all chosen troops; and, putting himself at their head, he marched into Judea, 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 Idumea. Judas advanced towards him at the head of ten thousand men; and, fully persuaded that the Lord would assist him, he engaged the enemy with his inconsiderable body of troops, killed five thousand of them, and put the rest to flight. Lysias, dismayed at the surprising valor of Judas's soldiers, who fought with intrepid courage, determined to conquer or die, led back his conquered army to Antioch; intending, neverthe less, to come and attack them again the next year, with a still more powerful body of forces.

f 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 thanksgiv ing, for the delivery which 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 Antio chus, in order to extirpate that people.

This prince was then in Persia, levying the tribute which had not been paid regularly. He was informed, f1 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. 131.

that Elymais 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's defeat; and, also, that the Jews had retaken the temple, thrown down the altars and idols which he had set up in them, and reestablished 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 to 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 mountain."

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 possible 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 piecemeal; 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

"But,"

affliction, and the fear of future torments, extorted from his mouth, but not from his heart. adds the author in question, i" 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 eleven years on the throne.

i 2 Maccab. c. 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 Elymais. Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 145.

SECTION IV.

PROPHECIES OF DANIEL RELATING ΤΟ ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES.

As Antiochus Epiphanes was a violent persecutor of the people 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 Philopator'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, as also those of the Egyptian king, who had formed designs against Syria,