and reinforced by a great number of troops, whom this success brought to him, employed the advantage which this gave him to distress the rest of his enemies. Knowing that Timotheus and Bacchides, two of Antiochus' lieutenants, were raising troops to fight him, he marched against them, defeated them in a great battle, and killed upwards of 20,000 of their men. *Lysias, hearing of the ill success which Antiochus' arms had met with in Judæa, and the great losses he had sustained in that country, was in great astonishment and perplexity. However, knowing that the king had a strong desire to extirpate that nation, he made mighty preparations for a new expedition against the Jews. Accordingly, he levied an army of 60,000 foot and 5000 horse, all chosen troops; and putting himself at their head, he marched into Judæa, firmly resolved to lay waste the whole country, and to destroy all the inhabitants. He encamped at Bethsura, a city standing to the south of Jerusalem, towards the frontiers of Idumaa. Judas advanced towards him at the head of 10,000 men; and, fully persuaded that the Lord would assist him, he engaged the enemy with his inconsiderable body of troops, killed 5000 of them, and put the rest to flight. Lysias, dismayed at the surprising valour of Judas' soldiers, who fought with intrepid courage, determined to conquer or die, led back his conquered army to Antioch; intending, nevertheless, to come and attack them again the next year with a still more powerful body of forces. † Judas, being left master of the field by the retreat of Lysias, took advantage of this opportunity, and marched to Jerusalem, where he recovered the sanctuary from the heathens, purified, and dedicated it again to the service of God. This solemn dedication continued a week, all which was spent in thanksgiving for the delivery that God had vouchsafed them; and it was ordained that the anniversary of it should be solemnized every year. The neighbouring nations, jealous of the prosperity of the Jews, made a league to destroy them, and resolved to join Antiochus, in order to extirpate that people. This prince was then in Persia, levying the tribute which had not been paid regularly. He was informed, that Elymais * A. M. 3839. Ant. J. C. 165. 1 Maccab. iv. 26-35. Joseph. Antiq. 1. xii. c. 11. t1 Maccab. iv. 36-61. et v. 1, 2. 2 Maccab. x. 1-8. Joseph. Antiq. 1. xii. c. 11. A. M. 3840. Ant. J. C. 164. 1 Maccab. vi. 1-16. 2 Maccab. ix. 1-29. Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 145. Appian. in Syr. p. 134. was thought to abound with riches; and especially, that in a temple of that city, which Polybius says was dedicated to Diana, and to Venus, according to Appian, prodigious sums were laid up. He went thither with a design to take the city, and plunder the temple, as he had before done Jerusalem; but his design having taken vent, the country people and the inhabitants of the city took up arms to defend their temple, and gave him a shameful repulse. Antiochus, thunderstruck at this disgrace, withdrew to Ecbatana.. To add to his affliction, news was there brought him of the defeat of Nicanor and Timotheus, in Judea. In the violence of his rage, he set out with all possible expedition, in order to make that nation feel the dreadful effects of his wrath, venting nothing but menaces on his march, and breathing only final ruin and destruction. Advancing in this disposition towards Babylonia, which was in his way, fresh expresses came to him, with advice of Lysias' defeat, and also that the Jews had retaken the temple, thrown down the altars and idols which he had set up in them, and re-established their ancient worship. At this news his fury increased. Immediately he commands his coachman to drive with the utmost speed, in order that he might have an opportunity to satiate fully his vengeance, threatening to make Jerusalem the burying place of the whole Jewish nation, and not leave one single inhabitant in it. He had scarce uttered that blasphemous expression, but he was struck by the hand of God. He was seized with incredible pains in his bowels, and the most excessive pangs of the cholic. "Thus the murderer and blasphemer," says the author of the Maccabees, having suffered most grievously, as he treated other men, so died he a miserable death, in a strange country, in the mountains." But still his pride was not abated by this first shock; so far from it, that suffering himself to be hurried away by the wild transports of his fury, and breathing nothing but vengeance against the Jews, he gave orders for proceeding with all poss sible speed in the journey. But, as his horses were running forwards impetuously, he fell from his chariot, and thereby bruised, in a grievous manner, every part of his body; so that his attendants were forced to put him into a litter, where he suffered inexpressible torments. Worms crawled from every part of him; his flesh fell away piece-meal, and the stench was so great, that it became intolerable to the whole army. Being himself unable to bear it, “it is meet,” says he, "to be subject unto God; and man, who is mortal, should not think of himself as if he were a god."