CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE
THIRD BOOK
OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE OCCURRENCES OF ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS, NAMELY, FROM THE ACCESSION OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES TO THE DEATH OF NICANOE.
At the beginning are inserted two letters written at a later period; and likewise, the history of Heliodorus’ attempt to plunder the Temple.
CHAPTER V
B.C.170
Jason’s cruelties, and death. Antiochus defeats the Jews and plunders the temple.
About the same time Antiochus prepared his second a expedition into Egypt: and then it happened, that through all the city, for the space almost of forty days, there were seen horsemen b running in the air, robed in cloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of soldiers; and troops of horsemen in array, encountering and running one against another, with shaking of
shields, and multitude of pikes, and drawing of swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden ornaments, and armour of all sorts. Wherefore every man prayed, that that apparition might turn to good.
Now when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason took not less than a thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city: and they which were upon the walls, being drawn back, and the city at length taken, Menelaus fled into the castle. But Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, (not considering that success against his own kindred would be the worst kind of success c; but thinking that he was erecting trophies over his enemies, and not over his own countrymen.) Howbeit, for all this he obtained not the authority, but at the last received shame for the reward of his treason and fled again d into the country of the Ammonites. In the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused e before Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as a for-saker of the laws; and being had in abomination, as a public executioner of his country and countrymen, he was cast out- into Egypt. Thus he, who had driven many out of their country, perished in a strange land, retiring to the Lacedaemonians, and thinking there to find shelter, by reason of his
kindred. And he who had cast out many unburied, had none to mourn for him, nor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre with his fathers.
Now when this which was done came to the king s ear, he thought that Judaea had revolted whereupon removing out of Egypt f in a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms; and commanded his men of war to cut down unsparingly such as they met, and to slay such as went up upon the houses. Thus, there was killing of young and old, making away of men, women, and children, slaying of virgins and infants. And there were destroyed within the space of three whole days, fourscore thousand; whereof forty thousand were slain in the conflict ; and no fewer were sold than slain. Yet was he not content with this, but presumed to go into the most holy temple of all the world; having for his guide Menelaus, that traitor to the laws and to his country. And taking the holy vessels with polluted hands, and with profane hands pulling down the things which had been dedicated by other kings to the augmentation, and glory, and honour of the place, he gave them away g. And so haughty was Antiochus in in mind, not considering that the Lord was angry for a while for the sins of them who dwelt in the city, and therefore his eye was not upon the place. For had they not been formerly wrapped in many sins, this man, as soon as he had come, had forth with been scourged, and turned back from his presumption, as Heliodorus was, who was sent by Seleucus the king to inspect the treasury. Nevertheless,
God did not choose the people for the place’s sake, but the place for the people’s sake. And therefore the place itself, which was partaker with them of the adversity which happened to the nation, did afterward communicate in the benefits sent from the Lord: and as it was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty, so again, the great Lord being reconciled, it was reestablished with all glory.
So, when Antiochus had carried out h of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antiochia; weening in his pride to make the land navigable, and the sea passable on foot i: such was the haughtiness of his mind. And he left governors to vex the nation: at Jerusalem, Philip, for his country a Phrygian, and for manners more barbarous than he who placed him there; and at Garizim, Andronicus ; and besides, Menelaus, who, worse than all the rest, bare an heavy hand over the citizens, having a malicious mind against his countrymen the Jews. He sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius k, (B.C.168). with an army of two and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those who were in their best age, and to sell the women, and the younger persons. Who coming to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, did forbear till the holy day of the sabbath; when taking the Jews keeping holy day, he commanded his men to arm themselves. And so he slew all them which were gone to the
public worship; and running through the city with weapons, slaughtered great multitudes. But Judas Maccabaeus, with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew himself into the wilderness l; and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually, that they might not be partakers of the pollution.
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