THE ANNALS THE WORLD

[Soldier4Christ]

3839b AM, 4549 JP, 165 BC

3413. Therefore the next year which was the 148th of the kingdom of the Greeks, Lysias hurried into Judea through Idumea with 60,000 foot soldiers and 5000 cavalry. Judas Maccabeus marched toward him as he was camped at Bethsura on the borders of Judea. First he implored publicly the help of God and started the battle. Lysias saw how the Jews like so many mad men contemning death, broke through their enemy's ranks. His men fled and 5000 were killed there. He returned to Antioch and planned a new expedition after he had gathered a larger army. /APC 1Ma 4:28-35

3414. Antiochus Epiphanes had taken an expedition against Artaxias king of the Armenians, who marched from the eastern parts. Antiochus killed most of his army and took Artaxias prisoner. (Appian. Syriac. p. 117. & 131. Porphyr. apud Jerome in Da 11)

3415. Prusias, king of Bithynia, strongly condemned Eumenes, king of Pergamos, who was already suspected of the Romans. Letters were intercepted that intimated an alliance with Perseus against the Romans. Prusias had also prevailed with the Galatians, Selgenses and many other people of Asia, to do the same. Attalus and Athenaeus were sent to Rome by their brother Eumenes. They had an audience with the Senate and cleared him of all crimes he was accused of. They returned to their country with many honours conferred on them. However, for all this, the senate still suspected an alliance between Eumenes and Antiochus. They sent C. Sulpitius Gallus and Marius Sergius as ambassadors with instructions to examine closely the affairs of Antiochus and Eumenes. They were to see if there were any preparations made for war and if there was any alliance between them against the Romans. (Polyb. Legat. 106. Diod. Sic. Legat. 21.)

3416. When C. Sulpicius Gallus entered Asia he unwisely made a proclamation through the chief cities there. He asked anyone who had anything accusations against king Eumenes, to come to Sardis at a set time. When he arrived, he sat on the bench made for that purpose, and spent 10 days hearing all sorts of things against Eumenes. He was looking for something to impeach him with. Gallus was a vain person and hoped to be honoured by finding fault with Eumenes. (Polyb. l. 31. in Excerpt. Valesii. p. 145.)

3417. When they had some relief from their enemies, Judas Maccabeus and his brothers with all their forces came up to Jerusalem. They retook the temple and the city except the citadel of Sion. They demolished the altars and shrines which the Gentiles had built in the public streets. Judas commanded some men to attack those who were in the citadel of Sion. He spent most of his time in cleansing the temple. His spirit was stirred up by the desolations he saw. /APC 1Ma 4:36-41 2Ma 10:1,2

3840a AM, 4549 JP, 165 BC

3418. Judas assigned the priests who knew the Law to cleanse the sanctuary and move the defiled stones into an unclean place. They pulled down the altar of burnt offerings which was profaned by the Gentiles. Its stones were stored in the mount of the temple until the time when a prophet came who might tell them what ought to be done with them. They built another of whole stones on which no iron tool had been lifted according to the spirit of the law. De 27:5,6 They repaired the Holy and the Holy of Holies. They hallowed the courts and made new holy vessels. They brought into the temple the candlestick, the altar of incense and the table. They burnt incense on the altar, lit the lamps which were on the candlestick. They placed the shewbread on the table, spread the viols, and finished whatever they started. /APC 1Ma 4:42,51 2Ma 10:3

3419. On the 25th day of the 9th month, called Cisleu, or Chasleu, in the 148th year of the kingdom of the Greeks. They rose early in the morning and started a fire by striking stones one against the other. They offered sacrifice according to the law on their new altar of burnt offering. /APC 1Ma 4:52,53 2Ma 10:3 This was 2 years after Judas succeeded his father Mattathias in the government but 3 whole years since the Gentiles first sacrificed in that place. For on that very same day of the same month on which they profaned the old altar, Judas consecrated the new one. (/APC 1Ma 4:54 2Ma 10:3-5 Joseph. l. 12. c. 11.)

3420. This dedication was joyfully celebrated with songs, hymns, citherns, harps, and cymbals. All the people fell prostrate on the ground and worshipped and blessed the God of heaven who had given them good success. They beseeched him that he would not allow them to fall any more in such calamities. If at any time they provoked him, they prayed that he himself would chasten them in mercy and that they might not be delivered up to the blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles. They kept the dedication of deliverances or peace offerings and of praise. They decked the fore front of the temple with golden crowns and shields. They repaired the gates and chambers on the sides of the temple and made doors for them. /APC 1Ma 4:54-58 2Ma 10:4-6

3421. Then Judas and his brethren and all the congregation of Israel, ordained that through the whole country of the Jews, the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed annually with mirth and gladness for 8 days starting with the 25th day of the month Chisleu. /APC 1Ma 4:59 2Ma 10:8 After they had kept the 8 days, they kept the feast of tabernacles. They recalled how not long ago they kept that feast while living about the mountains and caves like wild beasts. Now they carried green boughs, fair branches and palms. They sang praises to him who had brought the purification of his holy place to such a good conclusion. /APC 2Ma 10:6,7 Hence it was, that in the letters which the council at Jerusalem wrote to the Jews in Egypt, these days are called the days of tabernacles of the month Chisleu. /APC 2Ma 1:9,18 In the gospel Joh 10:22 they are called the feast of dedication of the Jews or the feast of lamps. This was either from the sudden eradiation of their religion and liberties, as Josephus intimates (Antiq. l. 13. c. 2.) or from the lighting of the lamps because both at that time and the lighting of the lamps in the temple was restored. /APC 1Ma 4:49,50 2Ma 10:3 Also, to this very day, the Jews in their synagogue still continue their custom of celebrating this feast with the lighting of lamps.

3422. When they had repaired the temple, they fortified mount Sion with high walls and strong towers to contain the enemy. They feared that those who were garrisoned in that fort would sally out against those worshipping at the temple. They fortified Bethsura which was about a half mile away /APC 2Ma 10:5 so that the people might have a garrison for defence against Idumea. /APC 1Ma 4:60,51 4:7-26

3840b AM, 4550 JP, 164 BC

3423. When the surrounding countries heard of the building of the altar and the dedication of the sanctuary, they were much displeased by this. Thereupon, they plotted how they might destroy all the Jews and they began to massacre all those that lived in any of their quarters. /APC 1Ma 5:1,2

3424. Antiochus Epiphanes crossed the high country beyond Euphrates. He heard that the city of Elymais in Persia, (called Persepolis /APC 2Ma 9:2) was a very wealthy city. In its temple, (which Appian reports to be dedicated to Venus, (Elymais in Syriac. p. 131.) but Polybius and Diod to Diana, in Elymais, (in Josephus, l. 12. c. 13. & Jerome in Da 11 with Excerptis Valesii. p. 141.)) was richly appointed and had gold coverings, breast plates and arms left there by Alexander the Great, Philip's son. When he greedily tried to plunder the city, the citizens rose up in arms against him. He was defeated and forced to retreat with much dishonour./APC 1Ma 6:1-4 2Ma 9:1,2

3425. When he arrived at Ecbatana, he was told of the defeat of Nicanor and Timothy in Judea. He left there for Babylon. Near the borders of Persia, he heard also of the great defeat given to Lysias' army, how the image of Jupiter Olympius was cast out of the temple at Jerusalem, and that the sanctuary and Bethsura were fortified. Therefore full of fury, he thought to be avenged upon the Jews for the disgrace he recently received by them. He ordered his chariots to go with all speed to hasten the journey home. He proudly bragged that as soon as he arrived at Jerusalem, he would make that city a common burying place for the Jews. /APC 1Ma 4:4-7 2Ma 9:3,4 The passage of Tacitus (l. 5. Histor.) relates to this:

``King Antiochus endeavoured to reform their religion and to bring in the cities of the Greeks. He was hindered by the Parthian war in his plan of destroying that most base nation.''

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3426. Scarcely were these proud words out of Antiochus' mouth, when he was struck with an incurable disease in the bowels and extreme pains. Although his body was quite sick his mind was still sharp. He still breathed out his threats against the Jews. He ordered his chariot man to increase his pace. It happened on this fast journey that he fell out of his chariot. He was badly hurt and his whole body was bruised and his limbs put out of joint. After he was taken up from the ground, he carried about in an horse litter. Worms bred so fast in his body that whole streaks of flesh sometimes dropped from him. While he was still alive in such pitiful state and because of the stench, none could endure to carry him. Thereby he became offensive to his whole army. /APC 2Ma 9:5-10 He was forced to stop his journey to Babylon and to stay at Tabis, a town of Persia. (Polybius, in Excerpt. his Valesii, p. 144. & Jerome, Da 11) He continued bed ridden many days /APC 1Ma 6:8,9 and pined away. (Appian. in Syriac. p. 131.)

3840c AM, 4550 JP, 164 BC

3427. From the beginning of the spring, began the 149th year of the kingdom of the Greeks. /APC 1Ma 6:16 Antiochus Epiphanes gave up any hope of recovering. He called his friends and publicly acknowledged all those miseries to have happened to him for the harm he had done to the Jews. He must now, to his great grief, die in a strange land. /APC 1Ma 6:10-13 When he could no longer endure his own smell, he said:

``It is fitting to submit to God, and for man who is mortal, not to set himself in competition with God.''

3428. In this prayer to God, he vowed that he would allow those of Jerusalem and all other Jews everywhere, the free use of their own constitutions and that in the future, they should enjoy the liberty of their own laws and customs. He promised he would beautify the temple with most rare gifts, restore all the holy vessels. He would defray the costs of the sacrifices from his own treasury and that he himself also would become a Jew. He promised to go through the whole habitable world and declare the power of God. When he saw no lessening of his pains, he wrote most courteous letters to the Jews and earnestly entreated them, that they would remain loyal to him and to his son. While Antiochus lived he had appointed his son to be the next king as was the normal custom. /APC 2Ma 9:11-27

3429. He called Philip to him who was his close friend and raised with him. /APC 2Ma 9:29 He appointed him over the whole kingdom and committed to him his crown, his robe and his signet. His purpose was that after he had taken back his son Antiochus from Antioch, where he had left him with Lysias, he should raise him up to be the next ruler of the kingdom. He was only 9 years old as had been previously hinted from Appian. Thus Antiochus died in 149th year of the kingdom of the Greeks of a miserable death in a strange land on the mountains /APC 2Ma 9:28 of Parata, near Babylon. Grotius writing on this from the 5th book of Curtius, stated that the town Tabis was located here. Polybius (in Excerpt. Velesii, p. 144.) said that he died at Tabis in Persia and Jerome on Da 11 tells (from Polybius and Diodorus) how Antiochus was frightened by certain phantoms and visions. He went mad and at last had a disease which killed him. He attributed his calamity to his sacrilegious designs on Diana's temple. However, Antiochus professed in the presence of all his friends that the basis of all his misery was:

``He robbed the temple at Jerusalem and sent forces to destroy the Jews without any cause.'' /APC 1Ma 6:12,13

3430. His dead corpse was carried out by Philip. He feared Antiochus' son and withdrew himself into Egypt to Ptolemy Philometor. /APC 2Ma 9:29 He planned to raise forces against Lysias. When Lysias had heard of Antiochus Epiphanes' death, he set up his son Antiochus in his place on the throne who was under his guardianship during his minority years and he called him Eupator. /APC 1Ma 6:17 Appian reports, that the Syrians gave him that surname in honour of his father and confirmed that Lysias was his guardian in his upbringing. (in Syriac. p. 117.)

3431. Antiochus Eupator was now in actual possession of the crown and preferred to let Lysias manage the realm. In particular he gave him control of Coelosyria and Phoenicia. Ptolemy Macron, Dorymenes' son, who had that honour formerly under Antiochus Epiphanes, /APC 2Ma 8:8 1Ma 3:38 poisoned himself when he was accused to Eupator as favouring the Jews. He saw the great injustices that were done to them and endeavoured that justice might be done to them and their affairs might be managed in a peaceable manner. He had been called a traitor for turning over Cyprus which was committed to his trust by Philometor, to Antiochus Epiphanes. /APC 2Ma 10:11-13 Polybius gives him this commendation: (in Excerpt. Valesii, p. 126.)

``Ptolemy Macron, the governor of Cyprus behaved himself like an Egyptian in nothing, but was prudent and valiant among the first.''