* Acknowledging that it was the hand of the Lord of Israel which struck him, because of the calamities he had brought upon Jerusalem, he promises to exert his utmost liberality towards his chosen people; to enrich with precious gifts the holy temple of Jerusalem, which he had plundered; to furnish, from his revenues, the sums necessary for defraying the expense of the sacrifices; to turn Jew himself; and to travel into every part of the world, in order to publish the power of the Almighty. He hoped he should calm his wrath by these mighty promises, which the violence of his present affliction, and the fear of future torments, extorted from his mouth, but not from his heart. "But," adds the author in question, this wicked person vowed unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him." And, indeed, this murderer and blasphemer, (these are the names which the writer of the Maccabees substituted in the place of illustrious, which men had bestowed on that prince,) being struck in a dreadful manner, and treated as he treated others, finished an impious life by a miserable death. Before he expired, he sent for Philip, who had been brought up with him from his infancy, was his favourite, and had bestowed on him the regency of Syria, during the minority of his son, then nine years of age. He had put into his hands the diadem, the seal of the empire, and all the other ensigns of royalty; exhorting him, especially, to employ his utmost endeavours to give him such an education as would best teach him the art of reigning, and how to govern his subjects with justice and moderation. Few princes give such instructions to their children till they are near their end; and that, after having set them a quite different example during their whole lives. Philip caused the king's body to be conveyed to Antioch. This prince had sat 11 years on the throne. * 2 Maccab. ix. 12. † 2 Maccab. ix. 13. Polybius attests the truth of this, and relates, that Antiochus was troubled with a perpetual delirium; imagining, that spectres stood perpetually before him, reproaching him with his crimes. This historian, who was unacquainted with the scriptures, assigns, as the cause of this punishment, the sacrilegious attempt formed by this prince against the temple of Diana in D'ymais. ' Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. 145. P. SECTION IV. PROPHECIES OF DANIEL RELATING TO ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. As Antiochus Epiphanes was a violent persecutor of the pecple of God, who formed the Jewish church, and was, at the same time, the type of the antichrist, who, in after ages, was to afflict the Christian church; the prophecies of Daniel expatiate much more on this prince than on any other mentioned in them. This prophecy consists of two parts; one of which relates to his wars in Egypt, and the other to the persecution carried on by him against the Jews. We shall treat these separately, and unite together the various places where mention is made of them. 1. The Wars of Antiochus Epiphanes against Egypt, foretold by Daniel the prophet. "AND in his (Seleucus Philopater's) estate, shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." This verse, which points out the accession of Antiochus to the crown, has been already explained. "And with the arms of a flood shall they (the Syrians) be overflown before him," Antiochus Epiphanes, " and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant." Heliodorus, the murderer of Seleucus, and his adherents, with those of the Egyptian king, who had formed designs against Syria, were defeated by the forces of Attalus and Eumenes, and dispersed by the arrival of Antiochus, whose presence disconcerted all their projects. By the " prince of the covenant," we may suppose to be meant, either Heliodorus, the ringleader of the conspirators, who had killed Seleucus; or rather Ptolemy Epiphanes, king of Egypt, who lost his life by a conspiracy of his own subjects, when he was meditating a war against Syria. Thus Providence removed this powerful adversary, to make way for Antiochus, and raise him to the throne. It appears that the prophet, in the following verses, points out clearly enough the four different expeditions of Antiochus into Egypt. + Antiochus' first Expedition into Egypt. "AND after the league made with him," with Ptolemy Philometer, his nephew, king of Egypt," he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people." Antiochus, though he was already determined on the war, "he yet shall assume a specious appearance of friendship for the king of Egypt." He even sent Apollonius to Memphis, to be present at the banquet given on occasion of that prince's coronation, as a proof that it was agreeable to him. Nevertheless, soon after, on pretence of defending his nephew, he marched into Egypt, with a small army in comparison of those which he levied afterwards. The battle was fought near Pelusium. Antiochus was strongest, that is, victorious, and afterwards returned to Tyre. Such was the end of his first expedition. Antiochus' second Expedition into Egypt. *He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province," Egypt," and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them," his troops, "the prey, and spoil, and riches; yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." "And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south," of Egypt," with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army, but he shall not stand; for they shall forecast devices against him." 66 "Yea, they that feed of the portion of his," the king of Egypt's, meat, shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain." In these three verses appear the principal characters of Antiochus' second expedition into Egypt; his mighty armies, his rapid conquests, the rich spoils he carried from thence, and the dissimulation and treachery he began to practise with regard to Ptolemy. Antiochus, after employing the whole winter in making preparations for a second expedition into Egypt, invaded it both by sea and land, the instant the season would permit. "Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy. -And made war against Ptolemy, king of Egypt: but Ptolemy was * Dan. xi. 24. † Ver. 25. + Ver. 26. |