按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of seventy furlongs from the enemy； but the king soon drew his
forces from Bethsura； and brought them to those straits。 And as
soon as it was day； he put his men in battle…array； and made his
elephants follow one another through the narrow passes； because
they could not be set sideways by one another。 Now round about
every elephant there were a thousand footmen； and five hundred
horsemen。 The elephants also had high towers ＇upon their backs＇；
and archers ＇in them＇。 And he also made the rest of his army to
go up the mountains； and put his friends before the rest； and
gave orders for the army to shout aloud； and so he attacked the
enemy。 He also exposed to sight their golden and brazen shields；
so that a glorious splendor was sent from them； and when they
shouted the mountains echoed again。 When Judas saw this； he was
not terrified； but received the enemy with great courage； and
slew about six hundred of the first ranks。 But when his brother
Eleazar； whom they called Auran； saw the tallest of all the
elephants armed with royal breastplates； and supposed that the
king was upon him； he attacked him with great quickness and
bravery。 He also slew many of those that were about the elephant；
and scattered the rest； and then went under the belly of the
elephant； and smote him； and slew him； so the elephant fell upon
Eleazar； and by his weight crushed him to death。 And thus did
this man come to his end； when he had first courageously
destroyed manyof his enemies。
5。 But Judas； seeing the strength of the enemy； retired to
Jerusalem； and prepared to endure a siege。 As for Antiochus； he
sent part of his army to Bethsura； to besiege it； and with the
rest of his army he came against Jerusalem； but the inhabitants
of Bethsura were terrified at his strength； and seeing that their
provisions grew scarce；。 they delivered themselves up on the
security of oaths that they should suffer no hard treatment from
the king。 And when Antiochus had thus taken the city； he did them
no other harm than sending them out naked。 He also placed a
garrison of his own in the city。 But as for the temple of
Jerusalem； he lay at its siege a long time； while they within
bravely defended it； for what engines soever the king set against
them； they set other engines again to oppose them。 But then their
provisions failed them； what fruits of the ground they had laid
up were spent and the land being not ploughed that year；
continued unsowed； because it was the seventh year； on which； by
our laws； we are obliged to let it lay uncultivated。 And withal；
so many of the besieged ran away for want of necessaries； that
but a few only were left in the temple。
6。 And these happened to be the circumstances of such as were
besieged in the temple。 But then； because Lysias； the general of
the army； and Antiochus the king； were informed that Philip was
coming upon them out of Persia； and was endeavoring to get the
management of public affairs to himself； they came into these
sentiments； to leave the siege； and to make haste to go against
Philip； yet did they resolve not to let this be known to the
soldiers or to the officers： but the king commanded Lysias to
speak openly to the soldiers and the officers； without saying a
word about the business of Philip； and to intimate to them that
the siege would be very long； that the place was very strong；
that they were already in want of provisions； that many affairs
of the kingdom wanted regulation； and that it was much better to
make a league with the besieged； and to become friends to their
whole nation； by permitting them to observe the laws of their
fathers； while they broke out into this war only because they
were deprived of them； and so to depart home。 When Lysias had
discoursed thus to them； both the army and the officers were
pleased with this resolution。
7。 Accordingly the king sent to Judas； and to those that were
besieged with them； and promised to give them peace； and to
permit them to make use of； and live according to； the laws of
their fathers； and they gladly received his proposals； and when
they had gained security upon oath for their performance； they
went out of the temple。 But when Antiochus came into it； and saw
how strong the place was； he broke his oaths； and ordered his
army that was there to pluck down the walls to the ground； and
when he had so done； he returned to Antioch。 He also carried with
him Onias the high priest； who was also called Menelaus； for
Lysias advised the king to slay Menelaus； if he would have the
Jews be quiet； and cause him no further disturbance； for that
this man was the origin of all the mischief the Jews had done
them； by persuading his father to compel the Jews to leave the
religion of their fathers。 So the king sent Menelaus to Berea； a
city of Syria； and there had him put to death； when he had been
high priest ten years。 He had been a wicked and an impious man；
and； in order to get the government to himself； had compelled his
nation to transgress their own laws。 After the death of Menelaus；
Alcimus； who was also called Jacimus； was made high priest。 But
when king Antiochus found that Philip had already possessed
himself of the government； he made war against him； and subdued
him； and took him； and slew him。 Now as to Onias； the son of the
high priest； who； as we before informed you； was left a child
when his father died； when he saw that the king had slain his
uncle Menelaus； and given the high priesthood to Alcimus； who was
not of the high priest stock； but was induced by Lysias to
translate that dignity from his family to another house； he fled
to Ptolemy； king of Egypt； and when he found he was in great
esteem with him； and with his wife Cleopatra； he desired and
obtained a place in the Nomus of Heliopolis； wherein he built a
temple like to that at Jerusalem； of which therefore we shall
hereafter give an account； in a place more proper for it。
CHAPTER 10。
How Bacchides； The General Of Demetrius's Army； Made An
Expedition Against Judea； And Returned Without Success； And How
Nicanor Was Sent A Little Afterward Against Judas And Perished；
Together With His Army； As Also Concerning The Death Of Alcimus
And The Succession Of Judas。
1。 About the same time Demetrius； the son of Seleucus； fled away
from Rome； and took Tripoli； a city of Syria； and set the diadem
on his own head。 He also gathered certain mercenary soldiers
together； and entered into his kingdom； and was joyfully received
by all； who delivered themselves up to him。 And when they had
taken Autiochus the king； and Lysias； they brought them to him
alive； both which were immediately put to death by the command of
Demetrius； when Antiochus had reigned two years； as we have
already elsewhere related。 But there were now many of the wicked
Jewish runagates that came together to him； and with them Alcimus
the high priest； who accused the whole nation； and particularly
Judas and his brethren； and said that they had slain all his
friends； and that those in his kingdom that were of his party；
and waited for his return； were by them put to death； that these
men had ejected them out of their own country； and caused them to
b