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diff --git a/44550-tei/44550-tei.tei b/44550-tei/44550-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe088b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/44550-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,14453 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd"> +<TEI.2 lang="en"> + <teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>The Hammer. A Story of the Maccabean Times</title> + <author><name reg="Church, Alfred John">Alfred John Church</name></author> + <author><name reg="Seeley, Richmond">Richmond Seeley</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date value="2013-12-31">December 31, 2013</date> + <idno type='etext-no'>44550</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere + at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. + You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under + the terms of the Project Gutenberg License online at + www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + <title>The Hammer. A Story of the Maccabean Times</title> + <author><name reg="Church, Alfred John">Alfred John Church</name></author> + <author><name reg="Seeley, Richmond">Richmond Seeley</name></author> + <imprint> + <pubPlace>London</pubPlace> + <publisher>Seeley and Co. Limited</publisher> + <date>1890</date> + </imprint> + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en" /> + <language id="fr" /> + <language id="it" /> + <language id="la" /> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2013-12-31">December 31, 2013</date> + <respStmt> + <resp>Produced by sp1nd, Stefan Cramme and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</resp> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> + </teiHeader> + + <pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .center { text-align: center } + .ill { margin-left: 2 } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .small { font-size: 75% } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + .smaller { font-size: 100% } + figure { text-align: center } + head { text-align: center } + lg { margin-left: 2 } + .w80 { } + .w100 { } + @media pdf { + .w80 { width: 80%; page-float: 'htp' } + .w100 { width: 100%; page-float: 'htp' } + } + </pgStyleSheet> +<pgCharMap formats="txt"> + <char id="U0x2009"> + <charName>thinsp</charName> + <desc>THIN SPACE</desc> + <mapping></mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> + </pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> +<front> +<div> +<divGen type="pgheader" /> +</div> +<div> +<divGen type="encodingDesc" /> +</div> + +<div rend="center; page-break-before: right"> +<pb/> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic; font-size: large'>THE HAMMER</hi> +</p> + +<pb/> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgi'/> +</div><div rend="center; page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgii'/> + +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Cave among the Mountains.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_004"/><figure url="images/i_004.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Cave among the Mountains"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Cave among the Mountains.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Cave among the Mountains</figDesc> +</figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<pgIf output="html"> +<then><p rend="page-break-before: always"><figure url="images/cover.jpg"><figDesc>Cover image</figDesc></figure></p></then></pgIf> +</div> +<titlePage rend="center; page-break-before: right"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgiii'/> +<docTitle> + <titlePart type="main" rend="font-size: xx-large">THE HAMMER</titlePart> +<lb/><lb/> +<titlePart type="sub" rend="font-size: large"><hi rend='smallcaps; italic'>A Story of the Maccabean Times</hi></titlePart> +</docTitle> +<lb/><lb/><lb/> +<byline> +BY +<lb/> +<docAuthor rend="font-size: large">ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A.</docAuthor> +<lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>Lately Professor of Latin in University College, London</hi> +<lb/> +AND +<lb/> +<docAuthor rend="font-size: large">RICHMOND SEELEY</docAuthor> +</byline> +<lb/> +<lb/> +<lb/> +<titlePart><hi rend='italic'>With Illustrations by <hi rend='smallcaps'>John Jellicoe</hi></hi></titlePart> +<lb/> +<lb/> +<lb/> +<docImprint> +<pubPlace>LONDON</pubPlace> +<lb/> +<publisher>SEELEY AND CO. LIMITED</publisher> +<lb/> +ESSEX STREET, STRAND +<lb/> +<docDate>1890</docDate> +</docImprint> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgiv'/> + +</titlePage> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<pb n='v'/><anchor id='Pgv'/> +<index index="toc" level1="Preface"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Preface"/> +<head>PREFACE</head> + +<p> +It is not so very long since the Apocrypha was found +in almost every copy of the English Bible, but in +the present day it is seldom printed with it, and very +seldom indeed read. One or two of the writings +included under this name are trivial and even +absurd; but, on the whole, the Apocryphal books +deserve far more attention than they receive. +Among the foremost, in point of interest and value, +must be placed the First Book of Maccabees. +Written within fifty years of the events which it +records, at a time, it must be remembered, that was +singularly barren of historical literature, it is a +careful, sober, and consistent narrative. It is our +principal, not unfrequently our sole, authority for +the incidents of a very important period, a period +that was in the highest degree critical in the history +of the Jewish nation and of the world which that +nation has so largely influenced. It is commonly +said that the great visitation of the Captivity finally +destroyed in the Hebrew mind the tendency to +<pb n='vi'/><anchor id='Pgvi'/>idolatry. But the denunciations of Ezekiel prove to +us that the exiles carried into the land of their +captivity the evil which they had cherished in the +land of their birth, and it is no less certain that they +brought it back with them on their return. It grew +to its height in the early part of the Second Century +<hi rend='small'>B.C.</hi>, along with the increasing influence of Greek +civilization in Western Asia. The feeble Jewish +Commonwealth was more and more dominated by +the powerful kingdoms which had been established +on the ruins of the empire of Alexander, and the +national religion was attacked by an enemy at least +as dangerous as the Phœnician Baal-worship had +been in earlier days, an enemy which may be briefly +described by the word Hellenism. The story of how +Judas and his brothers led the movement which +rescued the Jewish faith from this peril is the story +which we have endeavoured to tell in this volume. +Our plan has been to follow strictly the lines of the +First Book of Maccabees, going to the Second, +a far less trustworthy document, only for some +picturesque incidents. The subsidiary characters +are fictitious, but the narrative is, we believe, apart +from casual errors, historically correct. +</p> + +<p> +We have to acknowledge special obligations to +Captain Conder’s <q>Judas Maccabæus,</q> a volume of +the series entitled <q>The New Plutarch.</q> We also +owe much to Canon Rawlinson’s notes in the +<q>Speaker’s Commentary on the Bible,</q> to Canon +<pb n='vii'/><anchor id='Pgvii'/>Westcott’s articles in the <q>Dictionary of the Bible,</q> +and to Dean Stanley’s <q>Lectures on the Jewish +Church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +If any reader should be curious as to the literary +partnership announced on the title-page—a partnership +that has grown, so to speak, out of another of +many years’ standing, shared by the writers as author +and publisher—he may be informed that the plan +of the story and a detailed outline of it have been +contributed by Richmond Seeley, and the story itself +written for the most part by Alfred Church. +</p> + +<closer rend="text-align:left"> +<dateline><name><hi rend='smallcaps'>London</hi></name>,<lb/> +<date><hi rend='italic'>Sept. 3, 1889.</hi></date></dateline> +</closer> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgviii'/> + +<pb n='ix'/><anchor id='Pgix'/> +</div> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="Contents"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Contents"/> +<head>CONTENTS</head> + +<table rend="latexcolumns: 'rp{6cm}r'; tblcolumns: 'r lw(35m) r'"> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><hi rend="small">CHAP.</hi></cell> +<cell></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><hi rend="small">PAGE</hi></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">I.</cell> +<cell>A NEW ORDER OF THINGS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg001">1</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">II.</cell> +<cell>ANTIOCHUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg019">19</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">III.</cell> +<cell>MENELAÜS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg037">37</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">IV.</cell> +<cell>AT ANTIOCH</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg049">49</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">V.</cell> +<cell>THE WRATH TO COME</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg068">68</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VI.</cell> +<cell>THE EVIL DAYS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg079">79</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VII.</cell> +<cell>THE DARKNESS THICKENS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg090">90</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VIII.</cell> +<cell>SHALLUM THE WINE-SELLER</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg101">101</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">IX.</cell> +<cell>THE PERSECUTION</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg113">113</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">X.</cell> +<cell>IN THE MOUNTAINS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg124">124</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XI.</cell> +<cell>NEWS BAD AND GOOD</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg135">135</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XII.</cell> +<cell>THE PATRIOT ARMY</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg148">148</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIII.</cell> +<cell>GUERILLA WARFARE IN THE MOUNTAINS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg159">159</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIV.</cell> +<cell>THE BURIAL OF MATTATHIAS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg171">171</ref></cell> +</row> + <pb n='x'/><anchor id='Pgx'/><row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XV.</cell> +<cell>THE SWORD OF APOLLONIUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg184">184</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVI.</cell> +<cell>NEWS FROM THE BATTLE-FIELD</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg193">193</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVII.</cell> +<cell>THE BATTLE OF EMMAUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg208">208</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVIII.</cell> +<cell>THE BATTLE OF BETH-ZUR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg225">225</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIX.</cell> +<cell>IN JERUSALEM</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg235">235</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XX.</cell> +<cell>THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg242">242</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXI.</cell> +<cell>THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg254">254</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXII.</cell> +<cell>WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg263">263</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIII.</cell> +<cell>MORE VICTORIES</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg274">274</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIV.</cell> +<cell>THE SABBATICAL YEAR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg284">284</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXV.</cell> +<cell>REVERSES</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg294">294</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVI.</cell> +<cell>LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg304">304</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVII.</cell> +<cell>A PEACEFUL INTERVAL</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg314">314</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVIII.</cell> +<cell>HOPES AND FEARS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg323">323</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIX.</cell> +<cell>CIVIL WAR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg331">331</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXX.</cell> +<cell>NICANOR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg339">339</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXXI.</cell> +<cell>THE FALLING AWAY</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg352">352</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXXII.</cell> +<cell>THE LAST BATTLE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg362">362</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXXIII.</cell> +<cell>THE HOPE OF ISRAEL</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg368">368</ref></cell> +</row> +</table> + +<pb n='xi'/><anchor id='Pgxi'/> +</div> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" level1="List of Illustrations"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="List of Illustrations"/> +<head>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</head> + +<table rend="latexcolumns: 'p{5.8cm}r'; tblcolumns: 'lw(30m) r'"> + <row> +<cell>THE CAVE AMONG THE MOUNTAINS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_004"><hi rend='italic'>Frontispiece</hi></ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>ANTIOCHUS IN THE TAVERN</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_047">32</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE PERSECUTION</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_135">118</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE LAST CHARGE OF MATTATHIAS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_187">168</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE SWORD OF APOLLONIUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_213">192</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>FAREWELL TO THE MOUNTAINS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_255">232</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE DEATH OF <anchor id="corrxi"/><corr sic="ELEAZER">ELEAZAR</corr></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_327">302</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE BOY KING</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="i_341">314</ref></cell> +</row> +</table> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgxii'/> + +</div> + +</front> +<body rend="page-break-before: right"> + +<pb n='1'/><anchor id='Pg001'/> + +<p rend="center; font-size: xx-large"> +THE HAMMER +</p> +<div type="chapter" n="1"> +<index index="toc" level1="I. A New Order of Things"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="I. A New Order of Things"/> +<head>CHAPTER I.<lb/><lb/> +<hi rend="smaller">A NEW ORDER OF THINGS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The time is the evening of a day in the early +autumn of the year 174 <hi rend='small'>B.C.</hi> There has been a +great festival in Jerusalem. But it has been +curiously unlike any festival that one would have +expected to be held in that famous city. The +people have not been crowding in from the country, +and journeying from their far-off places of sojourn +among the heathen, to keep one of the great feasts +of the Law. Nothing could be further from the +thoughts of the crowd that is streaming out of this +new building which stands close under the walls +of the Temple. What would they who built the +Temple some two and a half centuries before have +thought of this strange intruder on the sacred +precincts? It is not difficult to imagine, for the +new erection is nothing more or less than a Circus, +<pb n='2'/><anchor id='Pg002'/>built and furnished in the latest Greek fashion, and +the spectacle which the crowd has been enjoying, or +pretending to enjoy—for it is strange to all, and +distasteful to some—is an imitation of the Olympian +games. Things then, we see, have been curiously +changed. Even the city has almost lost its identity. +It is no longer the capital of the Jewish nation, +but the chief town of an insignificant province in +the Greek kingdom of Syria, one of the fragments +into which the great dominion of Alexander had +split some hundred and fifty years before. We shall +understand something more about this marvellous +change if we listen to a conversation that is going +on in one of the houses that adjoin the Temple. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, Cleon, you will allow that our little show +to-day has been fairly successful. We are but +novices, you know; barbarians, I am afraid you +will call us. But we hope to improve. You Greeks +are wonderful teachers. You can give in a very +short time a quite marvellous appearance of refinement +to the merest savages. And we are not that; +you would not call us savages, my dear friend.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Savages! The gods forbid that such insolent +folly should ever come from my tongue! You have +a most elegant taste in art, my dear Jason. Our +own Callias—he is our first <foreign rend='italic' lang="fr">connoisseur</foreign> at Athens; +you must have heard me mention him—would not +disdain to have some of the little things which you +have about you here in his own apartment.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='3'/><anchor id='Pg003'/> + +<p> +And, as he spoke, Cleon looked round the room, +which, indeed, was very handsomely furnished in +the latest Greek taste. The walls were covered +with tapestry, showing on a purple ground a design, +worked in silver and gold, which represented the +triumphant return of the Wine-god from his Eastern +campaigns. At one end of the room stood a sumptuously-carved +bookcase, filled with volumes adorned +by the most skilful binders of Alexandria. The +bookcase was flanked on either side by a pedestal +statue, one displaying the head of Hermes, the +other the head of Athené. On a sideboard were +ranged twelve silver goblets, on which had been +worked in high relief the labours of Hercules. But +probably the most precious object in the room—at +least in its master’s estimation—was a replica, about +half the size of life, of the statue that we know as +the <q>Dying Gladiator.</q> It was the work of a +sculptor of Pergamum, a special favourite of the +art-loving dynasty of the Attali. It had been purchased +for the enormous sum of half a talent of +gold;<note place="foot">Nearly £2,000.</note> and Jason had thought himself especially +fortunate in being allowed to secure it on any +terms. The Pergamene artist was bound, in consideration +of the handsome payment which he +received from his royal patron, not to execute +commissions for strangers, and it was only as a +special favour, and not till a heavy bribe had been +<pb n='4'/><anchor id='Pg004'/>paid to some influential personage in the court, that +the rule had been relaxed in favour of Jason. +</p> + +<p> +And who, it may be asked, was Jason? +</p> + +<p> +Jason was the Jewish high priest, the successor of +Aaron, of Eleazar, of Jehoiada, of Hilkiah, and as +unlike these worthies of the past in appearance, in +speech, in ways of thinking, as it is possible to conceive. +His costume, in the first place, was that of a +Greek exquisite. He wore a purple tunic, showing +at the neck a crimson under-shirt, and gathered up +at the waist with a belt of the finest leather, clasped +with a design in silver, which showed a dog laying +hold of a fawn. His knees were bare, but the shins +were covered with silk leggings of the same colour as +the tunic, against which the gold fastenings of the +sandals showed in gay relief. His hair was elaborately +curled, and almost dripping with the richest +of Syrian perfumes. The forefinger of the left hand +showed the head of Zeus finely carved on an +amethyst, that of the right was circled by a sapphire +ring with the likeness of Apollo. +</p> + +<p> +His speech was Greek. Hebrew of course he +knew, both in its classical and its conversational +forms; but he was as careful to conceal his knowledge +as an old-fashioned Roman of his time would +have been careful to hide the fact, if he had happened +to know any language besides his own. His very +name, it will have been observed, had been changed +to suit the new fashion which he was endeavouring +<pb n='5'/><anchor id='Pg005'/>to set to his countrymen. Really it was Joshua—no +dishonourable appellation, one would think, seeing +that it had been borne by the conqueror of Canaan, +and by the most distinguished of the later high +priests. But it did not please him, and he had +changed it to Jason. +</p> + +<p> +As for his ways of thinking, these will become +evident enough if we listen to a little more of his +conversation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you think, Cleon,</q> he went on—Cleon +was a Greek adventurer who gave himself out as +an Athenian, but who was shrewdly suspected of +coming from one of the smaller islands of the +Ægean—<q>you think that our games went pretty +well?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Admirably, my dear Jason,</q> answered the +Greek, who really had thought them a deplorable +failure, but who valued too much his free quarters in +the high priest’s sumptuous palace to give a candid +expression of his opinion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You see we had great difficulties to contend +with. You can hardly imagine, for instance, how +hard I found it to persuade our young men to run +and wrestle naked. They quoted some ridiculous +nonsense from the Law, as if we could be bound +nowadays by some obsolete old rules that no +sensible person would think for a moment of observing.<note place="foot"><q>The exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and +no high priest</q> (2 Macc. iv. 13).</note> +You saw, I dare say, to-day that I was +<pb n='6'/><anchor id='Pg006'/>obliged to allow some of them to wear a loin-cloth. +They positively refused to come into the arena +without it. Well, we shall educate them in time. +They <hi rend='italic'>must</hi> learn to admire the beauty of the human +form, unspoilt by any of the trappings with which, +for convenience sake, we are accustomed to conceal +it. I don’t despair of our having a school of art +here some day—not rivals, my dear <sic>Lysias</sic>, of your +glorious Phidias and Praxiteles, but imitators, +humble imitators, whom yet you won’t disdain to +acknowledge.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, my dear sir, you forget the Commandment, +<q>Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven +image.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +The speaker was a young man who had hitherto +taken no part in the conversation. He also had a +Hebrew name and a Greek. His father, a rich +priest who claimed descent from no less a person +than the prophet Ezekiel, had called him Micah; +but he had followed the fashion, and dubbed himself +Menander. Still, Greek ways and habits did +not sit over-easily upon him. Fashion has often +a singular power over the young; but it could not +quite drive out the obstinate patriotism of the Jew. +He could still sometimes be scandalized at the +thorough-going Hellenism of the high priest; and +he was so scandalized now. The Commandment +was one of the things which he had learnt at his +mother’s knee, and which he had solemnly repeated +<pb n='7'/><anchor id='Pg007'/>when, at the age of twelve, he had been regularly +admitted to the privileges of a <q>son of the Law.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My dear Menander,</q> broke in the high priest, +<q>what can you be thinking about? I had hoped +better things of you. You do discourage me most +terribly. <q>No graven image or likeness of anything +that is in heaven or earth!</q> Was there ever anything +so hopelessly tasteless? Why, this is the +one thing that has checked all growth of art +among us? And without art where is the beauty +of life? Now tell me, Menander, did you ever see +anything so hideous as the Temple? There is a +certain splendour about it—or was, till I had to +strip off most of the gold for purposes of state—but +of beauty or taste not a scrap. You, Cleon, have +never seen the inside of it. Well, you have lost +nothing. It would simply shock you after your +lovely Parthenon. Bells and pomegranates—things +that any moulder could make—and sham columns, +and everything as bad as it can be. And then the +dresses! You should see—though I should really +be ashamed if you did see it—the absurd costume +that some of them would make me wear as high +priest. Anything more cumbrous and clumsy could +not be. A man can hardly move in it; and as for +showing any of the proportions of the figure—and +I take it that dress is meant to reveal while it seems +to hide them—one might as well be wrapped up in +swaddling clothes.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='8'/><anchor id='Pg008'/> + +<p> +<q>Did you ever wear it?</q> asked Cleon. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Once, and once only,</q> answered Jason. <q>That +was on the day when I was admitted to the office. +You see it had to be done. Some of my enemies—and +I am afraid that I have enemies after all that +I have done for this ungrateful people—might have +said that things were not regular without it, and +when one has paid twenty talents of gold for the +office, it would be rank folly to risk it for a trifle. +But I have never worn it since, and never mean to +again. I did design something much lighter and +neater, worthy the Greek fashion, but with just a +tinge—it would be well to have a tinge—of our own +in it; but it did not please the elders when I +showed it to them, a bigoted set of fools!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But your worship is very fine, I am told,</q> said +the Greek. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very tasteless, very tasteless,</q> answered the +high-priest, <q>the singing and music as rude as +possible. I tried to improve them when I first came +into office. When I was at Antioch I saw some +very pretty performances in the groves of Daphne, +and I wanted to remodel our ceremonies on something +of the same lines. Of course I could not +transplant them just as they were: you will guess +that there were one or two things that would hardly +do here. I am not strait-laced, as you know, but +there are limits. However, it all came to nothing. +Our people are so clumsy and obstinate. So the +<pb n='9'/><anchor id='Pg009'/>only thing will be to let these antiquated ceremonies +die out by degrees.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Micah broke in at this point. Disposed as he +was to follow Jason’s lead, this was going too far. +<q>Surely, my dear sir, if you take away from us +all that is distinctive, where will be our reason for +existence? After all is said, we are not Greeks and +never can be Greeks; and if we cease to be Jews, +what are we?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Jews!</hi> my dear fellow,</q> cried the high-priest, +<q>why do you use the odious word? We are not +Jews, we are Antiochenes. Do you know that I +paid five talents to the treasurer of Antiochus for +license to use the name? For Heaven’s sake, let us +have our money’s worth. By the way,</q> he went on, +turning to Cleon, <q>when does your Olympian festival +next take place?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>In two years’ time,</q> said the Greek. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I propose to send an embassy with a handsome +present for your great temple. I should like to +establish friendly relations with your people at the +head-quarters of your race. Do you think it is +possible that our Menon—you saw him in the +stadium just now—might be allowed to run? It +would take all that your athletes know to beat him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Quite impossible. He could hardly make out a +Greek pedigree, I suppose?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No; he could not do that. But would not +money smooth the way?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='10'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> + +<p> +<q>It could not be. Money will do most things +with us, as it will elsewhere, but not that. A man +must show a pure Greek descent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But the embassy can go?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Certainly,</q> replied the Greek, with a smile; <q>we +are ready to take gifts from any one. But—excuse +my obtruding the suggestion—is it quite wise to +run counter to your people’s prejudices in this way? +Couldn’t they get up an agitation against you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My dear Cleon, I feel quite easy on that score. +I made the highest bid for the place, and it is mine, +just as much as this ring is mine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But might not some one outbid you? I have +heard of such things being done.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Outbid me? Hardly. I have squeezed the uttermost +farthing out of the people to pay the purchase-money +and the tribute, and I defy my rivals, with all +the best will in the world, to beat me. Why, my +fellows, the tax-gatherers, are the most ingenious +rascals in the world for putting on the screw. I +make them bid against each other when I put the +taxes up to auction, and they really go to figures +that I should not have thought possible. And then, +after all, they manage somehow or other to get a +handsome margin of profit for themselves. I know +the scoundrels always seem to have a great deal +more money than I have.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Menander, somewhat revolted at his friend’s levity, +rose to take leave. <q>Stop a moment,</q> said Jason, +<pb n='11'/><anchor id='Pg011'/><q>I have a little commission for you, which will +give you a pleasant outing and a score or two of +shekels to put in your pocket.