3432. But Gorgias who had the command of all parts about Judea, hired soldiers and continually pressed the war against the Jews. The Idumeans were allied with him and got control of the best places. They accepted the Jerusalem renegades and attacked the Jews and did what they could to keep the war going. /APC 2Ma 10:14,15

3433. Thereupon Judas Maccabeus at Acrabbates, a region of Idumea, attacked the sons of Esau, who had besieged the Jews. He stormed their garrisons and took control of them. Over 20,000 were killed and he seized on all their spoils. /APC 1Ma 5:3 2Ma 10:16,17

3434. He recalled the injury done to the Jews by the children of Baean. They had hid themselves in secret ambushes along the way sides, by which the Jewish army was to pass. After their last defeat, the Baeanites had escaped with 9000 to 2 very strong citadels and were provided with all things necessary to endure a siege. Therefore Judas Maccabeus left his brother Simon with Joseph and Zacchaeus to besiege them. He marched away to relieve some other places which stood in more need of his help. Those who were with Simon were greedy of money. They made a deal with the besieged for 70,000 drachmas and allowed some to escape. As soon as Maccabeus knew this, he convened the governors of the people and in their presence executed as many of them as where involved in this treachery. He took both the garrisons with little trouble and he burned them to the ground and utterly destroyed more than 20,000 of them. /APC 1Ma 5:4,5 2Ma 10:16-23

3435. From there he passed over to the Ammonites, where he found a very large force with many people under Timotheus' command. He often fought them and defeated them. He took Jazer and its towns and returned to Judea. /APC 1Ma 5:6-8

3436. After his last defeat, Timotheus recruited multitudes of foreign forces and cavalry from Asia. He returned confident of the conquest of Judea. Maccabeus and those that were with him, after a serious humiliation and supplication to God, marched from Jerusalem and fought the enemy a great distance from the city. They were encouraged by visions of some horsemen in the heavens fighting for them. They killed 20,500 of the enemy's foot soldiers and 600 cavalry. Timothy escaped to a very strong garrison called Gazara where his brother Chereas was governor. Finally the garrison was taken. He and his brother with Apollonius were found hiding together in a pit and all three were killed with the sword. /APC 2Ma 10:24-38

3437. The Trocmians, a people of Galatia, tried to get a foothold in Cappadocia. When this failed they sent letters to the Romans hoping to make King Ariarathes odious to them. The Romans soon sent an embassy headed by M. Junius there. (Polyb. Legat. 108.)

[Soldier4Christ]

3841a AM, 4550 JP, 164 BC

3438. The autumn began the year of the "account of the contracts" or Dhilkarnain as noted by the writer of 2nd Macabees, year 149. The Chaldee account used in the king's edicts, (/APC 2Ma 11:21) and in Ptolemy's great Syntaxis, (l. 9. c. 7. & l. 11. c. 8.) 148 is used. This was also a sabbatical year.

3439. The heathen about the region of Gilead assembled against the Jews who were near their borders and planned to exterminate them. They killed 1000 Jews who lived in the land of Tob. Jud 11:3 They led away their wives and children as captives and took their goods and household belongings. Timothy hurried with an army to besiege those Jews of Gilead who took refuge in the garrison in Dathema. This was not the same Timothy who was killed with his brother Chereas, but another man with the same name. At the same time, others from Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon and all Galilee of the Gentiles held a meeting to wipe out the Galilaeans. /APC 1Ma 5:9-15

3440. The Gileadites and Galilaeans sent letters to Judas and his brothers and earnestly asked them to hurry to help them. Thereupon after Judas consulted first with those at Jerusalem, he divided his whole army into 5 brigades. He sent his brother Simon with 3000 men to help the Galilaeans. He and his brother Jonathan, took along with them 8000 to help the Gileadites. He left the rest of the army with Joseph, son of Zacharias and with Azaria for the defense of Judea. He strictly charging them that they should not on any condition fight with the heathens until they returned back. /APC 1Ma 5:16-20

3441. As soon was Simon entered Galilee, he attacked the heathens and chased them to the very gates of Ptolemais. They killed 3000 men there and took their spoil. After he had rescued the Galilaeans and those of Arbattis in the plain with their wives, children and all they had, they brought them into Judea with great joy. (/APC 1Ma 5:21-23)

3442. Before Judas could get to the Gileadites, many of them were besieged in Bossora, Bosor, Alemis, Caspher, Maged, Carnain and other cities in Gilead. (/APC 1Ma 5:26,27)

3443. By that time, Judas and his brother had crossed the Jordan River and had gone on a 3 day march through the Arabian Desert. The Nabathites met him and told what had happened to the Gileadites. In addition, they said that on the next day, the enemy planned to attack the garrisons and as fast as they captured them to kill them all in one day. With this news, Judas with his army turned aside by the way of the wilderness to Bozor. After they captured the city they killed all the males, pillaged the city and then burned it to the ground. He left at night and marched toward the fortress where he found the enemy about day break. They were placing the battering rams against the place. Those within the city prayed to God for help. Those that were with Judas marched in three divisions to the rear of the enemy. They blew trumpets and lifted up their voice in prayer. Timothy's camp knew that it was Maccabeus who was so near to them. They fled from him as fast as they could. In the pursuit, he killed 8000 of the enemy. After this, he went to Maspha and took it by storm. He killed all the males and after they had plundered the place, they set it on fire. From there he went and took Chasphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Gilead. (/APC 1Ma 5:24-36)

3444. While Judas and Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon in Galilee opposite Ptolemais, Joseph, the son of Zacharias and Azarias, who were left behind to hold Judea, heard of their gallant achievements. They were ambitious to get themselves a name as great as the others. Contrary to orders, they took their army as far as Jamnia and planned to fight the heathens. However, Gorgias assembled all his forces from the city against them and drove them back to the very borders of Judea. That day 2000 Jews were killed. (/APC 1Ma 5:55-62)

3841b AM, 4551 JP, 163 BC

3445. Lysias was the protector and kinsman of the young king Eupator. Lysias effectively ran the kingdom. He was greatly upset at what had happened and mustered almost 80,000 men with all his own cavalry and 80 elephants. He marched against the Jews and planned to make Jerusalem a Greek city, the temple a tributary and to sell the office of the high priest every year. Thereupon, when he entered Judea, he besieged Bethsura, which was a strong place about half a mile from Jerusalem. However, Maccabeus' army were guided by an angel and killed 11,000 of the enemy's foot soldiers and 1600 cavalry. All the rest including Lysias fled. Many were badly wounded and others threw away their arms and shifted for themselves. /APC 2Ma 11:1-12

3446. Lysias thought about his defeat and God who fought the battles for the Jews. He sent ambassadors to them to sue for peace and said that he would agree to all reasonable terms. He said he would use his influence to gain favour with the king. Judas Maccabeus agreed and wrote what he thought would be in the best interest of the Jews. This letter was sent by the hands of John and Absalom and contained what Lysias should ask the king for on the behalf of the Jews. The king granted every request. (/APC 2Ma 11:13-15) The letters from both King Antiochus to Lysias and from him to the Jews are found in (/APC 2Ma 11:22-26) These are dated in the year (of the Chaldee account) 148, the 24th day of the month Dioscorinthius as it is in the Greek copies. In the Latin copy (/APC 2Ma 11:16-21) this month in the Chaldee year seems to be intercalated between Dyster and Xanthicus (in which are written, the following letters of the King, and the Romans to the Jews, concerning this peace.) Therefore this is called in the Greek edition of the book of Esther, (now seen in the noble Earl of Atundel's library) the month Adar-nisan and Dysterxanthicus, and by the modern Jews, Veadar or the other Adar. Although our Syriac interpreter of the second book of the Maccabees has substituted in its name the Syrians, "latter Tisri."

3447. In the same 148th year, (of the Chaldee account) the 15th day of the month Xanthicus according also to the Chaldean reckoning, there are letters sent to the Jews from King Antiochus /APC 2Ma 11:27-33 and from Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlins (otherwise called Manius or Mamlius) the ambassadors from Rome. At that time they came to the king at Antioch. (/APC 2Ma 11:34-38) After this Lysias came to the king after the covenants were drawn up. /APC 1Ma 12:1

[Soldier4Christ]

3841c AM, 4551 JP, 163 BC

3448. About the beginning of the spring, began the 150th year of the kingdom of the Greeks which the writer of the first book of the Maccabees uses.

3449. Demetrius, son of Seleucus Philopator was held many years hostage at Rome and was now 23 years old. He requested the senate that with the help of the people of Rome, he might be restored to his own kingdom which was unjustly usurped by the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, his uncle. He said that he should always look on Rome as his native country consider the senator's sons as brothers and the senators as fathers. Notwithstanding all this flattery, the senate esteemed it more expedient for them to have Syria governed by a child rather than a man. They voted that Demetrius should be detained at Rome and the kingdom be confirmed to the child which Antiochus left behind him. However, they presently sent Cn. Octavius Spurius, Lucretius and Lucius Aurelius as delegates to run that kingdom according to the pleasure of the senate. They thought no one would oppose them since the king was yet a child, and the princes of the court would be favourable to the senate since the Romans did not turn over the kingdom to Demetrius. The princes had greatly feared that this might happen. The senate was told that Antiochus had gotten elephants in Syria and many more ships than they allowed him. They ordered their delegates to burn the ships and hough the elephants. In other words, they should do what they could to bankrupt the king's treasury. (Polyb. Legat. 107, Appian, Syriac. p. 117. Sonor. ex Dione. Justin. l. 34. c. 3.)

3450. The delegates also received instructions to visit the Macedonians. They were not accustomed to a democratic government and had made no use of a common council. There were factions and seditions among them. They were ordered also to make a diligent enquiry into the affairs of the Galatians and the kingdom of Ariarathes. (Polyb. Legat. 107.) However, Ariarathes, by his great civility in a conference with Junius and the former delegates, sent them away with a good opinion of himself. (Polyb. Legat. 108.)

3451. The peace between Eupator and the Jews was no sooner made than it was broken by those who had command in the adjacent lands. Timothy Apollonius, son of Genneus, Hieronymus, Demophon and Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not allow the Jews to live in peace. The citizens of Joppa tricked more than 200 Jews who lived among them onto their ships. They sailed from shore and threw them all overboard. /APC 2Ma 12:2-4

3452. When Judas Maccabeus heard of this piece of treachery, he came by night to Joppa. He burned their port and their ships. He killed all those who had fled there. When he knew that the Jemnites plotted against those Jews that lived with them, he did the same by night to their port and fleet. The flames of the fire appeared as far away as Jerusalem which was 30 miles away. /APC 2Ma 12:5-9

3453. When Judas' army had gone about a mile from there on their march against Timothy, the nomads of Arabia attacked them with at least 5000 foot soldiers and 500 cavalry. After a fierce battle, the Arabians were defeated. They agreed to supply them with cattle and other needs and hence made peace with Judas. /APC 2Ma 12:10-12

3454. Judas' soldiers stormed the city of Caspis and took it. The city was fortified with a bridge and surrounded with walls and inhabited by people from various countries. So great was the slaughter of the citizens, that an adjacent lake, a quarter mile wide, was red with blood. /APC 2Ma 12:13-16

3455. They left there and travelled about 94 miles to Characa to the Jews who were called Tabiani because they lived in the land of Tob. Timothy had left the place, although he had not finished his business there. He left behind a very strong garrison. Dositheus and Sosipator, two of Judas' captains, attacked them and killed about 10,000 of the men which Timothy had left to hold it. /APC 2Ma 12:17-19

3456. After this defeat, Timothy raised a new army of 120,000 foot soldiers and 2500 cavalry from all the surrounding countries with mercenaries from the Arabians. He sent away the women and children and other supplies to Carnion or Carnaim. This place was hard to besiege and difficult to approach because of the narrowness of the entrance. Timothy camped opposite Raphon on the other side the brook. Judas with all his forces, putting himself in the vanguard, crossed the brook toward the enemy. He totally routed that Gentile army. Some flew this way and others that way, in such a great disorder that they were often harmed by their own men and wounded by the points of their own swords. Judas eagerly pursued them and he slew nearly 30,000 men. /APC 1Ma 5:37-43 2Ma 12:20-23

