Judas could not spare men enough to keep up the blockade of it. To obviate this danger he fortified the mountain on which the temple was built, and placed a garrison there sufficient for its defence. The southern parts of Judea had been long in the hands of the Edomites or Idumeans, who by frequent incursions harassed the Jews. To remedy this evil Judas fortified Bethsura, a town which lay between Hebron and Jerusalem, as a barrier against them.

LETTER XXXIV. .

WHEN the neighbouring nations heard that the Jews had recovered their city, and restored the worship of God in his temple, they were filled with envious rage; and determined to act in concert with Antiochus for their utter destruction. But the impious career of that wicked prince was drawing to a close; and he ended it by a death as horrible as the actions of his life had been. His progress into Persia to enforce the payment of the tribute had not been very successful; and on his attempting to plunder a temple there, the inhabitants of the country had risen upon him, and obliged him to make a shameful retreat to Ecbatana in Media. Here he received the news of Nicanor's defeat, which so greatly enraged him, that he immediately set out on his return threatening the utmost vengeance against the Jews. On the road, another messenger informed him of the victory obtained by the Jews over Lysias; and of the recovery of Jerusalem by Judas. This news rendered him quite furious; and he commanded his charioteer to

double his speed, that he might execute his purpose on the Jews, by making Jerusalem a burying-place for the whole nation.

The chastisement which God had appointed for his people was, however, now at an end; since it had brought them to repentance; and the instrument of it was to feel, in his turn, some of the torments he had inflicted. Antiochus in the midst of his impious threats was overtaken by the judgment of God, and struck with a mortal disease, which no art or medicines could alleviate. Notwithstanding this, he persisted in his journey, till his chariot was overturned; and severe bruises were added to his internal sufferings. Being put into a litter, he was carried to a town on the confines of Persia, where his disorder rose to such a height, that he became insufferable to himself and those about him. The torments of his body were equalled, if not surpassed by those of his mind; for conscience reminded him of the cruelties he had committed against the Jews; and the profanation of the temple of God at Jerusalem. Now he vowed to confer benefits on that people; and to present costly gifts for the use of the sanctuary: but his vows were rejected, and his prayers unanswered by the Almighty Being against whom he had so furiously raged, and so madly exalted himself. The character of this miserable prince is conspicuous in his conduct towards the Jews, and corresponds not only with that foreshown by the prophet, but with the account of heathen writers also, who instead of his surname Epiphanes, give him that of Epimanes (the madman). I wish you now to consider the events of his reign in connexion with the predictions of Daniel. (Chap. xi.) His character, the

manner of his obtaining the kingdom, and his prodiga

1

lity are depicted in verses 21, 22, 24. The deposition of Onias, the priest or "prince of the covenant," and the league made with Jason, but afterwards deceitfully violated in favour of Menelaus, are predicted in verses 22, 23. His expeditions into Egypt, the success of them, and the spoil he took from thence are foreshown in verses 25, 40, 42, 43. The misconduct of Ptolemy's ministers, the pretended regard of Antiochus for that young prince, his eating at the same table, and their mutual distrust, are declared in verses 26, 27. The vengeance of Antiochus against the Jews for rejoicing at the report of his death during his second expedition to Egypt, and his profanation of the temple are found in verse 28. His third invasion of Egypt, which was neither like the first nor the second, in its ostensible motive or termination (for Antiochus had thrown off the mask, and avowed his design of seizing the kingdom for himself), and the arrival of Grecian vessels, with the Roman Ambassadors, who, to his grief and vexation, put an end to his projects, are clearly pointed out in verses 29, 30. His rage against the Jews, on his return, when he sent Apollonius to destroy Jerusalem; his decree to establish the Grecian rites of idolatry, throughout his dominions; his setting up an idol in the sanctuary; his encouragement of the apostates; the persecution that ensued; the constancy and valour of those, who in the strength of God, with stood him; all these are contained in verses 30 to 36. The tidings from Armenia and Persia, which prevented his last threatened invasion of Judea; his return with a furious desire to destroy the Jews utterly; and his mise rable end, in which none could help him, are foretold in verses 44, 45. Such is the wonderful agreement between this series of prophecy, and the train of events by

which it was circumstantially accomplished. Porphyry, a learned heathen, and one of the early opposers of Christianity, was so struck with this correspondence, that he found no way of resisting conviction, but by denying the authenticity of the Book of Daniel. He therefore laboured to prove the truth of the historical events in order to falsify the prophecy: alleging that it must have been written by some other person than Daniel, after the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, because the events were so exactly described. In the book he wrote, many authors were quoted whose writings are since lost; and though his work is not now extant, some extracts from it yet remain, which help to establish the truths he endeavoured to overturn.

- Antiochus Epiphanes was succeeded by his son, a child nine years of age, whom he committed to the guardianship of Philip one of his chief ministers. But Lysias, who was with the young prince at Antioch, usurped this office, and placing him on the throne by the title of Antiochus Eupator, governed the kingdom in his name. About this time Ptolemy Macron became friendly towards the Jews; not only remitting his former persecutions, but seeking to make peace for them at the court of Syria. The courtiers who were averse to this measure, represented him as a traitor to the king, in consequence of which he was deprived of his govern ment. Though he could bear to be a traitor, he could not endure to have the epithet bestowed on him, nor to lose the fruits of his treachery: he therefore chose the wretched alternative of suicide, and put an end to his life by poison.

2421

LETTER XXXV.

We are now to return to Judas, whom we left exposed to the threats of the surrounding nations. Some of them had already begun to fulfil their menaces by putting to death such Jews as dwelt among them. The Edomites and Ammonites having been most forward in these cruelties, Judas marched against them, gained several victories, slew great numbers of them, and took many of their towns and villages. Timotheus who was governor for the king of Syria, on the eastern side of Jordan, being enraged at the incursion made on his province, collected a large army for the invasion of Judea. Judas and his valiant band, confiding in the strength of their Almighty Protector, went out to meet and engage this warlike multitude. Again the Lord fought for Israel, and again their enemies were subdued before them. Twenty-five thousand were left on the field of battle; and Timotheus fleeing disgracefully, took refuge in Gazara, of which place Chereas his brother was governor. Judas quickly followed him thither, laid siege to the place, and having reduced it in five days put Timotheus and his brother to death, with Apollophanes another of the Syrian leaders. This victory was celebrated by the Jews with psalms of praise and thanksgiving to the God of Israel, who had given them such power over their enemies; and so wonderfully delivered them from the rage of those who had risen against them. The heathen nations, on the other hand, more enraged than ever at this defeat, in which many of their relations had been slain, determined to take vengeance on all the Jews they could find.. In the land of Gilead a thousand