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, the shekels will be welcome. Those are +very charming fellows, those Greek friends of yours,</q> +he went on, addressing Cleon, <q>but they have the +most confounded luck with the dice that I ever +knew. But what is it, sir, that you want me to +do?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I want to do a civil thing to our friends at Tyre. +You know that we do a very brisk trade with them, +and a little bit of politeness is never thrown away. +Well, next month they have the great games of +Hercules, and I want you to take a present to the +Governor, and, as you will be there, just a trifle—a +silver tripod, or something of the kind—for Hercules +himself. The Tyrian people would take it amiss, I +fancy, if you went quite empty-handed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Micah—for at the moment he felt much more like +a Micah than a Menander—flushed all over. <q>I +take a present to the idol at Tyre! You must +be joking; but, with all respect, sir, it is a joke +which I do not appreciate.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come, my dear Menander,</q> said the high priest, +with a laugh, <q>why all this fuss? You must excuse +me for saying so, but you are really a little stupid +this morning. What nonsense to talk about idols! +The Greek heroes are really the same as our own. +Hercules is nothing more or less than Samson +<pb n='12'/><anchor id='Pg012'/>under another name. You will find in every country +the legend of some strong man who goes about +killing wild beasts and slaying his enemies, and +doing all kinds of wonders; and it does not become +an enlightened man like yourself to fancy that our +hero is anything better than another nation’s hero. +However, think the matter over. If you don’t +choose to go there are plenty who will, and Tyre, I +am told, is still worth seeing, though, of course, it is +nothing like what it was.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a servant burst somewhat unceremoniously +into the room. +</p> + +<p> +<q>How now, fellow?</q> cried the high priest, +<q>Where are your manners? Don’t you know that +I have company and am not to be interrupted?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pardon, my lord,</q> said the man, in a breathless, +agitated voice, <q>but the matter is urgent. Your +nephew Asaph is dying, and has sent begging you +to come to him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Asaph dying!</q> cried the high priest, turning +pale. <q>How is that?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Asaph had been one of the performers in the +exhibition of the day. A light weight, but an +exceedingly active and skilful wrestler, he had +entered the lists with a competitor much stronger +and heavier than himself. The struggle between +the two athletes had been protracted and fierce and +had ended in a draw. There had been two bouts, +but in neither had this or that antagonist been able +<pb n='13'/><anchor id='Pg013'/>to claim a decided success. In each, both wrestlers +had fallen, Asaph being uppermost in the first, but +underneath in the second. On rising from the +ground he had complained of severe internal pains; +but these had seemed to pass away, and he had been +conveyed in a litter to his mother’s house. After a +brief interval the pains had returned with increased +severity; vomiting of blood had followed, and the +physician had declared that the resources of his art +were useless. The poor lad—he was but a few +months over twenty—sent, in his agony, for his +uncle the high priest. It was a forlorn hope—for +how could such a man give comfort?—but it was +the only one that occurred to him. +</p> + +<p> +No one was more conscious of the incongruity +of the task thus imposed upon him, the task of +administering consolation and comfort to the dying, +than Jason himself. His first impulse was to refuse +to go. But to do so would not only cause a scandal, +but would also be the beginning of a family feud. +And Jason, though selfish and hardened by base +ambitions, was not wholly without a heart. He had +some affection for his sister, a widow of large means, +whose purse was always open to him when he +wanted help, and Asaph—or Asius, as he preferred +to call him—was his favourite nephew, possibly his +successor in his office. He felt that he must go, +but it was with a miserable sinking of heart that he +felt it. +</p> + +<pb n='14'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> + +<p> +<q>Lead on,</q> he said to the slave, <q>I will follow. +You, my friends, must excuse me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The worldly priest might well have dreaded to +enter the house of woe to which he had been +called. +</p> + +<p> +The unhappy mother met him at the door. <q>Oh, +Joshua!</q> she cried, the foolish affectation of the +Greek name being forgotten in the hour of trouble. +<q>Can you help us? My dear Asaph is dying, and +he is terribly distressed about his sins. You are +high-priest. Have you not some power to do him +good?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Take me to him,</q> said Jason, <q>I will do all that +I can for him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The unhappy lad was lying on a couch, the +deathly pallor of his face showing with a terrible +contrast against the rich purple of the coverlet. +His eyes were wide open, and there was a terror-stricken +look in them that was inexpressibly painful +to witness. As soon as he saw his uncle, he burst +forth in tones of agonized entreaty. <q>I have +sinned; I have sinned; I have followed in the +ways of the heathen, and, see, my God hath called +me into judgment. Help me! help me! Save me +from the fire of Gehenna!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The high priest strove to say something; but +his faltering lips seemed to refuse to do their office. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Speak! speak!</q> cried the young man. <q>It +was you who told me to go into the arena. You +<pb n='15'/><anchor id='Pg015'/>said there was no harm in it; you encouraged me, +and now you desert me. O help me!</q> and his +voice, which had been raised to a loud, angry cry, +sank again to low tones of entreaty. <q>You are +high priest; you surely can do something with the +Lord. Pray for me to Him. Quick! quick! the evil +ones are clutching at me!</q> and, as he spoke, he +turned his eyes with a fearful glance as if he saw +some terrible presence which was invisible to the +rest. +</p> + +<p> +His uncle, more unhappy than he had ever been +before in his life, stood in dumb despair. It seemed +impossible to mock this wretched creature with words +in which he did not himself believe. And, indeed, +the words themselves seemed to have fled altogether +from his memory. At last, with a tremendous effort, +he summoned up some of the words, once familiar +to his lips, but which had not issued from them for +years. It was what we know as the fifty-first Psalm +in our psalter that he began—<q><hi rend='italic'>Have mercy upon me, +O God, after Thy great goodness, according to the multitude +of Thy mercies do away mine offences.</hi></q> He began +with a faltering and uncertain voice, which gathered +strength as he went on. The dying man listened +with an eagerly-strained attention, and the words +seemed to have some soothing effect upon him. +When the speaker came to the words, <q>Cast me not +away from Thy presence,</q> he clasped his hands together. +At the very moment of the act a strong +<pb n='16'/><anchor id='Pg016'/>convulsion shook his frame: a stream of blood +gushed from his mouth; in another moment Asaph +was dead. +</p> + +<p> +His unhappy mother had been carried fainting to +her apartments, where her maids were endeavouring +to restore her to consciousness. The high priest +was almost glad that she was in such a state that +there could be no question of attempting to administer +to her any consolation. No one, indeed, could +have felt less like a comforter than he did at that +moment. As he walked slowly back to his palace +he felt less satisfied with the Greek fashions, for +which he had sacrificed the faith of his fathers, +than he had done for many years. +</p> + +<p> +The news that he found awaiting him at home +changed the current of his thoughts. A letter, +carried, in Eastern fashion, by a succession of +runners, had arrived from Joppa. It was as +follows:— +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; center; font-size: small"><q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Josedech, Chief of the Council of Joppa, to Joshua, Governor of Jerusalem.</hi></q> +</p><p rend="margin-bottom: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; font-size: small"> +<q>Know that a swift pinnace has arrived, bringing news that the +fleet of Antiochus the King is on its way hither. It will arrive, unless +it be hindered by weather or any other unforeseen cause, on the second +day. Let us know so soon as shall be possible how the heathen should +be received, whether we shall admit him into the city, and to whom +we shall assign the task of entertaining him. Farewell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jason’s face flushed as he read this curt and not +very courteous epistle. <q>Governor of Jerusalem, indeed!</q> +he muttered to himself. <q>So the old bigot +<pb n='17'/><anchor id='Pg017'/>won’t acknowledge me to be high priest. I shall +have to give him a lesson, and teach him who he is +and who I am. <q>How the heathen is to be received.</q> +What is the fool thinking of? As if he could be shut +out of the city if he chooses to come in! Well, I +see plainly enough that there will be mischief here, +if I don’t take care. It won’t be enough to write. +I must send some of my own people to receive the +king.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He pressed a hand-bell that stood on the table. +<q>Send the letter-carrier here,</q> he said to the servant +who answered the summons. In a few minutes +the man appeared. +</p> + +<p> +<q>When can you start back with my answer?</q> +asked the high priest. +</p> + +<p> +<q>This instant, my lord, if it should so please +you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And the other posts are ready?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Each at his place, my lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And when will the letter be delivered in Joppa?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let me think,</q> said the messenger. <q>The +distance should be about two hundred and eighty +furlongs, and the way descends. ’Tis now scarcely +the first hour of the night. I should say that the +letter should be there an hour before midnight.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Jason at once sat down and wrote his answer:— +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; center; font-size: small"><q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Jason, the High Priest, to Josedech, Chief of the Council of Joppa, greeting.</hi></q> +</p><p rend="margin-bottom: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; font-size: small"> +<q>I charge you that you do all honour to the most mighty and +<pb n='18'/><anchor id='Pg018'/>glorious lord Antiochus. Let him have of the best, both in lodging +and entertainment, that your city affords. I doubt not your zeal and +goodwill, but that you may not fail for want of knowledge, I will send +certain of my own people, who will welcome the most august King in +such manner as shall be worthy both of his majesty and of our dignity. +Farewell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The messenger, who had been standing by while +this letter was being written, received the document +with a salute, and placed it in his girdle. A few +minutes afterwards he was on his way. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And now for the deputation to meet his Highness,</q> +said Jason to himself. <q>I cannot expect +them to get off quite so quickly as this good fellow. +But they must not start later than noon to-morrow. +And now, whom am I to send? Cleon, of course, +and Menander——</q> +</p> + +<p> +He stopped short and reflected. <q>It’s really very +hard to find a respectable person who is quite free +from bigotry—if, indeed, it is bigotry.</q> For some +minutes he seemed lost in thought. <q>Send the +secretary to me,</q> he said, when the servant came. +This official soon made his appearance, and we will +leave him and his master to settle the details of the +deputation. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="2" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='19'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +<index index="toc" level1="II. Antiochus"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="II. Antiochus"/> +<head>CHAPTER II.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">ANTIOCHUS.</hi> +</head> + +<p> +The greater part of the population of Joppa, which, +like most seaside towns, was somewhat cosmopolitan +in its habits and ways of thinking, had hurried down +to the shore to watch the arrival of the great Syrian +King. And, indeed, his fleet was a sight worth +seeing. Thirty ships, all of them with three banks +of oars, were formed in a semicircle, the arc of which +was parallel with the line of the shore. They were +war-vessels, the finest and swiftest that the Syrian +fleet possessed, manned with picked crews, and now +gay with all the sumptuous adornments that +befitted a peaceful errand. The day was perfectly +windless, and the sea as calm as a lake. This +circumstance made it possible for the squadron to +preserve the order of its advance with an exactitude +which would not have been possible had it been +moving under sail. On the prow of each vessel +stood a flute-player, and the rowers dipped their +<pb n='20'/><anchor id='Pg020'/>oars in time to his music. Each player had his +eyes fixed on a conductor who was posted on the +royal vessel, a five-banked ship, which occupied a +position slightly in advance of the semicircle. Time +was thus kept throughout the squadron—a result, +however, not obtained, as may easily be imagined, +without a vast amount of practice. The sight of the +thousands of oars, as they were dipped and lifted +again in rhythmical regularity, with the sunshine +flashing upon them, was beautiful in the extreme. +As for the ship that carried King Antiochus, it was +a gorgeous spectacle. The ropes were of gaily-coloured +silk; the hull was brilliant with gold. +The figure-head was the head and bust of a sea-nymph, +exquisitely wrought in silver. The poop +was covered with a crimson awning. +</p> + +<p> +As the squadron approached the harbour, a convenience +which the Joppa of to-day no longer +possesses, the royal ship fell back, allowing the +leading vessels on either side of the semicircle to +precede it to the pier. From these a company of +troops, splendidly arrayed in gilded armour, disembarked, +and formed two lines, between which the +King was to walk. +</p> + +<p> +The Syrian King was a young man of about two-and-twenty +years, tall, and well made, and not without +a certain dignity of presence. His face, too, at +first sight would have been pronounced handsome. +It was of the true Greek type: the forehead and +<pb n='21'/><anchor id='Pg021'/>nose forming an almost uninterrupted straight line. +This line, however, receded too much, giving something +of an expression of weakness. But for this +the features of the young Syrian king might have +been described as bearing a singular resemblance to +those of the great Alexander. Youthful as he was, +his complexion, naturally of a beautiful delicacy, +was already flushed with excess. But the most +sinister characteristic of his face was to be found +in the restless look of his prominent eyes. The +descendants of the brilliant soldier, the ablest and +most upright of the generals of Alexander, who had +founded the Syrian kingdom, had sadly degenerated +under the corrupting influences of power. The +hideous example of lust and cruelty had been set +and improved upon by generation after generation, +till the fatal taint of madness, always the avenger +of such wickedness, had been developed in the +race.<note place="foot">Antiochus’s surname, self-assumed or given by the flattery of his +courtiers, of <q>Epiphanes</q> (the Illustrious), was jestingly changed by his +subjects through the alteration of a single letter into, <q>Epimanes</q> +(Madman).</note> +</p> + +<p> +The Council of Joppa had sent a deputation of +their body, headed by their president, Josedech, to +receive the visitor with such respect as might lawfully +be shown to a heathen. Greeting and compliments +could be exchanged without any loss of +ceremonial purity. Nor would there be any harm +in presenting a gift. To sit down to meat with an +<pb n='22'/><anchor id='Pg022'/>unbeliever, was, of course, out of the question; but +this difficulty had been overcome by the complaisance +of a wealthy Greek merchant, who, for sufficient +reasons of his own, had offered to entertain the +visitor. +</p> + +<p> +The councillors saluted the King, not with +the extravagant form of <q>Live for ever!</q> but +with the more moderate form of <q>Peace be with +you.</q> Antiochus answered with a careless greeting. +At the same time he turned to one of his +courtiers, and said in a whisper which was heard, +as it was meant to be heard, by others besides +the persons addressed, <q>Look! what a set of +he-goats. And faugh! how they smell!</q> The +young King, who was exceedingly vain of his good +looks, had the fancy of making himself up as the +beardless Apollo, and, of course, the court followed +the fashion that he set. The insulting words did +not fail to reach the ears of the elders, but they +affected not to have heard them. The president +then proceeded to deliver his address of welcome. +It was sufficiently civil, but, as may be supposed, +not enthusiastic. The speaker hoped that friendly +relations might continue to exist between the +Jewish people and the kingdom of Syria. He +was glad to receive on Jewish soil a powerful +monarch who, he trusted, would be favourably +impressed with what he should see and hear. If +his subjects had any grievances they would find +<pb n='23'/><anchor id='Pg023'/>prompt redress; the King would doubtless do the +same for Jewish merchants who considered themselves +aggrieved. +</p> + +<p> +To this address, which, after the manner of such +documents, was somewhat verbose and lengthy, +Antiochus listened with ill-concealed impatience; +perhaps it would be more correct to say, with impatience +that was not concealed at all. He fidgeted +about; he interjected disparaging remarks that must +have been distinctly heard a long way off. He +even corrected the speaker when he made a slip in +Greek idiom. Still the elders preserved an imperturbable +calm, though a keen observer might have +seen the flush rising upon their faces. +</p> + +<p> +The address of welcome ended, it only remained +to offer the customary present. An attendant +stepped forward carrying a robe of honour, a piece +of native manufacture, which, without being particularly +splendid, was sufficiently handsome and +valuable to be adequate to the occasion. But it +did not please the young King, who, indeed, was +scarcely in the humour to be pleased with anything. +One of his followers received it from the hands of +the attendant, and Antiochus, according to the +usual etiquette, should have touched it, saying at +the same time a few words of politeness. What +he did was to take it from the hands of the +courtier who had received it, shake it out, and +hold it from him at arm’s length, eyeing it, at +<pb n='24'/><anchor id='Pg024'/>the same time, with an expression of undisguised +contempt. Even this was not all. Turning his +back upon the elders he dropped the robe on the +head of one of his attendants, and, by a sudden +movement, twisted it round his neck, bursting out +at the same time into a loud horse-laugh. The +laugh was, of course, dutifully echoed by his +courtiers; but to the Joppa crowd it seemed no +laughing matter. An angry murmur ran through +it. The front ranks made a menacing movement +forwards, while stones began to fly from behind. +On the other hand, the soldiers of the King’s +body-guard drew their swords, and began to form +up behind him. They were not properly prepared, +however, for a conflict; for, as they had come +only on a service of ceremony, they had nothing +with them but their swords and light ornamental +breastplates. +</p> + +<p> +Everything wore a most threatening look, when +there occurred an interruption that was probably +welcome to every one, except, it may be, the hotheaded +and reckless young sovereign himself. The +deputation from Jerusalem had arrived. The high +priest, anticipating, as we have seen, some trouble, +had despatched them at the very earliest opportunity, +and had urged them to make the best of their +way to their destination. At the same time, that +their presence might have something more than +moral weight, he had sent a squadron of cavalry. +<pb n='25'/><anchor id='Pg025'/>The deputation, with their escort following close +behind, now made their way through the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +The high priest was represented by his kinsman +Phinehas—who had found a substitute for his unfashionable +name in Phineus—by Menander, who +has been already mentioned, and by two Greeks, +of whom our acquaintance Cleon was one. Josedech +and his companions willingly left the management +of affairs in the hands of the new arrivals, and +retired from the scene. Leaping from his horse, +Phinehas, or Phineus, prostrated himself in Eastern +fashion at the feet of Antiochus, and his companions +followed his example, while the escort of +cavalry saluted. <q>Rise,</q> said Antiochus, whose +good humour began to return when he found himself +treated with what he conceived to be proper +respect. He even condescended to reach out his +royal hand, and assist the envoy to recover his +feet. Phineus proceeded to deliver an address of +welcome which was certainly not wanting in florid +compliment. It might even have been called +profane, for Antiochus was described not only as +magnificent, illustrious, victorious (to mention a +few only of the speaker’s exuberant supply of +epithets), but even as divine. The speech ended, +an attendant presented a richly-chased casket of +gold, filled with coins, fresh from the Syrian mint, +and bearing the features and superscription of +Antiochus himself. The King received it with +<pb n='26'/><anchor id='Pg026'/>something like <foreign rend='italic' lang="fr">empressement</foreign>, and after speaking +a few words of thanks, passed it to his treasurer. +At the same time he took a bag of silver from +one of his attendants, and condescended to scatter +some of the pieces among the crowd that lined +the quays, with his royal hands. As may be +supposed, a vigorous scramble ensued, and not a +few of the spectators were tumbled over the edge +into the shallow water below. Others jumped in +of their own accord after some of the pieces which +had fallen short. A general burst of laughter was +the result, and the situation lost the gravity which +had been so alarming a few minutes before. +</p> + +<p> +The King now recognized an old acquaintance +in Cleon. Antiochus, handed over in his childhood +as a hostage by his father, had spent his +boyhood and youth in Rome. The somewhat +austere manners of that city had not pleased him, +and he was glad to find in the young Greek +an acquaintance more congenial than the young +Marcelli, sons of the priest of that name, under +whose charge he had been put. Cleon had come +to Rome to seek his fortune, and had found +employment in assisting the comic poet Cæcilius +in making his translations from the Greek. Poets, +however, were not so well paid as to be able +to spare much for their assistants, and Cleon had +been very glad to act as the young prince’s +teacher, a post which his guardian the priest had +<pb n='27'/><anchor id='Pg027'/>found it very difficult to fill. Tutor and pupil +had been on the most friendly terms. The elder +man was indulgent, exacted no more than the +youth was willing to learn, and, possibly thinking +that all the necessary austerity was supplied by +the Roman guardian, winked at various indulgences +which would not have approved themselves to his +employer. Antiochus retained a grateful recollection +of the complaisant youth who had made things +so agreeable for him in the days of his captivity. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hail, Cleon, most delightful of teachers, behold +the most thankful of pupils!</q> +</p> + +<p> +And he embraced the Greek, kissing him on +both cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +<q>So you, too,</q> he went on, <q>have escaped from +that dismal prison-house across the sea! Was +there ever a place, think you, more unfit for a +gentleman to live in? And how have you fared +since I saw you? I hope that Fortune has had +something pleasant in store for you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>She could have done nothing better, Sire, than +to thus give me the pleasure of seeing you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, what a compliment! I see that your tongue +has not lost its dexterous twist. But I suppose I +must attend to this stupid business here. Why +can’t they let one come quietly, and see what people +really are. I dare say there are some good fellows +here as elsewhere; but all these ceremonies and +speech-making and fine clothes tire me to death. +<pb n='28'/><anchor id='Pg028'/>Well, we shall find a chance of having some talk +together before long. Anyhow, you will come and +see me at Antioch. I will make you court-poet, or +general-in-chief, or high priest of Aphrodite! I +know that you can do anything that you choose +to turn your hand to.</q> +</p> + +<p> +While this conversation was going on the Greek +merchant who had volunteered to entertain the royal +visitor was waiting to be introduced. This ceremony +performed by Phineus, he proceeded to give +his invitation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Will your Highness be pleased to accept such +humble hospitality as I can offer? My house and +all that is within it are at your service.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pleased! of course I shall be pleased,</q> returned +the King, in boisterous good humour. <q>I know +what your <q>humble hospitality</q> means. It is you +merchants that can afford to do things handsomely. +You make the money, and we can only spend it. +What with armies and fleets and legions of servants, +who eat us up like so many locusts, we never have a +drachma that we can call our own. As for me, I am +easily satisfied. Give me a mullet, a piece of roast +kid, a flask of good wine, and a pretty girl to hand +the cup, and I want no more. Lead on.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The procession moved on to the merchant’s +house. This reached, the King, who declared that +he wanted his midday sleep, was at once shown to +his apartments. +</p> + +<pb n='29'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> + +<p> +It was some six hours later when the banquet, for +which the host had made magnificent preparations, +was ready. The company was assembled, and was +fairly numerous, though it did not contain the true +<foreign rend='italic' lang="fr">élite</foreign> of Joppa society. With one or two not very +respectable exceptions, the representatives of the +high-class Jewish families were absent. But there +were plenty of strangers in the town, and the room +was sufficiently full. The trading community was +present in force: Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians, Carthaginians, +and even a Greek-speaking Gaul from +Marseilles, were present. Rome was represented by +two Roman knights, who were doing a profitable +business in money-lending, and who had the name +of pretty nearly every noble in Syria on their books. +</p> + +<p> +But the guest of the evening was absent. The +company waited with the patience with which royal +personages are waited for on such occasions. At +last, when an hour had gone beyond the time fixed +for the entertainment, the host ventured to send up +to the King’s apartment, with a humble reminder +that the banquet was ready. But the apartment +was empty! +</p> + +<p> +<q>What can have become of him?</q> was the +thought in every one’s mind, not unaccompanied by +a certain anxiety in the older courtiers, who had +observed with dismay the reckless proceedings of +their master. +</p> + +<p> +At last a thought struck Cleon. He took the +<pb n='30'/><anchor id='Pg030'/>chief of the King’s attendants aside and communicated +to him his suspicions. <q>I saw something +of his Highness’s ways at Rome,</q> he said, +<q>and I can guess what has happened. He always +had a fancy for disguises, for dressing himself up as +a sailor or an artizan, and going to some very +curious places in the city. Often and often have I +been with him—to keep him out of mischief, you +know—and, by the gods! it was well I did. I +remember his being very nearly stabbed one night +in a low wine-shop in the Suburra.<note place="foot">The Suburra was one of the least reputable quarters in Rome.</note> And now I +remember that this morning his Highness said +something about wanting to see what the people +really were, without all this ceremony. Let us +question the porter whether he has seen any one go +out.