3457. Timothy was captured by Dositheus and Sosipater. He craftily persuaded them to let him escape with his life because he had in his power many of the Jews' parents and brothers. If they put him to death, they would likewise be killed. When he agreed for their safe return, they let him go for their brethrens' sake. /APC 2Ma 12:24,25

3458. Judas marched on to the city of Carnaim and to the temple of Atargata which was located there. Many of the enemy had fled there for refuge. Judas burned the temple along with everyone in it. He demolished the city and killed 25,000 men. /APC 1Ma 5:43,44 2Ma 12:26

3459. Judas brought back all the Israelites which were in Gilead with their wives, children and all their belongings. He planned to bring them into Judea. They came as far as Ephron, which was a very great and well fortified city and stood in their way. It was inhabited by people from many countries. The walls were well manned and had in it a good supply of engines and ammunition. When Judas and his army had to pass through it, the citizens closed their gates against them and barricaded them up with the stones. However, they forced their way through after a day and a night's battery and demolished the city to the ground. They took all the spoil, killed all the males numbering almost 25,000 and marched over the dead bodies through it. /APC 1Ma 5:45-51 2Ma 12:27,28

3460. After this, they passed over Jordan into a great plain before Bethshan, /APC 1Ma 5:52 which the Greeks called Scythopolis, (Joseph. Antiq. l. 12. c. 12.) about 75 miles from Jerusalem. As soon as they entered the town, the Jews, who lived among them, met them and told them, how friendly the Scythopolitans had always been with them. They said how kindly they had treated them in their adversities. Thereupon they returned them thanks and requested the continuance of their friendship to their country in times to come. /APC 2Ma 12:29-31

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3461. Judas brought up the rear of his army and encouraged them all the way until he came to Judea. /APC 1Ma 5:53 They arrived at Jerusalem about the feast of Pentecost /APC 2Ma 12:31 and went up to Mount Sion with joy and gladness. They offered burnt offerings because they had not lost a man and all returned home in peace. /APC 1Ma 5:54

3462. After Pentecost, Judas and his brothers with 3000 foot soldiers and 400 cavalry marched against Gorgias who commanded Idumea and planned to fight with him. /APC 2Ma 12:32,33 1Ma 5:65

3463. In that battle few of the Jews were killed. Dositheus, one of the Bacenor's troops, a strong man had taken Gorgias prisoner and grabbed him by his coat of mail and led him away. A Thracian soldier came to him and cut off his shoulder and rescued Gorgias. He escaped into Marissa. They that followed Esdris, one of Judas' captains, were wearied with the long battle. When Judas had called on the Lord and sang psalms and hymns in his mother tongue, he attacked Gorgias' forces suddenly and made them flee. /APC 2Ma 12:33-37

3464. After the victory, he called together his army and withdrew to the city of Adullam. When the sabbath was come they purified themselves and kept that day. The next day, Judas' soldiers had gathered up the bodies of those that died in the battle and planned to bury them. They found under everyone's coat, things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites which was prohibited by the Jewish law. De 7:25,26 It was clear to all what was the reason for their death. Thereupon they prayed and beseeched God that the sin might be utterly rooted out. Arundel's book and the Aldin edition states that they beseeched God that they might not be utterly destroyed for that sin. Moreover, they made a contribution of 2000 or 3000 (as the Greek Arundel and my own Syriac book, or 12,000 as the Latin copies have it) drachmas of silver and sent it to Jerusalem to make a sin offering. /APC 2Ma 12:38-43

3841d AM, 4551 JP, 163 BC

3465. Then Judas with his brethren went against the sons of Esau and attacked them in the south of Judea and smote Hebron and its villages. They dismantled the fortifications and burned the towns around the area. From there, he went through Samaria and planned to go into the land of the Philistines. At that time some priests were killed who were desirous to show their valour and acted unwisely in a skirmish. Judas went down toward Azotus into the land of the Philistines. After he had overturned their altars, burnt their graven images and took away the spoils of the cities, he returned into Judea. /APC 1Ma 5:65-68

3466. Antiochus' soldiers who were garrisoned in the tower at Jerusalem, had shut up the Jews around the temple and always tried to find ways to annoy them and strengthen the heathen. Judas and all the people besieged them in the 150th year of the Greeks. He placed his battering rams and engines against them. However, some of the besieged escaped, to whom also some wicked Jews allied themselves. They prevailed with Antiochus Eupator the king to quickly subdue the rising power of the Jews. /APC 1Ma 6:18-27

3467. Thereupon the king summoned together all his friends and the commanders of his army and his cavalry. He got forces from other kingdoms. His whole force consisted of 100,000 foot soldiers and 20,000 cavalry and 32 elephants which were trained for war. (/APC 1Ma 6:28-30) In the second book of the Maccabees we read, how that in the 149th year of the account, that is of the contracts, Judas Maccabeus had news that Antiochus Eupator was gone against Judea. His Greek forces numbered 110,000 foot soldiers and 5300 cavalry, 22 elephants and 300 chariots with hooks. /APC 2Ma 13:1,2

3468. Menelaus the usurping high priest, sided with this power and hoped to obtain from Eupator that honour which he had before in name only. /APC 2Ma 13:3

3469. King Eupator was highly enraged and came resolving to bring far greater harm on the Jews than his father ever did. When Judas heard of this, he commanded the people to call on God night and day for protection. After he had called a council of war, he resolved to march against the king and he camped by Modin. /APC 2Ma 13:9-14

3470. When the king's army had marched through Idumea, they attacked Bethsura with their engines of war but the men of Bethsura sallied forth valiantly and burned the engines. Judas camped in Bethzachariah opposite the king's camp. /APC 1Ma 6:31,32 He told his men that victories are from God. Then he took with him the most valiant men and attacked the enemy's camp by night. He advanced as far as the king's own pavilion. He slew in this fight almost 4000 men and their best elephants along with all that came upon him. When the morning dawned, he withdrew victoriously. The entire enemy camp was filled with dread and horror by his exploits. /APC 2Ma 13:15-17

3471. Early in the morning, the king marched with his army and camped near Bethzachariah. He drew up his men into battle array and ordered that the juice of grapes and mulberries should be placed before the elephants. He thought that this would make them more fierce in the fight. These beasts were distributed throughout the army and to each beast was assigned 1000 well armed foot soldiers and 500 cavalry. Each elephant's back had a wooden room that carried 32 soldiers plus the Indian to steer them. Their armour made such a glorious show that the neighbouring hills glittered from the reflection of the sun on their shields of gold and brass. /APC 1Ma 6:33-41

3472. Judas and his army engaged the enemy and killed 600 men of the king's party. At which time, Eleazar, surnamed Savaran, (or Avaran, Judas' brother /APC 1Ma 2:5) saw an elephant in royal harness and taller than any of the others. He thought the king was on his back riding it and he went for it and slaughtered his enemies on both sides. He crept under its belly and slew the beast. He was killed when the beast fell on him. When the Jews saw the vast forces of the king and their strength, they retired from battle. /APC 1Ma 6:42-47

3473. When the king returned to besiege Bethsura, he was sometimes driven off by Judas in skirmishes and sometimes Judas retreated with losses. However, Judas tried to relieve the besieged and sent them the things they needed. Rhodius, one in the Jewish army, told this to the enemy. Thereupon when the Jews made an inquiry about this, he was seized, put on the rack and kept in prison. Then the king talked a second time with the men of Bethsura and persuaded them to surrender to him. /APC 2Ma 13:19-22 After the peace was concluded between them, the Jews all marched out of the city and were forced to surrender for lack of provisions to sustain the siege. That year was the sabbatical year in which it was not lawful to sow their land. After the king had taken Bethsura, he placed a garrison in it to keep it. /APC 1Ma 6:49,50

(Since this was a sabbatical year, it verifies Ussher's calculations that a jubilee was every 49 not every 50 years. Otherwise this would not have been a sabbatical year. This also confirms the date for the first sabbatical year. See notes on 2560a AM <<333>> and 2609a AM. <<343>> Editor.)

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3474. From there the king's army went up to Jerusalem and camped against Mount Sion and the sanctuary for many days. They used their artillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones and pieces to hurl darts and slings. Thereupon the besieged also made engines to thwart the enemies' weapons. They held them off for a long time but supplies began to grow scarce with both of them because this was the seventh year. Those in Judea who were delivered from the Gentiles had eaten up the supply of their store. Very little was left in the sanctuary because the famine was so severe among them. They were forced to disperse into various places. (/APC 1Ma 6:51-54 Josephus. l. 11. c. 14.)

3475. In the meantime, Philip, whom Antiochus Epiphanes had by his last will and testament named guardian of his son Eupator and under him was appointed ruler over the whole kingdom had already returned from Egypt. He came from Media and Persia with the forces which Epiphanes had left there /APC 1Ma 3:37 and planned to recover by force his rights which Lysias had usurped. /APC 1Ma 6:55,56 2Ma 13:23

3476. When Lysias hear of this, he persuaded the king and the commanders of the army to make peace with the whole country of the Jews and to permit them to enjoy their own laws as in former times. He said that their army grew weaker every day, the provisions for the camp failed, the place which they besieged was well fortified and the affairs of their own kingdom were more urgent and important. /APC 1Ma 6:57-59

3477. The king and his nobles agreed with Lysias and sent to the besieged about terms of peace. The conditions were accepted and the covenants confirmed with an oath. Thereupon the besieged marched out of the garrison and the king entered Mount Sion offered sacrifice, honoured the temple and dealt kindly with the place. A little later when he had considered the strength of the place, he broke his oath and ordered the walls to be pulled down. /APC 1Ma 6:60-62 2Ma 13:23

3478. The king appointed Maccabeus (or as the Greek context bears it, and my Syriac version has it) Higemonides rather, governor from Ptolomais to the Gerrhenians /APC 2Ma 13:24 or as far as Egypt. Its boundary is the mountain Gerur according to Ptolemy's account.

3479. While the king was coming to Ptolemais, the Ptolemaians, who always hated the Jews, /APC 1Ma 12:48 were quite upset by the peace made with Judas. In a rage they wanted to void the covenant. However, Lysias went up to the judgment seat and defended the matter. He appeased the tumult and pacified the citizens. /APC 2Ma 13:25,26 Josephus, in the close of the 14th book of his Antiquities, says that the rule of the Hasmoneans lasted 126 years to the taking of Jerusalem by Herod and the slaying of Antigonus. In Josephus (Antiqu. l. 17. c. has this time as 125 years. However this happened on the 126th year from this time, so that the start of this rule was from the time of the peace agreed on between Antiochus and Maccabeus.

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3480. From autumn began the year of accounts of the contracts, 150 which the writer of the second book of the Maccabees uses.

3481. Antiochus Eupator with Lysias his guardian, hurried to Antioch, /APC 1Ma 6:63 2Ma 13:26 and brought along with him as prisoner, Menelaus the high priest. (Josephus, l. 12. c. 15.) Lysias had accused him as the sole cause of the whole Jewish war and the first instigator of all their evils. Thereupon, by orders from the king, he was sent to Berhea in Syria, where he was let down into a tower filled with ashes and so died a death worthy of his life. /APC 2Ma 13:4-8

3482. This wretched Menelaus was killed in the 10th year after he first usurped the priesthood at Berhea. This is correctly written in Josephus, p. 421. and not as in p. 700 where it erroneously says at Beryticen. The king substituted another in his place one who was just as wicked called, Alcimus or Jacimus. He was descended from Aaron but not of the high priest's blood. Lysias persuaded the king to transfer that honour to another family. (Joseph. Antiq. l. 12. c. 15. & l. 20. c. 8.)

3483. When Onias, son of Onias the third, high priest, saw the high priesthood was given to Alcimus, he went into Egypt. After he had ingratiated himself to Ptolemy Philometor and his wife, Cleopatra, he obtained permission to build a temple of God in the city of Heliopolis similar to the one at Jerusalem. They would also appoint him the high priest there. Thus Josephus writes in his Jewish Antiquities which contradicts what he formerly wrote in his work of the Jewish wars. (l. 1. c. 1. & l. 7. c 37. or 30.) There he says that Onias' flight and his building of the temple in Egypt happened while Antiochus Epiphanes was still living.

