iii. 46, &c.Having thus encouraged them to stand up in the Defence of their Laws and Country, Jerusalem being then in the Possession of idolatrous Nations, they came to Mispah, which had been a Place of Prayer and Devotion to Israel before the Temple was built. There they fasted, clothed themselves with Sack-cloth, covered their Heads with Ashes, tore their Clothes, and implored the Help of the Lord; and Eleazar Brother to Judas read something to them out of the Book of the Law. Then Judas appointed his Officers, nominated Tribunes, Captains, and Decurions, each to command the Body that was committed to them, under the Command of general Officers. Lastly, he began his March, came and encamped at Emmaus, and gave Orders to his People to prepare themselves to fight the Day following.

1 Macc. iv. 1, &c.Gorgias imagining he might then surprize Judas by Night, and cut his little Army in Pieces, set out towards Evening with a Detachment of five Thousand Foot, and a Thousand chosen Horse; and taking some Deserters or apostate Jews for his Guides, who were well acquainted with the Country, he marched directly to the Hebrew Camp. But Judas having had Intelligence of his March, decamped in the middle of the Night; and taking Advantage of the Absence of Gorgias, who was a General of good Experience, he advanced to attack the Body of the Enemy’s Army then at Emmaus. Gorgias in the mean Time coming to Judas’s Camp, and finding it forsaken, thought he had took to his Heels, and began to pursue him into the 2 Macc. viii. 22.Mountains. But Judas distributing his Army into four Bodies, gave the Command of fifteen hundred Men to each of his three Brothers, Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan; and having given them the Watch-word, the Assistance of God, he put himself at the Head of three Thousand Men, set upon Nicanor, killed him above nine Thousand Men, and routed his whole Army.

I see nothing in antient History more noble Observations upon the Rout of Nicanor by Judas Maccabeus.and more admirable than the Speeches and Harangues that the Generals used to make to their Troops, to raise their Courage, and to excite them either to conquer or to dye. This Method, which was so effectual from the Mouth of a General, but more so from the Mouth of a King, continued down to the sixteenth Century. The Harangues of Henry the Great are remarkable in his History⁴. The best are those that are shortest, and those wherein, in few Words and with an Energy of Style, they put their Soldiers in Mind of their former Victories, their own Reputation, the Good and the Glory of their Country, which they have committed to their Care, and the Vices and Defects of their Enemies, &c. But why is so good a Custom lost? ‘Tis because the greatest Part of our modern Generals are wanting in this Laconick Eloquence, which becomes them so well, and makes them so fit for their Employments.

2 Macc. viii. 18.In the Harangue that Judas Maccabæus makes here to his Soldiers, he forgets nothing that may raise their Courage, and excite their Hopes of Victory. He puts in Practice that powerful Battery of Religion, which of all others is that which most moves and affects the Heart. And when it is urged by so brave a Warrior as Judas was, the Hopes of conquering are infinitely increased, and especially in the Hearts of a People who had a natural Aversion for all the Enemies of their Religion. Judas sets before them the Impieties and Sacrileges of their Enemies, who had dared to prophane the most sacred Place: For they (said he) trust in their Weapons, and Boldness; but our Confidence is in the Almighty God, who at a Beck can cast down both them that come against us, and also the World. He puts them in Mind of the Assistance that God had vouchsafed to their Forefathers, the Defeat of Sennecharib’s Army, and concludes by a much later Victory, which was so extraordinary, that Commentators are not a little puzzled to find it in History, and they rely only upon some Conjectures, which seem to be a little strained. Father Calmet says, ” That ” it is very probable the Matter here mentioned was some Enterprize of the Gala- “ tians upon Babylonia, which having had “ no Consequences, has been neglected by “ Historians, who seldom take Notice of “ the Incursions of an Enemy, when they “ are not connected to some other Events, “ which appear worthy to be recorded in “ History.” But he must allow me to reply, that there is no Historian, how much soever he may epitomize, that could omit so surprizing an Action, since Judas in his Harangue takes Notice, that with the Assistance of Heaven six Thousand Jews⁵ had killed six Score Thousand Galatians in one Battle. Could an Historian be capable of omitting to register so remarkable an Event? Yet History makes no Mention of it, which is still a greater Wonder, than that six Thousand Men should kill six Score Thousand.

1 Macc. iii. 38, 39, 40. 1 Macc. iii. 55.This War of Antiochus at first filled the Jews with Terror and Consternation. Their Hope and Trust were much more in the Providence of God, and in the Ability of their General, than in their own Strength, which was so disproportionate to that of the Enemy. But this Speech of Judas had such an Effect upon the Hearts of his Soldiers, that being animated with Courage and Resolution, they were ready to die for their Laws and Country.