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The porter was questioned accordingly. At first +he could give no information. At last he remembered +observing two young men in sailor’s dress passing +the gate about three hours before. He had taken no +heed of them. Sailors had been coming and going +all day, with various articles which they were bringing +up from the ship, and he had supposed that +these were two of the number. Here the man’s +wife struck in with the information that she had +noticed the two sailors, thinking that there was +something odd about their appearance; their +clothes were very shabby, but they had a superior +<pb n='31'/><anchor id='Pg031'/>air. Neither the man nor his wife knew anything +more; but they thought that the two had turned in +the direction of the harbour after leaving the house. +</p> + +<p> +Under these circumstances search seemed hopeless, +and might, indeed, do more harm than good. +Perhaps the safest plan would be to let the young +man find his way back for himself. After some discussion, +however, it was resolved that Cleon, after +first changing the dress which he had donned for the +banquet for something less conspicuous, should look +in at some of the wine-shops near the harbour, which +were suggested as likely places for the search by the +character of the King’s disguise. +</p> + +<p> +Cleon was successful beyond his expectation. His +attention was attracted by the sound of boisterous +laughter proceeding from a tavern whose windows +fronted the place where the King had landed. The +place was crowded to overflowing, and even the +pavement before the house was thronged with idlers, +who were content to hear what they could of the +fun inside without having any score to pay. With +no little difficulty Cleon edged his way into the +principal room. It was a strange scene that met +his eye. The room was crowded with Phœnician +and Greek sailors, with here and there the swarthy +face of a Moor among them. The guests sat on +benches, closely packed together, and every one had +a huge earthenware cup in his hand and a pitcher of +wine at his feet. At the further end of the room +<pb n='32'/><anchor id='Pg032'/>was a small platform reserved for the performers +who were accustomed to entertain the audience. A +couple of dancing-girls had just exhibited a dance of +the boisterous kind which was specially favoured +by the seafaring spectators; and now his Syrian +Majesty was doing his best to entertain the company +with the burlesque of a Roman electioneering +oration. He spoke in Greek, or, rather, the mixture +of tongues, the <foreign rend='italic'>Lingua Franca</foreign> of the time, which +did duty for Greek in the seaport towns of the +Eastern Mediterranean; and he used with considerable +effect the broad Roman accent. His speech, +could it be reproduced, would be dull or even unintelligible +to us, but his audience found it highly +entertaining. The Greeks, always quick-witted, +caught the points with admirable readiness, and the +others laughed, if not for any other reason, at least +for sympathy. The most completely successful part +was where the orator, who affected to be a candidate +for the consulship, propounded a grand scheme, +according to which the citizens of Rome were to +live in idleness, supported by the contributions of +the whole world. When the attention of the audience +began to flag, the young Prince, with an +audacious presence of mind that would have become +a veteran performer, suddenly changed the entertainment. +Sticking a tall cap on his head, he +proceeded to give a ludicrous imitation of the +solemn dance of the priests of Mars. Cleon had +<pb n='33'/><anchor id='Pg033'/>seen the original performance in Rome, and he could +not but confess that the slow, awkward movement, +and droning chant which the performer adapted to a +popular song of a somewhat equivocal kind, was a +very clever piece of work. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>Antiochus in the Tavern.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_047"/><figure url="images/i_047.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="Antiochus in the Tavern"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>Antiochus in the Tavern.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Antiochus in the Tavern</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +A few minutes afterwards Antiochus retired, +breathless with his exertions, and Cleon made his +way after him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>So you are here,</q> burst out the King. <q>Good, +was it not?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Excellent, my lord,</q> returned Cleon; <q>but you +must excuse me if I ask you to come back. The +banquet is ready, and the company are waiting for +you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Confound the company; there is much better +company here. I will stop where I am.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cleon remonstrated and argued; at first, it seemed, +with no effect. Finally, however, by a judicious +mixture of flattery and promises, and specially, by +enlarging on the opportunity that there would be +of electrifying the <foreign rend='italic' lang="fr">élite</foreign> of Joppa by a display of +eloquence, he induced the King to come away. +Antiochus was eaten up with a vanity that was +almost insane, and he was as proud of his capacity +for serious oratory as he was of his talents as a +buffoon. +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately the eloquence was never displayed. +The King had drunk largely of the heady wine which +was a favourite with the nautical customers of the +<pb n='34'/><anchor id='Pg034'/>tavern, and he applied himself with equal diligence +to the more refined vintages which he found on the +table of Stratocles, his entertainer. The company +drank his health in bumpers; and, not to be outdone, +a huge capacity for drink being, as he thought, one +of his most honourable distinctions, he pledged them +in return by draining a cup of a royal size. This +was a final effort. He spoke a few hesitating sentences, +frequently interrupted by hiccoughs, staggered, +and but for the prompt attention of his +attendants, who had indeed observed his condition, +would have fallen to the ground. Nothing +remained but to carry him out of the banqueting +hall. +</p> + +<p> +It was late in the afternoon of the following day +before he was sufficiently recovered from the effects +of his debauch to start for Jerusalem. A halt for +the night was made about halfway, and late in +the afternoon of the next day the cavalcade +approached Jerusalem. Jason came out to meet +his guest. He had done his utmost to bring a +reputable company with him, but his efforts had not +been very successful. The respectable part of the +population of the city was conspicuously absent, +a mixed multitude of strangers and half-breeds, +brutal in manners and squalid in appearance, represented +the Jewish nation. Fortunately it was dark, +and the torchlight procession with which the King +was escorted into the city did something to conceal +<pb n='35'/><anchor id='Pg035'/>by its picturesque effects the general meanness of the +affair. Antiochus, however, did not fail to notice the +character of the gathering, and indeed rallied his +host on his ragged and disreputable followers. But +his good humour did not seem to be disturbed. He +admired the decorations of the palace, was loud in +praise of Jason’s taste in art, and indeed admired +one statuette so much that his host felt compelled to +offer it for his acceptance, much against his will, for +it was supposed to be an original by Scopas, and to +be worth at least five talents. The next day came a +visit to the Temple. The King shrugged his shoulders +at what he was pleased to consider the tastelessness +of its architecture, suggested to his host that he +had better pull the whole place down and build it +again in a better style, and offered him the services +of his own architect and a painter who, he said, had +a quite unequalled skill for such subjects as a dance +of satyrs and nymphs, and would cover the walls of +the new building with some really elegant designs. +But if the architecture of the Temple did not please +him, he expressed a genuine admiration for some of +its contents. There was a greedy light in his eye +as he looked at the rich furniture and gorgeous +vessels—and this, though Jason, having certain views +of his own, had the prudence not to show him the +chamber which contained the most massive treasures +of the place. But whatever Antiochus may have +thought, he said nothing but what was civil and +<pb n='36'/><anchor id='Pg036'/>pleasant. It may be supposed, however, that a few +days of such a guest would be enough, and it was +with unmixed delight that at the end of a week Jason +saw him depart for Phenicé. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="3" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='37'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> +<index index="toc" level1="III. Menelaus"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="III. Menelaus"/> +<head>CHAPTER III.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">MENELAUS.</hi></head> + +<p> +Two years have passed, and the fate which Jason +had declared to be beyond all limits of probability +or possibility has actually overtaken him. One of +his agents, named Oniah, who has assumed the +name of Menelaüs, for the rage for Greek fashions +still continues unabated, has outbidden him, and now +reigns in his stead, occupying the palace on Mount +Sion which he had been at such pains to adorn. +</p> + +<p> +If we look into his library we shall see not only +the books and statuettes—the silver tankards are +gone, melted down into money that was wanted for +some sudden exigency—but our old acquaintance, +Cleon. The supple Greek was not one of those who +take their friends for better, for worse. Jason was +wandering about among the hills of Ammon with +scarcely a garment to his back or a shekel that he +could call his own, and what use could he find for +the company of an accomplished gentleman, who had +<pb n='38'/><anchor id='Pg038'/>as keen an eye as any one for a fine bit of sculpture +or painting, and could not be rivalled, out of the profession, +in his taste for wine? The accomplished +gentleman knew where he was appreciated, where +he was of use, and, naturally, where he was well off. +Accordingly he had found means, as such people +always do find means, of ingratiating himself with +the new occupant of the palace, and was installed +as his consulting connoisseur and chief adviser in +matters of taste. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A poor creature, certainly,</q> he had replied to +some depreciatory criticism which Menelaüs had +passed on his predecessor, <q>but it must be allowed +that he had a taste in art.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Or was sensible enough to be guided by those +who had,</q> said Menelaüs. +</p> + +<p> +Cleon acknowledged the compliment with a bow, +and went on, <q>I never found him make any difficulty +about the price. And, of course, if a man goes to +work in that spirit, and has good advice, too, he is +bound to make a fine collection.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Menelaüs received the observation with a grimace, +and a significant shrug of the shoulders. <q><q>No +difficulty about the price,</q> you say. Of course not. +Why should he? When a man doesn’t pay, he is +apt to be easy about the amount. Do you know that +the bills for half the things that you see in this room +have been sent in to me? Sometimes he had to pay +the money down. The <q>Gladiator</q> there, from +<pb n='39'/><anchor id='Pg039'/>Pergamum could not have been got without ready +cash; but wherever he could, he went on credit, and +now the dealers are down upon me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And he held up a sheaf of bills. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Here,</q> he went on, <q rend="post: none">is a pretty account from +Theodotus of Alexandria, the bookseller, you know:</q> +</p> + +<table rend="latexcolumns: 'p{5.2cm}rl'; tblcolumns: 'lw(40m) r l'"> + <row> +<cell><q rend="post: none"><q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>A Manuscript of Anacreon</hi> (said to be autograph)</q></q></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right">10</cell> +<cell>minæ.</cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell><hi rend='italic'>The Milesian Tales</hi></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right">5</cell> +<cell>„</cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell><hi rend='italic'>Drinking Songs from Cratinus</hi></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right">2</cell> +<cell>„’</cell> +</row> +</table> + +<p> +<q rend="pre: none">And so it goes on, with a quantity of books which +I am sure the old impostor never read. Two talents +and twelve minæ it comes to altogether. Then +here is <q>A Group of the Graces, 1 talent;</q> <q>Silenus, +20 minæ;</q> <q>Satyr and Nymphs, half a talent.</q> <q>Set +of Flagons, worked with the Labours of Hercules, +2 talents.</q> These the villain melted down before +he went. Fancy the rascality of that! Why, the +silver by weight could not have been worth a +fourth part of what it cost with the workmanship.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said Cleon, <q>the fellows can wait. They +can afford it; I know enough about these things to +be sure that they get a very handsome profit. I used +to travel, you know, for Cleisthenes of Syracuse, +and so got to know something about the secrets +of the trade. No, you need not be afraid of making +them wait.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='40'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> + +<p> +<q>Well, they have waited three years already,</q> +returned Menelaüs; <q>and very likely will have to be +out of their money for as many more. But here is +a gentleman who won’t wait. Here is Sostratus</q> +(Sostratus, it should be mentioned, was Governor of +the Castle, which was garrisoned by Syrian troops, +and so the representative of King Antiochus)—<q>here +is Sostratus asking for the half-year’s tribute, +and giving me a pretty strong hint that, if +I don’t send it, he shall come and take it for +himself. And where is the money to come from?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said Cleon, with a little laugh, <q>I +suppose there is one way to get milk, and that is +to go to the cow, or the goat, or the sheep. You +see, we have a certain choice between big and little. +And so, if you want money, you must go to the +people, I suppose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The people! they are squeezed absolutely dry, +at least one would think so. I could tell you stories +about the squeezing that would make you split your +sides with laughing. There was old Levi, a Bethlehem +farmer; they boiled him, or half-boiled him, +because he would not pay his taxes—said that he +couldn’t, the old villain! They put him in a caldron, +you see, and kept heating it up, because he would +not tell where he had hidden his money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, did they get it out of him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, the obstinate old dog, he would not say a +word; but before he was quite finished his wife +<pb n='41'/><anchor id='Pg041'/>brought the coins from her head-dress and bought +him off. They say that he was the queerest figure +when he came out of the water, with the skin +hanging about him in folds. Well, at all events, it +was a good washing for him. He had never been so +clean in his life before.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And did he recover?</q> asked Menander. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Upon my word, I can’t remember. But I do +know that we got the money.</q><note place="foot"><q>He came with the King’s mandate, bringing nothing worthy the +high priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of +a savage beast</q> (2 Macc. iv. 25).</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, I remember what your predecessor used to +say. It was in this very room about two years ago +that I asked him whether he felt quite safe. <q>Oh, +yes!</q> he answered, <q>I have got the last farthing that +is to be got, and there is an end of it!</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> replied the high priest, <q>there are other +ways of getting money besides taxes. I will allow +that Jason worked the taxes as well as a man could. +No one can eat or drink, lie down or get up, walk +or ride, travel or stay at home, be born or marry, +or be buried, without having to pay for it. No! I +do not see room for another, and I am sure that it is +not for want of looking. But, as I said, there are +other ways. Now—can you keep a secret?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A secret! I should say so—not the grave itself +better!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hush! my friend, good words! good words!</q> +<pb n='42'/><anchor id='Pg042'/>cried the high priest, who felt, or affected to feel, +the common Greek superstition against words that +seemed to carry an evil omen with them. <q>Well, if +you can, come here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So saying, Menelaüs took his friend into an +adjoining room, and opening a cupboard, secured, +as the Greek observed, by an iron door and by a lock +of elaborate construction, showed him a number of +massive gold vases. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where do these come from?</q> asked Cleon, +almost dazzled by the splendid array. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where should they come from, but from the +Temple? Some of these have got a history of +their own. You see that two-handled cup? King +Artaxerxes gave it to Nehemiah: solid gold. And +you see those splendid sapphires in the handles? +The very biggest stones of the sort I have ever +seen, and worth three talents each. Then there is +that salver, Alexander of Macedon gave it to +the Temple; and that casket there was a present +from the first Ptolemy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, my dear sir,</q> said the Greek, astonished at +the audacity of the whole affair, <q>is not this going +a little too far? Suppose the people were to find +it out? Would there not be a rather formidable +uproar?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, of course; we cannot get anything without +risk. But I have taken precautions. First, I have +put a facsimile of every one of these in the Temple; +<pb n='43'/><anchor id='Pg043'/>gilded lead, which does perfectly well for all practical +purposes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But the weight! Surely any one can tell the +difference by the weight.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course, my dear Cleon, I know that lead is +little more than half as heavy as gold. But there +are ways of making it up. You can put a great deal +more metal in, without its being observed, and +almost make up the difference. And, you see, the +things are never allowed to be handled; can only +be looked at. I have given very strict orders about +that, you may be sure. Of course the treasurer is +in the secret; but as he must sink or swim with me, +he may be trusted. Besides, I am not going to run +the risk of keeping them here. I can trust you, +my good Cleon, as I can my own brother—in fact, +when I come to think of it, a good deal more—yet +I am not sure that I should have told you so much, +but that the best of these are going to be packed off +to-night. The fact is, they are sold already.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Greek could only shrug his shoulders and say +nothing. As my readers will have perceived, he was +not a man of high principles—in fact, to put the +matter plainly, he was an unscrupulous adventurer. +But the reckless villainy of Menelaüs fairly disgusted +him. His taste, quite apart from any +question of principle or honesty, revolted at the +notion that a man, placed as was the high priest +of the Jewish people, should deal with these historic +<pb n='44'/><anchor id='Pg044'/>treasures as a vulgar burglar might deal with them. +This was a refinement of feeling into which the +vulgar cupidity of Menelaüs did not enter. He went +on: +</p> + +<p> +<q>How wild that scoundrel Jason would be, if he +knew of this, to think that he had lost such an +opportunity, had these treasures in his hand, so to +speak, and leave them to his worst enemy!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have you heard anything lately about him?</q> +asked the Greek, not unwilling to change the subject. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, yes,</q> replied Menelaüs, <q>he is wandering +about somewhere in the country of the Ammonites, +and at his wits’ end, I am told, how to live.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Poor fellow!</q> said Cleon, <foreign rend='italic' lang="it">sotto voce</foreign>, <q>he +was always very kind to me, and I can’t help +being sorry for him.</q> He then went on aloud, +<q>He will find it a great change from his way of +living here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, yes!</q> said Menelaüs; <q>but still, some of his +old ways and habits will come in usefully. He was +always great about training, you remember. Every +one should be ready to fight a boxing-match or run +a race. Cold, hunger, fatigue; these, he used to say, +are the things to bring out a man’s muscles. And +now he has got them in perfection. He might +really carry off some prize, only, unluckily, he is +getting a little too old for that sort of thing. And +then, you recollect, how he would go on about the +<pb n='45'/><anchor id='Pg045'/>beauty of the human form. Clothes, especially the +gorgeous clothes of our people, obscured so tastelessly +its magnificent proportions. Well, he has +not much to complain of, I imagine, on that score. +By the last account that I had of him he had as +little in the way of clothing as a man could well +have. Anyhow, he may console himself with +thinking that <hi rend='italic'>his</hi> magnificent proportions are not +obscured. Well, I don’t pity him. A man who has +managed to get into a good place and then cannot +stick to it is nothing better than a fool, and richly +deserves everything that he may get.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At this point in the conversation a servant announced +the arrival of a message from Sostratus, +Governor of the Castle. +</p> + +<p> +<q>All the gods and goddesses confound the +man!</q> cried the high priest, in a rage. He was +fond of garnishing his conversation with a little +Greek profanity. <q>Another dunning message, I +suppose. Well, he must wait. No man can get +any water by squeezing out of a dry sponge; and +that is about what I am!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The communication from Sostratus proved, however, +to be on quite another subject, though it was, +if possible, even more unwelcome. It ran thus:— +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; center; font-size: small"><q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Sostratus, Vicegerent of the Divine King, Antiochus, to Menelaüs, the High Priest, greeting.</hi></q></p> + +<p rend="margin-bottom: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; font-size: small"> +<q>Know that I have this day received the summons of the Divine +King, Antiochus, to attend him at his court at Antioch, within the +space of thirty days, there to inform his Highness more fully of affairs +<pb n='46'/><anchor id='Pg046'/>concerning his province of Judæa. Know also that your presence is +required at the same place and time, whereof the writing herewith +enclosed, being sealed with the King’s seal, will be proof sufficient. +Farewell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Menelaüs’s face visibly lengthened as he read +this epistle. <q>By the dog!</q> (this was a Socratic +oath which he sometimes affected, as giving to +his conversation a certain philosophic tinge)—<q>By +the dog! this is worse than being dunned! +I like not a journey to Antioch. A very pretty +place, but expensive, dreadfully expensive, especially +when one has the honour of being entertained by +the King.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cleon felt a certain pleasure in the high priest’s +discomfiture. The new patron was more overbearing, +less considerate, and generally more difficult +to get on with than the old. Jason, coxcomb as +he was, had always been kind, and Cleon felt as +kindly for him as it was in his nature to feel +for any one. And then the exquisite propriety with +which this disturbing news followed the man’s +taunts and boasts was irresistible. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is hard,</q> he said, as if to himself, <q>when a +man has got into a good place——</q> +</p> + +<p> +Menelaüs darted an angry look at his friend, but +the Greek’s face, which he knew how to keep under +admirable control, expressed nothing but respectful +sympathy. There was an unpleasant suggestion of +mockery in what he had heard; but the Greek was +<pb n='47'/><anchor id='Pg047'/>a useful person; he had been trusted, too, and +knew things which it would not do to have published. +Altogether, the high priest concluded, it +would not do to quarrel with him—anyhow, for the +present; some day, perhaps, he might be got rid of. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I suppose, sir, you cannot make an excuse—important +affairs of State, the King’s service to be +attended to, or something of that kind?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cleon made the suggestion, knowing perfectly +well that it was quite out of the question. But he +enjoyed the novel position of tormenting his patron, +and was taking it out, so to speak, for not a few +rudenesses and slights. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Excuse!</q> cried Menelaüs. <q>It would be as much +as my head is worth to do anything of the kind. +No! I must go. But this is not a journey which one +cares to take empty-handed. Let me see what I +can take—two or three of the most portable cups, +as much coin as I can scrape together, and the +jewels—jewels are always useful: it is so easy to +hide them. Well, I shall leave you in charge; +unless, indeed, you are very much set on going +yourself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cleon was not at all set upon going; on the contrary, +nothing short of the strongest inducements +would have persuaded him to the journey. Going +to Antioch was like putting one’s head into the lion’s +mouth. There was no particular reason, indeed, +why <hi rend='italic'>his</hi> head should be bitten off; but lions are +<pb n='48'/><anchor id='Pg048'/>capricious, and sometimes use their teeth for the +mere fun of the thing. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am much obliged for the chance,</q> he said, +<q>but my health has been suffering lately, and I do +not feel quite equal to the journey.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, then,</q> replied Menelaüs, <q>stop here, and +keep things as straight as you can. And if you can +sell some of these pretty things for ready money, +do so—the usual commission for yourself, of course. +But it must all be kept quiet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The next day the high priest and the Governor, +neither of them in very good spirits, were on their +way to Antioch. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="4" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='49'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> +<index index="toc" level1="IV. At Antioch"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="IV. At Antioch"/> +<head>CHAPTER IV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">AT ANTIOCH.</hi></head> + +<p> +Antioch more than deserved the praise of <q>a very +pretty place,</q> which Menelaüs had bestowed upon +it. In fact, it was one of the finest cities of the +world. The old town which the first Antiochus<note place="foot">Son and successor of Seleucus Nicator, the first of the dynasty of +the Greek Syrian kings.