3484. About this time, Ptolemy Philometor and his younger brother Ptolemy Euergetes the 2nd had a falling out. The senate of Rome wrote letters to their ambassadors, Cn. Octavius, Sp. Lucretius and L. Aurelius to do what they could to make peace. (Polib. Legat. 107.) For after they had jointly ruled six years together peacefully, the younger brother put out Philometor and ruled alone. (Porphyr. in Grac. Euseb. Scaliger. p. 54. & 225.)

3485. When the older Ptolemy of his kingdom, went to Rome for help. He had very few in his retinue and travelled in poor clothes. (Valer. Maxim. l. 5. c. 1.) As he was on his way to the city on foot, he was noticed by Demetrius, Seleucus' son. He was much troubled at this sight, shortly provided a royal robe, a diadem, and a horse, adorned with golden fittings. He went with his own servants and met Ptolemy 26 miles from the city. After a civil greeting, he advised him to put on these ornaments and to enter Rome more like a king lest he appear contemptible. Ptolemy thanked him very much for his goodwill toward him. He did not take these things for himself. Ptolemy desired rather to have permission to rest a while with Archias in one of those towns along the way. (Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 322.)

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3486. Finally he came to Rome and lodged at an Alexandrian painter's house. As soon as the senate heard of it, they sent for him and made a most exact apology for they had not according to the usual custom, sent the quaestor to wait upon him nor had they entertained him on the public account. They promised that those omissions were not to be imputed to any disrespect of theirs towards him but merely to his own coming so suddenly to them and so privately. Thereupon, they conducted him from the court to the house of public entertainment and persuaded him to put off those sordid clothes. They settled on a day for a meeting. They also took care that presents were sent to him daily by the treasurers. By their kind treatment of him, they restored Ptolemy from that low condition he was in to his former kingly eminence. This caused him to hope more for Rome's assistance than to fear his low estate. (Val. Max. l. 5. c. 1.)

3487. As soon as Cn. Octavius and Spurius Lucretius, the Roman delegates came to Ariarathes, king of the Cappadocians, they enquired into the fights between him and the Galatians. He, in a few words told them the whole matter. He added that he was willing to agree to use them as arbitrators. Most of his speech concerned Syria for he knew that Octavius was going there. He showed them also in what a weak condition that state was in and how great was the similarity between himself and Syria. He preferred also to attend them with his forces and to be ready on all occasions to help them until they were returned safely from Syria. The king's good will and desire to accommodate them was much resented by the delegates. They told him that at present they had no need of his company. However, in case of some future emergency, if the need arose, they would not hesitate to send to him. They said that they would after this always include him as a most sincere friend to the Romans. (Polyb. Legat. 108.)

3488. King Eupator with the help of his guardian Lysias, had quickly pacified the disturbances in Syria. When he returned to Antioch, he found Philip in command there. He fought him and took the city. /APC 1Ma 6:63 After he had captured Philip, he had him killed. (Josephus l. 12. c. 15.)

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3489. Octavius Lucretius and Aurelius the three Roman delegates followed their instructions from the senate when they came into Syria took care that the elephants should be slain and the navy burned. They managed all other things in the Roman interest. This grieved Leptines and therefore he stabbed Cn. Octavius, the head delegate at Laodicea, as he was anointing himself in the place of exercise. He testified that the deed was lawfully done and by the instigation of the gods. This Octavius was the first from that family with the consulship, from whom Caesar Augustus later descended. Lysias, Eupator's guardian, who was reputed the chief instigator of the people against the Romans, took care for the entertainment of Octavius. He immediately sent delegates in the king's name to Rome, who might excuse the act and testify to the king's innocence as not being an accessory to this in any way. (Polyb. Legat. 114. & 122. Cicero. Philippic. 9. Appian. Syriac. p. 117. Zonar. ex Dione.) Julius Obsequiens, in his book De Prodigus, confirms that the killing of Octavius happened when Marcius and Scipio were consuls.

3490. At that time in Syria, lived Isocratis a grammarian who belonged to a company of those that made public recitations. He was a prating braggard and hated by the Greeks. Alcaeus in his public speeches used to make fun of him. As soon as Isocratis came to Syria, he began to reproach the Syrians as being stupid. He did not stay within the bounds of his profession and began to talk of state matters and pass his judgment on them. He defended the justice of the murder of Octavius and wanted the other Roman delegates killed too, so none would be left to take the news back to Rome. By this, the Romans might be made more humble and cease interfering in the sovereignty of others. (Polyb. Legat. 122.)

3491. The Romans through their ambassadors, Canuleius and Quintus, restored Ptolemy Philometor to his kingdom and reconciled him to his younger brother Euergetes. They decreed that the kingdom should be divided between them. Philometor was to take Egypt and Cyprus for his share, Euergetes was to get Cyrene. This agreement was confirmed by all religious ceremonies and by the mutual pledging of their faith to each other. However, Euergetes hurried away to Rome to try to have the covenant voided. Thereupon Philometor also sent Menethillus of Alabanda, as his delegate there, as his advocate and representative in his quarrel with Euergetes. (Polyb. Legat. 113. & 114. Livy l. 46. Zonar. Ex Dione.)

3492. Ariarathes, the king of Cappadocia, died and his son Ariarathes surnamed Philopator succeeded him by right of inheritance. As soon as he had performed his father's funeral with the highest magnificence that could be, he sent his delegates to Rome to renew the league and alliance with the people of Rome. He was first called Mithradates, but after he came of age, he was called by his father's name, Ariarathes. When he was crowned, he treated his friends, nobles and subjects, with what respect was fitting, so that he soon won the affections of all. He was experienced in Greek and studied philosophy. Cappadocia, never before known to the Greeks, soon became a home for learned men. (Livy l. 46. Diod. Sic. in Bibliotheca, Phocy. cod. 244. & Excerp. Vales. p. 325.)

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3493. From spring began the 151st year of the kingdom of the Greeks, which is used in the first book of the Maccabees.

3494. When the ambassadors of Ariarathes, the new king of Cappadocia arrived at Rome, they asked the senate that they would embrace their king with all love and affection. He always wished well to all the Romans. The senate renewed the league and amity as they requested and highly commended the king's affections to them. They entertained the ambassadors very civilly. After this, Tiberius Gracchus (See note on 3838 AM <<3402>>) returned from his embassy in Asia and related many notable expressions of the affections of this king and of his father and indeed of the whole kingdom toward the people of Rome. (Polyb. Legat. 109.)

3495. The Rhodians, through Cleagoras and Lygdamis, their ambassadors at Rome, requested that they might be permitted to hold Lycia and Caria on the same terms as before. (Polyb. Legat. 110.)

3496. At that time the Calyndians in Caria revolted from the Caunii. Thereupon the Caunii attempted to besiege them. The Calyndians first required help from the Cnidyans. By their help, they were able to hold the enemy off for a while. Since the outcome of the war was uncertain, they sent an embassy to the Rhodians and they surrendered themselves and their city into their hands. The Rhodians accepted this and accordingly sent supplies both by sea and land. They raised the siege and took the city into their own jurisdiction. The senate soon after this confirmed to them the right and possession of the place. (Polyb. Legat. 111.)

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3497. Ariarathes, the king of Cappadocia knew from his delegates who had returned from Rome that he was in good favour with the Romans. He thought himself secure in his kingdom and offered to the gods sacrifices and feasted his nobles. Moreover, he sent ambassadors to Lysias at Antioch, to get the bones of his sister and his mother, Antiochis, the daughter of Antiochus the Great. He gave the ambassadors instructions before they left and prayed for their success. He told them it would be best not to mention the death of Octavius even though he was quite displeased by it. He thought this might provoke Lysias and he would not grant his request. Lysias allowed him to have those bones. As soon as they were brought to him, he carried them out very solemnly and placed them very carefully in his father's tomb. (Polyb. Legat. 112.)

3498. After the two Ptolemys (brothers) had divided the kingdom between them, the younger Ptolemy went to Rome to invalidate the partition agreed upon with his brother. He said that he did not voluntarily do as he was commanded but had yielded from necessity, being forced to it by the difficulty of the times. Therefore he requested the senate that they would give Cyprus to him otherwise his portion would be much less than his brothers. On the other side, Menithyllus, Philometor's agent, stated and was confirmed by the Roman ambassadors' testimony, how the younger Ptolemy retained Cyrene but also his very life, by means of his brother. Since he was generally hated, that he might take it for a high favour that the kingdom of Greece had sided with him which was more than he could hope for or any man dream of. After Ptolemy's reply it was urged that the senate consider that the sharing of the kingdom was not quite completed, partly from their own desire to have that kingdom divided. They, as occasion should arise, would have less pains to subdue it when divided than when united. They granted the younger brother's demands and immediately sent their delegates, Titus Torquatus and Cn. Merula, with instructions to reconcile the two brothers and to give Cyprus to the younger brother. (Polyb. Legat. 113.)

3499. News came to Rome of the killing of Cn. Octavius. When the delegates of Antiochus Eupator whom Lysias had sent, arrived at Rome, they showed that their king was in no way involved in the murder. The senate sent the delegates back again and determined nothing about the matter because they would by no means reveal their minds about it. (Polyb. Legat. 114.) However, they ordered a statue to be erected in the place of common pleas, to the memory of Octavius. (Cicero Philipic. 9.)

3500. Demetrius was much disturbed by the news of that accident. He sent for Polybius, the historian and asked him whether or not, it was wise to ask the senate again about his affairs. Polybius warned him to take heed of dashing himself twice against the same stone. He told him, that he had better attempt some noble exploit worthy of a kingdom and hinted by this that he would have him stolen away from Rome as soon as he could. But Demetrius followed the counsel of Apollonius, his close friend who was a good man but very young. Demetrius came into the senate and requested that he might at least have his liberty and might be no longer detained as hostage at Rome, since they had confirmed the kingdom to Antiochus Eupator. The senate for all this stood by their decree. Thereupon, Demetrius consulted first with Diodorus who was a crafty fellow who recently came from Syria and had previously educated him. Then he talked with Polybius about how he might make his escape. Menethyllus, Ptolemy Philometor's agent, who by Polybius' means (with whom Polybius was intimately acquainted,) had been admitted into the discussion under the pretence of providing for his return home. He publicly hired a sacred ship of the Carthaginians which was about to sail to Tyre to bring the first fruits of the Carthaginians, to their ancestor gods according to the custom. When all things were ready, Demetrius sent his tutor, Diodorus, into Syria beforehand to hear what was said and to feel the pulse of the people. He took only a few with him to be companions with him on his journey. He dined at a friend's house with them and the rest he sent away to Anagnia, where he said he would come hunting the next day. (Polyb. Legat. 114.)

3501. At this time Polybius was sick in bed. He feared lest Demetrius spend too much time drinking and miss the chance to escape. Since the night was passing, he sent him a sheet sealed up with these lines written on it.

He that delays, incurs the fates Of night, boldness success creates.

Adventure, come what can, let all, Rather than thou, thyself shouldst fall.

3502. Polybius added that saying of Epicharmus, (commended by Polybius, l. 3. p. 768. & Cicero. ad Attic. l. 1. Epist. 16.) "Be sober, and remember to trust nobody, these are the very sinews of prudence." As soon as he read the note, he understood immediately what those instructions meant and from whom they came. Thereupon he pretended to need to vomit and he and his friends left the company. He told his plan to Nicanor and the rest of his friends. He came by night to Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber River. Menithyllus went before to the sailors and told them that he received new instructions from the king so that he must of necessity stay a while longer in the city. However he would send him some trusted young men who would give him a full account of all the affairs of his brother. About the end of the third watch of the night, Demetrius came with 8 friends, 5 servants and 2 lackeys. Menithyllus commended these to the captain of the ship, who knew nothing of the plot. They set sail about day break. (Polyb. Legat. 114.)

3503. No one at Rome missed him until 4 days later. They looked for him but he was not found. On the 5th day, the senate met on the business but Demetrius was now 6 days from the city by sea and had gone as far as the strait of Sicily. The senate thought it would be of no use to follow after him since he had such an head start on them. A few days later, they sent Tib. Gracchus, Lucilius Lentulus and Servilius Glaucias as ambassadors whose business was to see how things went in Greece. After that they were to find out what Demetrius was up to, see how the kings felt toward Rome and to settle their differences with the Galatians. (Polyb. Legat. 114.)

