difficulty, takes leave of him with these words: And as for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the brave acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written, for they were very many.' 165. JONATHAN (161–143). [1 MACC. IX. 23.—XIII. 30.] Bacchides, after his victory, showed no spirit of moderation. He searched out the adherents of Judas, insulted and persecuted them, and put many to death. So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.' But the race of the Asmoneans was not extinct. The spirit of Judas lived in his brothers, and the Jews appointed Jonathan as his successor in the leadership. Bacchides, indignant and alarmed at the election of another chief from the same hated family, determined to kill him. With this object in view he crossed the Jordan, where Jonathan had encamped near the well of Asphar. Not long before, his brother John had been assailed and slain in the southern desert by the children of Jambri, and to avenge his death, Jonathan lay in wait for a great marriage procession of the Jambrites, when he killed many men and women, and then returned to Asphar. Here Bacchides resolved to attack the Jews on a Sabbathday; but Jonathan, too wise to imperil his army by a narrow adherence to the letter of the Law, at once prepared for defence, and said to his men: Now let us go up and fight for our lives, since it does not stand with us as in time past. For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on this side and that side, the marsh likewise, nor is there a place for us to turn aside.' In the battle that ensued, Jonathan put Bacchides to flight, and killed a thousand of the enemy; and then he courageously swam with his men over the Jordan, whither the Syrians did not dare to follow him. But Demetrius now strongly garrisoned the principal towns of Judah, as Jericho, Emmaus, and Beth-horon, Beth-el, Timnah, Beth-zur, and Gazara; he took the most eminent men as hostages, and kept them prisoners in the citadel of Jerusalem. The infamous High-priest Alcimus, emboldened by the example of his Syrian protector, commanded the wall of the inner Court of the Temple to be pulled down; but the work of destruction had scarcely commenced when Alcimus was suddenly smitten with palsy, and he died soon afterwards in great torture (160). Bacchides now returned to Syria, and Judea enjoyed peace for two years. But there were traitors who felt uneasy under Jonathan's watchful supervision, and who went to Demetrius, urging him to send again an army into Judea. Bacchides came with a great host, and insidiously attempted to assassinate Jonathan and Simon. But his designs failed, and the brothers retreated with their followers to Beth-basi, in the desert, and fortified the place. Bacchides approached to attack the stronghold, whilst Jonathan made successful raids into the neighbouring territories. Simon, defending Beth-basi with the utmost vigour, made bold sallies upon the army of Bacchides, and burnt his materials of war. The Syrian general, sorely pressed, now vented his rage against those who had called him into the land, killed many of them, and prepared for departure. But Jonathan, in order to save the prisoners, offered him peace, which was accepted. Bacchides delivered up the prisoners, returned to Syria, and never appeared again in Judea. Jonathan, who was greatly honoured for his devotion to his country and for his valour, judged the people, and regulated the internal affairs of the land. But the kingdom of Syria itself was torn by the strife of factions. In the year 153, Alexander Bala, a son of Antiochus Epiphanes, laid claim to the throne, and his pretensions were favoured by the Romans. His uncle Demetrius, actively preparing against the dangerous revolt, sent messengers to Jonathan, reminded him of their treaty of peace, and demanded that the Jewish hostages who were kept prisoners on Mount Zion should be delivered up to him. But Jonathan, remembering the faithlessness and cruelty of Demetrius, restored the hostages to their parents and relations, fortified many cities, and expelled the heathens from the old strongholds, except from Beth-zur, where a large number of Syrians resisted with success. The pretender Alexander, hearing with admiration of the exploits of Jonathan, was anxious to secure such an ally, and sent him friendly greetings and overtures of peace, declared him High-priest, and presented him, in token of his respect, with a magnificent purple robe and a golden crown. Jonathan accepted the proposal, and on the Feast of Tabernacles appeared for the first time in his