</note> +had found had been improved away by him and his +successors. All that could be done by a despotic +power that made very short work with the wishes +and even the rights of private owners of property, +and by a lavish expenditure of money, had been +done by five generations of rulers, and the result +was magnificent. Broad streets ran from side to +side; and those who grumbled that the narrow +alleys of the old town gave at least a shelter from +the sun were consoled by the rows of planes and +limes, planted alternately, which shaded both sides +of each thoroughfare. Rows of houses, which +looked more like palaces than private dwellings, +<pb n='50'/><anchor id='Pg050'/>occupied the best quarter of the city, and even +the poorest regions had nothing of the squalor of +poverty. Even the filth so common in the East was +conspicuously absent from Antioch, for every gutter +ran with an unceasing stream of water, drawn from +a higher point of the Orontes and carrying into that +river at a lower point all the defilement of the +streets. Temples, in which a whole pantheon of +gods was worshipped, were to be seen on every +hand. The pure and harmonious outlines of Greek +architecture could be seen side by side with the +<hi rend='italic'>bizarre</hi> conceptions of Oriental art. If the kings +and their Greek subjects worshipped Zeus and +Apollo, and, above all, Aphrodité, who had here her +famous grove of Daphne, so the Syrian population +were faithful to Baal and Ashtaroth. A magnificent +amphitheatre, capable of holding at least thirty +thousand spectators, rose, a striking mass of white +marble, on the north side of the city; a colonnade +ran round the four sides of the market-place, +gorgeous with the lavish colours of the East, for +here the art of Greece had been superseded for once +by the more ornate native taste. But the river, +rushing down between its noble embankments of +stone, was the chief ornament of the place. The +Orontes had not gathered round it the splendid +associations that clustered about the Tiber, but its +broad, clear stream was in everything else more than +a match for its Italian rival. +</p> + +<pb n='51'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> + +<p> +Menelaüs and his companion, who, it may be +guessed, had reasons of his own for regarding with +anxiety the summons that brought him to the +capital, were not a little relieved to find that the +King had been called away by urgent affairs. +</p> + +<p> +Tarsus, one of the most important cities in his +dominions, had rebelled. Its antiquity, its wealth, +and its fame as a seat of culture, a character in +which it claimed to be a rival of Athens itself, had +combined to give the Tarsians a high opinion of +themselves. Successive rulers, beginning with the +Assyrian kings, its first founders, had allowed the +city a certain independence; and its pride was +grievously wounded when the young King, with the +reckless levity that distinguished him, handed it over +as a private possession to his mistress. The citizens +pitched the lady’s collectors into the Cydnus, shut +their gates, and defied their sovereign; Mallos, +another Cilician city which had suffered the same +indignity, following their example. The King had +marched to reduce the rebels—a task, it was probable, +of no little difficulty—leaving a certain Andronicus +to act as his deputy, and specially to dispose of the +charge on which Menelaüs and Sostratus had been +summoned. +</p> + +<p> +This charge was one of a very formidable kind. +Menelaüs’s dealings with the treasures of the +Temple had not been so secret as he had hoped. +Such things cannot be done without a certain +<pb n='52'/><anchor id='Pg052'/>number of confederates, and such confederates are +very apt to give a finishing touch to their villainy by +betraying their chief. In this instance one of the +journeymen employed had considered himself insufficiently +paid, rightly thinking, perhaps, that if +sacrilege can be recompensed at all, it ought to be +recompensed handsomely. Personally he was too +insignificant to venture an attack on so great a +potentate as the high priest, but he knew whither +to carry his information. He told what he knew to +a priest, who, besides being a devout Jew, was a +member of the family to which the high priesthood +properly belonged. The priest, after satisfying himself +that the story was true, at once set about +bringing the offender to justice. +</p> + +<p> +His course was plain. Menelaüs, we have seen, +had supplanted Jason, and Jason had himself purchased +the dignity. But Oniah, the rightful high +priest, who had been displaced by Jason, was still +alive. Antiochus, naturally fearing his influence +with his countrymen, had kept him at his capital, +treating him, strange to say, with remarkable consideration. +But Oniah was one of those men who +extort veneration even from the most reckless of +profligates. His venerable figure, his face beaming +with benevolence, his blameless life, and the charities +which he dispensed up to and even beyond the limit +of his means, had won for him the regard of all +Antioch. Even the heathen would stop him in the +<pb n='53'/><anchor id='Pg053'/>streets and beg his blessing. Oniah was a power in +Antioch for which even the reckless young profligate +on the throne had an unfeigned respect. +</p> + +<p> +It may, then, be easily imagined that no little +sensation was produced when this venerable personage +appeared before Antiochus, and, in the presence +of the Court, accused Menelaüs, whom he had +steadfastly refused to acknowledge as high priest, +of having embezzled much of the treasure of the +Temple at Jerusalem. That Oniah, whose veracity +and good faith were beyond all question, should +make such a charge was <foreign rend='italic' lang="la">primâ facie</foreign> evidence of its +truth. As he was known to have many friends in +Jerusalem, it was more than probable that evidence +would be forthcoming. The King did not hesitate a +moment in acting upon this probability. Of course, +he did not look at the matter in at all the same light +as that in which it was regarded by the devout +Oniah. To the dispossessed high priest the robbery +of the sacred vessels was a monstrous sacrilege, an +offence of the deepest dye, not only against his +country but against his God. Antiochus felt that +it was he who had been wronged. The treasures of +the Jerusalem Temple were <hi rend='italic'>his</hi> treasures. He might +be content to leave them, at all events for the +present, where they were; but they must be ready +to his hand whenever the occasion should arise, and +any one who presumed to appropriate them was a +traitor and a villain. Hence the urgent summons to +<pb n='54'/><anchor id='Pg054'/>Menelaüs and to Sostratus, who, as Governor, could +hardly fail, thought Antiochus, to have been cognizant +of the whole proceeding. +</p> + +<p> +Almost immediately after the despatch of the +summons came the trouble with Tarsus. The King +started to chastise in person his rebellious subjects, +and left, as we have said, Andronicus in general charge +of affairs, and with a special commission to hear the +accusation which Oniah was bringing against Menelaüs. +The choice was an unlucky one. Antiochus +was sincerely anxious that justice should be done in +the matter; but to get justice done in any particular +case when it is not the rule of the administration is +exceedingly difficult. Andronicus, to put the facts +quite simply, was an unprincipled villain, ready to +sell his decisions, when he could do so with impunity, +to the highest bidder. He was an old +acquaintance and confederate of Sostratus, and +Menelaüs, who had established friendly relations +with the Governor during their journey from Jerusalem +to Antioch, soon received a hint as to how he +should proceed. The hearing of the case had been +appointed for the sixth day after his arrival. Before +that date one of the sacred vessels which he had +taken the precaution of bringing with him, had been +exchanged for five hundred gold pieces, and the +gold pieces had found their way into the pocket of +Andronicus. +</p> + +<p> +On the day appointed Oniah, supported by the +<pb n='55'/><anchor id='Pg055'/>principal Jewish inhabitants of Antioch and by not +a few of the most respectable Greeks, appeared to +substantiate his charges against the usurper Menelaüs. +The evidence appeared to be overwhelming. +The artizan who had been employed to fabricate the +worthless imitations of the precious vessels told the +whole story of the fraud with a fulness of detail +which seemed to bear all the stamp of truth. Another +witness related how he had carried one of the original +articles to a goldsmith at Sidon, and actually produced +a rough memorandum of its weight, which +had been made upon the spot, to be afterwards +embodied in the formal receipt. +</p> + +<p> +The line of defence adopted was bold, not to say +impudent. The whole affair, according to Menelaüs, +was a conspiracy on the part of the irreconcilable +Jews to overthrow a loyal subject of the King. The +witnesses, he declared, had been suborned, the +documents had been forged. He then went on to +bring a counter-charge against his accuser. And here +he found a certain advantage in the transparent +honesty of Oniah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you acknowledge,</q> he asked the ex-high +priest, <q>the validity of the appointments which our +most noble lord Antiochus has made to the office of +high priest?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Oniah frankly confessed that he did not. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you consider yourself to be still, according to +the Law, in rightful possession of that office?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='56'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> + +<p> +<q>I do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And bound to assert that right?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>By lawful means.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you hold all means to be lawful that are +enjoined in the Law of Moses?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And among such means you would count the +banishment from the precincts of the Holy City of +all such as do not worship the Lord God of Israel?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Oniah felt that he was becoming entangled in this +artful web of questions, and made an effort to break +loose. <q>I appeal,</q> he cried, <q>most excellent Andronicus, +to all who, in this city of Antioch, for these four +years past have known my manner of life. You see +sundry of them, nor of my own nation only, in the +court this day. Ask them whether I have not lived +in all peace and quietness, not seeking to disturb, +either by word or deed, the dominions of my lord +the King.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Menelaüs, of course, had not come unprovided +with witnesses. The old man had, to tell the truth, +used language of an imprudent kind. He was a +patriot and a believer. As such, he had his beliefs +and his hopes, and it was part of his character to +express such beliefs and hopes quite openly. He had +talked of a day when the Holy Land should be no +more the prey of the alien and the heathen, when a +king of the House of David should rule in Mount +Sion, when the Temple should regain all the +sacred<pb n='57'/><anchor id='Pg057'/>ness and all the glory which had ever belonged to it. +Such language, construed strictly, was not consistent +with a thorough loyalty to the Syrian monarch. But +no one who knew Oniah, a man of peace who had +the good sense to recognize what was and what was +not possible, could suppose that any scheme of revolt +against existing authorities had ever entered into his +mind. In fact he had not said a word that had not +been said before by one or more of the prophets. +Still, words which breathed a spirit of independence, +when reported by witnesses, and acknowledged by +Oniah—who was, indeed, too honest to deny them—gave +Andronicus the occasion for which he had been +looking. He gave his decision in the following +terms:— +</p> + +<p> +<q>The charge against Menelaüs is postponed for +further hearing. Meanwhile the documents produced +and the witnesses will remain in the custody of the +Court. As for Oniah, he must be reserved for the +judgment of the King in person. I should myself +have been disposed to release him; but in the +absence of my lord, considering that the peace of the +realm is so essentially concerned, I do not venture +so far.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He was proceeding to give orders for the removal +of Oniah, when an ominous murmur from the audience, +with which the court was crowded, made him +pause. Prisoners who saw the inside of an Antioch +dungeon were sometimes not heard of again. The +<pb n='58'/><anchor id='Pg058'/>air had a certain power of developing very rapid +diseases, so rapid that the sufferers were not only +dead but buried before any tidings of the sickness +reached their friends. Antioch was not disposed to +see the man who was probably the most widely +respected of all its inhabitants, exposed to such a +risk. Andronicus, who could not even trust the +soldiers to act against so venerable a person, drew +back. He was willing, he said, to accept sureties in +a sufficient amount for the due appearance of the +accused. The sureties were forthcoming in a +moment, in sums so great and so absolutely secure +that Andronicus had no pretext for refusing them. +He proceeded to adjourn the Court for fourteen +days. +</p> + +<p> +During the interval he took the opportunity of +making a change in the garrison of the capital. +Troops recruited from some of the regions bordering +on Judæa, and accordingly among the bitterest +enemies of its people, replaced some Greek mercenaries. +The strangers knew nothing about Oniah, +except that he was a Jew, and, being a Jew, of +course hateful. They could be relied upon to obey +orders, and those who knew Andronicus were sure +what orders he would issue. +</p> + +<p> +Oniah’s friends urged him to fly. He was too old +and feeble, he replied; it would be better for him to +die at his post. Then they implored him to take +sanctuary. +</p> + +<pb n='59'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> + +<p> +<q>What!</q> he cried, <q>take sanctuary in a heathen +temple! There is none other in the place. I would +sooner die a thousand times.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was not in a temple, they explained, that he +was to find shelter. It was in the Gardens of Daphne +that they wished him to take refuge. And they proceeded +to unfold an elaborate argument, the gist of +which was that the Gardens were a civil, and not a +religious, sanctuary; that there would be no occasion +for him to enter the consecrated enclosure; he would +be simply availing himself of a custom which forbad +the entrance of the Minister of Justice into a place +devoted to the amusement of the people. It is +probable that they strained their argument beyond +the limits of the truth. It was with great difficulty +that Oniah could be made to yield. When he did so +at last, on the urgent representations of his friends +that the hopes of a free Israel were largely dependent +on the preservation of his life, he could not help +foreboding that the concession would not profit +either himself or them. +</p> + +<p> +The world scarcely contained a more beautiful +place—beautiful both by grace of nature and diligence +of art—than the Gardens of Daphne; and +certainly none that seemed more unlikely to shelter +a devout Jew. Its avenues of cypress and laurels, +its delicious depths of shade, its thousand streams, +clear as crystal and untouched by the drought of the +longest, most fiery summer, were but a part of its +<pb n='60'/><anchor id='Pg060'/>charms. Of some, perhaps the chief of its attractions, +it is best not to speak; but there were others, less +unseemly indeed, but such as must have been +absolutely scandalous to such a man as Oniah. The +curious thronged to see the gigantic statue of Apollo, +a match both in size and costliness of material to +that of Zeus in the plain of Olympia. (It was sixty +feet in height, and wrought of gold and ivory.) To +complete the resemblance to the famous meeting-place +of the Greek race, there was a running ground +and rings for wrestling and boxing. Finally, Daphne +claimed to rival another great centre of Greek life +in its special characteristic. It was stoutly maintained +that the Apollo who haunted the laurel-groves +of Daphne was as true a prophet as he who spoke +through the lips of Pythia at Delphi. Crowds of +men and women, eager to learn the secrets of the +future, came to the groves of Antioch. The +method by which they saw into the secrets of fate +seemed singularly simple. The questioner dipped a +laurel leaf into the stream that flowed by the shrine, +and lo! the surface appeared written over with the +intimations of fate. Simple it was, but the priests +had spent a world of pains in acquiring the art of +invisible writing, and they did their best to learn +something about the history and prospects of the +applicants. +</p> + +<p> +Such was Daphne, and no one could be more +astonished than were its inhabitants and visitors +<pb n='61'/><anchor id='Pg061'/>at the strange figure whom they saw before them; +strange to the place, indeed, rather than to them, for +Oniah, as has been said, was one of the best-known +personages in Antioch. The rumour of his coming +had gone before him, and a crowd, half curious, half +respectful, had gathered to meet him. In not a few, +indeed, curiosity and respect were mingled with +something of fear. The presence of this austere +piety in this haunt of vicious pleasure, was thought +to augur ill for its prosperity. Some of the priests +were heard to murmur that one who was the avowed +enemy of the gods ought not to be admitted. But +they did not venture to deny to any one who sought +them the privileges of sanctuary, while their fears +were not of a kind which they could make their +followers understand. They had, therefore, to +acquiesce, and hope that the unwelcome visitor +would bring with him no ill-luck. +</p> + +<p> +A little building, as remote as possible from the +central temple, had been secured for the residence +of Oniah. On reaching the gardens he had to make +his way to it through two dense lines of eager spectators. +The temple, the shrine of the oracle, the +pavilions devoted to pleasure, were for the nonce +deserted. The drunkards left their wine-cup, and, +stranger still, the dice-players their gaming-tables, +to gaze upon the holy man. As he walked up the +narrow avenue that had been left for his passage, +some of the women whose venal beauty was one of +<pb n='62'/><anchor id='Pg062'/>the attractions of the place, threw themselves at his +feet. Unhappy creatures, they had been brought up +from childhood to this life of degradation, which +indeed had a certain hideous sanction of religious +association about it; but they had not altogether +lost the womanly veneration for goodness, and, like +the Magdalen of a later time, seemed to forget themselves +in its presence. The old man, unconscious of +their character, or perhaps, with the Divine Guest +of the Pharisee of Capernaum, ignoring it, stretched +out his hands with the gesture of blessing, and, +though it was technically a pollution to touch a +heathen, he even laid them on some children who +were almost thrust into his arms. There was hardly +a heart that was not touched with this kindness, +and when the priest, as he entered his new abode, +turned and bade the multitude farewell, he was +answered with shouts of enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p> +Menelaüs and his accomplices were dismayed at +the escape of the victim. A witness who knew so +much, and whose word was so implicitly believed, +must be silenced at any cost. To take him by force +from the sanctuary was impossible. Any attempt of +the kind would certainly end in disaster. But it might +be possible to draw him forth by fraud. Menelaüs +knew enough of the old man’s character to be sure +that he had gone reluctantly, and would gladly seize +the opportunity of quitting a scene in which he must +have felt himself so much out of place. Some such +<pb n='63'/><anchor id='Pg063'/>fraud it would not be difficult to contrive with the help +of Andronicus. Accordingly another of the sacred +vessels found its way to the dealer, and another purse +of gold into the pocket of the viceroy, and in a few +hours the plot was arranged. As Antiochus was on +his way back from the north, there was no time to +be lost. +</p> + +<p> +Two days after the arrival of Oniah at the gardens +a visitor to him was announced. It was the viceroy +himself. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Venerable sir,</q> he began, <q>it has grieved me +beyond measure to find that you were distrustful of +my honourable, and I may say friendly, intentions +concerning you. Whoever accused me of ill-will +towards you has wronged me most foully. And let +me add that you also have been wronged no less in +that you have been persuaded to come to a place so +unworthy of your dignity. Your safety should be +ensured, not by a sanctuary in which thieves and +murderers find refuge, but by the inviolable precincts +of the royal palace itself. Let me offer to you, in the +name of the King, the hospitality of his abode. In +the meanwhile I am willing to swear by any oaths +that may suffice to satisfy you and your friends, that +you shall suffer no injury from my hands.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One or two of Oniah’s friends strongly dissuaded +him from trusting himself to the viceroy. But their +caution was overborne by their companions and by +the eagerness of the priest to quit so uncongenial a +<pb n='64'/><anchor id='Pg064'/>place. Andronicus took every oath known to Greek +or Jew that he would treat the priest with all +respect, and Oniah gladly bade farewell to the +Gardens. His departure was made at the dead of +night, and unknown to any of the inhabitants of +Daphne. Had they been aware of his intention, it +is probable, knowing as they did the character of +Andronicus, that they would have hindered it by +force. +</p> + +<p> +Almost at the moment of Oniah’s arrival at the +palace a runner reached it from the King announcing +his intended arrival on the next day. +</p> + +<p> +Speedy action was necessary, and Andronicus, +though not without misgivings, determined to lose +no time. A Court of Justice, so called, was hastily +held. A creature of his own was called to preside +over it. Witnesses whose testimony had been carefully +prepared, deposed to preparations for rebellion +to which Oniah had been privy, and to which he +had lent his aid. The accused was not allowed to +have an advocate, and scarcely even permitted to speak. +Two hours sufficed for this mockery of +a legal process, and two more for carrying into +effect the sentence of death which was of course +pronounced. Though the brutal Cilicians who formed +the garrison of the palace were ready to carry out +any order which their officer might give, it was +judged well to avoid anything like a public execution. +That very night Oniah was poisoned in his +<pb n='65'/><anchor id='Pg065'/>prison, and before dawn the next day his body was +hastily consigned to the tomb. +</p> + +<p> +The punishment for this atrocious act of treachery +and cruelty was not long delayed. One of the first +acts of Antiochus, after his return to his capital, was +to demand the presence of Oniah, and then the story +had to be told. Andronicus did his best to put such +a colour upon it as would deceive his master. The +attempt was vain. The King saw in a moment +through the idle charges which had been brought +against the dead man. <q>What!</q> he cried, <q>Oniah +rebel against <hi rend='italic'>me</hi>!</q> His vanity and self-confidence +made the accusation seem the very height of +absurdity. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course,</q> the King went on—<q>of course he did +not acknowledge the priesthood of Jason or Menelaüs; +he has told me so himself twenty times. +He could not think otherwise, and he was as honest +as the day. I only wish that he had left another as +honest behind him. Zeus and all the gods of heaven +and hell confound me if I do not avenge him to the +uttermost. Tell me,</q> he cried, turning to the captain +of the Cilicians, who stood by dismayed at his +master’s rage—<q>tell me where you have buried +him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The captain described the place. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I will see him once more, and these villains shall +see him too,</q> he said, pointing to the trembling pair, +Andronicus and his creature the judge. +</p> + +<pb n='66'/><anchor id='Pg066'/> + +<p> +He went on foot, his royal dress discarded for a +mourner’s cloak. His courtiers followed him, and a +guard of soldiers behind brought with them the +guilty viceroy and judge. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Open the grave,</q> he said, when he reached the +spot. +</p> + +<p> +It was soon done, for the murderers had hurried +their victim into a shallow tomb. In a few minutes +the body of the dead man was exposed to view. +Decay had not commenced, and death had given +fresh depth and beauty to the serenity which had +been their habitual expression in life. Antiochus +gazed awhile at the face; then, dropping on his +knees, covered his head with his mantle, and burst +into a passion of tears. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes he rose to his feet. Grief had +given place to rage, and his eyes blazed with fury. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Bind that wretch!</q> he cried, pointing to the +wretched Andronicus. +</p> + +<p> +He was bound, and stood waiting his doom. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He is not worth the blow of an honest sword,</q> +cried the King; <q>strangle him, as if he were a dog. +But first make him look at the man whom he has +murdered.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Andronicus was forced to the edge of the grave +and compelled to look at the dead. A halter was +thrown round his neck, and the next moment he was +a corpse. The judge shared his fate. <q>And you, +sir,</q> said the King, turning to the captain who +<pb n='67'/><anchor id='Pg067'/>had administered the poison—<q>you, sir, though you +are a barbarian, and know no better, must learn that +you cannot rob the world of one who was worth a +thousand such brutes as you. You are captain no +more; that is your successor,</q> and he pointed to an +officer in his train. <q>You can groom his horses, if +you don’t want to starve. And think that you are +lucky that you keep your head.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So the good Oniah was avenged. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="5" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='68'/><anchor id='Pg068'/> +<index index="toc" level1="V. The Wrath to Come"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="V. The Wrath to Come"/> +<head>CHAPTER V.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE WRATH TO COME.</hi></head> + +<p> +A year has passed since the tragedy related in the +last chapter. Menelaüs, thanks chiefly to the +fickle temper of Antiochus, had escaped the fate +which overtook his accomplice Andronicus, and had +returned to pillage his unfortunate countrymen in +Palestine. But his lease of power had come to an +end. Jason, his dispossessed rival, had taken the +opportunity of a report that Antiochus was dead, +and attacked him. There could hardly be any +choice between the two men. Both were equally +rapacious; equally unfaithful to their religion and +their country. But Jason had been out of power +for two years, and his misdeeds had faded a little +from the memory of the people; Menelaüs’s enormities +were still fresh in their recollection. After a +sharp conflict, the losses of which were utterly out +of proportion to any gain that could possibly come +from it, Jason had won the day, and his rival had +<pb n='69'/><anchor id='Pg069'/>been compelled to take refuge in the Castle. +Then came the news that the report of the death of +Antiochus was false. He had settled affairs in +Egypt after his liking, and was now on his way +northwards, furious at the trouble which this obstinate +province was giving him, and resolved, as he +said, to quiet it for good. Jason had fled in headlong +haste, and his partisans, and, indeed, most of +those who had the means to go, had followed his +example. Meanwhile Jerusalem was awaiting the +future with fear and trembling. +</p> + +<p> +It is an evening in the early summer, and the +western wall of the city is crowded with men and +women, who are gazing with awe-stricken faces on +the strange appearance of the sunset. All day +people had been talking of the marvellous shapes +which had appeared the evening before in the +western sky, and now a great multitude had assembled +to see whether the marvel would be repeated, +and, if so, to judge of it for themselves. Nor had +they assembled in vain. Never, within the memory +of man, had the heavens worn a stranger, a more +terrifying look. Above the spot where the sun was +just sinking to his rest the whole sky glowed with a +red and angry light. On this background, so to +speak, the clouds of a lower stratum had shaped +themselves into the forms of two armies ready to +engage in battle. The spectators seemed to be able +to trace in one place the serried ranks of infantry, in +<pb n='70'/><anchor id='Pg070'/>another the massed array of chariots and horses. A +space, brilliantly coloured, as it might seem, with +something like the hue of blood, intervened between +the two airy hosts. But these seemed to be slowly +nearing each other, and the gazing people watched +the lessening space, expecting, one might think, to +hear the actual clash of arms when they should +have met. But then the sun set, and with the +sudden failing of light that marks the evening of +more southern climes than ours, the whole pageant +vanished from before the eyes of the spectators. +</p> + +<p> +Among the crowd is our old acquaintance Menander, +or Micah, whom we last met in the library of +Jason. Things have not gone well with him since +then. He had cherished a belief that Greek culture, +the brightness of Greek literature and art, would do +something to amend the severity, and what he was +pleased to call the tastelessness of Jewish life. To a +certain extent it had been an honest belief, though +the pleasure-loving nature of the man, in its revolt +against the stern morality of the Law, had had something +to do with developing it. But his experience +of Greek culture and its works had not been +encouraging. If the reforming doctrine had to be +preached by such prophets as Jason, and Menelaüs, +and the cruel and profligate young tyrant Antiochus, +it was more than doubtful whether it would do any +good. Hitherto, certainly, it had done no good at +all. The people were more unhappy, more +spirit<pb n='71'/><anchor id='Pg071'/>less, more like slaves than they had ever been +before; the rulers were more greedy and selfish, +more absolutely careless of all that did not concern +their own interests. Might he not, he began to +think to himself, have made a mistake? Might not +the old life, which was at least the life of free men, +be better than the new? +</p> + +<p> +He was busy with such thoughts when he heard a +woman’s voice behind him whisper <q>Micah.</q> He +did not recognize it at once, but its tones were +familiar to him, and they seemed to touch the same +chord in his heart with which his thoughts were +then busy. And the name, the old Hebrew name, +that too was familiar, though it was long since he +had heard it. He was <q>Menander</q> to his friends; +for his friends were either Greeks, or else Jews who, +like himself, had cast off the associations of his +birth and race. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Micah,</q> said the voice again, and he turned to +look at the speaker. +</p> + +<p> +She was a woman of some thirty years, plainly, +almost poorly, dressed, but with all the air of gentle +birth and breeding. Her face was beautiful, not +with the brilliant loveliness of youth, but with that +which is brought into the features by a pure and +tender soul. There were the lines of many sorrows +and cares upon her forehead, and round her eyes, +and in the corners of mouth and cheek; but her +eyes, save that they seemed almost too large for the +<pb n='72'/><anchor id='Pg072'/>thinner contours of the face, were as beautiful as they +had been in the first glory of her youth. +</p> + +<p> +It was Hannah, his elder sister, who had been as +a mother to him in his orphaned childhood, that +Menander recognized. Years had passed since they +met. There had been no quarrel, but circumstances +had made a barrier between them. What Menander’s +life had been we know, and Hannah was the +wife of a faithful and devout Jew, Azariah by name, +who, though still cherishing kindly thoughts for his +young kinsman, had felt that, for the present at +least, they were best apart. +</p> + +<p> +Brother and sister eagerly clasped hands, and +Menander, or Micah, as we will call him, felt a lump +rise in his own throat as he saw the tearful smile in +Hannah’s lustrous eyes. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Micah,</q> she said—<q>for you will not mind my +calling you Micah, though I hear you use another +name; but you were always Micah to me—this is a +strange sight on which we have been looking.