3504. In the meantime, Demetrius had got into Lycia from where he wrote the senate that he marched not against Antiochus, his uncle's son, but against Lysias with a resolution to avenge Octavius' death. He won over Tripoli of Syria to his side, by saying he was sent by the senate to take possession of the kingdom, for no one dreamed of his escape. He captured Apamea and he mustered all his forces together and marched toward Antioch. He killed the young king Antiochus Eupator and Lysias when they came out to give him a friendly greeting. They did not want to take up arms for fear of displeasing the Romans. (Zonar. ex Dione.) He won the approval of all in Syria and he took over the kingdom. (Justin. l. 34. c. 3. Appian. in Syriac. p. 117, 118.)

3505. We read in the /APC 1Ma 7:1-4 how that in the 151st year of the kingdom of the Greeks, Demetrius, son of Seleucus, escaped from Rome and came with a few men to a city on the sea coast, that is Tripoli of Phoenicia and began to reign there. He entered into the palace of his ancestors at Antioch near Daphne, the metropolis of Syria. His soldiers seized Antiochus and Lysias and killed them by his orders. In the /APC 2Ma 14:1,2 we read that, after 3 years or in the 3rd year from the beginning of Antiochus Eupator or the purging of the temple by Judas Maccabeus as mentioned in /APC 2Ma 10:1-10, Judas was told of the arrival of Demetrius at Tripoli. With a great force and navy, he had taken the country and killed Antiochus and his tutor Lysias. However, Josephus states that Antiochus Eupator reigned only 2 years (Antiqu. l. 12. c. 16.) and so does Eusebius in his Chronicles. On the other hand, Porphyrius (in Grec. Euseb. Scaliger. p. 228.) and Sulpicius Severus, (Histor. Sacr. l. 2.) say he reigned only 18 months.

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3506. Demetrius removed Heraclides from the charge of the treasury in Babylon. Antiochus Epiphanes had appointed him to that position. Demetrius also killed Heraclides' brother, Timarchus who had been appointed governor of Babylon by Antiochus Epiphanes. Timarchus had rebelled against Demetrius and ran the place poorly. The Babylonians first surnamed Demetrius, Soter. (Appian. Syriac. p. 118.)

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3507. Alcimus had obtained from Antiochus Eupator the high priesthood but was not accepted by the people. In the times of confusion under Antiochus Epiphanes, he wilfully defiled himself. /APC 2Ma 14:3 He tried to get the priesthood confirmed to him by Demetrius Soter and addressed the king. He was accompanied by other wicked and apostate Israelites who maligned their country men and especially the Hasmoneaus. They said he was guilty of killing the king's friends and banishing them out of the country. Demetrius resented their complaints. Thereupon he sent a large force into Judea under Bacchides, the governor of Mesopotamia and his intimate and trusty friend along with Alcimus on whom he had given the priesthood. When they had entered the land, they thought to have won over Judas Maccabeus and his brethren by their talk about peace. The Jews did not believe them when they saw their large forces. /APC 1Ma 7:5-11

3508. A company of scribes headed by Hasideans came to Alcimus and Bacchides and desired peace from them. They said:

``One that is priest of the seed of Aaron has the charge of this army who will not do us any wrong''

3509. After they had committed themselves to his safety, that wicked priest broke the agreement and his oath and executed 60 of them in one day. The historian applies the saying of the psalmist to this event. Ps 79:2,3

``The flesh of thy saints, have they (cast out,) given to the beasts of the earth, and their blood have they shed around about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.''

3510. Many were terrified by this act of wickedness and fled from the city. /APC 1Ma 7:12-19

3511. Bacchides left Jerusalem and camped in Bezeth or Bethzetha. From there he sent and took many of those which had forsaken him. He killed some of the Jews and cast them into a deep pit. After that, he committed the country to Alcimus' care and left him a sufficient force to help him. Bacchides returned to the king. All the rebellious of the people came to Alcimus who had done everything to ensure the priesthood for himself. When they had subdued Judea, they made great havock in Israel. Thereupon, Judas Maccabeus went out into all the land of Judea and took vengeance on all who had revolted from him. He was so successful that the enemy was confined to their garrisons and did not make any more incursions into the country. /APC 1Ma 7:19-24

3512. Ptolemy the younger, left Italy and came into Greece. There, he hired an army of very strong men. He also hired Damasippus, a Macedonian, who after he had killed the governors that sat in council at Phaco, a town of Macedonia, escaped from there as fast as he could with his wife and children. Ptolemy left and came to Persea, a land opposite Rhodes. After he had been courteously treated by the people, he planned to set sail for Cyprus. However, Torquatus and the rest of the Roman delegates saw the great number of mercenary soldiers he had. They remembered their instructions from the senate in which they were expressly charged to control him without fighting. At last they prevailed with him, to disband his mercenaries as soon as he come to Sida and to not make his intended voyage to Cyprus. He should do his best that they might meet with him concerning Cyprus. In the meantime, they were going to Alexandria to persuade the king to agree to his requests. They would meet him at the appointed place and bring the king himself along with them. These propositions had such influence on Ptolemy the younger, that he gave up the idea of conquering Cyrene (Cyprus ??) and dismissed his mercenary soldiers. He went directly to Crete and took along with him Damasippus and Cn. Merula, one of the ambassadors. As soon as he had hired 1000 soldiers, he departed to Libyna and kept them at the Port of Apis. (Polyb. Legat. 115.)

3513. In the interim, Torquatus and Titus came to Alexandria and did what they could to persuade the older Ptolemy to come to an agreement with his brother and to give Cyprus to him. Ptolemy's gave in on some things and listened to others merely to buy time. His younger brother who was camped as was agreed, before Apis in Libyna was very displeased that as yet nothing was concluded concerning the surrender of Cyprus. He sent Cn. Merula to Alexandria and hoped through him and Torquatus to accomplish his plans. (Polyb. Legat. 115.)

3843a AM, 4552 JP, 162 BC

3514. Hipparchus Bithynus attempted to transmit to posterity the exact number of the stars and to order constellations using particular instruments he invented. He showed their positions and their magnitudes. Pliny says his works were underestimated. (Pliny l. 2. c. 95.) He wrote in his book and said that in the 27th year of the third Calippic period, the 30th day of the Egyptian month Mesor, (September 27th) about sunset, he observed the autumnal equinox. (Ptol. 3. l. 2. c. 2.)

3515. This autumn began the year 151 of the account of the contracts as used in the 2nd book of the Maccabees. In this year (for so the Greek copies compute, and my Syriac Interpreter, where the Latin edition reads 150.) Alcimus came to king Demetrius and gave him a golden crown, a palm and boughs also which were used in the temple. /APC 2Ma 14:3,4 He saw how Judas Maccabeus and the Assideans who were with him had greatly increased in power. They would not allow him to come near the holy altar. Using this opportunity, he eagerly accused them to the king, as the instigators of all the rebellions and disturbers of the common peace in Judea. He complained most bitterly about this. He said he was divested of the high priesthood which was the glory of his ancestors. As long as Judas was living, he was confident Demetrius should never enjoy the kingdom quietly. This was confirmed by his friends and other implacable enemies of Judas. Demetrius was so angry that he sent Nicanor, his general into Judea with orders to destroy Judas and disperse his associates, the Assideans. He was to place Alcimus in the high priesthood. The Gentiles who fled from Judea for fear of Judas, flocked to Nicanor. They were happy about the calamities which were likely to befall the Jews. /APC 2Ma 14:3-14 1Ma 7:25,26

3516. When the Jews knew of Nicanor's coming and of the alliance of the Gentiles with him, they cast dust on their heads and prayed to God. There was a short skirmish between Simon, Judas' brother, and Nicanor near the village Dessaro. Nicanor had heard of the prowess and valour of Judas and his company in defending their country and was afraid of fighting with him. Therefore he sent Poseidonius, Thoedotus and Matthias to make peace between them. When they had discussed the matter among themselves, Judas told it to the people. They unanimously approved the articles. A day was appointed in which Judas and Nicanor were to meet. Judas did not trust the enemy, and placed some armed men in several convenient places for security in case of any violence. However the conference was very peaceful and closed in a league without the king's knowledge. After this, Nicanor stayed a while in Jerusalem and dismissed the companies which he had before collected. He lived so friendly and familiarly with Judas that Judas persuaded him to marry a wife, /APC 2Ma 14:15-25

3517. As soon as Alcimus saw what happened, he spoke a 3rd time to Demetrius and complained about Nicanor. He accused Nicanor of plotting against the king. Demetrius was so upset by all this that he immediately wrote to Nicanor to let him know that he was very upset with his actions with Judas Maccabeus. He ordered Nicanor to send Judas bound to Antioch. He was very loath to do this since it would break their articles of peace and since Judas had done nothing wrong. However he knew enough not to cross the king and he watched for a convenient time to execute the king's command by craft. /APC 2Ma 14:26-29

[Soldier4Christ]

3518. Ptolemy Philometor with his entertainment detained the Roman delegates at Alexandria for 40 days. This was against their will since no business was transacted. The Cyrenians and some other cities revolted from Euergetes the younger brother. The Egyptian Ptolemy, whom Euergetes had appointed over the whole realm when he sailed away unto Rome knew of this matter. News of this came to Euergetes. He was also told that the Cyrenians already had an army ready for war. He feared that while he tried to add Cyprus to his kingdom, he would lose Cyrene. He set aside all other matters and left Apis where his navy was anchored in the harbour. He sailed to the great Catabathmus, as they call it and planned from there to go to Cyrene. He found the strait in Catabathmus held by the Libynians and the Cyrenians. He shipped half his men with orders to sail around those straits and to attack the enemy by surprise. He led the vanguard with the rest of the army and tried to capture the hill. As soon as the Libynians knew they were surrounded, they abandoned their stations. Hence the king took the top of the hill and captured the stronghold and its 4 towers which contained plenty of water. (Polyb. Legat. 115.)

3519. From there he marched through the wilderness in 7 days and the soldiers under Mochyrinus followed him by sea. When the Cyrenians knew of his coming, they drew out their army of 8000 foot soldiers and 500 cavalry against him. They guessed what Philometor's mind was by what he had done at Alexandria. They saw nothing of a king in Euergetes but that all his administrations were tyrannical. They could not be persuaded to freely submit to him. Thereupon they fought and defeated him. (Polyb. Legat. 115.)

3843b AM, 4553 JP, 161 BC

3520. Judas Maccabeus saw how Nicanor had grown more reserved then before and his dealings more harsh than they usually were. He thought he was up to no good and therefore gathered many of his associates and withdrew himself from his sight. /APC 2Ma 14:30

3521. Nicanor came to Jerusalem with great forces and by his fair speeches drew Judas to a meeting. However, while they were greeting one another, the enemy planned to seize Judas and carry him away. When Judas knew this, he was very afraid of him and did not want to see him any more. When Nicanor saw that his plan was discovered, he marched against Judas to fight him beside Capharsalama. Nicanor's side lost 5000 men and the rest fled to the city of David. /APC 1Ma 7:27-32

3522. After this Nicanor went to Mount Sion where he was met by some of the priests and elders of the people. They came from the sanctuary to greet him peaceably and to show him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king. He slighted and scoffed at them and commanded them to turn over Judas. They swore with an oath that they did not know where he was. Nicanor stretched out his right hand toward the temple and swore that unless Judas and his forces were delivered into his hands, when he returned in peace, he would burn the house of God, destroy the altar and erect in the same place another glorious temple to Bacchus. Thereupon the priests entered and stood before the altar and the temple. With great lamentations they beseeched God to frustrate Nicanor's threats and avenge his blasphemies. /APC 1Ma 7:33-38 2Ma 14:31-36

3523. Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, who for his love and affection to the citizens, was called, "The Father of the Jews", came to Nicanor. Therefore Nicanor thought that if he were killed, he could do what he pleased with the Jews. He sent about 500 soldiers to take him. When they had forced the outter gates of the tower where he was and were ordered to burn the other doors, he stabbed himself with his own sword. When he knew by his haste, his wound was not mortal, he threw himself headlong from the wall. Afterward, running to a steep rock, when he was almost dead, he ripped out his bowels and with both his hands threw them among the throng and so he died. /APC 2Ma 14:37-46 Concerning this event, see Augustine. (61st Epistle to Dulichius, and l. 2. against Gaudentio, c. 23.)