Lysias, the Regent of the Kingdom during the Absence of King Antiochus Epiphanes, who was gone for Persia, made Choice of Ptolemy Son of Dorymini, and Nicanor and Gorgias, who were Men of great Power and Friends to the King. These he sent upon this Expedition, with an Army of forty Thousand Foot, and seven Thousand Horse. He appointed them to march into Judæa, and to destroy the whole Country, according as the King had left Orders. They set out therefore with all their Troops, and came to encamp at Emmaus in the Plain. Judas being informed that the Design of Antiochus was to exterminate the whole Jewish Nation, easily foresaw the Difficulties he must undergo to prevent it. The Number and Valour of his Enemies, and the Experience of their Generals, put him into a Consternation; but nevertheless he took Measures that were worthy of himself. To remove his Fears, he established an exact Discipline among his Troops, he introduced the same Orders that David had done in his Reign. He ordained Captains over the People, even Captains over Thousands, and over Hundreds, and over Fifties, and over Tens. However brave and undaunted an Army may be, and whatever Skill and Experience the General may have, yet without Order and Discipline all his Hopes will be disappointed. Hitherto it should seem as if the Maccabees had opposed only their own Valour, and their Dexterity in the Disposition of their Troops, to the superiority or Numbers of their Enemies; but now good Discipline, together with the Ingenuity and Capacity of the Jewish Generals, make Amends for their want of Strength. To which must be added their Confidence in the Protection of God, and then the Victory becomes assured to them. Such they thought it to be, they went to meet their Enemy, and the two Armies approached very near to each other in the Plain of Emmaus.

Gorgias knowing that the Jews were resolved either to conquer or to dye for their Religion and Country, aimed at surprizing them by Night, thinking to come upon Judas at unawares, and to cut his little Army in Pieces by Favour of the Darkness. He set out therefore the Evening before, at the Head of a Body of five Thousand Foot, and a Thousand chosen Horse, and marched directly to the Camp of Israel. Judas having Intelligence of his Enemy’s Design, did not lose a Moment, but decamped in the Middle of the Night, to take Advantage of Gorgias’s Absence, whose Skill and Courage he was well aware of, and drew towards Emmaus by a silent March. Gorgias thinking him to be still in his Camp, approaches towards it, and finding it forsaken, thought the Jews had betook themselves to Flight. He seeks for them in the Mountains, but in vain, not once dreaming that they were approaching nearer to his own Camp.

2 Macc. viii. 22.Here Judas arrives, and Nicanor being surprized by so extraordinary an Adventure, and by the Boldness of the Enemy, does not know what to think of Gorgias’s Undertaking, imagining he might have been defeated. However at the Sight of the Jews he comes out of his Camp, sets his Troops in Order of Battle, and ranges them according to the Method of the People of Asia, which was the same as that of the Greeks; that is, the Infantry in the Center, and the Cavalry at the Wings of the Army.

As for Judas Maccabeus, he divided his Army into several Corps, and gave the Command of them to his Brethren Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan, each having under him fifteen Hundred Men. That is, he divided his Army into four Bodies, as appears by the Book of 1 Macc. iv. 6.the Maccabees, being himself at the Head of three Thousand Men. We may observe that he here follows his usual Method, which is to fight in separate Bodies, in the Front of the Line, and to a very great Depth.

Of all the Battles which the Maccabees have fought, I see none accompanied with more Ceremony or Precaution than this.

And indeed it must be allowed, that the Safety of the Jews depended upon it, so numerous were the Forces of their Enemies, and their Chiefs were so good Soldiers as might well strike a Fear and Terror into them. But the General of the Jews, by his Prudence and Skilfulness, surmounted all these Obstacles. And by the Help of the Almighty, they slew above nine Thousand of their Enemies, and wounded and maimed the most Part of Nicanor’s Host, and so put 2 Macc. viii. 24. 2 Macc. viii. 35.all to Flight. And Nicanor, putting off his glorious Apparel, and discharging his Company, came like a fugitive Servant through the Mid-land into Antioch, having very great Dishonour for that his Host was destroyed.

Nicanor returned into Judæa about four Years afterwards, when Demetrius Soter, Son of Seleucus, was come back into Syria, and had ascended the Throne of his Ancestors. Alcimus, who had then bought the High Priesthood, asked some Forces of the King, that he might be put in Possession of this Dignity. Demetrius gave him Bacchides with some Troops, who placed him by Force of Arms in the Exercise of the Priesthood. But Judas taking the Field, and gathering his Soldiers together, obliged Alcimus to withdraw, and to go once more to desire Assistance from Demetrius⁶. This Prince then sent Nicanor into Judæa, with 1 Macc. vii. 26. 27, &c.Orders to destroy all those that should dispute his Commands.

At first he endeavoured to get Judas into his Power by Stratagem, pretending to treat of Peace with him in a personal Conference out of the City. Judas came to the Place appointed, but perceiving they had a Design to secure him, he withdrew in Time, and would hear no more of any Accommodation after that. Then he marched against Nicanor with his Army, and gave him Battle at Capharsalama. Nicanor had about five Thousand Men killed upon the Spot, and the rest fled to Jerusalem. He came thither also himself, where he turned to Ridicule the burnt Offerings that were offered there for the Kings of Syria, treated the Priests with Contempt, and threatened at his Return to burn the Temple, if they did not deliver Judas into his Hands.