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sister,</q> he answered, with a gaiety of tone +which was more than half assumed—<q>yes, sister, +strange enough; but then we know that the clouds +do take strange shapes at times. A current of air +blows them this way or that, and, with our fancy to +help, they become anything in heaven or earth that +we may fancy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, Micah, there is more than fancy here. +You and I used to watch the clouds from the +<pb n='73'/><anchor id='Pg073'/>window in the old house, and to laugh at the odd +shapes which we found in them—lions, and dogs, +and whales, and such things—but we never saw such +a sight as this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But we had not in those days such thoughts of +our own to read into the sights of the skies. But +tell me, Hannah, what do you think it means?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What can it mean,</q> she answered, in a low +voice, <q>but wrath—wrath upon us and upon our +children?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wrath, perhaps,</q> he cried; <q>and the sky has, +I must confess, an angry look. But why must it be +upon us? Why not rather upon our enemies? I +see nothing in the skies which tells us whether these +sights be meant for us or for them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, my brother, speak not thus, for you know +better in your heart. The heavens give us these +signs, or rather God gives them to us through the +heavens, but He leaves it to our own hearts to interpret +them. They tell us surely enough on whom +this wrath must fall.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, sister, tell me why on us? Are we worse +than our neighbours—than these robbers of Edomites +and Ammonites, these sullen Romans, never satisfied +except when they are fighting—these mongrel +Syrians?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They are heathen,</q> said Hannah, in a solemn +voice, <q>and they do not sin against light. Let us +leave them to the judgment of God. But ourselves +<pb n='74'/><anchor id='Pg074'/>we can judge. Look at this city; we call it the City +of David—but where is the spirit of David? Have +we not trampled the Law underfoot, making to ourselves +graven images of things in heaven and earth +and the water under the earth? Where is the +honour of the Sabbath? Where is the morning and +evening sacrifice? Where are the yearly feasts? +Will our God deliver us again, when we will not +thank Him for the deliverances that He hath wrought +already? Oh, Micah, I do not seek to anger you; +but are you such as our father, now in Abraham’s +bosom, would rejoice to see you? And tell me, how +was it that we Hebrews became a great people? A +Syrian ready to perish was our father, and lo! before +a thousand years were past, Solomon reigned from +the great river to the Western sea. How came we by +this might? Was it by aping Egyptian or Greek? +Did we not keep to our own way, and walk after our +own law, and worship our own God? Then it +was well with us, and the nations round about feared +us and honoured us; but now they laugh us to +scorn, for we are ashamed of our own selves, and +seek to be what they are, and cannot attain to it, +and so fall short both of their greatness and of +ours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Micah stood dumb before this fierce torrent of +words. Was this the gentle Hannah of his youth? +There must be some mighty influence that could +change the lamb into the lioness. +</p> + +<pb n='75'/><anchor id='Pg075'/> + +<p> +She went on, in a gentler voice, <q>You are not +angry with me, brother?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Surely not.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I must go, for my husband will be waiting for +the evening meal. Come, children,</q> she went on, +speaking to two little girls who had been clinging +to their mother’s cloak, gazing open-eyed and half-terrified +at this strange kinsman. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And are these my nieces?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes; Miriam and Judith,</q> answered Hannah, +pointing first to one and then to the other. <q>This, +children, is your dear uncle, Micah.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The young man stooped and kissed the children. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You will not let it be so long before we see you +again?</q> said Hannah. +</p> + +<p> +His answer was to wring her hand, and turn +away. Her words had pricked him to the heart, +and he did not know whether to thank her or be +angry. +</p> + +<p> +We must now turn to another group which had +also been drawn to the walls by the report of the +marvellous sights that were to be seen in the heavens. +A group it was that would have attracted attention +anywhere, so remarkable were the contrasts and the +resemblances which it presented. +</p> + +<p> +The principal figure was an old man dressed in the +everyday garb of a priest. The burden of years +had bowed his stately figure, for he had long since +passed the limit which the Psalmist assigns to the +<pb n='76'/><anchor id='Pg076'/>life of man, but his eye was as brilliant as ever, and +his voice, when he spoke, had lost none of its depth +and fulness of tone. His three companions were +men in the vigour of life. All surpassed the common +stature, but yet none of them equalled the height of +their father, for that they were father and sons the +most casual observer must have seen. In age there +was little difference between them. The eldest may +have numbered about forty years, the youngest, perhaps, +four less. Their dress was mainly that of +the middle-class Jew, and so different from the old +man’s priestly garb, but not without some distinctive +marks that indicated the fact that they belonged to +the House of Aaron. The multitude of priests was +indeed so great that but a very small share in the +services of the Temple, even when these were fully +carried out, fell to the lot of any one man. These +services had now been reduced to a minimum, and +numbers of the priestly houses, while not repudiating +their hereditary office, practically devoted themselves +to the ordinary avocations of life. This had been +done by the three sons of Mattathias of Modin, for +such was the name and such the ancestral city of +the aged priest. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Judas,</q> said the old man, addressing one of his +sons, <q>these signs in the heavens are of a surety +from the Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The son addressed was the youngest of the three; +but it was evident from the bearing of his brothers, +<pb n='77'/><anchor id='Pg077'/>and from the air of respect and attention with which +they waited for him to speak, that they were accustomed +to see him the first recipient of their father’s +confidence. And indeed it was not difficult to see, +under a superficial resemblance of figure and face, +something that distinguished him from his companions. +John, the eldest, was a plain, blunt soldier, +raised above the average level of his profession, by +the purity of his life and the depth of his religious +convictions, but still essentially a soldier, one who +saw no way of solving complicated questions save by +a downright blow of the sword. Simon, the second +in point of age, had a singularly mild and benevolent +expression, though his eyes were full of intelligence +and the lines of his mouth and chin seemed to show +that he could be firm on occasion. But Judas had +all the outward characteristics of a hero. A sturdier +soldier never wielded sword, but he saw that there +are difficulties to which the sword alone can bring no +solution. Nor was he slow to follow all the subtleties +of diplomacy; but, at the same time, he never lost +his grasp of the principles which all the skill of the +diplomatist is unable to change. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> he now said, <q>that these signs are +from the Lord I do not doubt. But what is your +counsel?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Speak you first, my son,</q> replied the old man; +<q>’tis ever best so. You might be unwilling to differ +from me and yet be in the right. This at least my +<pb n='78'/><anchor id='Pg078'/>years have taught me—that it is easy for any man +to err.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let us stay,</q> said Judas. <q>’Tis true the air is +stifling, such as a free man can scarcely bear to +breathe. But there are many, father, that look to +you for counsel and guidance, and we may scarcely +leave them, at least till the call sounds more plainly +in our ears.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> cried John, the soldier, <q>I am not, as you +know, one that would readily give his vote for flight. +But here we are, methinks, as rats in a hole. May +we not lawfully, and with good faith to God and our +brethren, seek some place where we may at least +have space to draw our swords and strike a blow?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you, Simon, what say you?</q> asked the old +man, turning to his second son. +</p> + +<p> +<q>God knows that I would give much to be back +at home. But our brethren need us here, and we +may give them some comfort. Let us stay.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Judas and Simon,</q> said the old man, after a +pause, <q>you have spoken well, and I give my voice +with yours. As yet our duty seems to keep us here. +When it shall call us hence, we will follow it. And +you, John, think not that you will long want for an +occasion to strike with the sword. It shall come; +but you will be readier for it if you make no haste +to meet it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +With this the little party turned away from the +wall, and made their way to their lodging in the city. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="6" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='79'/><anchor id='Pg079'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VI. The Evil Days"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VI. The Evil Days"/> +<head>CHAPTER VI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE EVIL DAYS.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was not long before the portent which the terrified +crowd had watched from the walls of Jerusalem +found, or at least began to find, its fulfilment, for, +indeed, many days were to pass before the wretched +people had drained the cup of suffering to the dregs. +</p> + +<p> +First there was the actual arrival of the army, +the rumour of whose approach had struck such +terror into Jason. At its head came Antiochus in +person, fresh from his successful campaigns in Egypt +and in his train followed the renegade Menelaüs +with a crowd of unscrupulous and profligate adventurers. +There was no attempt at resistance. The +gates were thrown open by the King’s adherents in +the city. But if the citizens had hoped to soften the +tyrant’s heart by their submissive attitude they were +miserably disappointed. For days the streets of the +city ran red with blood. The prominent members +of the patriotic party were the first to perish. Then +<pb n='80'/><anchor id='Pg080'/>came all the private enemies of the returning +renegades; and then a far greater multitude who +were singled out for destruction by the possession +of anything that excited the cupidity of the conquerors. +Lastly, as ever happens at such times, +the massacre that is suggested by hatred or greed +was followed by the massacre that is the result of +the merest wantonness. But there were victims +more unhappy than those who thus perished by +the sword of the heathen. The money found on the +persons and in the houses of the victims did not +satisfy the cupidity of their murderers. There were +thousands who had indeed nothing of their own to +lose, but who were in themselves a valuable property. +These were sent off in droves to be sold, till the +slave-markets of the Eastern Mediterranean were +glutted with the Jewish youth. +</p> + +<p> +Still worse in the eyes of all pious Jews than the +massacre or the captivity was the profanation of the +Temple. The innermost shrine, the Holy of Holies, +which the high priest himself was permitted by the +Law to enter but once only in the year, was thrown +open to the unhallowed gaze of a debauched heathen. +With a horror that passes description the people +saw the renegade Menelaüs, bound to be the +guardian of the sanctity of the place, actually drawing +aside the veil with his own hand, and conducting +the King into the awful enclosure. They saw the +most sacred treasures, gifts of the piety of many +<pb n='81'/><anchor id='Pg081'/>generations, treasures to which the revenue of the +Persian kings, and even of the victorious Alexander +himself had contributed, become the spoil of the +sacrilegious intruders. The golden altar of incense +and the table of the shew-bread were taken by the +King, while the seven-branched candlestick of gold +fell, as was commonly believed, to the high priest +himself. They saw it, and it almost overturned +their faith that no visible sign of the Divine wrath +followed an impiety so terrible. +</p> + +<p> +So Antiochus came and went, leaving behind him +as his deputy, Philip, the Phrygian, <q>in manners +more barbarous than he who set him there.</q> The +time that followed was one of grievous depression +and sadness. Life went on, as it will even amidst +the gloomiest circumstances, but all the joy and +brightness were crushed out of it. +</p> + +<p> +Micah’s sister, the Hannah whom we have seen +talking to him on the wall, gave birth to a son +shortly after the departure of Antiochus. No feast +was held on occasion of the rite that made the little +one a member of the family of Abraham. When the +forty days of purification were past, the mother was +not taken to present her offspring in the Temple. +The Temple, the haunt of pagans and apostates, +was no place for faithful sons and daughters of +Abraham. A visit to its courts could hardly be +the seal of purification when it needed purifying +so sorely itself. +</p> + +<pb n='82'/><anchor id='Pg082'/> + +<p> +An occasion that should by right have been +still more joyful was allowed to pass with the +absence of festivity. A younger sister of Hannah, +Ruth by name, had long before been promised to +Seraiah, a friend and relative of her husband. +Time after time the marriage had been postponed, +under the pressure of evil times; and when at +last it was performed, not even then without sore +misgivings and anticipations of evil among all the +elders of the family, the celebration was of the +quietest kind. Not a guest beyond the few friends +who attended on the bridegroom was invited; and +it was in dead silence, not with the usual shouts of +merriment and gay procession of torches, that the +bride was taken to her husband’s home. +</p> + +<p> +And yet, as we shall see, even for these evils +there was a compensating good. +</p> + +<p> +Micah, though he had affected to make light of +the foreboding of evil which he had heard from his +sister, had really been impressed by it—so much impressed, +indeed, that he had left the city for a little +country house at the northern end of the Lake of +Galilee, that belonged to him. He had invited his +relatives to accompany him, but they had declined. +Their place, they said, was at home, among their +poorer brethren, where they might do something +to help and strengthen. All that Micah could do +was to commend them to the protection of the +Greek party in the city, with whom, in spite of his +<pb n='83'/><anchor id='Pg083'/>fast increasing disgust at their proceedings, he had +not yet broken. +</p> + +<p> +He had now returned, and he lost no time in +finding his way to his sister’s house. The ravages +made by fire and sword were only too plainly visible +as he walked along. Houses that he had known +from his childhood, in which he had often been a +guest, were now but blackened walls; others were +shapeless ruins. Again and again he saw on fragments +of stone and plaster hideous blotches which +he knew to be of blood; and as he saw these things +he cursed aloud the hands which had wrought these +horrors, not without the bitterest self-reproach that +his own hand might have grasped them in friendship. +</p> + +<p> +It was a great relief to find that his sister’s house +had been spared any outrage. But when he demanded +admittance in the usual way, by kicking +the door, it became evident that there had been a +reign of terror, and that the inmates of the dwelling +were not sure that it was yet over. The door +was not thrown open in the usual free fashion of +Jewish hospitality, but he became aware by a slight +movement of one of the closed lattices that he was +being inspected from above. The inspection was +apparently satisfactory, for in another minute there +was a sound of undrawing bolts and unfastening +chains, and the inhospitable door was at last open. +Hannah, sadly aged in look her brother thought, +met him in the hall, and greeted him with a silent +<pb n='84'/><anchor id='Pg084'/>embrace. After a pause, in which she seemed to be +struggling with her tears, she said— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Welcome, dear Micah; while you and my husband +and my children are left to me I feel that +I cannot be unhappy. And perhaps you,</q> she +added, with a wistful look in his face, <q>will draw +nearer to us now. But come and see my dear ones.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She led the way to a room at the back of the +house, looking out into a little garden shaded by a +wide-branching fig-tree. Hannah noiselessly drew +aside the curtain that served for a door, and the two +stood by common consent and watched the scene that +met their eyes. Azariah, the father of the family, +was sitting with his back turned to them, holding on +his knees a copy of the Law. On two stools at his +feet sat his daughters, each holding in one hand a +tablet covered with wax, and in the other a <foreign rend='italic' lang="la">stylus</foreign> or +sharp-pointed iron pen. He was slowly dictating +to them the words, <q>Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy +God is one Lord,</q> and the little creatures were +laboriously forming, not without many pauses for +thought, the scarcely familiar letters. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Now read it, my children,</q> said Azariah, when +the task was finished; and one after another the +sweet, childish voices repeated the well-known +words. Micah, as he listened, felt himself strangely +touched. Presently he heard his sister murmur +to herself, <q>In Thy Law will I meditate day and +night,</q> and glancing at her face saw it illumined +<pb n='85'/><anchor id='Pg085'/>with a joy which he could scarcely have believed +those wasted features capable of expressing. +</p> + +<p> +<q>’Tis well, Miriam; ’tis well, Judith,</q> said +Azariah to the little girls, and putting his hands +upon their heads, as they stood before him, for they +had risen to repeat the holy words, he repeated, +<q>The God of Abraham and Sarah bless you.</q> And +then, for they were mere children after all, and not +above childish rewards, gave each a ripe fig from +a basket which stood on a table by his side. +</p> + +<p> +The lesson being over, Hannah advanced, and her +brother followed. Azariah turned and greeted the +new comer not unkindly, but with a certain reserve, +for he could not forget that his visitor was a +Menander as well as a Micah, and that he had been +the friend of the traitorous Jason, and the yet more +traitorous Menelaüs. The children, after their first +feeling of alarm, for a strange face was seldom seen +in that home, and when Miriam, the elder, had recognized +her uncle, showed no reserve in their welcome. +They clung about his neck, and kissed him. They +insisted on his coming to see their pets—Miriam’s +turtle-doves, and Judith’s dormice, and the little +gazelle fawn which they owned in common. <q>They +have not heard a word against me,</q> thought Micah +to himself; and this affectionate loyalty touched him +to the heart. From his sister he might, perhaps, +have expected it, but that the stern Azariah, a +narrow-minded bigot, without a kindly thought for +<pb n='86'/><anchor id='Pg086'/>any that did not walk in his way, as he had been +accustomed to think of him—that Azariah himself +should have dealt with him so mercifully, was a +surprise as it was also a reproach. +</p> + +<p> +He stopped with them for the rest of the day, and +after the evening meal, when the little ones had +gone to bed, after making their uncle promise that +he would soon come and see them again, the three +had much serious talk together. +</p> + +<p> +Micah had, of course, the family history to hear, +for, stranger as he had been to them for some years +past, he knew scarcely anything about it. He learnt +now for the first time that a little boy had been +born who, had he lived, would have been about two +years younger than Judith. The mother had much +to say about his beauty and goodness, and his rare +promise of intelligence. Micah was touched all the +more because he could not forgive himself for the +alienation which had prevented him from saying +a word of comfort to his sister in the hour of her +bereavement. <q>It was, indeed, a terrible loss,</q> and +he rose from his seat and kissed her. He felt that +this little proof of his love would be better than +many words. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> she said, with a cheerfulness that almost +startled him—<q>nay; you must not say that we have +lost our dear little Joshua. I know that I have a +son still, though he is not here. I confess that it +was very hard to part with him. But he is quite +<pb n='87'/><anchor id='Pg087'/>safe in Abraham’s bosom, safer and better off,</q> she +added, with a sad smile, <q>than he would be here; +and some day I shall see him, and show him to +you, dear Micah, and we shall be happy together.</q> +</p> + +<p> +After this the little party had much talk about the +state of things in the present, and the prospects of +the future. Again Micah was astonished to see the +cheerfulness and courage which his sister and her +husband kept up in the midst of circumstances +which must have been most disheartening. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said Azariah, when the conversation turned +upon the desolation of the Temple, and the loss of all +the ceremonial of worship, the daily sacrifice, and +the great festivals of the year—<q>Ah! there are +consolations even here. Perhaps we thought too +much of these things in the old time. We were +taken up with the outside, with the show and the +splendour, the vessels of gold, and the clouds of +incense smoke as they curled about the pillars and +the roof, and we forgot what they meant. But now +that the outside things are taken from us, we can +give our hearts to that which is within. We have +our gatherings still, though the Temple doors are +shut. Every Sabbath-day we meet, and the Law +and the Prophets are read in our ears—aye, and +there are those who can expound them, and speak +words that comfort and strengthen us. I, myself, +have felt the Spirit move me once or twice to exhort +and cheer the brethren. No, brother! believe me, +<pb n='88'/><anchor id='Pg088'/>it is not wholly loss that we cannot assemble any +more in our beautiful house. Our fathers learnt +much when they sat mourning by the waters of +Babylon, and we also are learning much in this +our second captivity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This sounded strange to the young man, who, +indeed, had dulled his understanding of spiritual +things by his follies and excesses. Still he could not +help feeling deeply impressed by the evident earnestness +of the speaker. But he felt that he could say +nothing. A trifler and unbeliever like himself could +only remain silent in the presence of thoughts and +feelings so much higher than anything to which he +could reach. +</p> + +<p> +After a short pause Azariah went on—<q>The +Lord has not seen fit to renew among us the spirit +of prophecy, and we know not certainly of the +things that are coming upon the earth. Yet a man, +though he be no prophet, may read the signs of the +times. Believe me, there are days to come more full +of evil and darkness even than those that we have +seen. My heart sometimes fails me when I think of +this dear woman,</q> and as he spoke he laid his hand +upon his wife’s shoulder, <q>and of the little ones +whom God has given us. It will be a hard time +for men to battle through—but for women and +children——.</q> And his voice faltered. +</p> + +<p> +Hannah turned to him with her brave, cheerful +smile—<q><q>As thy days, so shall thy strength be.</q> The +<pb n='89'/><anchor id='Pg089'/>great prophet said it, did he not, to all his people—to +the weak ones as well as to the strong?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after Micah took his leave. As he walked +through the deserted streets he thought much of the +words which he had heard that night, and still more +of the cheerfulness and courage, ten times more +eloquent than all words, which he had witnessed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is all this a delusion?</q> he asked himself. <q>Six +months ago, perhaps even six hours ago, I should +have had little doubt in saying so. But now—well, +if it is a delusion, it is strangely like a reality. Anyhow +its effects are real enough. Dear Hannah! +always the best and kindest of sisters, but a timid +creature, whom I used to amuse myself by frightening. +But now—she is as bold as a lioness. Well, +I can only hope that the truths which I have been +learning, if they are truths, will stand me in as good +stead when the need comes.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="7" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='90'/><anchor id='Pg090'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VII. The Darkness Thickens"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VII. The Darkness Thickens"/> +<head>CHAPTER VII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE DARKNESS THICKENS.</hi></head> + +<p> +Azariah had read the signs of the times aright. +The darker days had come, days so full of trouble +that the unhappy people looked back to the past +that had seemed so sad and gloomy as to a time +of rest. Things had not been going well with King +Antiochus, for the Romans had driven him out of +Egypt, and in his rage and fear he turned against +his Jewish subjects with greater ferocity than ever. +One of his motives was the brutal desire to wreak +upon the feeble the vengeance which he could not +exact from the strong; the other was a genuine +fear lest he should lose another province as he had +already lost Egypt. He saw that the policy of Rome +was to stir up against him the national spirit of subject +peoples, and he knew well enough that in the +Jews, crushed though they had been by oppression +and massacre, this national spirit was not by any +means dead. Accordingly he set himself with relentless +ferocity to extinguish it. Everything distinctive +<pb n='91'/><anchor id='Pg091'/>of the people was to be rooted out; that done they +might become really submissive; there would be +no more a land of the Jews, but simply a province +of Southern Syria. +</p> + +<p> +The first thing, he conceived, would be to strike +such terror into the hearts of the people that there +should be no thought among them of resistance. +For such a purpose nothing could be more effective +than another massacre such as that which had +already been perpetrated two years before under his +own eyes: only this, he determined, should be +more complete. He perceived with a devilish ingenuity +that his orders would be more relentlessly +carried out if he entrusted their execution to some +one else, than if he were personally present. Appeals +might be made to him to which he might yield out +of sheer weariness, whereas a lieutenant, if he were +only hard-hearted enough, would simply fall back +upon the orders which he had received, and refuse +all responsibility save that of seeing that these were +fully carried out. +</p> + +<p> +Such a lieutenant he knew that he possessed in +the person of a certain Apollonius, a Cretan mercenary, +who had already given proofs enough that +he was about as little troubled as any man could +be with a conscience or with feelings of compassion. +To Apollonius, accordingly, the commission was +entrusted, and he proceeded to execute it in a +particularly brutal and treacherous way. +</p> + +<pb n='92'/><anchor id='Pg092'/> + +<p> +He marched to Jerusalem, taking with him a +picked force of some five thousand men—picked, it +may be said, quite as much for their unscrupulous +and ferocious character, as for their strength and +skill in arms. There would have been, in any case, +little chance of resistance, but, to make his task +the easier of accomplishment, he had so timed his +coming that he approached the city two or three +hours before the end of the Sabbath. Secret orders +had been sent to Philip, the Phrygian, that he was +to relax the severity of his rule; and the people +had begun to breathe again after a long period of +repression. The Temple was still shut, or virtually +shut, but the synagogues were open, and were indeed +frequented by throngs of fervent worshippers. +</p> + +<p> +It wanted a couple of hours to sunset when the +news ran through the city that an armed force was +approaching the walls. The first feeling aroused +by the tidings was naturally one of alarm. The +appearance of the soldiers, however, was such as to +disarm all apprehensions. In the first place they +were more like a crowd of men who happened to be +carrying arms than an army. They were not marching +in ranks, or indeed keeping any kind of order. +A multitude of country-folk could be seen mingled +among them, soldiers and civilians walking side by +side in the most friendly and unconstrained fashion. +Some of the new comers recognized old acquaintances +among the townsfolk, and introduced their +<pb n='93'/><anchor id='Pg093'/>comrades to them; and though some of the sterner +sort stood rigidly aloof, there were quite enough +among the inhabitants of Jerusalem to give the +visitors a general welcome. Apollonius himself, +a conspicuous figure as he rode on his white +charger up and down the streets of the city, was +noticeably busy in renewing old acquaintanceships +and making new ones. +</p> + +<p> +And then in a moment the whole scene was +changed. A soldier and a citizen were standing on +the wall, talking and laughing together, and that +in a place where they could be seen by all observers. +Suddenly, without there having been even the +slightest sign of a quarrel, the soldier was seen to +plunge his sword into the side of his companion. +It was a preconcerted signal. The wretched inhabitants, +who would have been defenceless in any +case, were taken absolutely