3524. When Nicanor saw that Judas was not in Jerusalem but in parts of Samaria, he marched from Jerusalem and camped in Bethhoron. More troops came to him from Syria. Judas camped in Hadasa about 4 miles from the enemy with 3000 men. Nicanor tried to start the battle on the sabbath day. He was presently admonished by some Jews who were compelled to march with him to reverence that day and the God who instituted it. He railed on them with a most horrid blasphemy but was unable to carry out his plan of fighting on the sabbath. Maccabeus encouraged his troops from the law and the prophets. Moreover he had them remember their former encounters and declared to them a dream of his. He saw Onias, who was the 3rd high priest by that name, praying for the people and the prophet Jeremiah reaching to him with a golden sword. Hence he encouraged the troops. Thereupon, being well armed with prayers and the sure confidence in God, on the 13th day of the 12th month Adar, they attacked the enemy. Nicanor was the first to die in the battle. Thereupon, the rest threw away their arms and fled. The Jews chased them for a whole day from Hadasa to Gazera and sounded an alarm after them with their trumpets. By this all the Jews from the various surrounding towns, hurried to the slaughter of their fleeing enemies. At least 35,000 were killed and not one of the enemy army survived. Then they fell on the spoil and took the prey. They cut off Nicanor's head and arms with the shoulder and brought them to Jerusalem. They hung his head on an high tower with his right hand with which he had so proudly stretched forth against the house of God. Judas ordered that the tongue of this wicked fellow to be cut out, chopped in pieces and fed to the birds. In commemoration of this victory, it was enacted by a general decree, that a great holiday should be kept annually on the 13th day of the 12th month, called in the Syriac, Adar, the day before the feast of Mordecai. (/APC 1Ma 7:39-49 2Ma 15:1-37 Joseph. l. 12. c. 17.)

3525. This ends the history contained in the second book of the Maccabees. This is a summary of the five books of Jason, a Jew of Cyrene. After Nicanor's death, Judea had rest from wars for a while. /APC 1Ma 7:50 During that time, Judas Maccabeus heard of the great power of the Romans and their humanity toward any that were in distress. He also knew how great Demetrius feared them. Therefore, he sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason son of Eleazar, as agents to the senate at Rome, in the name of him, his brother, and the commonwealth of the Jews. They were to negotiate an association and alliance with the people of Rome and hoped by this to free them from the heavy yoke of King Demetrius and the empire of the Greeks. /APC 1Ma 8:1,17,18,31,32)

3526. Cneus Merula finally returned from Alexandria to Euergetes and told him that his brother Philometor would not agree to any of his demands. He urged him that they must abide by the covenants which were first ratified. When Euergetes heard this, he ordered Copmanua and his brother Ptolemy to go as his delegates to Rome along with Merula. They were to entreat with the senate concerning the wrongs done to him by his brother and to tell them of his contempt of the Romans. On their way, they met Titus Torquatus who was Cn. Merula's colleague in the embassy. He had left Alexandria also without completing the business he went there for. At the same time, Menithylius of Alabanda was sent as a delegate to the senate from Philometor. (Polyb. Legat. 116,117.)

3527. After Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his whole army were destroyed in the battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus for the second time into Judea. He gave them the right wing or the better part of his army. They marched on the way to Gilgal. They camped at Maesaloth or Massadoth which is in Arbela. When they captured it, they killed many people. /APC 1Ma 9:1,2

[Soldier4Christ]

3843c AM, 4553 JP, 161 BC

3528. On the first month of the 152nd year of the kingdom of the Greeks, they moved toward Jerusalem to find Judas Maccabeus and from there they marched to Berea (or Beerzath, as it is in the Arundel copy) with 20,000 foot soldiers and 2000 cavalry. Judas camped in Eleasa with 3000 choice men with him. When they saw the large number of the enemy, they were very afraid. Thereupon many left him, so that he had only 800 left in the camp. With these few he attacked Bacchides' vast army and fought from morning till night. At last he routed his right wing in which Bacchides was and pursued them to Mount Azotus. However, those in the left wing chased Judas and those which were with him. Judas died fighting valiantly and the rest fled immediately away. Then Jonathan and Simon took up the body of their brother Judas and buried it in the sepulchre of their fathers at Modin. Israel mourned for him many days. /APC 1Ma 9:3-21 Judas was slain in the 6th year after the death of his father Mattathias.

3529. After the death of Judas, wicked men appeared all over Israel, who before had stayed out of sight for fear of Judas. There was a great famine in those days and this caused the whole country to join with them and submit to Bacchides so that they might have more provisions. Bacchides promoted those wicked men to be rulers of the country. When they found any of Judas' friends, they brought them to Bacchides to be tormented and reviled. There was a great affliction in Israel, there was nothing like this since the time of the last prophets of the Old Testament. /APC 1Ma 9:23-27

3530. In the meantime, the delegates who were sent to Rome from Judas Maccabeus concluded a peace and association with the people of Rome. The articles were written in tables of brass and said that the Jews should assist the Romans and the Romans the Jews against the common enemy. The senate also wrote letters to King Demetrius that he should stop oppressing the Jews, otherwise they would wage war with him both by sea and land to support this people who were now their friends and confederates. /APC 1Ma 8:19-32

``When they had revolted from Demetrius, (having procured an alliance with the Romans) they of all the eastern people first obtained their liberty. The Romans at that time were very free in giving away that which was not their own.''

3531. Josephus, (Antiq. l. 12. c. 17.) notes that this was the first league that was ever known to be between the Romans and the Jews. It is written in other words with this forged subscription, appended. This decree of the senate was written by Eupolemus, son of John, and Jason, son of Eleazar: (the Jew's agents)

``When Judas was high priest and his brother Simon, the general.''

3532. Jonathan was the most likely one to be the general while Judas was living. It was not until Jonathan died that Simon became the general. A little before Josephus incorrectly wrote that when Alcimus died, the people voted Judas to be the next high priest. /APC 1Ma 9:54-56 For this passage shows that Alcimus died after Judas and Josephus admits his error later and says that Jacimus or Alcimus had no successor at all and Jerusalem had no high priest for 7 whole years. (Antiq. l. 20. c. 8. p. 701.)

3533. There was a long debate in the senate between the delegates of both the Ptolemys. Titus and Cnaeus who were sent as ambassadors by the Romans testified for Euergetes and promoted his cause. The senate ordered that within 5 days Menithyllus, Philometor's delegate, should depart from Rome. The league which was between them and Philometor was void. The senate sent Publius Apustius and Caius Lentulus as ambassadors to Euergetes. They immediately went to Cyrene and with great care informed him what was done. This inflated his hopes so that soon he levied an army and plotted how to take over Cyprus. (Polyb. Legat. 117.)

3534. All Judas Maccabeus' friends met and chose Jonathan as general in his place. He was the brother of Judas and was surnamed Apphus. As soon as Bacchides heard this, he planned to kill him. Jonathan, his brother Simon and those that were with him found out about this. To thwart him, they fled into the desert of Tekoa and camped by the pool of Asphar. Jonathan sent his brother John, surnamed Gaddis with a band of soldiers, to ask the Nabathites (Arabians) that they might leave their wagons with them for they had many wagons. However, the children of Jambri from Medaba met with them on the way. They attacked and killed John and his company. They seized the spoil and went their way. Their victory was short lived. Jonathan and his brother Simon heard that those sons of Jambri were having a large wedding and were bringing the bride from Nadabath with great pomp and a long train of nobles. She was a daughter to a prince in Canaan. They arose from an ambush and attacked them. They killed 400 and the rest fled to the mountains. They seized all their spoil. After they had fully avenged the blood of their brother, they marched back to the marshes of Jordan. (/APC 1Ma 9:28-42. Joseph. l. 13. c. 1.)

3535. Bacchides followed Jonathan closely and came on the sabbath day to the banks of the Jordan River with a large army. Both the armies fought. In the fight Jonathan tried to kill Bacchides but he deflected the blow. However, 1000 of Bacchides' men were killed but Josephus says 2000. Jonathan knew he could not cope with such a large force. He and his men leaped into Jordan and crossed over to the other side. The enemy did not attempt to follow him. Bacchides returned to Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judea and a fort in Jericho, Emmaus, Bethhoron, Bethel, Thamnatha, Pharathoni and Tephon. He strengthened them with high walls, gates and bars and put garrisons in all of them. He used these places as bases to attack and annoy the Jews. He fortified Bethsura, Gazara and the tower at Jerusalem. He supplied them with men and provisions. He seized the chief men's sons in the country for hostages and he put them in prison in the tower at Jerusalem. /APC 1Ma 9:43-53 Joseph. l. 13. c. 1.)

3536. Mithrobuzanes, one of the sons of Zadriades, king of the lesser Armenia had escaped to Ariarathes king of Cappadocia. Artaxias, the king of the greater Armenia whom Antiochus Epiphanes had conquered wanted his old kingdom. He sent an embassy to Ariarathes and asked him to side with him. They would murder one of the two brothers, whom he had under his power at that time and he would divide Sophene between them. Ariarathes detested this treachery and sharply rebuked the delegates. He sent letters to Artaxias and admonished him not to do such a wicked act. Moreover, he restored Mithrobuzanes to his father's kingdom. (Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. H. Valesii, p. 325.)

3844a AM, 4553 JP, 161 BC

3537. Ariarathes received Tiberius Gracchus, Lucius Lentulus and Servilius Glaucius, the Roman delegates in Cappadocia very royally. (Polyb. Legat. 119.) Demetrius Soter sent Menocharis there so that he could seriously debate with the Roman delegates about the settling of his kingdom. (Polyb. Legat. 120.) He also offered to King Ariarathes a marriage with his sister, who was related to Perseus, the king of the Macedonians. He declined, lest he offend the Romans. (Diod. Sic. Legat. 24. Justin l. 35. c. 1.)

3844b AM, 4554 JP, 160 BC

3538. Menocharis returned to Demetrius at Antioch and gave an account of his conferences with the Roman delegates. The king deemed it very necessary in his present condition, to gain the favour of the Roman delegates. He set aside all other matters and first sent to them into Pamphylia then again to Rhodes. He said he would do whatever he could for the Romans if they would confirm his title as king. Tiberius favoured him and helped him considerably to obtain the legal right to his kingdom. (Polyb. Legat. 120.)

3539. Leptines, who had stabbed Cn. Octavius the Roman delegate at Laodicea went to King Demetrius and told him not to be troubled by the death of Cnaeus nor to act harshly toward the Laodiceans because of this. He planned to go to Rome and state before the senate that he had done the act and that the gods approved of it. He went cheerfully of his own accord and was brought from there to Rome without any guard. Isocrates the grammarian, who by his vicious tongue had got him into trouble, went stark mad when he knew the trouble he was in. When he saw the irons put about his neck and the shackles on his hands, he neglected his personal duties including his appearance and clothes. (Polyb. Legat. 122.)

[Soldier4Christ]

3844c AM, 4554 JP, 160 BC

3540. In the 153rd year of the kingdom of the Greeks, the second month, Alcimus commanded the wall of the inward court to be pulled down. This divided the court of the people from that of the Gentiles and was built by Zerubabel and the prophets. However, God shut the mouth of that profane high priest by striking him with a sudden palsy. He could not speak a word more nor give any orders concerning his own house. He died in great torment /APC 1Ma 9:54-56 in the third year after he had usurped the high priesthood. Josephus (l. 12. Antiq. c. 17.) said he was high priest for 4 years but in the second last chapter of the 20th book in the same work he says it was only 3 years. There he adds that after his death Jerusalem went 7 whole years without any high priest. 7 years five months elapsed between the second month of the 153rd year in which Alcimus died and the seventh month of the 160th year when Jonathan became the high priest. /APC 1Ma 10:21

3541. When Alcimus died, Bacchides returned to King Demetrius and Judea had two years of peace. /APC 1Ma 9:57

3845a AM, 4554 JP, 160 BC

3542. About the 155th olympiad, ambassadors came to Rome from Ariarathes king of Cappadocia with a crown of the value of 10000 pieces of gold. They told the senate how their king had graciously received Tiberius Gracchus and that for their sakes they refused any alliance with Demetrius and the offer of marriage with his sister. They added that he was very ready to serve the Romans, in whatever they wanted him to do. When Tiberius Gracchus and the rest of the ambassadors confirmed this as true, the senate accepted the crown and took it for a great favour. They gave them a staff and an ivory seat which the Romans highly esteemed. These ambassadors were sent by him to the senate immediately before the beginning of winter. (Polyb. Legat. 119 & 121 Diod. Sic. Legat. 24.)

