of the elder brother, but reserved in his own hands Pelusium, the key of the country. After his depar ture, the brothers were reconciled, through the influence of Cleopatra their sister, by which means peace was restored to Egypt; the youngest brother having yielded the throne to Philometor.

309. As soon as Antiochus heard of this revolution, he was filled with rage; for he had laid his plans to set them at war with each other, by which means he hoped the country would fall an easy prey to himself. He, therefore, sent a large fleet to Cyprus, from which island he designed to invade Egypt. This he soon after did, and having reduced it, as far as Memphis, laid siege to Alexandria, which he would have taken, had he not been met by a Roman embassy, which put an end to all his fond hopes of subduing Egypt.

310. As Popilius, the chief of this embassy, had been an intimate friend of Antiochus, when he resided, in his younger days, at Rome, he offered to embrace him in a friendly manner; but Popilius drew back, and told him that private friendship must yield to the public interest; and when he observed that Antiochus wished to gain time and not to give an immediate answer, he took his staff, and making a circle round him in the sand, preremptorily told him, that he should not move out of that circle, until he had given his reply.

311. This interposition of the Romans was brought about by an embassy to Rome from Cleopatra and Ptolemy Physcon, during the former siege of Alexandria. The embassadors, on that occasion, represented the dangerous height of power to which Antiochus was likely to arise, if Egypt should be added to the other countries under his dominion.

312. Antiochus, enraged at the failure of his design

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upon Egypt, but not daring to resit the Roman power which was now growing formidable in Greece, where Paulus Emilius had just obtained a great victory over the Macedonians, turned his wrath against Judea. On his march homeward from Egypt, he detached from his army two and seventy thousand men, and sent them, under the command of Apollonius, to destroy Jerusalem.

313. The arrival of Apollonius at the holy city was just two years after Antiochus had been there himself, as related above. At first he behaved peaceably, until the Sabbath arrived, when, the people being all collected in their Synagogues, he let loose his soldiers among them; giving them orders to kill all the men, and seize the women and children, that they might be sold as slaves. This order was executed with the most horrid cruelty. The streets of Jerusalem were made to swim with the blood of its innocent inhabitants. None were spared whom the soldiers could lay hands on.

314. Having completed this work of destruction, Apollonius spoiled the city of all its riches, pulled down the walls, and set fire to it in several places. Out of the ruins of the walls he built a strong fortress over against the temple, so as completely to command that edifice. In this fortress he placed a strong garrison, and there deposited great quantities of arms and munitions of war, together with the spoils which he had taken from the city.

315. From this fortress, the garrison attacked all who came up to the temple with their sacrifices, or to worship, and shed their blood around the courts and the altar; so that in a little time, the service of the temple fell into neglect; for no one dust come up thither to make his offerings according to the law; and

in this condition did affairs remain for three years and a half.

316. At this time many of the pious Jews fled into the wilderness, where they concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks, living upon herbs and such scanty provisions, as the wilderness afforded.

317. Antiochus, after his return to Antioch, issued a decree, that all the nations within his dominions, should worship the same gods which he did. This was particularly intended for the destruction of the Jews, not only those in Palestine, but also those who were scattered through the surrounding countries.

318. The heathen conformed, without scruple, to the king's edict, as one form of idolatry was as good, in their view, as another. The Samaritans, also, who were forward, when the Jews were in prosperity, to claim kindred with them, now pretended that they were of Sidonian origin, and manifested no opposition to conforming to the king's edict. The whole weight of this decree, therefore, fell on the afflicted Jews. The Samaritans, moreover, petitioned, that their temple, on Mount Gerizzim might henceforth be dedicated to the Grecian Jupiter; which being favorably received by Antiochus, he sent Nicanor to Samaria, to see that it was done according to their wish.

319. It is also a melancholy truth, that under this grievous persecution, many of the Jews also fell away into heathen idolatry, and became bitter enemies to the religion of their fathers; joining with the king in all his cruel persecutions of their brethren.

320. Antiochus showed that he was in good earnest in executing this decree; for he sent one Athenæus, an old man, well skilled in all the rites of the Gentiles, to carry it into full effect, in Judea and Samaria. All

sacrifices to the God of Israel were now prohibited, and all the observances of the Jewish religion were suppressed: their children were forbidden to be circumcised, and their law, wherever a copy could be found, was seized and destroyed. The temple itself was consecrated to Jupiter Olympus, whose image was set up over the altar of burnt-offerings, just before which they built a smaller altar, on which sacrifices were offered to Jupiter.

321. The same change was made in the public worship at Samaria, but with the full consent of the people. Their temple was dedicated to Jupiter, under the name of, Protector of Strangers.

322. The severity with which this cruel and impious decree was executed, will appear by the following narrative. Two women were discovered in Jerusalemto have circumcised their new-born sons. The officers suspended the children around the necks of their mothers, and then led them through the streets of Jerusalem, until coming to a high part of the wall, they precipitated them from the top, and slew all who had given any assistance in the performance of the sacred rite. With the same cruelty they persecuted all who were found practising any part of their old religion. And, to propagate paganism more effectually, chapels for idols were erected in every city, and sacrifices offered to their false deities. The feast of Bacchus was especially celebrated, in which the Jews were forced to join the procession, carrying in their hands. branches of ivy.

CHAPTER XIV.

ASMONEAN FAMILY OF MODIN-CONSTANCY OF MATTHIAS HE AND HIS FRIENDS TAKE REFUGE IN THE MOUNTAINS-MARTYRDOM OF ELEAZAR-OF THE MOTHER AND HER SEVEN SONS-ASSIDEANSANTIOCHUS AIMS TO DESTROY ALL COPIES OF THE LAW-DEATH OF MATTHIAS-JUDAS MACCABEUS -BOOKS OF THE MACCABEES-VICTORIES OF JUDAS

ANTIOCHS RESOLVES TO DESTROY THE WHOLE JEWISH NATION-WONDERFUL SUCCESS OF JUDAS -OCCUPIES AND DEDICATES ANEW THE TEMPLE-PROPHECIES RES-. PECTING ANTIOCUS EPIPHANES.

JERUSALEM-CLEANSES

323. WHILE these efforts were making utterly to suppress the Jewish religion, and to introduce the impure rites of heathenism, Apelles, one of the officers who had charge of this matter, came to the town of Modin, where Matthias a priest of the course of Joarib, had his residence. He was the son of John, the son of Simon, the son of Asmonæus; from whom the family had the name of Asmoneans. This man was truly zealous for the law of his God; and had five sons, all valiant men, and equally zealous for the law as himself. The names of these young men were, John, surnamed Kaddis, Simon call Thassi, Judas surnamed Maccabous, Eleazar named Avaran, and Jonathan whose surname was Apphus.

324. Apelles, having called together the inhabitants