off their guard, and had +but slender chances of escape. How many hundreds, +possibly thousands, perished cannot be guessed. But +the massacre was more general, more pitiless than +that which had devastated the city two years before. +Apollonius’s <q>picked</q> men showed themselves altogether +worthy of his choice, so brutal and bloodthirsty +were they. And Apollonius himself was to +be seen everywhere urging his men to make short +work with these <q>pestilent Jews,</q> as he called them, +and not unfrequently striking a blow himself. He +earned on that day such hatred that thereafter +<pb n='94'/><anchor id='Pg094'/>there was not to be found a Jew, save among the +vilest renegades and traitors, but uttered a curse +when his name was mentioned. +</p> + +<p> +Of course the soldiers had to be paid for their +bloody day’s work, and they were paid by the +plunder of the city. The houses were stripped, and +the plunderers, when they had carried away everything +that had roused their cupidity, often, out of +sheer wantonness, completed the work of devastation, +by setting fire to the desolated houses. Altogether +Jerusalem presented such a spectacle as had not +been seen since the days of the Babylonian conquest. +</p> + +<p> +The spirit of the people having been, as it would +seem, thus effectually broken for the present, it +remained to provide against its possible revival in +the future. +</p> + +<p> +Long gaps were made in the line of wall, so long +that it took not a few days to make them, and +would certainly require as many weeks to repair. +The town thus made defenceless was further overawed +by the erection of a fort in the City of David, +this fort being held by a strong garrison of Greeks +and Asiatic mercenaries. +</p> + +<p> +The means of repression thus provided, the next +thing was to extinguish all that was characteristic +of the national life. First, the great centre of +that life, the Temple, was formally desecrated. +Already it had been subjected to such indignities +that the pious Jew could scarcely bear to enter +<pb n='95'/><anchor id='Pg095'/>its precincts. But the final horror, the <q>abomination +of desolation,</q> was yet to come. On the +15th of the month Chisleu (December) an altar +of a Greek pattern, and consecrated to the Olympian +Zeus, was placed on the great altar of sacrifice, +and ten days afterwards a huge sow was +slaughtered on this. Her blood, caught after the +Greek fashion in a bowl, was sprinkled on the altar +of incense and on the mercy-seat within the Holy +of Holies—a hideous mockery of the sprinkling +which the Law enjoined to be performed once in +every year. From the animal’s flesh a mess of +broth was prepared, and this was sprinkled on the +copies of the Law. The Temple, thus dishonoured, +was as if it had ceased to be. +</p> + +<p> +The meeting-houses, in which, as we have seen, +the people had found a substitute for the Temple +worship, were summarily closed. An edict was +issued commanding that every one who possessed +a copy of the Law, or of any one of the sacred +books, should give it up without loss of time. To +call in cupidity to the aid of fear in enforcing this +edict, the King’s officers were instructed to pay a +reasonable price for the manuscripts thus produced. +It was made a capital offence to read or to recite +any part of the proscribed writings. Then the +practice of circumcision was forbidden. Death was +to be the penalty for all who should take any part +in performing this rite—for the circumciser, the +mother, the father, even the babe itself. +</p> + +<pb n='96'/><anchor id='Pg096'/> + +<p> +And then to the policy of repression Antiochus +added the policy of bribery and temptation. Their +own worship forbidden, the Jews were to be allured +by the seductions of the worship of their masters. +Hitherto little had been done in this way. Insults +indeed, had been heaped upon the people; but little +attempt had been made to attract them. The +Temple gates, closed for more than a year, were +again thrown open; and the courts, long silent, resounded +with the mirth of sacrificial banquets and +the gaiety of festivals. Not only all the splendours, +but all the impure pleasures of heathen +worship were called in to assist the attempt +that was being made to sap what was left of the +faith of the people. +</p> + +<p> +Antiochus, who, for all his wrath at Jewish +obstinacy, could not help feeling a certain respect +for it, took the trouble to send among the people a +missionary, if he may be so called, who was to +instruct them in the new religion which their King +was so anxious to impose upon them. +</p> + +<p> +Theopompus, or Athenæus, to use the name which +was commonly given him from his birthplace, was a +follower of the philosophy of Epicurus. He had +held a subordinate post, as lecturer in geometry, in +the famous school of the Garden, but had found his +modest income insufficient to meet his somewhat +expensive tastes. If he had had but a tolerable +competence, Athenæus would have made an ideal +<pb n='97'/><anchor id='Pg097'/>Epicurean. He was devoted to pleasure, but there +was nothing unseemly or extravagant about his +devotion. For the foolish people who ruined their +constitutions and emptied their purses by exhausting +excesses he had a genuine contempt. <q>Give me,</q> +he would say, <q>a decent sufficiency of <q>outside +things,</q> and I am content.</q> As he had a fair +smattering of culture, and a real acquaintance with +geometry, and had a venerable appearance which +happily hit the mean between hilarity and austerity, +he might have been, but for a chronic want of money, +a real success among the somewhat <foreign rend='italic'>dilettante</foreign> +philosophers of Athens. But circumstances were +against him. Poverty did not ill become an +Academic, and positively set off a Stoic; but an +Epicurean seemed to have missed his vocation if he +could not be always handsomely dressed and able +to give elegant entertainments to his friends. +Athenæus, who liked above all things to be on good +terms both with himself and with every one else, +felt this very acutely, and he was proportionately +delighted when the Syrian King proposed to him that +he should go as a teacher, not without a handsome +salary, of Greek religion and Greek culture. +</p> + +<p> +His success was not encouraging. In the first +place he had a difficulty in making himself understood. +The pure Attic Greek on which he prided +himself was strange to the ears of his new audience, +and he could not bring himself to descend to the +<pb n='98'/><anchor id='Pg098'/>barbarous dialect to which they were accustomed. +And when he was seriously called to account in the +matter of his belief he found himself involved in +difficulties from which he saw no way of escape. At +Athens religion was politely ignored. The common +people must, of course, have their gods and goddesses; +and the wise man, if he were prudent, would +say nothing—anyhow in public—to disturb their +belief; but within the privileged walls of the schools +the names of Zeus and Athené and Apollo were never +so much as mentioned, except, perhaps, in the course +of some antiquarian discussion. +</p> + +<p> +Among his new disciples, as he would fain have +reckoned them, Athenæus found a very different +temper. They were terribly in earnest; abstractions +and phrases did not satisfy them; they pushed their +questions home in a very perplexing way. +</p> + +<p> +One day at the conclusion of a lecture, the customary +invitation to the audience to put any questions +that might occur to them was accepted by a +young man who sat on one of the front benches. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I would ask you, venerable sir,</q> he said, <q>some +questions about the gods of your religion.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Speak on,</q> replied Athenæus, with his usual +courtesy; <q>I shall be delighted to satisfy you to the +best of my power.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Are we to believe the stories that are told us in this +book?</q> and he held up, as he spoke, a little volume +of popular mythology, filled from beginning to end +<pb n='99'/><anchor id='Pg099'/>with tales that, to say the least, were not edifying. +<q>For, if these be true, these divine beings were such +as would be banished from the society of all honest +men and women. They are thieves, adulterers, +murderers. It would be a thousand times better to +have no gods at all than such as these.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are right, sir,</q> said the lecturer; <q>these +stories are for the ignorant only, at least in their outward +meaning, though they have an inner meaning +also, which I will take some fitting occasion to +expound. But not such are the gods whom we +worship.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Will you tell us something of them?</q> continued +the questioner. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Willingly, for they are such that the wisest of +men need not be ashamed of them. They dwell in +some remote region, serene and happy. Wrath they +feel not, nor sorrow, nor any of the passions that +disturb the souls of men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And do they care for our doings upon earth?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How so? They neither love nor hate; and both +they must do, I take it, did they concern themselves +with human affairs.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What profit, then, is there in them? How are +men the better for their being?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That I know not; only that it is part of the +order of things that they must be.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Far be it from me,</q> exclaimed the young Jew, +<q>to exchange for such idle existences the God of my +<pb n='100'/><anchor id='Pg100'/>fathers! He may smite us in His anger till we are +well-nigh consumed, but at least He cares for us. +He led our fathers through the sea and through the +wilderness in the days of old. He has spoken to us +by the prophets, and He has made His Presence to +be seen in His Temple; and though He has hidden +His face from us for a time, yet He will repent +Him of His wrath, and devise the means by which +He shall recall His banished unto Him. No, we +will not change our God for yours!</q> +</p> + +<p> +A loud murmur of assent went round the benches +when the speaker sat down, and Athenæus felt that +he had made but small way with his audience. +</p> + +<p> +Finding his theology and philosophy but ill received, +Athenæus bethought him of what seemed a +more hopeful method of proselytizing. Could not +a specially powerful attraction be found in the festival +of Dionysus, the wine-god? Vintage feasts, he +reflected, are common to every country where wine +is produced, and it would not be difficult to ingraft +the Greek characteristics on a celebration to which +the Jews were already accustomed. Some of the less +scrupulous might be tempted to take part in such +a festival, a beginning would be made, and more +would follow in due time. How the scheme prospered +will be told in the next chapter. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="8" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='101'/><anchor id='Pg101'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VIII. Shallum the Wine-Seller"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VIII. Shallum the Wine-Seller"/> +<head>CHAPTER VIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">SHALLUM THE WINE-SELLER.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>Things are growing worse and worse; only three +customers yesterday, and not a single one to-day, +though it must be at least an hour past noon. One +would think that all the world had become Nazarites. +Then, though there is next to nothing coming in, +there is no stop to the going out. First comes the +rascally tax-gatherer, and squeezes one as dry as a +grape-skin in a press. And if, by chance, there +happens to be a drop left, some snuffling priest is +sure to turn up, and talk about one’s duty as a +patriot and a Jew till he drags the last shekel out +of one.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The speaker was one Shallum, a Benjamite, who +kept a little wine-shop in the Lower City. When he +had finished his grumble, he thrust his hand into an +empty wine-jar, drew from it a little leathern bag, +untied the string which was round the neck, poured +out the scanty contents on the counter and counted +them. He knew the amount perfectly well, for he +<pb n='102'/><anchor id='Pg102'/>had gone through the counting process at least +ten times before that day. But when a man is +desperately anxious to make two ends meet, he +will measure them again and again, though he may +know exactly by how much they are too short. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Twelve shekels and ten annas! And old Nahum +will be here to-morrow, asking for his thirty +shekels!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Nahum was a Lebanon wine-grower, whose long-suffering +had been already tried to the utmost by the +delays of the impecunious Shallum. +</p> + +<p> +At this moment his meditations were interrupted +by the entrance of two visitors, who had been +standing, listening and watching outside the door. +They were traders in a small way, who had migrated +from Joppa when they heard that Greek wares were +becoming the fashion in Jerusalem. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ho! Shallum,</q> cried one of them, <q>two cups of +your best Lebanon; and make haste, for we have +important business on hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shall I draw some water fresh from the well? +This is a little too warm to be used.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Water!</q> said the man. <q>Jew, don’t blaspheme. +Mix water with our wine to-day, of all days in the +year!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And why not to-day?</q> said Shallum. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Because it is the feast of Dionysus, the wine-giver; +and it would be the grossest impiety to +profane his bounty with any mixture of meaner +<pb n='103'/><anchor id='Pg103'/>things. Commonly his godship winks at human +weakness; but to-day it is different. May he +confound me if I do him such dishonour!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He will certainly confound you if you drink this +heady wine undiluted,</q> muttered Shallum to himself, +as he set the two cups before his guests. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Excellent! excellent!</q> cried Lycon, the elder +of the two Greeks, as he set down his goblet, half +empty. <q>But why the god vouchsafes such capital +drink to these unbelieving dogs of Jews puzzles me +beyond expression.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His companion broke out into a drinking-song: +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">Fill the cup with ample measure,</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Dionysus’ gift divine;</l> +<l>Earth and sea hold no such treasure</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>As the gleaming, sparkling wine.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>All for youth are love’s caressings,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Gold and gems for princes shine;</l> +<l>All may share the wine-god’s blessings,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><q rend="pre: none">Rich and poor are glad with wine.</q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +Shallum was fairly tolerant, as indeed a tavern-keeper +can hardly fail to be, of the ways and manners +of his customers; but to hear this praise of a false +god, one of the odious demons that were worshipped +by the heathen, was too much for his patience. He +muttered a curse under his breath, and emphasized +this expression of disgust by spitting on the floor. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don’t talk to me of your gods and goddesses!</q> +cried Shallum, goaded beyond all endurance, <q>a +<pb n='104'/><anchor id='Pg104'/>lewd, drunken crew that no respectable person +would have anything to do with!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come, my friend,</q> said the Greek, <q>this is not +the sort of talk which one expects to hear from a +loyal subject of the pious Antiochus. We Greeks +are not such bigots as you are, cursing every man, +woman, or child that does not go exactly in our own +way; but you must treat us and our belongings with +respect. We are not going to have barbarians +scoffing at what we think fit to worship. I have +heard of men being crucified for less than you have +said to-day. But hearken, Shallum, we did not +come here to-day to quarrel with you. You are a +good fellow, after all, and keep as capital a tap of +wine as any that I know, King Tmolus<note place="foot">The wine of Mount Tmolus, a mountain near Smyrna, before +which, as Virgil says (Georgics ii. 184), all other wines rise as before +their betters.</note> only +excepted. We want you to come with us and have +a jolly day. What is the good of quarrelling about +words? You and we are quite agreed that there is +something in wine that makes it one of the finest +things under the sun. Suppose that we choose to +call that something Dionysus the Wine-god, and you +choose to say that your god has to do with it, what +is the difference? We are really agreed. It is the +goodness in wine that we both like, and I’m sure +that a really honest fellow like you, that we can +always rely on to give us the right stuff, should be +<pb n='105'/><anchor id='Pg105'/>the first to acknowledge it. Well, can’t we show an +agreement? That is why we want you to come with +us. A whole crowd of your countrymen are coming, +I understand. It will be a pretty sight, and there +will be some of the finest music that you ever heard, +and dancing, and fun of all kinds, and, of course, as +much wine as ever you want. Of course you will +come, my dear Shallum?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>I</hi> come?</q> growled the wine-seller. <q>Not I! +What do I care about your dancing and singing? +And as for wine, I can have as much as I want at +home, and better stuff, too, than any that I am +likely to get elsewhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Lycon, who was evidently bent on getting his way, +did not suffer his good humour to be disturbed by +the Jew’s churlishness. <q>Ah!</q> said he, <q>that +reminds me. Stupid fellow that I am, I quite +forgot the matter of business that really brought +me here. To tell the truth, business and this old +Lebanon don’t very well agree. But listen; +Neocles, who is manager-in-chief of the whole +festival, has quite made up his mind to have your +wine, and none but yours, for all the better sort of +people. He was to get some skins for the common +folks from Zadok—do you know him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Know him?</q> said Shallum; <q>I should think I +did—hasn’t got a drop of sound wine in his shop.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So the Chief said. But we were to come to you +for the good wine. What can you let us have? +<pb n='106'/><anchor id='Pg106'/>Mind that it must be the very best. We were not +to haggle about the price, Neocles said, so long +as we got it really good.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And Lycon pulled out of his pocket a money-bag +that was evidently much better furnished than +Shallum’s lean and hunger-bitten purse. Untying +the neck, he poured into his hand, with an air of +careless profusion, some ten or twelve gold pieces. +</p> + +<p> +Shallum’s keen eyes glistened at the sight. Here +was enough to pay not only Nahum but all his +creditors, and leave him a handsome sum over +wherewith to tide over the hard times. His somewhat +brusque manner changed in a moment. He +was now the most obsequious of tradesmen. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Everything in my stores is at your disposal. +And I have a better wine than this in my cellar, and +only ten shekels a skin,</q> he went on, adding about +three to the utmost he expected to get. <q>But wait +a moment, gentlemen, you shall taste it for yourselves.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He took a small flagon from beneath the counter +and disappeared. The two Greeks smiled to each +other. <q>We have the fish fast,</q> one of them said; +<q>after all there is nothing like a golden bait.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shallum shortly reappeared with the wine, which +was tasted and approved. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said Lycon, <q>we will say ten skins of this +at ten shekels a piece, and five of the other sort at +eight—that is the price; is it not?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='107'/><anchor id='Pg107'/> + +<p> +Shallum nodded assent. As a matter of fact he +would never have expected more than seven. But +if these Greeks were so free with their money why +should not an honest Jew have the benefit of it? +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course you will come with us?</q> said Lycon. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You may take my word for it, there will be nothing +to offend you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shallum hesitated for a moment, and then muttered +an unwilling <q>Yes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you won’t mind wearing this little twig of +ivy, just twisted round your head? It means nothing—every +one does it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This was more than the wretched man was prepared +for. <q>Not I,</q> he said; <q>I am not going to +wear any of your idolatrous ornaments.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Lycon put the money-bag into his pocket again. +<q>Then, my dear Shallum, I am afraid we shall not +be able to do any business. <q>Give and take</q> is our +motto. We put a nice little bargain in your way; +and you must humour us. However, if you are +obstinate, there must be an end of it. I dare say +Zadok can find us what we want. Come, +Callicles,</q> he went on, turning to his companion, +<q><corr sic="(no quote mark)">we</corr> must be going.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shallum saw his dreams of deliverance from his +money-troubles vanishing into air, and grew desperate. +<q>Stop,</q> he said to his guests, <q>let me +think for a moment. You won’t ask me to do anything +else. A few leaves can’t make much odds +<pb n='108'/><anchor id='Pg108'/>either way. I don’t remember ever hearing anything +in the Law against wearing ivy. It isn’t like +eating swine’s flesh, or those detestable scaleless +eels that you Greeks are so fond of. Yes, I’ll wear +the thing, if you want me to so much.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That’s right, Shallum; I thought a sensible +man like you would not throw away a good chance +for a mere nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So saying, Lycon stepped outside the shop, and +whistled. In a minute or so a cart, which had been +waiting round the corner, was driven up. The skins +of wine were stowed away in it, and the two Greeks, +with Shallum between them, all wearing the ivy-wreath, +took their seats, and started for the Valley +of the Cheesemongers, where it had been arranged +that the festival should be held. +</p> + +<p> +The festival was scarcely a success, if it was +meant, as it certainly was, to attract the Jewish +population. A few hundreds, indeed, had been persuaded +or compelled to be present. Most of them +belonged to the lowest and most degraded class, +wretched creatures whom any purchaser might +secure for any purpose with a shekel or a flagon +of wine. To-day they were <q>hail fellow well met</q> +with their Greek neighbours, but to-morrow they +would be perfectly ready to tear them in pieces. A +few of somewhat better character had been bribed, +as Shallum had been bribed, to come. These had +little of the air of genuine holiday-makers. Their +<pb n='109'/><anchor id='Pg109'/>bursts of simulated gaiety did not conceal the shame +which they really felt. Others, again, did not make +even this pretence of hilarity. They had been +actually compelled to come, and they had all the air +of prisoners led in the triumphant procession of a +victorious general. Their faces were ghastly pale. +Some, with their teeth firmly clenched, seemed to be +forcibly keeping in the curses which struggled to +find utterance. Others, of a gentler temper, were +weeping silently; and others, again, preserved a +look of dogged indifference. The Greek part of the +spectators, who could have enjoyed the humours +of the scene with a good conscience, were depressed +by the presence of these unwilling guests. +In consequence, everything seemed to fail. The +jesters, with their grotesque garb and faces +hideously smeared with wine-lees, could scarcely +get a laugh from their audience; the singing lacked +heartiness, the dancing was dull and spiritless. It +is only natural that revellers, who find the time +passing slowly, should try to quicken its movement. +There was little brightness or gaiety in this feast of +the wine-god, and there was therefore all the more +excess. Some seized the rare opportunity of intoxicating +themselves without expense, while others +drank to drown their shame or their anger. Shallum, +whose occupation had somewhat seasoned him +against the effects of wine, remained comparatively +sober, but his Greek companions were less discreet +<pb n='110'/><anchor id='Pg110'/>or less strong-headed. They became, by a rapid +succession of moods, boisterously gay, foolishly +affectionate, and provokingly quarrelsome. It was +not long before things came to a crisis. Lycon +taunted the wine-seller with the quality of his +wines; that did not affect him, for he was used to +such complaints from his customers, and took them +as part of his day’s work. He scoffed at the subjection +of his nation to Greek rule; Shallum still kept +his temper. The tipsy Greek was only encouraged +to further insults by his companion’s self-restraint. +He attempted to daub the Jew’s face with the dregs +from a broken flagon. Shallum angrily shook him +off, and he reeled back, just saving himself from a +fall by catching at the trunk of an olive tree. +<q>Hog of a Jew!</q> he cried, <q>do you lay hands on a +free-born Greek? Come, Callicles,</q> he went on, +turning to his companion, <q>let us teach the beast +how to behave himself.</q> The two rushed at the +Jew, aiming blows at his head with the staves +which they carried in their hands. One of them +stumbled against the stones of a ruined house, +and fell so heavily that he was unable or unwilling +to raise himself again. Shallum easily +evaded the attack of the other, dealing him at the +same time so fierce a stroke of the fist that it +stretched him senseless on the ground. The deed +done, he looked hastily round to see whether any +spectator had witnessed it. To his great relief, he +<pb n='111'/><anchor id='Pg111'/>found himself alone. From the lower city came the +sounds of furious revelry and the strains of the +Bacchic chorus— +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">Comrades, crown the bowl with wine,</q></l> +<l>Round your locks the ivy twine,</l> +<l>Deeper drink and join again</l> +<l><q rend="pre: none">Bacchus and his reeling train.</q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +His first impulse was to tear the ivy-wreath from +his head. Then he reflected that if he could +endure to wear it for a few moments longer, it +might serve him as a passport. The event +proved that he was right. He passed unquestioned +through the crowd of revellers, left the +precincts of the valley, and striking on an unfrequented +path, hurried on at the top of his speed, not +pausing till he had put at least six miles between +himself and the scene of his late adventure. Then +he threw himself on the ground and bewailed his +grievous fall in an agony of shame and remorse. +After a while the fatigue and excitement of the day, +helped by the fumes of the wine, which his rapid +movements had sent to his brain, overpowered him, +and he sank into a heavy sleep. +</p> + +<p> +His slumbers lasted late into the day. When he +woke, his head aching with the excess of the day +before, he felt even more wretched, more hopeless. +To return to the city was out of the question. But +where was he to go? While he was debating this +question with himself, and could find nothing in the +<pb n='112'/><anchor id='Pg112'/>least resembling an answer, he caught the sound of +approaching footsteps. Mingled feelings of shame +and fear suggested to him that he should hide himself, +and he plunged into the bushes which lined the +side of the road. +</p> + +<p> +The traveller approached. He was a renegade +Jew, and Shallum recognized him as one who had +taken an active part in the festivities of the preceding +day. Just as he passed Shallum’s hiding-place +an unlucky impulse made him burst forth into a +snatch of the Bacchic chant— +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">Deeper drink and join again</q></l> +<l><q rend="pre: none">Bacchus and his reeling train.</q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +His listener heard the words with mingled feelings +of disgust and rage, and leaping down into the road +felled him senseless to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +At first it seemed as if what he had done did not +make his way plainer before him. But as he stood +by the prostrate man a thought occurred to him. +He took the purse which the man, in the usual +traveller’s fashion, wore by way of girdle round his +waist, and examined its contents. It held three gold +pieces and some ten shekels. The gold he left; but +half of the shekels he transferred to his own keeping. +One of the shekels sufficed to purchase some bread +and dried flesh at the neighbouring village. Thus +recruited in strength the fugitive made his escape +to the mountains. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="9" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='113'/><anchor id='Pg113'/> +<index index="toc" level1="IX. The Persecution"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="IX. The Persecution"/> +<head>CHAPTER IX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PERSECUTION.