3845b AM, 4555 JP, 159 BC

3543. When the new consuls, Cn. Cornelius Dolabella and Marcus Dolabella and Marcus Fulvius Nobilior assumed office, a joint embassy of Prusias, king of Bithynia and the Gallogrecians arrived and complained against Eumenes king of Pergamus to the senate. Attalus was also heard who was sent there by his brother Eumenes, to plead his cause. He was completely cleared of all the accusations and had much honour bestowed on him. He was received and dismissed with great courtesy. The hearts of the senators were aversed to king Eumenes whom they hated but they really liked Attalus. They hoped he would take over the kingdom from his brother and hence treated him royally. (Polyb. Legat. 119, 121.)

3845c AM, 4555 JP, 159 BC

3544. Menocharis and other ambassadors came to Rome from Demetrius Soter the king of Syria. They brought a crown worth 10,000 pieces of gold for a present which the king sent as a token of his gratitude for his kind treatment when he was a hostage at Rome. They turned over Leptines who had killed Cn. Octavius, the ambassador, and Isocrates the grammarian who publicly defended the murder. Isocrates was a strange spectacle to all. His countenance was terrible and fierce as a man's must be who in a whole year's time had never washed his face, trimmed his nails or cut his hair. The motion of his eyes showed he was mad. Whoever met him by chance would have preferred the attack of a wild beast instead. On the other hand, Legtines was wholy unaffected and ready at any time to come into the senate. He freely confessed the murder to anyone who talked with him. He was confident the Romans would not harm him and he was right. The senators had debated about this for a long time. Finally, the senate heard the ambassadors and received the crown from them. They made no mention of those two men as if that was a fault chargeable to all the Syrians. It was the policy of the senate to keep this matter to themselves so that as often as they pleased they might avenge this crime. They replied to Demetrius that the senate was ready to be friendly to him provided that he became their tributary again as before. (Polyb. Legat. 122. Diod. Sic. Legat. 25. Appian. Syriac. p. 118.)

3545. Orophernes, or as some call him Holophernes, spoke to Demetrius Soter, the king of Syria and complained that Ariarathes his younger brother, had driven him out of the kingdom of Cappadocia. Although, he was not the lawful heir but either put in by Queen Antiochis or adopted by her as Zonaras relates from Dion, as we said before (See note on 3832 AM <<3237>>) from Diodorus. Demetrius still bore a grudge against Ariarathes for slighting the offer of his sister to him in marriage. He was agreeable to the request and gave him 1000 talents to help dethrone Ariarathes. This was over and above the help he had from Eumenes, the king of Pergamus. (Polyb. l. 3. p. 161. Livy l. 47. Justin, l. 35. c. 1. Appian. Syriac. p. 118. Zonar. ex Dione.)

3546. When Eumenes, the king of Pergamus, was on his deathbed, he bequeathed his wife Stratonica, the sister to Ariarathes who had recently lost his kingdom to his brother Attalus. (Plutarch in Apothegm.) He reigned for 38 years. If we subtract the years as computed by Strabo, of his brothers' and his sons' reign who succeeded him from the interval inserted in the Roman history between his becoming king and the time when Pergamos ceased to be a kingdom, More than 38 years elapsed. Therefore Eumenes died in the very beginning of the 39th year. However, Strabo incorrectly states he reigned 40 years. He left Attalus Philometor, whom his wife Stratonica bare to him to inherit the kingdom after him. Since his son was so young, he appointed his brother Attalus Philadelphus, guardian of him and the kingdom, who managed its affairs for 21 years. (Strabo. l. 13. p. 624.)

3846a AM, 4555 JP, 159 BC

3547. In the morning about sunrise, Hipparchus made a second observation of the autumnal equinox in the 20th year of the Calippic Period, on the first day of the Egyptian Additionals. (September 27) (Ptol. l. 3. c. 2.)

3548. After Orophernes had expelled his brother Ariarathes, it behoved him to manage things with great prudence and ingratiate himself into the people's hearts by acts of clemency and grace. This he did not do but tried to get as much money together as he could. He most wickedly killed many. He gave Timothy whom afterwards he sent as an ambassador to Rome, 50 talents. He gave Demetrius 70 and promised to pay the another 400 talents soon along with another 600. When he saw that he was hated by the Cappadocians, he started to plunder all the people and take the the wealth of the nobility into his treasury. (Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Valesi. p. 334.)

3549. Orophernes who was educated in Ionia (See note on 3832 AM <<3237>>) had little regard for the constitutions of his country and set up:

``The Ionic and an artificial kind of intemperance.'' (Polyb. l. 22. and Athenaum, l. 10 c. 12.)

3550. After amassing a vast sum of money, he deposited 400 talents with the Prienians, in case the times should turn against him. Later they were faithful and restored it to him again. (Polyb. & Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Valesi. p. 170, 173. & 334.)

3846c AM, 4556 JP, 158 BC

3551. After Jonathan and his company had lived in peace for 2 years, some lying Jews suggested to Bacchides that there was a good chance of taking them all by surprise in one night. Thereupon Bacchides went toward them with a large force and sent letters secretly to all his friends in Judea. He asked for help in his plan of capturing Jonathan and his company. However, their plot was discovered by Jonathan and his men. They took the 50 men of the country, who were involved in this plot and executed them. /APC 1Ma 9:57-61

3552. Then Jonathan, Simon and those that were with him moved to Bethbasi, (or Bethlagan, as Josephus has it) which is in the wilderness. They repaired its walls which were in ruins and fortified it. As soon as Bacchides knew of this, he mustered up all his forces and summoned his adherents in Judea to come to him. Then he went and laid siege to Bethbasi and fought against it for many days with his engines. However, Jonathan, left his brother Simon in the city and crossed the country with a small troop. He killed Odoarrhes or Odomern and his brethren and the sons of Phasiron in their tents. When he began to kill all that he met and break into the enemy forces, Simon with his company sallied from the city and burned the engines. In this fight, Bacchides was defeated. He was enraged to see his plans thwarted and directed his anger against those wicked wretches that were the cause of this expedition. He killed many of them and planned to return into his own land. When Jonathan knew this, he sent commissioners to him to treat with him concerning a peace and to return the prisoners he had taken from Judea. Bacchides very readily embraced the motion, said he would do nothing against Jonathan all the days of his life. So he returned back to his own land and never entered Judea with an army again. Thus the wars were settled in Israel. Jonathan lived in Michmash in the tribe of Benjamin and began to judge his people and uproot the wicked from the land. /APC 1Ma 9:62-73

[Soldier4Christ]

3847 AM, 4557 JP, 157 BC

3553. About noon, Hipparchus made a 3rd observation of the autumnal equinox in the 21th year of the Calippic Period, on the first day of the Egyptian Additionals. (September 27) (Ptol. l. 3. c. 2.)

3554. When Ariarathes was deprived of the kingdom, he came as an humble suppliant to Rome and sought the help of Sextus Julius, the consul. His clothes showed the great distress he was in. Demetrius sent an embassy under Miltiades. He came to defend against Ariarathes' accusations against Demetrius and to bring charges against Ariarathes. Orophernes also sent his delegates, Timothy and Diogenes to present a crown at Rome and to renew their alliance and association. Their main purpose was to justify and defend their actions and to accuse Ariarathes. Diogenes and Miltiades had the upper hand in the private conferences. They were in their prime and Ariarathes was in an afflicted and miserable condition. When they discussed the matter publicly they dared disagree with him and say anything whether it was true or not. There was no one there to refute what they said. (Polyb. Legat. 126.) Finally the senate decreed that since Ariarathes was a friend and an associate of the people of Rome, he and Orophernes should reign together as brothers and partners in the kingdom. (Appian. Syriac. p. 118. Zonar. ex Dione.)

3555. Ptolemy Euergetes, tried to capture Cyprus and was defeated in a battle there with his brother Philometor. Philometor besieged him in the city Lapithus until they were in dire straits. When he captured him, he spared him since he was of a mild disposition and because he was his brother. Also he feared the Romans. He forgave him and entered into a covenant with him and gave him back the rule of the Cyrenians. Instead of Cyprus, he gave him some cities with a annual allowance of grain. He also promised to give his daughter to him. Thus this war between the two brothers after much hard feelings was quickly settled in a peaceful manner. (Polyb. & Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Valesii, p. 197. 334, 337. Livy l. 47. Zonar. ex Dione.)

3556. When Orophernes knew that the Romans had taken away what he enjoyed formerly, he resolved as soon as possible to pay his mercenary soldiers. He feared that from lack of pay, they might rebel. Since he was short of money, he pillaged Jupiter's temple which was located at the foot of Mount Ariadne. Up until that time it had never been touched. From the plunder he was able to pay his soldiers what he owed. (Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Valesii, p. 337.)

3557. Attalus, Eumenes' brother and successor in the kingdom of Pergamos, drove Orophernes and Demetrius Soter from Cappadocia and restored Ariarathes to the throne. (Polyb. Legat. 126. p. 169. Zonar. ex Dione.)

3558. Demetrius Soter offered Archias 500 talents on the condition he would betray Cyprus to him. He promised him other rewards and honours if he would help him. As Archias was going about this, he was apprehended by Ptolemy Philometor. When he was questioned about what he was doing, he hanged himself with the rope of the curtain which was drawn before the hall. (Polyb. in Excerpt. Valesii, p. 170 & apud. Suidam, in voc.)

3559. After Ariarathes was restored unto the kingdom of Cappadocia, he demanded the Prienians pay the 400 talents which Orophernes had deposited with them. They honestly replied that as long as Orophernes was alive, they would not give the money to anybody but him, who had entrusted them with it. Thereupon Ariarathes sent troops to pillage the country and Attalus helped him. Indeed Attalus instigated this since there was a private grudge between him and the Prienians. There was a large slaughter of men and beasts and some were killed at the very gates of the city. However, the Prienans could not defeat them. Therefore they sent their ambassadors to the Rhodians and finally asked the Romans for protection. However, Ariarathes lightly esteemed all this news. The Prienians had faithfully restored to Orophernes the money he deposited with them. For that act, Ariarathes imposed a huge fine on them and afflicted them with most grievous calamities without just cause. (Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 173.)

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3560. When there were disputes between Attalus and Prusias Venator, the king of Bithynia, Attalus sent Andronicus, Prusias Niconmedes and Antiphilus as ambassadors to Rome. Thereupon, the senate sent Publius Lentulus to find out what was happening. When Andronicus began to charge Prusias with the first invasion, the Romans were not impressed with what he said. Prusias' ambassadors protested that there was no such matter. This made the senate give less credit to what was alleged against Prusias. After a more strict search into the business the senate did not know how well they could trust these agents. They sent two ambassadors of their own, L. Apulcius and C. Petronius to see how the affairs went between those two kings. (Polyb. Legat. 128.)

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3561. When Prusias had defeated Attalus, he entered Pergamos. After he made expensive sacrifices, he went into Esculapius' temple. As soon as he had made an end of offering, he returned again to the camp. The next day since he was unable to capture Attalus, he brought his forces to Nicephorium, which was near the walls of Pergamos. He began to pillage all the temples and rifled and ransacked the images and statues of the gods. At last even the image of Esculapius, to whom the day before he had offered so many vows and sacrifices was not spared. It was an excellent piece made by Philomachus or Phyromachus. He had his soldiers carry it away. From there he marched with his army to Elaea. He tried to besiege the city. He saw that this was not going to be successful because Sosander, the foster brother to Attalus was in the city with a strong garrison and drove him off. He went away by ship to Thyatira. On the way he sacked the temple of Diana in Hiera Cume. The temple of Apollo Cynius at Temnus was sacked and burned to the ground. When he had done this, he returned home. He had lost most of his foot soldiers to famine and a disease of a bloody flux. He had no better luck with his fleet. A violent storm in Propontis wrecked most of his ships and most of the soldiers and mariners drowned. The rest were cast on shore. (Polyb. & Diod. Sic. in Excerpt. Valesii, p. 169, 170. & 337. cum Snidas. in Voce.)

