What was the first intercourse between the Jews and the Romans?

The interval of tranquillity which succeeded the death of Nicanor, was rendered memorable by the first transactions of the Jews with the Romans.

That wonderful people had already extended A. C. 163. their fame to the remotest nations, and had commenced the subjugation of the world. Their interference in the affairs of Asia had produced the most important consequences, the haughtiest monarchs trembled at their frown, and the sovereigns of Syria, the oppressors of the Jews, had been compelled in the most humiliating manner to crouch before their formidable power. Who were so likely to assist the Jews in their gallant struggle for independence and freedom as the conquerors of Carthage and Macedonia? Eupolemus and Jason were sent to Rome, the senate readily accepted their proposals, a strict alliance was formed, and a letter was sent to Demetrius, commanding him to forbear from all hostilities against the Jews, and threatening him with the vengeance of the republic if he did not comply with the decree.

Was the fate of Judas Maccabæus decided before the return of the Jewish ambassadors to Rome?

A. C. 161.

The fate of Judas was decided before the ambassadors of the Jews had returned. Bacchides and Alcimus with the best troops in the Syrian army were sent into Judæa. All the soldiers of Judas forsook him, with the exception of eight hundred men. He was surrounded by the enemy, from morning until evening he resisted the whole force of the Syrians, at length he was overwhelmed by numbers and was slain upon a heap of his enemies who had fallen beneath his arm. Judas Maccabæus was one of the greatest men who ever lived in any age or in any nation. His wonderful exploits cast into the shade "all Greek, all Roman fame;" his mental endowments appear to have corresponded with his undaunted and enterprising valour; he was as skilful in design, as he was successful in execution; in the short space of six years, under his influence, and by his example, a race of trembling and miserable fugitives became invincible warriors; he

was as zealous in the cause of religion, as he was devoted to the best interests of his country; and he was not only a hero and a patriot, but he was the servant of his God and an illustrious type of the Messiah. His body was saved from the insults of his enemies by his two brothers Jonathan and Simon, and was buried at Modin in the sepulchre of his father.

SECTION II.

ADMINISTRATION OF JONATHAN AND SIMON.

WHO succeeded Judas Maccebæus in the command of the Jews, and what was his exploits?

JONATHAN, the brother of Judas, succeeded him in the command of the forces of the Jews, who were now oppressed by the insults of Alcimus and the cruelties of Bacchides. The first exploit of Jonathan was to avenge the death of his brother John, who had been killed by the Jambrian Arabs. Bacchides soon heard that he was in arms, and succeeded in cooping him up by the banks of the Jordan. Although Jonathan had nearly reached Bacchides with the intention of terminating the war by the death of the Syrian general, he was so oppressed by superior numbers, that he and his gallant soldiers were compelled to plunge into the river to escape. The defeat of Jonathan was followed by the death of Alcimus, who sacrilegiously demolishing a part of the walls of the temple, was struck with a mortal disease which carried him off, after he had sustained the office of high-priest four years. perseverance of Jonathan wearied out the patience of Bacchides. He became disgusted with the war; Jonathan whose prudence was equal to his bravery, knowing the state of his mind, succeeded in forming with him a treaty of peace; and Bacchides, A. C. 158. who appears to have been the best of the Syrian generals, troubled Judæa no more. Jonathan now being master of the principal part of Judæa, immediately applied himself to restore some degree of order and prosperity to a country which had so long

The

been desolated with all the ravages of war; and with an authority which resembled that of the ancient Judges, he administered at Michmash, the affairs of the church and of the state.

What at this period were the revolutions in Syria?

All Syria was in commotion. Alexander Balas, who pretended to be the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, contended with Demetrius Soter for the possession of the throne. Both the competitors for the crown, fully aware of the valour and abilities of Jonathan, applied for his support; Jonathan declared for Alexander, made himself master of the city of Jerusalem, though the forces of Demetrius still held the citadel; received from Alexander the investiture in the office of highpriest; the people united in the verdict of the prince, and Jonathan, on the ensuing feast of tabernacles, appeared in the pontificial robes and immediately entered upon the functions of an office to which by descent, as well as by distinction and services, he had an equitable claim. Jonathan publicly received the highest honours from Alexander, when that king celebrated at Ptolemais his nuptials with the daughter of the sovereign of Egypt; he proved his gratitude by overthrowing Apollonius who had revolted from Alexander, and by capturing Joppa and Azotus, cities which formed a part of the government of the rebel general.

