gladly surrendered all their cities to him; and when he reached Jerusalem the priests and elders went out in solemn procession to meet and welcome him. They provided for his army all that was needful; and lent their assistance for the reduction of the garrison left in the castle by Scopas. This conduct was so pleasing to Antiochus, that he issued a decree in their favour, which was addressed to Ptolemy one of his lieutenants, granting them many privileges. And he afterwards published another decree, in which he particularly ordained that no stranger should enter within the sept of the temple. This clause seems to have been in reference to the sacrilegious attempt of Philopator, which had doubtless made a lasting impression on the people of Jerusalem; and contributed to render them favourable to the cause of Antiochus. But there were other causes also which co-operated in producing this change in their sentiments. Antiochus had found the Jews of Babylonia very faithful and steady in their attachment to him; and very serviceable on many occasions. He had therefore conferred many favours on them, and displayed marks of his confidence in them. On one occasion especially, when some commotions happened in Phrygia and Lydia, he ordered two thousand Jewish families to be sent into those countries, and placed in the strongest fortresses there, as guards to preserve the peace and good order of their neighbourhood. He paid all expenses attending this removal, and assigned them not only lands and possessions, but a plentiful subsistence till they should gather in the fruits of their several allotments. Antiochus having gained Colo-Syria and Palestine, was anxious to retain possession of them without any farther interruption from the Egyptians; he therefore sent an ambassador to Alexandria with proposals of marriage

between his daughter Cleopatra and Ptolemy Epiphanes, when they should be old enough; and promised to bestow the conquered provinces on the princess, when the nuptials were celebrated. These terms were acceded to by the Egyptian court; and Antiochus was left to pursue his ambitious schemes in other quarters. The Jews being thus freed from the harassing warfare to which they had been long subjected by the contending princes, continued to enjoy, during several years, the privileges Antiochus had granted them. They had also the comforts of a well ordered administration at this time; for though we have no absolute testimony to the character of Simon the high priest, there is reason to infer that he was a good man; and Onias the third, his son and successor, was a person of distinguished piety and worth.

I shall not pursue the career of Antiochus the Great, who, as you doubtless know, withstood the Romans several years; and was at last vanquished by them at Magnesia. His death was more inglorious than the latter part of his life: for he is said to have been killed by the inhabitants of Elymais, for having plundered their temple dedicated to Jupiter. The prophet Daniel, in the chapter already cited,* sets forth a distinct prediction of the events we have lately noticed. It is therefore my design to take a retrospective view of them now in their prophetical order, and exact accom plishment. The tenth verse points out Antiochus, who made war on Ptolemy Philopator, to recover the provinces taken from his father Seleucus, by Ptolemy Evergetes, when he avenged the death of his sister, In the eleventh and twelfth verses, we see the king of the South (Ptolemy Philopator) coming with a large, * Daniel xi.

army to oppose the "great multitude" which was really "given into his hand," at the battle of Raphia. Ptolemy's heart was indeed lifted up when he had thus "cast down many ten thousands;" but he was not strengthened by it:" for his vicious and cruel conduct, added to his luxury and sloth, alienated not only the dependent states, but his own immediate subjects, and drove them into rebellion against him. The four succeeding verses depict the second invasion of Antiochus, 66 after certain years, with a great army and with much riches;" his league with Philip of Macedon, against the king of the south;" his taking of the "fenced cities," without opposition from Egypt, in whom there was no "strength to withstand;" his standing" in the glorious land," which, by the continual warfare he kept up, was, in a manner, "consumed by his hand:" for he found it needful to grant a decree for rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, and restoring it from the ruinous state to which it was reduced. In the seventeenth verse, are foreshown the alliance which Antiochus made with Egypt by giving his daughter to Ptolemy, with intent to gain the ascendant over him, by her means; and his failure in this respect for she did not " stand on his side," but on the side of her husband. Neither was she "for him," but declared publicly against him, by joining in the congratulation sent to the Romans after they had defeated him. The eighteenth and nineteenth verses describe the expedition of Antiochus into the Ægean Sea, where he took many of the isles; his defeat by Lucius Scipio; his return to Antioch, “ the fort of his own land;" and his obscure and inglorious end, when he stumbled and fell, and was no more found.

LETTER XXX.

IN the same year that Antiochus died, his daughter Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, gave birth to a son, who afterwards reigned in that country by the name of Ptolemy Philometor. On this joyful occasion all the nobility of the provinces hastened to Alexandria to present their congratulations and the customary gifts. Joseph, who since the restoration of Colo-Syria and Palestine to Egypt, had been reinstated in his office of collector, was now too old to undertake so long a journey; he therefore sent his youngest son Hyrcanus to present his congratulations at the Egyptian court. Hyrcanus prevailed on his father not to send presents from Judea, but to give him an order on his agents at Alexandria for money to purchase such as he should think most suitable. Joseph gave him an unlimited order; not supposing that he would exceed ten talents in this way. But Hyrcanus demanded a thousand talents, and by means of magnificent presents, so ingratiated himself with the king and queen, that he obtained the appointment of collector of the king's revenues in the country beyond Jordan. His father was extremely displeased with him for this unworthy behaviour; and his brothers were so angry, that they conspired to way-lay and kill him, on his return. But Hyrcanus being escorted by a guard of soldiers, put the assailants to flight after two of his brothers were killed. When he arrived at Jerusalem, he was treated with deserved contempt, as an undutiful son, and an unworthy member of society; and he soon left that city to enter upon the

office for which he had sacrificed all that can afford real satisfaction, or permanent enjoyment.

Joseph died not long after this; and then Hyrcanus and his surviving brothers carried on a war respecting their father's estate, which greatly disturbed the peace of Jerusalem. The high priest and most of the people were opposed to Hyrcanus, who was obliged to retreat beyond Jordan; where after some years he ended a turbulent life by suicide.

Ptolemy Epiphanes when he had reigned twenty-four years, from the death of his father, was poisoned at the instigation of some of his nobles. He was about to undertake a war against Seleucus Philopator, the successor of Antiochus the Great; when some of his courtiers inquiring where he would find money to carry it on, he replied that his friends were his money. This answer alarming his rich nobles, they conspired to put an end to his plans and his life together. His son and successor Ptolemy Philometor, being only six years of age, was placed under the guardianship of Cleopatra his mother, who governed the kingdom in his name.

The provinces of Colo-Syria and Palestine were at this time under the dominion of Seleucus Philopator: it is not known how he became possessed of them, as they had been ceded to Egypt by Antiochus the Great.

The piety and prudence of Onias tended to promote order and peace in Jerusalem, by establishing a steady observance of the laws; and thus "the city was inhabited with all peace," till the contentions among the sons of Joseph introduced division, and fomented a spirit of resentment and malice among the inhabitants. About this time Simon a Benjamite, who was governor of the temple, had some disagreement with Onias "about