3562. After Attalus had been beaten by Prusias, he sent his brother Athenaeus along with Publius Lentulus to tell the senate what had happened to him. (Polyb. Legat. 128.)

3563. After these two had told the senate of Prusias' deeds, the senators immediately ordered that C. Clausius Cento, L. Hortensius and C. Aurunculeius should go as ambassadors with Lentulus. They were to order Prusias to stop his hostilities against Attalus. (Polyb. Legat. 129.)

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3564. When P. Scipio and Marcus Marcellus were consuls, the Athenians sent three of the most famous philosophers of that age, as ambassadors to the senate and people of Rome. Carneades an academic from Cyrene, Diogenes the stoic from Babylon, and Critolaus the peripatic, were sent to obtain a release of the fine of 500 talents. This was the judgment of the Sicyonians and ordered by the senate for their devastation of Oropus. When they were brought into the senate, they used Caecilius, or C. Acilius a senator for their interpreter. Although a little before, each of them had shown their abilities and discoursed in a great assembly of people. At that time, Rutilius and Polybius stated that it was admirable to hear the eloquence of those three philosophers as they spoke. Carneades was hot and fiery, Critolaus was witty and smooth and Diogenes grave and sober in his style. Clitomachus in his history written in Greek, relates, how that Carneades to whom Clitomachus was the speaker and Diogenes the stoic stood before the senate in the capitol. A. Albinus, who was then the praetor said in jest to Carneades:

``I seem not (O Carneades) in your eyes as if I were a praetor, because I am not a philosopher, nor Rome a city, nor its people citizens.''

3565. He replied:

``This stoic perhaps takes you for no such person.''

3566. As soon as Carneades was finished speaking, Cato the Censor thought it best to send away those ambassadors immediately because, while he argued the truth could not easily be discerned. The fame of those philosophers spread all over the city and the Roman youth set aside all other pleasures and delights and followed as if they were mad after philosophy. Cato, feared lest the youth should make all their studies this way and esteem the glory of eloquence more than of action and martial discipline. He moved that all philosophers should be sent out of the city in a civil manner. When he came into the senate, he rebuked the senators because they allowed those ambassadors who were able to persuade them what they pleased, to stay so long among them without an answer. Therefore he advised also that they would without further delay conclude and decree something concerning the embassy so that they might send them home to argue among their young Greeks and not to spoil the youth of Rome. These were to be made to strictly obey the laws and magistrates as in former times. (Cicero. in Lucullo. & Tulculan. quest. l. 4. & l. 2. de oratore. Pliny l. 7. c. 30. Plutar. in Catone. Malore. A. Gellius l. 7. c. 14. Maccab. l. 1. Saturnal. c. 5.)

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3567. At the same time that the senate sent Qu. Opimius, the consul, to wage war with the Oxybians of Ligurea (of which Polybius makes mention in the 134th embassy) Ptolemy the younger (Euergetes) came to Rome. No sooner had he entered the senate than he accused his brother Philometor of setting an ambush for him. He showed his scars of the wounds he had received. He tried to use inflamed language to stir up the people and to create sympathy for him. Ptolemy the older sent Neolaidas and Andromachus as ambassadors to answer the charges made by his brother. The senate would not allow them to speak because they seemed to believe what the other brother had said. They were commanded to leave Rome immediately. Five ambassadors were selected among whom were Cn. Merula and L. Thermus. To each were assigned ships of five tiers of oars. Their commission was to go along with the younger Ptolemy and give him Cyprus. They wrote also to their allies in Greece and Asia to help Ptolemy recover Cyprus. (Polyb. Legat. 132.)

3568. When the ambassadors from Rome were come to Prusias, they forbid him in the senate's name to take any more hostile action against Attalus, an ally and confederate of the Romans. They charged him strictly, either to submit to the senate's decree or to come with 1000 cavalry to the borders and there to argue the case with Attalus who was coming there with the same number. He saw Attalus' small retinue and hoped to surprise him. He sent his agents a little before him as if intending to follow after with his 1000 men. However, he drew up his whole army as if he had come to fight and not to talk. Attalus and the Roman delegates were warned and hurried away. However, Prusias seized the Roman wagons, took Nicephorum and demolished it. He burned the temples that were in it and forced Attalus with the Roman delegates to flee to Pergamos for refuge which he besieged. (Appian. in Mithridaticis, p. 172.)

3569. When Hortensius and Autunculeius returned from Pergamos to Rome, they declared with what great contempt Prusias had received the injunctions of the senate. Contrary to the league between them, he used all violence against them and Attalus after he had besieged them in Pergamos. The senators were so highly displeased and moved by this affront that they decreed that 10 ambassadors should immediately be sent. Among them were L. Anicius, C. Fannius, and Q. Fabius Maximus. These were ordered to end the war and to compel Prusias to make satisfaction of Attalus for the damages he had sustained by this war. (Polybius, Legat. 133.)

3570. While it was still winter, Attalus gathered a large army. Ariarathes and Mithridates his confederates had sent both foot soldiers and cavalry, under the command of Demetrius, Ariarathes' son. While Attalus was preparing for war, the Roman ambassadors met him at Quada. After they had talked with him, they went directly to Prusias. As soon as they came there, they told him he displeased the senate greatly. Prusias promised he would do some things the senate required of him but denied most of them. Thereupon, the Roman ambassadors to whom he had given great offence by his obstinacy, renounced that amity and alliance which had been formerly between them. They all left him and journeyed to Attalus. Prusias repented of what he had done and went after the ambassadors. He begged and beseeched them for a long time. When he saw no good would come of this, he let them go and returned home. He did not know what to do. In the meantime, the Romans advised Attalus to stay within his kingdom with his army and not commit any act of hostility against anybody. He should secure his own cities and villages from invasion. The ambassadors went their separate ways. Some went to Rome to tell the senate of King Prusias' pertinency. Others went into the country of Ionia and others to the Hellespont and adjacent lands to Byzantium. All of them went with the plan of making the rulers break their alliance with Prusias and join Attalus to help him in whatever way they could. (Polyb. Legat. 135.)

3571. Atheneus, Attalus' brother, came soon after this with a large fleet of 80 ships with decks. 5 came from the Rhodians that had been used in the war in Crete. 20 came from the Cyziceneans, 27 from Attalus, the rest were from his confederates. He sailed directly to the Hellespont. Any cities he sailed past that were under Prusias' command, he went ashore and wasted their countries. (Polyb. Legat. 136.)

3572. As soon as the senate had heard their ambassadors who returned from Prusias, they sent three others, Appius Claudius, Lucius Oppius and Aulus Posthumus. When they arrived in Asia, they concluded the war and prevailed with both the kings to agree on these conditions.

``Prusias would immediately give Attalus 20 ships with decks. He would pay him 500 talents over 20 years. Each should keep what they had before the start of the war. Moreover, Prusias was to make good the damages which he did to the countries of the Methymneans, Egans, Cumai, and Heracleots and to pay to them 100 talents.''

3573. After the covenants were signed by both parties, Attalus returned home with all the forces he had brought either by sea or land. (Polyb. Legat. 175.) When Prusias, saw his subjects hated him for his tyranny and how his son Nicomedes was loved by them, he grew jealous of his son and sent him away to Rome to live there. (Appian. in Mithridatic. p. 173.)

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3574. When Antioch revolted from Demetrius Soter, Orophernes entered into a league with them and plotted how to dethrone him. He was recently restored to his kingdom. When Demetrius knew of his plans, he spared his life lest Ariarathes should be freed from the fear of war from his brother. However, he seized him and commanded him to be kept as a prisoner at Seleucia. Those of Antioch were not put off by the discovery of the plot but applied themselves all the more to their plan. They allied themselves with Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, Attalus, the king of Asia and Ariarathes of Cappadocia who was attacked by Demetrius. The men of Antioch bribed a certain obscure youth, a foreigner who was to lay claim to the kingdom of Syria, as being his father's kingdom. He was to try to recover it by force. So that the affront might be complete, they called him Alexander and said that he was son of King Antiochus. Such was the universal hatred of Demetrius that his rival had conferred on him by the consent of all the strength and power befitting a king and the royalty of extraction. (Justin l. 35. c. 1.)

3575. Livy (l. 52) says of this Alexander:

``to have been an obscure person and whose descent was not very well known,''

3576. Athenaeus (l. 5. c. 10.) styles him:

``the supposed son of Antiochus Epiphanes.''

3577. Appian says:

``one who added himself into the family of those that were descended from Seleucus''

3578. In the Syriac. (p. 31.) Sulpitius Severus:

``A youth raised at Rhodes who falsely bragged of himself that he was son of Antiochus.''(Histor. Sacra. l. 2.)

3579. Strabo, (l. 16. p. 751.) surnamed him Balas and Josephus, (l. 13. c. 8.) Balles.

3580. In the middle of the summer, Heraclides, whom Antiochus Epiphanes formerly had appointed over the treasury at Babylon, brought Alexander with him to Rome along with Laodice, the daughter of Antiochus Epiphanes his daughter. While he stayed at Rome, he wore the clothes of some great person and did all things very subtilly, purposely stretching out the time and hoped to incline the senate to favour his plans. (Polyb. Legat. 138.)

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3581. While Attalus, the son of King Eumenes (in whose name his uncle Attalus governed the kingdom of Pergamos) was yet a child, he came to Rome to ingratiate himself with the senate and renew that friendship and right of hospitality which formerly had been between his father and the people of Rome. He was treated with most extraordinary civility by the senate. His father's friends received an answer to his own heart's wish. He was given honours as were suitable for a child of his age. Within a few days, he returned from Rome. All the cities of Greece through which he passed, received him with great devotion and magnificence. (Polyb. Legat. 140.)

3582. Demetrius, later called Nicator, son of the then reigning Demetrius Soter in Syria, was at the same time at Rome. His reception was ordinary since he was a child and he did not stay long. (Polyb. Legat. 140.)

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3583. Heraclides stayed a long time at Rome and came into the senate with Laodice and Alexander (Balas). First the youngster made a short speech and desired that the Romans would be pleased to remember that friendship and alliance which had been formerly between them and his father Antiochus and that would help him recover his kingdom. Failing that, he asked permission to return to Syria and that they would not oppose any of those who were ready to help him regain his father's kingdom. Heraclides spoke next. After he had extolled the merits of Antiochus for a long time, he condemned Demetrius (Soter). He concluded that it was right and just to grant unto the youth (Alexander) and to Laodice, who were the lawful seed of King Antiochus, permission to return to their country. Very little if anything he said was liked by the sober-minded senators who thought all he had spoken was a fiction. They utterly detested Heraclides. The lowest of the senators, whom Heraclides by his delusions had made his friends, all agreed that a decree of the senate should be made to this end:

``The senate had given to Alexander and Laodice, children of a king who was a friend and an associate of the people of Rome, permission to return to their father's kingdom by right of former inheritance and to assist them according to their decrees.''

3584. Thereupon Heraclides presently hired soldiers and drew a very large number of persons to his side. He came to Ephesus where he began with all earnestness to prepare for the war he had so long planned. (Polyb. Legat. 140.)

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3585. In the 160th year of the kingdom of the Greeks, Alexander (Balas) who pretended to be the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, captured Ptolemais, a city of Phoenicia. It was betrayed to him by the soldiers who were garrisoned there. /APC 1Ma 10:1 (Joseph. l. 13. c. 3.) They detested Demetrius' behaviour because he was of a harsh disposition and very insolent. He secluded himself and did not care about public matters but trifled his time away in idleness.

3586. When Demetrius Soter heard that Alexander was received into Ptolemais, and began to reign there, he mustered together a very large force, and planned to march against him and fight with him. /APC 1Ma 10:1,2 After Demetrius considered the hazards of the war, he sent two of his sons, Demetrius Nicator and Antiochus Sideres who were later kings of Syria, with a great amount of gold to his army at Cnidus. This was to protect them should the war turn out badly. If that happened, they should live to avenge their father's quarrel. (Livy l. 52. Justin. l. 35. c. 2.)

3587. Demetrius wrote letters to Jonathan to renew peace with him and gave him authority to levy forces and to provide arms that he might help him in the war against Alexander. He ordered that the hostages who were kept in the fort, should be released. When Jonathan read the letters publicly at Jerusalem, those who held the fort feared and turned over the hostages to him and he gave them to their parents. /APC 1Ma 10:3-9