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There lived in Modin, a small town of Judah, a man of the name of Mattathias, faithful to the Law, and ready to sacrifice his life in its cause. He was of priestly descent and belonged to the family of the Asmoneans. He had five sons worthy of his own patriotism-Joannan, surnamed Kaddis (the Pious); Simon, called Tassi (the Counsellor); Judas or Maccabæus (the Hammer); Eleazar or Avaran (the Wall-breaker); and Jonathan or Apphus (the Cunning). Mattathias was overwhelmed with grief by the acts of the Syrian tyrant, and he broke forth in a bitter lament: Woe is me! Wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the Sanctuary into the hand of strangers? The Temple is become as a man without glory, the holy vessels are carried away into captivity, the infants are slain in the streets, the young men with the sword of the enemy. What nation has not had a part in the kingdom, and taken of its spoils ? . . . Of a free woman it is become a bondslave. To what end therefore shall we live any longer?' He rent his garments and put on sackcloth, and his sons and friends mourned with him. About this time the king's commissioners, in their progress through the land, came to Modin, erected an altar, and ordered the people to sacrifice to the Syrian gods. They specially requested Mattathias, who stood in high respect among the people, to give the example, which they hoped would then be followed by others. The aged priest refused, and disdainfully declined all offers of wealth and distinction. Seeing one of the Jews about to sacrifice, he rushed upon him, burning with anger, and slew him with his own hands. He then killed the

king's principal messenger, and pulled down the altar, exclaiming in a loud voice, 'Whoever is zealous of the Law and maintains the Covenant, let him follow me!' This was the signal for revolt. Mattathias escaped from the city with his sons and a small number of his countrymen, and like David of old, they fled for refuge to the deserts of Judah they went with their wives and their children, their flocks and their herds. But they were soon pursued by the king's soldiers, who attacked them on a Sabbath. Unwilling to fight on the sacred day of rest, they said, 'Let us die all in our innocence; heaven and earth shall testify for us that you put us to death wrongfully.' A large number of them were slain on that day. Then they resolved in future to oppose the enemy, if necessary, on the Sabbath also, lest they be all destroyed. And so they did when they were attacked again, and they gained a great victory. Many Jews now came flocking round the standard of Mattathias. He traversed the country at the head of his valiant band, encouraged the wavering, destroyed the heathen altars, and restored the old laws and institutions. When he felt that his death was approaching, he spoke to his sons words of inspiriting heroism: Now, my sons, be zealous for the Law, and give your lives for the Covenant of your fathers. Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall you receive great honour and an everlasting name. Fear not, then, the words of a sinful man; for his glory shall be dung and worms. To-day he shall be lifted up, and to-morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned to his dust, and his thought is come to nothing. And, behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel; give ear to him always: he shall be a father to you. But as for Judas Maccabæus, he has been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain and fight the battle of the people.' Then Mattathias blessed his sons and died

(167), and he was buried in the grave of his ancestors at Modin, lamented by all Israel.

163. JUDAS MACCABEUS THE DELIVERER

(167—164).

[1 MACC. III. IV.; 2 MACC. VIII. 1.—X. 8.]

All the sons of Mattathias did honour to his name, but none of them rivalled Judas in nobility of mind and intrepid heroism. He is one of the grandest figures in all history, and has bequeathed an imperishable glory to the annals of the Jews. He not only revived the best days of ancient valour and patriotism, but he shed around his nation a new lustre by his unequalled self-sacrifice. His life is undimmed by a single stain, and well might the old historian say of him: He put on a breast-plate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles, protecting the hosts with his sword. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey: for he pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and consumed those that vexed his people. . . His memory is blessed for ever."

...

Many men of valour, inspired by the example of Judas, rallied round him, determined to save their country or to end their bondage by an honourable death. Under his leadership they swept through the land, restoring almost everywhere the ancestral worship. Then the Syrian governor Apollonius attacked Judas with a considerable. army, but he was defeated and killed, and Judas took from him his sword, which he thenceforth wore in all his battles. To avenge the death of Apollonius, the Syrian general Seron advanced with a large host, and encamped at Bethhoron. The Jewish soldiers trembled and desponded; but Judas addressed them in these words: It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a

few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude or a small company: for the victory of battle stands not in the multitude of a host; but strength comes from heaven. They march against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us and our wives and children, and to spoil us: but we fight for our lives and our laws. Wherefore the Lord Himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be not afraid of them.' Then he rushed on against the enemy, killed 1,800 of them, and put the rest to flight, who for the most part escaped into the land of the Philistines.

The fame of Judas was now established, and he and his brothers were the recognised leaders of the faithful patriots against the foreign oppressors. Such prodigies of valour had not been achieved since the days of the Judges and the great kings of Israel. A noble enthusiasm stirred the people, and the whole country resounded to the din of war. Antiochus, stung by the discomfiture of his armies, determined upon the extirpation of the contemptibly small band which had dared to defy his power. He gathered an immense host, and paid the soldiers their hire for a year in advance. But so lavish and extravagant had he been, that he had exhausted his treasury, and in order to replenish it, he crossed the Euphrates with a well-equipped army to enforce tribute from the subjected nations. He left behind as governor of the land and of his young son Antiochus, Lysias, a man of royal descent, and entrusted to him half of the Syrian forces, with the strict injunction to fight against the rebellious Jews, utterly to destroy them, and to distribute their land among Syrian settlers. Lysias appointed Ptolemy, Nicanor, and Gorgias his generals, and despatched them into Judea with 40,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry. Reinforcements were sent by the Philistines and other old enemies of the Jews. So confident were the Syrians of victory, that rich slave

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merchants accompanied the army with fetters for the captive Jews, ninety of whom were beforehand offered for one talent of silver. They encamped in the plain before Emmaus. But the Jews, hopeful and courageous, prepared for determined resistance. They did not assemble in Jerusalem, because this 'lay desolate as a wilderness, the Sanctuary was trodden down, and aliens kept the stronghold,' but they met for council in Mizpah, a holy place from the earliest time; and there they prayed and fasted and humbled themselves before God. Judas collected his men, about 3,000 in number, chose able captains, and when he arrived with his followers near Emmaus, he addressed them thus: Arm yourselves and be valiant men, and see that you be in readiness against the morning, that you may fight with these nations that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our Sanctuary. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our Sanctuary. Nevertheless as the will of God is in heaven, so let Him do.' The Syrian general Gorgias determined to attack the Jews at once; but these, led by Judas, left their camp secretly at night, surrounded the enemy, and, inspired by their leader, assailed them boldly, and spread among them such consternation that they wildly fled southward to Gaza and the plains of Idumæa, to Ashdod and Jamnia. Three thousand of the heathens were killed. The Jewish soldiers were eager to seize and carry away the rich spoil that lay before them; but Judas checked them; for, he said, he knew that more fighting awaited them that very day; and indeed soon afterwards Gorgias appeared with fresh troops; but when he saw the Syrian camp in flames, they also took flight, and escaped into the land of the Philistines. Joy and exultation prevailed among the Jews, and songs of praise rose to heaven. The booty was now taken and divided, and the Jewish army returned to Mizpah with increased self-reliance.