splendid pontifical vestments. Demetrius, alarmed by this alliance, and desirous to outbid his rival, sent again messengers to Jonathan, and, in order to tempt the Jews, made them the most alluring promises, offered them public grants for the service of the Temple, and immunity from all tribute, taxes, and tithes. But the Jews felt that these fair words were not to be relied upon; they declined to listen to Demetrius, and remained faithful to Alexander. Both Syrian kings now prepared for battle, in which Demetrius, though fighting bravely, was utterly routed and himself slain. Alexander was then firmly established on the throne of Syria, and in order to strengthen his position, he married Cleopatra, the daughter of the Egyptian king Ptolemy Physcon (151), and solemnised the wedding at Ptolemais with the greatest splendour. Jonathan arrived with rich presents at Ptolemais to offer his good wishes. He was treated by Alexander with distinction, and thus obtained a signal triumph over those treacherous Jews who had tried by calumny to rouse the new king's anger against him. But Syria was not long allowed to enjoy undisturbed tranquillity. A few years later (148), Demetrius, the son of the slain monarch of the same name, tried to regain When he had arrived from Crete the crown of his father. and landed in Syria, Alexander proceeded in haste and alarm to Antiochia. Demetrius appointed Apollonius his general, who, collecting a large force, especially of horsemen, insolently gave Jonathan the choice between war and unconditional submission, and without delay encamped before Jamnia. Jonathan, provoked by this audacity, marched with 10,000 chosen men to Joppa, which was garrisoned by the troops of Apollonius, besieged the town, and took it. Apollonius, desirous to fight in a plain, where his well-trained cavalry would be available, proceeded to Ashdod, whither he was followed by Jonathan. He had concealed in ambush 1,000 horsemen, who incessantly shot their arrows upon Jonathan's men; but these sustained the attack bravely, till Simon and his the enemy troops came to the rescue, and then they put to flight, many of whom sought refuge in the temple of Dagon in Ashdod. Jonathan pursued them, burnt the temple, and killed 8,000 Syrians. The town of Ashdod also and other neighbouring cities were destroyed by fire. The inhabitants of Ashkelon surrendered of their Jonathan now returned to Jerusalem laden own accord. with spoil. King Alexander, in a transport of joy and gratitude, overwhelmed Jonathan with marks of honour and respect, sent him splendid garments, and a golden buckle, such as was only worn by blood relations of the king, and gave him the town Ekron with its surrounding lands as his hereditary property. Soon afterwards, Ptolemy Physcon, basely conspiring against his son-in-law, marched out to conquer Syria. The towns of Palestine allowed him free passage by command of his unsuspecting son-in-law, who was just then absent, trying to enforce his authority in Cilicia. He visited the site of the burnt temple of Dagon in Ashdod; but he reservedly withheld all unfavourable remarks against the Jews. In Joppa he received the friendly greetings of Jonathan, and dismissed him with expressions of goodwill; but then, in the absence of Alexander, he easily conquered all the towns on the coast up to Seleucia. He sent messages to Demetrius requesting his alliance, and offering him in marriage his daughter Cleopatra, whom he had taken by force from the royal palace. When Demetrius assented, Ptolemy declared open war against his son-in-law. He entered the capital Antiochia, and placed upon his head the two crowns of Egypt and of Syria. Alexander, informed of these events, returned hastily and engaged in battle with Ptolemy. He was defeated, and escaped into Arabia, where he was killed by the chief Zabdiel, who sent his head to the usurper. But Ptolemy died a few days after the battle, and now the young Demetrius was proclaimed king of Syria (146). In the meantime Jonathan, profiting by the confusion in Syria, had besieged the citadel of Zion with great vigour, and had every hope of gaining this most important stronghold. But some of those traitors who were never wanting in Judea to damage the national cause, informed Demetrius of the impending danger, and accused Jonathan of arbitrary rule. The king, therefore, ordered the Jewish leader to desist from the siege, and to come without delay to Ptolemais for an interview. Jonathan, while giving directions for the active continuance of the siege, went to Ptolemais with rich presents of silver and gold 1 |