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VALIANT EXPLOIT8 OF JUDAS JIACHILUEGS. 213
CHAPTER LXXXV.
VaZicznt Exploits of J~icEns 113nc/mbttu. (160 B. C.)
It is caey for the Lorcl to save either by many or by few.-.I. 1Cili.ing84, G.
T the time when Antiocllus was thus cruelly persecuti~ig
A tho Jews, there aaa in Judes a prieat named Mathathias,
who had five sons. This zealous priest, having learned
that Antiochuv had profaned the tcmple, and nearly destroyed
the worship of thc truc God, was Gllcd with thc
deepest sorrow. IIe knew that the wicked king ~vould soon
succeed in hie impious dcsign if the Jews did not oilier s vigorous
resistance.
2. IIc, thcreforc, called upon all who had any zeal for tlic
laws of God to rise up, with hini, in defence of their sacred
~~iglits. Then he ancl his sons fled to tl~e mountains, whcrc
they were joined by the valiant rile11 of Ismel, and soon they
becarr~e a powerful army. They destroyed the altars of tlie
false goda, braveIy defcndd the Inw of the Lord, allcl conlpelled
the apostate Jews to leavc the country.
3. After the death of hlathathiss, Juclas, surnamed Machabeus,'
or the Harumerer, on account ol his invincible courage
and great valor, assumed the cornma~id of the Jewish army.
In battIo he sllowed himself bravo as tt lion-had several engagements
with the Syria11 generttIs, and recovered Jerusnlem
and the temple. With a. sorrowful heart he aalv the
temple in its desecrated aud desolate state, the altar pro.
faned and thc grass growing in the deserted courts.
4. Ha then purifieci the temple, celebrated hie victory by
a grand festivaI, and dedicnted the altar anew, with the
sound of harps, and lutes, ant1 cymbals, and hymns ofjoy in
the sight of the wondering mullitude. Antiochus, hearing of
tllc splendid victories of Judas Machabeus, was roused to
fury, and putti~~g liimsclf at the head of his army, set out at
once for Jerusalem.
BIICIJAEPOS (pr. Yak-n-be'-us.)