A. C. 152.

What was the conduct of Jonathan amidst these revolutions?

The prudence of Jonathan was tried by the changes which took place in the sovereignty of Syria; Alexander Balas was dethroned by Demetrius Nicator son of Demetrius Soter; and soon afterwards lost his life by the treachery of an Arab prince. The Jewish highpriest assisted the new Syrian monarch by sending him three thousand Jewish soldiers, who rescued him from a dangerous sedition, and from the rage of his exasperated people, who had beseiged him in his palace. But the chicanery and ingratitude of Demetrius alienated the regard of Jonathan; and when Antiochus Theos, the son of Alexander Balas, by the agency of Tryphon ascended the Syrian throne, Jona

than engaged in his cause with all his influence and valour.

Did Jonathan devote himself to his countrymen?

This great man devoted all his diligence and abilities to the benefit of the Jews, he repaired the forts of Judæa, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, by some new works he effectually cut off the garrison of the Syrian fortress from the city, he renewed the alliance which had been made by his brother with the Romans, and when he died, he left Judæa in a better state of security from foreign invasion than had been known from the time of the restoration.

In what manner was the death of Jonathan accomplished?

A. C. 144.

The death of Jonathan was accomplished by an act of the basest and most inhuman treachery. Tryphon, already mentioned, became desirous of dethroning Antiochus, and of placing the crown upon his own head. But knowing that the young monarch was secure so long as he was aided by the counsels and the power of Jonathan, he determined to perpetrate one of the most abominable deeds of murderous perfidy on record. He enticed the unsuspicious high-priest and a thousand of his attendants to enter within the walls of Ptolemais; the brutal ruffian then murdered all the inferior Jews, and having extorted a large sum from Judæa by way of a ransom for Jonathan, he had no sooner pocketed it than he put him to death. Jonathan proved himself, by an administration of seventeen years, to be worthy of his father and his brother; and the great and general mourning which prevailed for many days over all Israel, testified the respect of his countrymen for his virtues, and their sorrow for his loss.

Who after the death of Jonathan sustained the cause of the Jews?

The consternation of the Jews at the murder of Jonathan, and the evidently hostile intentions of Tryphon, was alleviated by the eloquence and address of Simon, the only surviving son of Mattathias, who was elected amidst the acclamations of the people their

high-priest and commander. The march of Tryphon, who was proceeding to relieve the Syrian garrison in the citadel of Jerusalem, was arrested by a great fall of snow, and that remorseless ruffian returned into Syria to embrue his hands in the blood of his sovereign and to seize upon the vacant throne. The body of Jonathan, on the departure of Tryphon, was interred by the fraternal care of Simon, in the sepulchre of his father and brothers at Modin.

Give a general character of the administration of Simon.

The zealous and unremitting attention of Simon, was laboriously directed to the security, the happiness, and the prosperity of Judea. He obtained from Demetrius, the lawful king of Syria, though stripped of almost all his dominions by Tryphon, the full recognition of the independence of his country; he renewed his alliance with the Romans; he took the cities of Joppa and Gaza, the garrisons of which had continually infested the vicinity; and he gained possession of A. C. 142. the fortress which for twenty-five years the

Syrians had occupied in the heart of Jerusalem-an event which diffused general exultation and joy.

Whose party in the civil wars of Syria was espoused by Simon?

Antiochus Sidetes, the brother of Demetrius Nicanor, was engaged in driving Tryphon from the kingdom of Syria. A tyrannical and murderous usurper is every where hated, and never fails to experience the infidelity and abandonment of the instruments of his crimes. Tryphon was forsaken by his troops, Antiochus besieged him with an immense army in the city of Dora in Phoenicia; and Simon, both from a sense of justice and from policy, sent him two thousand chosen men to assist him in the capture of the execrable traitor. Antiochus insultingly sent back the troops; and Athenobius, his ambassador, demanded in his name the restoration of Gazara, Joppa, and the citidal of Jerusalem, and the payment of unreasonable sums of money, either as a reparation for pretended injuries, or as a tribute for some specified cities. The answer of Simon, who positively refused to restore the citadel of

But