Then he departed, and came to encamp about Bethoron, where he received a Reinforcement of Syrian Troops. Judas also drew near with his Army, and encamped at Adarsa, four Miles from Bethoron. The Battle was fought the thirteenth Day of the Month Adar, when Nicanor’s Army was intirely routed, and himself slain in the Fight. His Soldiers seeing him fall, threw down their Arms, and betook themselves to flight. They cut off Nicanor’s Head, and his right Hand, which he had sacrilegiously stretched out against the Temple; these the Jews brought, and hung them up in the Sight of Jerusalem, and ordered that for the future, this Day should be celebrated as a Festival to all Israel. Such was the End of Nicanor. He died in the Year of the World 3843, before Christ 157, before the Vulgar Æra 161.

The second Book of the Maccabees relates more at length this last Expedition of 2 Macc. xiv. 12, 13, &c.Nicanor against Judæa; it says that this General came into Judæa with Orders to take Judas alive, to disperse those who had taken up Arms with him, and to settle Alcimus in the High-priesthood. His Arrival put all the Country into a Consternation. Nicanor came to encamp near the Castle of Dessau, in the Neighbourhood of a Town called Essaus, the Situation whereof is not known. Simon the Brother of Judas had a Skirmish with the Enemies Army, in which he had the worst. However Nicanor, who knew the great Valour of Judas and his Men, sent Messengers to him to treat of Peace. The Negotiation was pretty long, but at last it was agreed, that Judas and Nicanor should have an Interview in a certain Place in the Field, in Order to conclude this Treaty. The Conference was held accordingly, and they agreed upon Terms. Nicanor and Judas lived together afterwards in good Intelligence at Jerusalem, and Nicanor dismissed his Troops, which now were useless to him. He even commenced a Friendship with Judas, desired him to marry, and to think of leaving Children.

But this good Correspondence was soon disturbed by Alcimus, who could not bear to see Judas invested with the High-priesthood, to the Exclusion of himself. He therefore went to wait on Demetrius at Antioch, and accused Nicanor of betraying the Interest of the King and Kingdom, in Confederacy with Judas Maccabæus. The King exasperated by these Calumnies, wrote to Nicanor, telling him that he was much offended with his taking Judas into his Friendship, and ordered him to send him in Chains to Antioch. Nicanor was much grieved at receiving these Orders, but not being able to evade the Execution of his Masters Commands, he was seeking an Occasion to lay Hands on Judas. But he soon perceived this Change of Nicanor’s Conduct, and to prevent him he retired from Jerusalem with some of his People. Nicanor seeing that Judas had made his Escape, fell in a Rage, and coming into the Temple, he commanded the Priests to produce Judas to him. It availed nothing that the Priests assured him, even with an Oath, that they knew nothing of him. He stretched his Hand forth towards the Temple, and told them; If you do not put Judas into my Hands, I will eraze the Temple to its very Foundations, I will overturn the Altar, and consecrate the Place to the God Bacchus.

At the same Time he went out of the Temple, and some wicked people brought him an Accusation against a venerable old 2 Macc. xiv. 37, 38, &c.Man call’d Razis, whom they call’d the Father of the Jews, who led a vertuous and unblameable Life, in great Abhorrence of all the Abominations of Paganism. Nicanor sent five hundred Men to seize him. Razis seeing that he could not escape from them, smote himself with a Sword, and running with Violence, threw himself from the Top of his House in the midst of the People. As he was yet alive, he raised himself, and getting upon a sharp Stone, he pull’d out his own Bowels out of his Body, and throwing them with both his Hands among the People, he died in the midst of his Enemies, who could not forbear admiring his great Intrepidity. See what is said in the Article RAZIS.

After this, Nicanor being inform’d that Judas was in the Country of Samaria, he resolved to go and attack him on the Sabbath Day. He march’d by the sound of Trumpet, and with singing Songs of Victory, and gave Battle to Judas, who had no other Defence but the Assistance of the Lord of Hosts. The Army of Nicanor was routed, and there were thirty five thousand kill’d upon the Spot: And when the Fight was over, it was found that Nicanor was fallen among the Dead. Upon which they could not forbear to shout for Joy. Judas commanded that his Head and Hand, with the Shoulder, should be cut off; and being arrived at Jerusalem, he assembled the People and Priests in the Temple, and shewed them the Head and Hand of their Enemy. He also shewed it to the Syrians that were in the Citadel. Then he caused the Tongue of this Wretch to be cut off, for having utter’d Blasphemies against the Lord, and cutting it into small Pieces, he gave it to be devour’d by the Fowls of the Air. The Head was hung up on the Top of the Citadel, and the Hand was fastened to a Gibbet over against the Temple. It was decreed by the general Consent of all, that this Day should be celebrated by a particular Festival through all Generations, in Commemoration of this Defeat of Nicanor.

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