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
CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY
HENRY COTTON, D.C.L.
ARCHDEACON OF CASHEL,
AND DECEASED STUDENT AT CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD
OXFORD, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. MDCCCXXXII.
TO
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS, VAN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, TO WHOSE VALUABLE LIBRARY I HAD THE MOST GENEROUS ACCESS, THE PRESENT PUBLICATION IS ENGRAVED, IN TESTIMONY OF RESPECT AND REGARD.
THE
SECOND BOOK
OF
MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST
CHAPTER VI.
B.C.164
The death of Antiochus Epiphanes.
The wars of Judas.
The heroic act of Eleazar.
About that time, king Antiochus travelling through the high countries a, heard say, that Elymais b in the country of Persia, was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver and gold : and that the temple c which was in it was very rich, wherein were coverings of gold, and breast-plates, and shields, which Alexander son of Philip the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left there. Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, because the design was made known to them of the city. And they revolted against him in battle: so, he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, to return to Babylon. Moreover, there came one who brought him tidings
into Persia, that the armies which went against the land of Judah were put to flight: and that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power, was driven away by the Jews; and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten from the armies, whom they had destroyed: also that they had 7 pulled down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and his city Bethsura. And it came to pass when the king heard these words, he was astonished, and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for. And there he continued many days: g for his grief was constantly renewed upon him, and he made account that he should die. Where-
fore he called for all his friends and said unto them. The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care. And I thought with myself, into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it wherein now I am! for I was thought bountiful, and was beloved in my power: but now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver which were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judaea without a cause. I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles to come upon me and behold I perish through great grief in a strange land. Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, whom he made ruler over all his realm. And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet-ring, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus and nourish him up for the kingdom. So, king
Antiochus died there d in the hundred forty and ninth year. Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son (whom he had brought up, being young) to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator.
About this time, they which were in the tower, were shutting up the Israelites round about the sanctuary B.C. 163, and seeking always their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen. Wherefore Judas purposed to destroy them, and called all the people together, to besiege them. So, they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot e against them, and other engines. Howbeit, certain of them escaped from the siege, and to them some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves. And they went unto the king, and said, how long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge us; our brethren? We have been willing to serve thy father, and to walk after his decrees, and to obey his commandments; for which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from moreover, as many of us as were found were put to death, and our inheritances were plundered. Neither have they stretched out their hand against
us only, but also against all their borders. And behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuary also, and Bethsura have they fortified. Wherefore, if thou dost not prevent them quickly, they will do greater things than these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.
Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered all his friends, and the captains of his army, and those who had charge of the horse. There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers that the number of his army was a hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants exercised in battle. These went through Idumaea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war; but they of Bethsura came out and burnt them with fire, and fought valiantly. Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias f, over against the king’s camp. Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets. and to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed g them the blood of grapes and mulberries.
Moreover, they divided the beasts among the companies; and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best. These were ready on every occasion: wheresoever the beast was they were, and whither soever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him. And upon the beasts there were strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with there were also upon everyone, and thirty-two h strong men i who fought upon them, be sides the Indian who ruled him. As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side, at the two parts of the host, stirring them up k and covering their flanks with them. Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glittered therewith and shined like lamps of fire. So, part of the king’s army was spread upon the high mountains, and part on the valleys below, and they marched on
safely, and in order. Wherefore all who heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.
Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were slain of the king’s’ army six hundred men. Eleazar also, surnamed Avaran l, perceived that one of the beasts, armed with a royal breast-plate, was higher than all the rest; and supposing that the king was upon him, he devoted himself, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name wherefore he ran upon him courageously into the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides. Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died. Howbeit, the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the spirit of his forces turned away from them.
Then the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judaea, and against mount Sion. But with them which were in Bethsura he made peace: and they came out of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land. So, the king took Bethsura and set a garrison there to keep it. And he encamped against the sanctuary many days: and set their mounts for shot, and engines, and instruments to
cast fire and stones, and scorpions m to cast darts, and slings. Whereupon they also made engines against their engines and held them battle a long season. But at the last there were no victuals in the vessels n, because it was the seventh year, and those who fled from the Gentiles into Judaea to save themselves, had eaten up the residue of the store. And there were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were scattered, every man to his own place.
At that time Lysias heard that Philip (whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived, had appointed o to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king) was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king’s host also which went with him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of affairs. Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king, and the captains of the host, and the company. We decay daily, and our victuals are but small, and the place we lay siege unto is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us. Now therefore let us be friends with these men and make peace with them and with all their nation and covenant with them, that they shall live after their laws, as they did before: for on account of their laws which we abolished, they have been angered and have done all these things. And the saying
pleased the king and the princes: wherefore he sent unto them to make peace, and they accepted thereof. Also, the king and the princes made an oath unto them: whereupon they went out of the strong hold. Then the king entered mount Sion, but when he saw the strength of the place, he brake his oath which he had made and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about. Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antiochia, where he found Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by force p.
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