</hi></head> + +<p> +Menander, or Micah—the young man still wavered +between the two moods which were symbolized by +these names—had been greatly moved, as we have +said, by what he had seen and heard in his visit to +his sister and her husband. But he could not shake +himself free from the habits and prepossessions of +years. Though he had always kept aloof from the +worst excesses of his renegade and heathen friends, +still his moral tone had been lowered, and even his +physical nerve weakened by a frivolous and self-indulgent +life. Sometimes he would half resolve to +cast in his lot with his people. Sometimes, again, +the cynical or doubting temper returned. What +madness it would be, so the evil voice whispered to +him, to sacrifice all that made life pleasant, and, +very possibly, life itself, for what both philosophers +and practical men of the world agreed in pronouncing +to be a delusion! +</p> + +<pb n='114'/><anchor id='Pg114'/> + +<p> +Till this question had been settled one way or +the other, he found it impossible to rest. The city +became odious to him, for he shrank from the sight +of his fellow-men. Indeed, he did not know with +whom to associate. His Greek or Greek-loving +acquaintances, with their frivolities and vices, disgusted +him; and the patriots regarded him with coldness +and aversion. Solitude, he fancied, might suit +him better, and he went again to his country house +at Lebanon. But he found himself worse off than +ever where there was nothing to come between his +thoughts and himself, and he hastened back to +Jerusalem. Then it suddenly occurred to him that +his sister had been expecting shortly to become a +mother, and he made his way to her house to inquire +of her welfare. Azariah himself answered his knock. +</p> + +<p> +<q>How is Hannah?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Thanks be to the Lord,</q> replied Azariah, <q>she +is well. She had an easy travail.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And the babe? A son or a daughter?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Lord has given us a son.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But he said it without the gladness that a Jewish +father, newly blessed with the hope that there +should be one to preserve his name in Israel, should +have felt. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But you must come in and see him, for indeed +he is of a singular beauty.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The young man followed his host into the chamber +already described, and sat down to wait. Presently +<pb n='115'/><anchor id='Pg115'/>Azariah reappeared, holding the child in his arms. +It was no father’s fondness that had made him speak +of his singular beauty. The child was but five days +old; but he had none of the <q>shapeless</q> look which +is commonly to be seen in the newly born. His +features were shaped with a regularity most uncommon +at so tender an age, and his complexion +beautifully clear, while his little head was surrounded +with what may be called a halo of golden hair. +</p> + +<p> +Micah was loud in his admiration. <q>I never saw +his equal for beauty. You are indeed a happy +father to have the fairest son in all Israel.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The smile on Azariah’s face faded away. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I would not be thankless for the <q>gift that +cometh from the Lord,</q> nor wanting in faith; yet I +sometimes cannot but think that in these days the +childless are the happiest, or, I should rather say, +the least unhappy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of course you will be prudent,</q> said Micah, +<q>and yield to the necessities of the time. Put off +the circumcision of the child. There can be no +harm in that. And when Hannah has got her +strength again, you can come down to my place in +the Lebanon, and it can be done quietly, without +any one being the wiser.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah said nothing. He turned away his face, +but not before his brother-in-law had seen his eyes +fill with tears. After leaving some loving messages +for his sister the young man departed, hoping, +<pb n='116'/><anchor id='Pg116'/>though not without some serious doubt, that his +advice would be followed. +</p> + +<p> +A week after, when the question, he knew, would +have been decided one way or the other, he bent his +steps again towards his sister’s house. As he walked +through the streets he could see that the persecutors +were busy at their work. Fires were burning here +and there, and copies of the Law and the other holy +books were being burned in them. From a house +which he recognized as being the dwelling of a scribe +of great learning, a party of Greek soldiers burst +forth, as he passed, dragging behind them a richly-ornamented +scroll of the Psalms. For a moment the +wild impulse surged in his heart to rescue the sacred +writing from the flames; but he recognized the +hopelessness of the attempt; and, indeed, he sadly +asked himself, was he fit to be a champion of holy +things? A soldier gathered up the parchment in his +arms, and tossed it in a heap on the fire. Part of +it opened as it fell, and Micah saw for a few moments +before the flames reached them, words which he +never forgot till his dying day: <q>Princes have +persecuted me without a cause, yet do I not swerve +from Thy commandments.</q> As he stood and looked, +with a rage in his heart which he could not express, +two more soldiers came out of the house, holding +between them the scribe himself, a venerable man, +in whom Micah recognized an old friend of his +father’s. They threw him down, face foremost, on +<pb n='117'/><anchor id='Pg117'/>the fire, and held him there till he was +<corr sic="suffocated">suffocated.</corr> +But before the tragedy was finished, the young Jew +had turned away, feeling in his heart that the +question which he had been debating so long was +being rapidly settled for him. +</p> + +<p> +The blow that was to clinch his conclusions was +not long in falling. As he came near the bottom +of the little hill on the top of which stood his +sister’s house, he saw a cross, and, bound to it by +cords, what seemed to be the figure of a woman, +with a dead child hung round her neck. The sun +had set, and the light was failing with the rapidity +that is characteristic of a southern latitude. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Truly these Greeks have a strange way of +showing their love of beauty. We have had +sickening sights in Jerusalem of late enough to +make their name stink in our nostrils for ever. +What poor wretch is this? How has she offended +our masters? And the child—what treason can he +have been guilty of?</q> +</p> + +<p> +And as he spoke a dreadful fear shot through his +heart. After all—for he knew what a dauntless +spirit his sister had shown at their last meeting—after +all they might have circumcised the child and +brought down upon themselves the vengeance of the +persecutors. He turned aside from the road and ran +up to the terrible object. It was almost dark by the +time he reached it, and he had to light a torch which +he carried with him in case of need, before he could +<pb n='118'/><anchor id='Pg118'/>see what the object really was. Then one glance +was enough. The features of the woman were black +and swollen; but he recognized them in a moment. +It was the face of Hannah, his sister. But a month +before he had seen it beaming with light and love, +and now—— Had he needed any confirmation he +would have found it in the child. The features were +beyond recognition; but the golden halo of hair was +there; its brightness scarcely dimmed. +</p> + +<p> +He sank upon his knees, and lifting his hands to +heaven he cursed the authors of this wickedness, +and swore that he would give all his life to avenge +the innocent blood. Then rising he hastened to the +house of Azariah. +</p> + +<p> +He found a considerable company assembled. +They were deep in debate about the course of action +to be pursued when Micah, who had been met by +Azariah at the door, was introduced into the room. +Most of those present were acquainted with him, at +least by reputation, and they were naturally disposed +to consider his presence an intrusion. But it was +soon manifest that the new comer was not indifferent, +much less hostile, to their objects. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hear me, brethren,</q> he cried, <q>if, indeed, one so +unworthy as I may call you brethren,</q> and he went +on to recount the struggles with which his mind had +been agitated during the weeks just past. Then, +after briefly touching on what he had just seen, he +went on, <q>I have sinned; I have forsaken the Law +<pb n='119'/><anchor id='Pg119'/>of my God; I have defiled myself by a companionship +with the heathen; and though I have not worshipped +their false gods</q>—there was a sigh of relief +from the company as he uttered these words with a +solemn emphasis—<q>yet I have been a guest at the +feasts of their temples. If, therefore, you judge me +to have transgressed beyond all pardon, cast me out +from your company; I can find some other way to +do service for the country that I have betrayed, and +the God whom I have denied. Yet, if you think +me worthy of death, I do not refuse to die.</q> And he +drew a dagger from his belt, and offering it to one +who seemed to be a leader in the assembly, stood +with bared breast before him. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Persecution.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_135"/><figure url="images/i_135.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Persecution"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Persecution.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Persecution</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +A murmur of admiration ran through the meeting. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, brother,</q> said the man whom he addressed, +<q>this is not the time to take one soldier from the +hosts of the Lord. You have sinned in the past; +make amends in the future. There will be time and +opportunity enough. And if you are the brother of +her who has witnessed a good confession even unto +death, you will not fail to use the occasion that shall +come.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The company then resumed the debate which had +been interrupted by Micah’s arrival. Little difference +of opinion indeed remained among them, and when +the president, Seraiah by name, brother-in-law of +Azariah, as being the husband of his sister Ruth, +stated his views they met with general assent. +</p> + +<pb n='120'/><anchor id='Pg120'/> + +<p> +<q>We have seen enough,</q> he said, <q>and suffered +enough. This city is polluted, and is no longer a fit +abode for the faithful. Let them that are in Judæa +flee unto the mountains. Meanwhile we will gather +together such as have not bowed the knee to Baal, +and will make head against the oppressor. But +here we shall be struck down, and perish as a beast +perishes in the pit into which he has fallen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +After this the company dispersed to make such +preparation as they could for their departure, which +was fixed for the night following. Micah and +Seraiah remained behind in the house of mourning. +Azariah withdrew to comfort his little girls, who +were crying almost incessantly for their mother. +Comfort he needed sorely for himself, and he found +it, as far as it could be found, in this fatherly care. +Every look and gesture of the little ones reminded +him of her whom he had lost, and seemed to open the +wound afresh. Yet it consoled him to talk to them +about their mother, to tell the story of her early +days, to remind them, though they did not need to +be reminded, of all her goodness and love, and to +picture her happiness where she sat in Paradise with +the holy women of old, with Miriam, and Sarah, +and Rachel. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Seraiah told the story of Hannah’s end +to Micah. <q>We came together,</q> he said, <q rend="post: none">on the +eighth day after the birth of her child; but though +all was prepared for the circumcision of the boy, +<pb n='121'/><anchor id='Pg121'/>we had not yet resolved what was to be done. I +know that I wavered—I confess it with shame—and +so did Azariah. And, indeed, I can scarcely find +it in my heart to blame him. He had no thought of +his own life, but to risk his wife’s and the child’s—that +was terrible. And there were others who +advised him to yield for the time; the risk was too +terrible. Indeed, that was the feeling of most of us, +and those who thought otherwise were unwilling to +speak. We were assembled, you know, in your sister’s +chamber. She sat on the bed, holding the little one +in her arms. Her face was somewhat pale; but she +had a calm and steadfast look, like the look of one +who watches his adversary in the battle line of the +enemy, and there was a fire in her eyes, such as I +have never seen in the eye of woman before. When +I had spoken, counselling delay and yielding for a +while to the necessities of the time, I turned to her +and said, <q>And you, Hannah, what think you?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="post: none">Then she spoke, and her voice never faltered for a +moment, but was clear and full, though indeed she +never raised it above the pitch that becomes the +obedience and modesty of the woman. <q>Pardon +me,</q> she said, <q>fathers and brethren, if I seem, in +differing from your counsel, to reproach you. I am +but a weak woman, and know nothing of policy or +of the needs of the time. But I know the thing +that the Lord our God has commanded: <q>Every +man-child among you shall be circumcised,</q> and +<pb n='122'/><anchor id='Pg122'/><q>whosoever shall not be circumcised that soul +shall be cut off from among his people.</q> The Lord +hath given me this child, and shall I not do for him +according to the commandment? Shall we fear +man rather than God? And for myself, is it a new +thing for a mother to give her life into the hand of +God? Four times already have I so given it, and +He has restored it to me. And if it be His will that +it be taken, shall I not obey? What said the Holy +Children when Nebuchadnezzar would have had +them fall down and worship the golden image, lest +they should be cast into the burning fiery furnace. +<q>Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out +of thy hand, and He will deliver us out of thy hand, +O King; but if not——</q></q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="post: none">Then she turned to her husband, and said, <q>What +shall be his name?</q> as steadily and quietly as if +there had been no question of danger or fear. +<q>Let his name be David,</q> said the father, as he +took the babe from its mother’s arms; for the sun +was about to set, and in a few moments the due +time would be past. So they carried the child into +the next room. And when your sister heard his cry, +she broke forth into blessings and thanksgiving. +<q>Thanks be to Thee, O Lord,</q> she cried, <q>in that +Thou hast made him a child of the Covenant. And +now I beseech Thee to grant that he may walk +before Thee all the days of his life as walked Thy +servant David, and that he may sit down with +<pb n='123'/><anchor id='Pg123'/>Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of +heaven.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>After that she bade us stay and partake of the +feast which she had caused to be prepared. Verily +she had left nothing uncared for. Never was her +table better spread, and, as you know, she was a +notable housekeeper. And though, for her weakness, +she could not sit at table with us, she was gay +and cheerful even beyond her wont, so that we men, +for very shame, had to banish the care from our +faces, and laugh and be merry with her. But the +next day the soldiers came and beat Azariah, as they +thought, to death, and——</q> The speaker paused; +indeed he could not speak for the choking tears. At +last he said, in a broken voice, <q>What need to tell +the rest? You know it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The next night Azariah, Seraiah, Micah, and a +company of some thirty men and women left Jerusalem. +Part of them were on foot, but an ass had +been found to carry Ruth, Seraiah’s wife, who was +expecting shortly to become a mother. Their destination +was the hill-country that went by the name +of the Wilderness of Bethaven. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="10" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='124'/><anchor id='Pg124'/> +<index index="toc" level1="X. In the Mountains"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="X. In the Mountains"/> +<head>CHAPTER X.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">IN THE MOUNTAINS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The time is evening; the place is a rocky pass +between Bethel and Michmash. At the mouth of +a cave which commands a view of the approach +from the westward, are seated two men, in one of +whom we may recognize Shallum, the quondam +wine-seller of Jerusalem. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, comrade,</q> he is saying to his companion, +<q>this business is not quite to my liking. It is all +very well when we can relieve a Greek merchant, +or, better still, a Syrian tax-gatherer, of his money-bags; +but I hate robbing our own people. That +poor fellow to-day, for instance, who was taking +home his wages—he had been wood-cutting, he +said, in Bashan—it really went to my heart to take +the money from him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The companion whom he addressed was a rough, +savage-looking fellow, who certainly did not look as +if he would feel very much for Shallum’s scruples. +<pb n='125'/><anchor id='Pg125'/>He had followed, indeed, the robber’s trade, it may +be said, from his childhood, as his fathers had +followed it before him, almost since the days of +the Captivity. +</p> + +<p> +He now broke out into a loud, mocking laugh. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! my friend Shallum,</q> he said, <q>you are a +great deal too soft and tender-hearted. But then +you are new to the business; when you have been +at it as long as I have, you won’t have these +scruples. Now, mark what I say; and if we are +to be good friends, don’t let me hear any more of +this nonsense. You are a stout fellow and a man +of your hands; and as for myself, well, I rather +think that a novice like you could hardly have come +across a better teacher. I don’t doubt that we shall +do very well together; and when we have made a +little money, I shan’t blame you if you give up the +business and become what they call an honest man. +For myself, the <q>honest man</q> line does not suit +me—it is not in my blood, you know. But, meanwhile, +if we are to work together, we must agree. +Now, all is fish that comes to our net. Of course, +I don’t mean the people about here—our neighbours, +you know. We must not touch them; on the +contrary, they must have a share of what we make. +As long as they are our friends we are safe. But +all strangers are lawful booty. And mind—for I +see that you are a little wroth about this—mind, it +is only dead men who tell no tales.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='126'/><anchor id='Pg126'/> + +<p> +Benjamin’s words of wisdom—the more experienced +of the two robbers was named Benjamin—were +interrupted by an exclamation from his +companion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hush!</q> he cried, <q>I hear a sound of voices +from the pass.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two men listened; Shallum was evidently +right. A party of travellers were approaching from +the west. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We are in luck,</q> said Benjamin; <q>it is not +often that we do business so late in the day.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke the leaders of the party emerged into +sight. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shoot, Shallum!</q> said Benjamin; <q>strike one of +those fellows down and we shall have the whole +party in confusion.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, Benjamin; I hear the voices of women +and children; and see—God wither my hand if I +shoot at such helpless people as these.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The rest of the party was now in sight. Two +men, one on either side of the ass, were supporting +Ruth, who, worn out by the fatigues of the day, +could with difficulty keep her seat on the animal. +These were her husband and Azariah. Close +behind came Micah, carrying on his shoulder the +little Judith, who was fast asleep. Then followed +Miriam, Judith’s elder sister. The poor child limped +sadly along, for her city life had been but a poor +training for that long day’s march, and she felt just +<pb n='127'/><anchor id='Pg127'/>a little envious of the good fortune which Judith +enjoyed in being carried. +</p> + +<p> +Shallum recognized the figures of Seraiah and +Ruth, with whom he happened to have had some +slight acquaintance in Jerusalem, and from whom +indeed he had received no little kindness. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Benjamin,</q> he said, in a determined voice, <q>I +know these people, and if I can help it they shall +suffer no harm.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, well; have your way,</q> said his companion, +who indeed was not quite as hard of heart +as he would make himself out. <q>If, as you say, +you know them, go down and make friends.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shallum at once made his way down into the pass, +and, standing in the path, greeted the travellers with +the customary salutation, <q>Peace be with you!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What, Shallum!</q> said Seraiah, <q>is that you? +What brings you here?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That were a long story,</q> returned the man, +<q>and this is not the time to tell it. But can I +serve you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Can you find shelter for my poor wife? But it +is idle, I fear, to ask you. There can be no inn +near this wild place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>’Tis true, sir, there is no inn; yet if you can +put up with such poor lodging as we can give, +the lady will have at least shelter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth was lifted from her seat on the ass, and +carried between her husband and Azariah up the +<pb n='128'/><anchor id='Pg128'/>rocky track that led to the cave, Shallum showing +the way with a lighted torch in his hand, for by +this time the night had fallen. +</p> + +<p> +Benjamin met the little party at the mouth of the +cave. His life of crime had not quenched all kindly +feeling in him. He felt, too, that he was a host; +and the sense of hospitality, which keeps its hold +on an Eastern heart as long as anything good is +left to it, bade him do his best for his guests. +And the sweet smile of thanks with which Ruth +greeted him when she was laid on the couch of +cloaks, which the two inmates of the cave had +hastily arranged on a pile of heather, won him +altogether. +</p> + +<p> +A minute or two afterwards Micah followed with +the two children; Judith, still fast asleep, was put +down by Ruth’s side, while Miriam forgot her fatigue +in the delightful excitement of this new adventure. +The new-comers had brought with them a slender +store of provisions. These they proceeded to share, +declining with thanks the dried flesh and wine which +their entertainers offered. The rest of the party +found shelter, under guidance of the robbers, in +some of the many caves with which the rocks in +the neighbourhood were honeycombed. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the arrangements for housing the +little colony were made. There was an abundance +of caves to give shelter to all, and the accommodation +though rough, at least protected them from the +<pb n='129'/><anchor id='Pg129'/>weather. Their life was simple in the extreme—simple +even to hardness. They sought for herbs +and roots, and from the neighbouring peasants they +bought a few goats, to browse among the rocks, and +a small quantity of corn, which they bruised between +stones and baked. The mountain springs furnished +their drink, a few flasks of wine being reserved for any +cases of sickness. Twice a day the whole company +met for worship. Seraiah read a portion first from +the Law and then from the Prophets, for they had +not forgotten to bring rolls of the Sacred Books. +Then standing erect, with covered heads, their faces +turned towards the Temple, they joined in prayer. +In the words of one who himself in old time had +found himself shut out for a while from the privileges +of the Holy Place and was content to realize them +by faith, the congregation uttered together the +petition, <q>Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight +as the incense; and let the lifting up of my hands +be an evening sacrifice.</q> One of the psalms of +penitence followed; for surely they had all many +sins to repent of—sins of which they were now +suffering the penalty; and, after the psalm, a prayer +for deliverance from the enemy, and for the setting +up again of the throne of David, and for that +without which neither deliverance nor a restored +kingdom could profit them—purity and righteousness +in their own hearts and souls. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing could be more simple and frugal than +<pb n='130'/><anchor id='Pg130'/>their daily fare. Wild fruits and herbs were largely +used, and any little plots of fertile ground that could +be found were planted with vegetables, some far-seeing +member of the party having brought with +him a small supply of garden seeds. When a few +days after their arrival Ruth gave birth to a +son it was much feared that the scanty supply of +nourishing food might long delay her restoration +to strength. This fear was not realized. The +feeling of freedom and deliverance combined with +the fine mountain air to bring her back to her +wonted health, and she found herself able to go +about her daily work long before she could have +hoped to do so in the more enervating atmosphere +of the city. +</p> + +<p> +One day she had gone to gather herbs for the +daily mess, a work in which she was especially +useful from the knowledge of plants which she had +taken pains to acquire in her unmarried days. She +had taken, of course, the new-born infant with her, +and Miriam, who was delighted to perform, as far as +her strength permitted, the office of nurse. The little +Judith, whose night’s rest had been disturbed by +some childish ailment, had been left at home to +make up her allowance of sleep. The mother found +on her return that a strange visitor had made herself +at home in the cave. The little one was fast asleep +on a bed of rugs which had been made up for her, +and curled up at her side with one of her fore paws +<pb n='131'/><anchor id='Pg131'/>round her neck was a jackal. The two companions +were roused together by the arrival of the party, +and, wonderful to relate, neither showed any symptoms +of alarm. The jackal rose from its resting-place, +approached Ruth, and fawned at her feet, and +the child came after its bedfellow and stroked affectionately +its shaggy skin. +</p> + +<p> +When, two or three weeks afterwards, the new +comer gave birth to a litter of cubs, the joy of the +children was complete. The little animals soon +learnt to play with the girls, and their dam sat by +and watched their gambols, and sometimes even +condescended to join in them herself. +</p> + +<p> +The little colony heard of the strange incident +with delight, and saw in it a token of Divine favour. +<q>Man rages cruelly against us,</q> they said, <q>but we +find friends among the beasts of the field. Surely it +is our God who hath changed the heart of this +savage dweller in the wilderness, and we will trust +that He will do yet greater things than these.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Mother,</q> said Miriam one day to Ruth, <q>by +what name shall we call our new friend?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The question puzzled her, and she referred it to +her husband. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It does not seem fitting,</q> she said, <q>that we +should give the name of a daughter of the Covenant +to the beast, for though she is of kindly temper yet +she is unclean.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah thought awhile. +</p> + +<pb n='132'/><anchor id='Pg132'/> + +<p> +<q>You say truth, my wife. Let us call her Jael.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But why Jael?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Because the wife of Heber was of the unclean, +for was she not of the house of the Kenite? Yet +was she a friend of Israel, for she slew Sisera that +was captain of the host of Jabin, King of Canaan.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So thenceforward the creature went by the name +of Jael. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before she justified her name by +showing that she could be fierce on occasion. +</p> + +<p> +A wayfarer, who described himself as a discharged +soldier and a Moabite by birth, asked for shelter and +food. Scanty as were the means of the fugitives, +they did not grudge the stranger a share of their +meal. They gave him their best, adding to their +daily fare the special luxury of some dried grapes. +As he complained of being footsore, Ruth applied +some simple remedies to the blisters on his feet. +Altogether he was treated not only as a welcome +but even as an honoured guest. On his part he professed +a fervent sympathy with the hopes and plans +of his hosts. The next morning he started as if +to continue his journey. But the cupidity of the +wretch had been roused by the sight of the handsome +earrings—almost the sole remaining relic of +former affluence—which he had spied in his hostess’s +ears. About an hour before noon, when he judged +that the men would be still busy about their daily +work, he crept back to the cave. Ruth was sitting +<pb n='133'/><anchor id='Pg133'/>by a fire nursing her babe. The jackal lay asleep +in a corner; the girls were playing with the cubs +on a sunny little plot of ground outside. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady,</q> began the fellow, in a beggar’s wheedling +voice, <q>can you spare a little money for a poor +fellow who has not so much as a copper coin to +buy him a piece of bread?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth was startled at his re-appearance, but concealed +her alarm. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Friend,</q> she said, <q>I have no money; but I will +give you half a loaf if you want food, though you had +done better, I should think, to keep on your way, +for you can hardly find any that are poorer than we.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But you have gold,</q> said the man. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Gold? Not I,</q> she answered. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, lady,</q> he went on, with a perceptible tone +of threatening in his voice, <q>those earrings that you +wear are doubtless of true metal. They add, indeed, +to your beauty, and it is a pity that you should lose +them; but then there is no one to admire you in +this wilderness, and they would keep a poor fellow +like myself in flesh and wine for a month or more.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My earrings?</q> said Ruth, stupefied by the +man’s audacity. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, your earrings, lady,</q> said the man. <q>I +should advise you to take them out yourself, for if I +have to do it I am afraid that I shall show myself a +very rough tirewoman.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The spirit of Ruth, the same that had dwelt of old +<pb n='134'/><anchor id='Pg134'/>in a Miriam or a Deborah, was roused at the man’s +insolent audacity. She seized a half-burnt brand +from the fire and stood on her defence. The soldier, +thinking that he had found an easy prey, approached. +But he had not reckoned on an ally who was ready +to help her in her need. Jael had been woke by the +voices, and watched with glaring eyes the soldier’s +movements, uttering every now and then a low growl, +which, however, the man was too much occupied to +heed. As soon as he came within reach, she sprang +upon him from her lurking-place. The force with +which she threw herself upon him overset him, and +he fell backwards, his head striking on the mill-stone +which formed part of the scanty furniture of +the cave. In a moment her fangs were in his throat. +In vain did Ruth, who saw the man’s danger and +was unwilling that he should perish in his sins, call +her by her name. All the savage instinct in her +was roused by the taste of blood. Before two +minutes had passed the freebooter was dead. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We did well to call her Jael,</q> said Seraiah that +evening, as he helped to carry the corpse out of the +cave. <q>The wretch has received the due reward of +his deeds.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="11" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='135'/><anchor id='Pg135'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XI. News Bad and Good"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XI. News Bad and Good"/> +<head>CHAPTER XI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">NEWS BAD AND GOOD.</hi></head> + +<p> +As the weeks went by fugitives continued to arrive +at the little asylum which Seraiah and Azariah had +founded among the hills. There was not one of +them but brought with him some dismal story of the +cruelty of the heathen and the renegades who acted +as their instruments, and of the sufferings of the +faithful. We should weary our readers were we to +relate them in their monotony of horror. One will +suffice, for it is the most famous as it is the most +tragic of all the tales of that reign of terror. +</p> + +<p> +One night the sentinels, whom the chiefs of the +little colony were always careful to post, heard the +sound of approaching footsteps. They challenged +the new comer, and bade him stand, and tell them +his errand. He could not articulate his answer, +so spent was he with fatigue and distress; but it +was evident that he was harmless, a mere youth, +solitary, and unarmed. Unwilling to disturb the +little colony at so late an hour—it was indeed +<pb n='136'/><anchor id='Pg136'/>past midnight—the sentinels bade the stranger +rest before their watch-fire. He was so exhausted +and weary that he could swallow but very little of +the food which his entertainers offered him. A few +mouthfuls of barley cake, and a draught of milk +more than satisfied him. Then he sank down on +the ground overpowered with sleep, and his hosts +wrapped him in a cloak and left him to his repose. +Yet, wearied as he was, his slumbers were broken. +Again and again he started up with a cry of horror +on his lips. Those who listened to him felt sure +that he must be going over in his dreams some +dreadful scenes which he had witnessed. +</p> + +<p> +The next day he could scarcely be recalled to +consciousness. Indeed it was judged well to leave +nature to recover herself. The women of the colony +took it in turns to watch by his side, and were +ready, when he awoke for a few moments, with a +cup of milk, the only thing which he seemed to +relish. By degrees his slumbers grew more peaceful, +and on the morning of the second day after his +arrival he woke calm and collected. +</p> + +<p> +It was Ruth who then happened to be on duty at +his side. When he saw her, he said, <q>Lady, I +have a story to tell, and the chief of this place +should hear it. Let him make haste to come, for +I feel that I cannot rest while it is untold.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth sent one of her children to fetch her husband. +The stranger refused to postpone his narrative till +<pb n='137'/><anchor id='Pg137'/>he should have gathered a little more strength. +<q>Nay,</q> said he; <q>it is like a weight upon my soul, +and I would lighten me of it by committing it to +faithful ears.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Speak on,</q> said Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +Then the lad told his story. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My name is Abimelech, and I come from Jerusalem. +My father and mother are dead; but I lived +with my grandmother, the mother of my father, and +his brethren, my uncles. There were seven of them, +the eldest being some thirty-and-three years of age, +and the youngest twenty; but my father that is dead +was the first-born. On the first day of the month, +coming home about the eleventh hour from the +school of the Rabbi Zechariah——</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Are there then yet those who teach in the city?</q> +interrupted Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> answered the lad, <q>but they do it by +stealth, for the reading of the Law is strictly forbidden +by the Governor. But we learn it notwithstanding, +and verily if the heathen should destroy +every roll that there is of the Holy Books in the +whole world there are those who could replace them +from memory. I pretend not to so much; but I +could say three out of the five books of Moses, the +man of God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Praised be the Lord God of Israel,</q> cried +Seraiah, <q>who hath not left Himself without a +witness! But go on with your story.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='138'/><anchor id='Pg138'/> + +<p> +<q rend="post: none">Coming home, then, from school I found the +soldiers of Philip the Phrygian in the house, Philip +himself being there. They had set forth a table in +the court of the house, whereon they had placed +abominable flesh. My uncles were standing bound, +guarded by soldiers, and with them was my grandmother. +Then said the Governor, Philip, to the +eldest of the seven, whose name was Judah, +<q>Pleasure me, my friend, by eating this excellent +meat; ’tis of the most savoury, believe me.</q> My +uncle Judah answered, <q>I cannot obey thee in this +matter, for it is forbidden by the Law.</q> Philip said, +<q>Maybe he lacks an appetite. Give him that which +shall sharpen his taste.</q> Thereupon the executioner +stepped forth with his lash, and gave him ten stripes. +<q>Dost feel hungry now?</q> said the Governor. <q>I had +sooner starve,</q> said Judah, <q>than eat the abominable +thing.</q> <q>Nay,</q> cried the Governor, <q>miscall not +the good things which are provided for you at the +charge of thy lord the King.</q> Then he said to the +executioner, <q>This fellow uses not his tongue for any +good purpose, but only to rail against my lord. +Cut it out, therefore.</q> So they cut the tongue out +of my uncle’s mouth; and after that they cut off his +hands and his feet. And afterwards, he being yet +alive, they put him in a pan and burnt him over the +fire. Then the Governor said to the second in age, +whose name was Eleazar, <q>Ah! friend, like you this +better than the swine’s flesh? You may have your +<pb n='139'/><anchor id='Pg139'/>choice, if you will.</q> But he answered nothing. +Then they tortured him most cruelly till he died. +And so they did to all, one after the other. What +they did I cannot bear to tell; nor, indeed, do I +know the whole truth, for when three had perished +in this manner I fainted for the horror of the +thing; nor did I come to myself till the sixth was +ready to suffer. Him I heard say these words +to the Governor—<q>Be not deceived, or think that +our God has abandoned us. He has given us over +to your hand because we have offended against +Him; nor do we suffer beyond what we have +deserved. But as we have not escaped the punishment +of our sins, so neither will you, but will perish +miserably!</q> After this he did not speak another +word; nay, nor give a sign of pain, but stood steadfast +and unmoved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>When there was but one of the seven left alive, +Benjamin by name, the Governor seeing him, and, I +take it, having some pity on his youth, for he was +fair as a woman, said to him, <q>Young man, you see +how all these have perished miserably, because of +their pride and obstinacy. Learn, then, by their fate +to behave yourself more wisely. And hark! I will +give you riches, more than you can desire, and promote +you to honour, if you will humour my lord the +King in this small matter.</q> Benjamin said, <q>Your +gifts, my lord, be to another, and your honours to +such as are worthy of them; but as for me, I will +<pb n='140'/><anchor id='Pg140'/>not depart from the law of my God.</q> Then Philip +said to the mother of the seven, <q>Persuade him, for +I would not have you left childless, if there is any +help. These your sons were stout fellows, and could +have done good service for my lord if they had +been better advised; and I would fain save this +one that is left. Reason with him, then, that he save +his life, and that you be not wholly bereaved.</q> Then +the woman said, <q>Trust me, my lord; I will reason +with him.</q> Then Philip smiled and said, <q>Your +wisdom comes somewhat late</q>; and he whispered +to one that stood by, <q>You see that I have prevailed +at last.</q> But the man shook his head. Then the +woman said to her son, <q>O, my child, have pity on +me, for I bore for you the pangs of childbirth, and +spent on you the labour of nurture, bringing you up +to this age. Repay me, therefore, for all that I have +done.</q> Then she paused awhile, and those that +stood by scarcely knew what was in her heart. +But the young man said, <q>Mother, how shall I +repay you?</q> And she answered, <q>By remembering +that the Lord made heaven and earth, and all that +is therein. Depart not from His Law, nor forget +Him. Heed not this tormentor, who has power over +your body for a short moment; but stand steadfast, +as your brethren have stood steadfast; so shall I +receive you with them into the everlasting glory.</q> +Then the young man smiled, as a bridegroom might +smile when the veil is lifted from the face of his +<pb n='141'/><anchor id='Pg141'/>bride, and said, <q>Fear not, my mother; so it shall +be, the Lord helping me.</q> As for the Governor, he +was mad with rage, and cried to the executioner, +<q>Smite him, and this fool also.</q> And the man, who +indeed, I take it, was weary of his work, smote the +youth and mother, and killed them, dealing each but +one blow. So they escaped the torture.</q> +</p> + +<p> +On the following Sabbath Seraiah read to the +congregation the story of the Three Children in the +fire, and then delivered a stirring address on the +faith and courage of the heroic mother and her sons. +The people listened with a breathless attention, and +when he had finished, drew, so to speak, together +that deep sigh of relief which tells the speaker that +he has been holding the hearts of his hearers. He +was one of those trustful souls who amidst all +dangers find their strength in quietness and confidence. +But the other leaders of the settlement could +not help feeling somewhat anxious as to the future. +What was to be the end? This constancy under +suffering was grand beyond all praise; but were +they and their brethren to stand still and see the +religion of their fathers trampled out in blood? Was +there no one to strike a blow for their faith and their +fatherland? For they could measure the average +strength and depth of human nature, and knew that +there are ten who are ready to do and dare for one +who can suffer and be strong. <q>Do you remember,</q> +said Seraiah to his brother-in-law, as they were +<pb n='142'/><anchor id='Pg142'/>talking over the position of affairs after the gathering +for worship—<q>do you remember that day when +we fought against the Edomites, how our line +crumbled away while we had to stand still as a +target for the Edomite arrows, and how it grew solid +again in a moment when our general gave the signal +to charge? One was ready before to think that half +the men were cowards, and then one could almost +have sworn that there was not a coward among +them. Yes, Azariah, we must strike when the time +comes; but when the time will come is more than I +can tell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The next day brought an answer to his question. +</p> + +<p> +The people were dispersing after the usual morning +prayer when a stranger was seen hurrying up +the pass. Arrived at the top, where a party of the +men had gone to meet him, he threw himself breathless +on the ground; at the same time he drew a +small piece of folded parchment from the pouch +which was fastened to his girdle, and handed it to +one of the men. It ran thus: <q>Mattathias to +Seraiah, in the wilderness of Bethaven, greeting. +Listen to the young man who brings this present +without doubting, for he is faithful, and speaks words +of truth.</q> In a few moments Seraiah appeared. By +this time the messenger had recovered his breath, +and was ready to tell his tale. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What news bring you?</q> said Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Great news; for the Lord has smitten His +<pb n='143'/><anchor id='Pg143'/>enemies hip and thigh by the hand of Mattathias, +son of Asmon, and by the hand of his sons.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A murmur of delight ran through the little +audience, and every eye brightened at the prospect +of action. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell on. We hear!</q> cried Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>May I crave a drink of water? for the way is +long, and I have been travelling since the sun set +yesterday.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The water was fetched. When he had quenched +his thirst, young Asaph—that was the messenger’s +name—began his story. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You know Mattathias, the son of Asmon, and +the five young men, his sons, how they dwelt at +Modin? Two months since, Philip the Phrygian—may +the Lord cut him off in his sins!</q> and the +speaker paused, and spat upon the ground to +emphasize his disgust. <q rend="post: none">This Phrygian, then, +sent one of his officers two months since to build +an altar to one of the false gods before whom these +children of perdition bow down. So the altar was +built, none hindering, for the people were without +a leader. This being finished, the Governor’s officer +proclaimed a sacrifice and a feast to one of the +demons whom these heathen worship. I know not +the evil thing’s name, and if I knew it, would not +take the accursed word upon my lips. On the +appointed day there was a great gathering of the +inhabitants of Modin. It was about the tenth hour +<pb n='144'/><anchor id='Pg144'/>when the Governor’s deputy came, with his trumpeters +and a small company of soldiers—it may be a +score. When he had taken his seat the ministers +brought up the ox that was for the sacrifice, a great +beast, altogether white; and they had gilded his +horns and put garlands of flowers about his neck, +as their custom is. Then the deputy called to one +Menahem, a usurer that dwelt in the village, and +one of those who would sell their souls for a shekel. +<q>Menon,</q> he said—for they had changed his name +after their fashion to one of their own tongue—<q>Menon, +come forth, and do your office.</q> And then +he turned to the people, and said, <q>Hearken to me, +ye Jews. This Menon here, who is known to all of +us, has been promoted to great honour, for my lord +Philip, who is the lieutenant of the Divine Antiochus, +has made him priest. Honour him henceforth +accordingly. And be sure also that if you are obedient, +and give up your own dull and senseless superstition, +and worship henceforth as the King commands, +it shall be well with you and your children.</q> When +he had ended, the fellow approached the altar, and +cut some hairs from the forehead of the beast, and +sprinkled some meal mingled with salt between its +horns. And it chanced, or, I should rather say, it +was ordered of the Lord, that as the man did this +Mattathias and his sons passed by on the outskirts +of the crowd. And when he perceived the abominable +thing that was being done, and that he who +<pb n='145'/><anchor id='Pg145'/>did it was a Jew, his spirit was moved within him. +Then he ran forward, he and his sons with him. +And when they were come into the space before the +altar the old man cried, <q>He that is on the Lord’s +side come hither!</q> And some threescore of the +people that were there came to him, and the rest +stood still, and did nothing, for they knew that the +sons of Asmon were mighty men of valour. As for +the deputy and his soldiers, they were astonished +beyond measure, and before they came to themselves +some of the company of Mattathias rushed upon +them and disarmed them. But Mattathias himself, +with Judas his son, laid hold on Menahem. Then +that miserable creature fell on his knees and begged +for pardon, saying that he had done this thing on +compulsion. <q>Nay,</q> said Mattathias, <q>the compulsion +was of thy own evil and greedy heart. Thou +hast sinned beyond all mercy of man; but the +mercies of the Lord are past all measure. Die +thou must; but I would have thee die in the faith +of a son of Israel.</q> Then the poor wretch—I had +never thought to pity him, for he turned my own +mother, when she lay dying, on to the public road, +but no one could have refused him pity then—the +wretch, I say, repeated with a stammering +tongue, <q>Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one +Lord.</q> And now he said, <q>I give thee for thy prayers +to the All-Merciful, till the shadow of this staff come +so far,</q> and he planted a staff in the ground. And +<pb n='146'/><anchor id='Pg146'/>when the time was spent, the old man took his +sword, and sheared off the wretch’s head with one +blow. I had not thought that there was such +strength in his arm. Then they brought the +deputy and his soldiers to Mattathias. First he +dealt with the deputy. <q>Slay him,</q> he said, <q>for +he has made the people of the Lord to transgress.</q> +So they slew him. Then they made the soldiers +stand before him. Four out of their number were +Jews. These he commanded to be slain, after +giving them the same grace that he had given to +Menahem. To the others he said, <q>You have not +sinned as these your fellows, for you were born in +darkness. Take, therefore, your choice: depart, +and take good heed not to fall into our hands again, +for, if you so fall, you die without further mercy; +or, if ye will, stay with us. Only you must follow our +ways, so far as it is commanded that the stranger +should follow them.</q> Half chose to depart, and +half to stay.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>After this, Mattathias chose some of the young +men to go as messengers to the villages round about, +and carry the tidings of what had been done, and to +say, <q>The Lord hath lifted up His ensign; gather +yourselves together unto it.</q> Also he appointed a +place where they should meet—that is to say, +Michmash.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And when may we look for his <corr sic="(single quote)">coming?</corr></q> asked +Seraiah. +</p> + +<pb n='147'/><anchor id='Pg147'/> + +<p> +<q>Doubtless he will come to-morrow.</q> +</p> + +<p> +That night there was much rejoicing in the little +colony. No one, indeed, deceived himself with the +thought that he could look forward to easy and +pleasant days. All knew perfectly well that a time +of struggle and suffering was before them. But +there was hope. The darkness had parted, and +they saw a far-off gleam of light. At the least they +would have the chance of striking a blow for their +country and their God. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="12" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='148'/><anchor id='Pg148'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XII. The Patriot Army"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XII. The Patriot Army"/> +<head>CHAPTER XII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PATRIOT ARMY.</hi></head> + +<p> +Three days passed before Mattathias and his sons +arrived; but when they came, they brought with +them a considerable force. The news of the events +at Modin had spread like wildfire through southern +Judæa, and hundreds who had endured the rule of +the heathen with ill-concealed impatience flocked to +the standard of revolt. It was a strange array that +might have been seen making its way up the mountain +pass. A professional soldier would certainly at +the first glance have thought meanly of its fighting +capacities. Scarcely a score of the whole multitude +was properly armed. Old weapons that had hung +unused for a century or more had been taken down +that they might strike another blow for the God of +Israel. There had not been time to rub the rust from +the sword-blades and the spear-heads, much less to +hammer out upon the anvil the dents and notches +left by the half-forgotten battles in which they had +<pb n='149'/><anchor id='Pg149'/>last been used. But it was only a few who had even +these antiquated weapons. Most of the fighting +men were armed as their fathers had been under the +domination of the Canaanites in the days of Barak, +or of the Philistines in the days of Saul. They +carried mattocks and hoes, pruning-hooks and +reaping-hooks tied to the ends of poles, or stakes +shod with iron or even only hardened in the fire. +But a nearer inspection would have changed the +contempt of the military critic into something like +admiration. These men had all that goes to the +making of the soldier except the arms, and this +want, after all, is the easiest to be supplied. They +had on their faces the set, stern look of those who +are fighting for a cause, and that a cause very near +to their hearts. There were old men among them; +but most were in the full vigour of youth and manhood. +A real leader of men would have preferred to +be followed by them than by the most handsomely +equipped army of mercenaries. +</p> + +<p> +At the head of the column walked the aged Mattathias. +Two of his sons, John and Judas, were +with him, the other two being busy with the multifarious +duties which fell upon the leaders of a force +as yet so imperfectly organized. The old man—he +had passed the threescore years and ten which are +more commonly the limit of human existence, among +the short-lived races of the East than among ourselves—had +been carried in a litter for part of the +<pb n='150'/><anchor id='Pg150'/>way. This he had left at the entrance of the pass, +being anxious not to give an impression of weakness. +He now walked erect and with a firm step, his +indomitable spirit supplying for the time all that +was wanting in his physical strength. Nothing +could be more enthusiastic than the reception which +met him when he reached the little colony among +the hills. He was the champion for whom they had +been looking, and they received him as if he had +been an <q>angel of God.</q> Azariah and Seraiah, +who had been hitherto informal leaders, gladly +resigned their power into his hands, and from +thenceforwards acted under his orders. +</p> + +<p> +There was indeed much to do. The little post in +the mountains was now to become a fortress, garrisoned +by an army which was already considerable +in numbers, and which daily increased in strength. +Faithful Jews from all parts of the country flocked +to the place which seemed the last refuge of patriotism +and faith. Nor were there wanting less respectable +adherents. There was not a few men who, like +Benjamin and Shallum, had followed a life in which +right and wrong, good motives and bad, were +curiously mixed up and confounded. They were +divided between patriotism and robbery—divided, of +course, in very varying proportions. None were +quite blameless, and none were quite bad. The +most unprincipled had lurking somewhere in his +heart a real regard for his country, and, to say the +<pb n='151'/><anchor id='Pg151'/>least, he found much more satisfaction in emptying +the pockets of a heathen than in robbing his own +people. The most honest, on the other hand, could +not always guide his actions by any strict rule of +integrity. He had to live, and if his enemies did +not furnish him with the means, he must get them +from his friends. Many of these men were genuinely +attracted by the new movement, genuinely glad to +lead a life which their consciences could heartily +approve. Others found that their occupation was +gone, and that they must enlist in the new patriot +army or starve. The garrison thus gained a considerable +number of recruits, but some of them were +of a class that was likely to give no little trouble in +the future. +</p> + +<p> +In strong contrast with these doubtful adherents, +and yet, in some respects, even more difficult to +control, were the Chasidim—the <q>religious,</q> +<q>mighty men and voluntarily devoted to the Law</q>—the +spiritual ancestors of the Pharisees of a later +time, but actuated by a zeal far more sincere than +what could commonly be found in their degenerate +descendants. Men braver it would not have been +possible to find; their courage amounted to something +like recklessness; but they were enthusiasts, +and held their tenets with a tenacity that sometimes +made discipline almost impossible. +</p> + +<p> +An incident that occurred soon after the arrival of +Mattathias and his sons exhibited these difficulties in +<pb n='152'/><anchor id='Pg152'/>a striking way. The scene of it was the extreme right +of the position, where Abiathar, one of the Chasidim, +an able soldier but a most uncompromising zealot, was +in chief command. The whole of the population had +assembled to take part in a Sabbath service. They +had listened to the great chapter in Deuteronomy +which proclaims the blessings that will follow obedience, +the curses that will fall on those who disobey. +They had sung together that Psalm <q>for the Sons +of Korah,</q> which tells of triumph and of shame, in +which Israel now thanks Him who has saved them +from their enemies and now complains that He has +made them a reproach to their neighbours’ scorn, +and a derision to them that are round about. And +they were listening to a stirring exhortation to quit +them like men and be strong, from the soldier-priest +who was in chief command, when an alarm was +raised that the enemy were at hand. Some of the +younger men were on the point of running to fetch +their weapons, for they were of course unarmed, +when the stern voice of their leader called them +back. <q>Have you so soon forgotten the blessing +and the curse which the Lord your God hath set +before you? Has He not commanded you to keep +holy the Sabbath-day, and will you profane it by +smiting with the sword?</q> They obeyed the command, +though not without some murmurs from those +who had not been thoroughly schooled in the stern +tenets of the Chasidim. Meanwhile the enemy, a +<pb n='153'/><anchor id='Pg153'/>strong force that had been sent out from the garrison +at Jerusalem, had come up. A herald from the +officer in command approached, and delivered a +message in these terms:— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Philip the Governor, and Apollonius, captain of +the King’s army, bid you come forth from your +hiding-place and deliver yourselves up. Let your +former transgressions against the King suffice, and +do now according to his commandment. So will he +have mercy upon you, and admit you to his grace.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The answer of the Jewish commander was brief +and decisive: <q>We will not come forth, neither +will we do according to the King’s commandment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then followed one of the strangest scenes recorded +in history. The peremptory refusal of the proffered +terms was followed in a few minutes by a shower +of missiles from the hostile force. The crowd at +which they were aimed made no attempt at resistance, +or even at escape. They fell where they stood, +without lifting a hand, almost without uttering a +cry. There is no greater trial of an army’s discipline +than to make it stand and see its ranks thinned +without being able to strike a blow in return. But +the soldiers who endure this trial endure it in the +hope of an hour that cannot be long delayed, when +they shall reap the reward of their patience in an +assured victory. The Chasidim who followed +Abiathar had no such support in their endurance. +They stood like sheep for the slaughter, strong men +<pb n='154'/><anchor id='Pg154'/>as they were, and conscious that they could save +themselves if they would. Not a stone did they +throw in reply to the missiles that were showered +upon them; and when the hostile ranks closed in, +not till after some wondering delay, and began to +finish the bloody work with their swords, they still +held their ground with the same passive, unresisting +courage. +</p> + +<p> +To one man at least the sword of the heathen +brought that day a welcome release from his troubles. +Shallum, the wine-seller of Jerusalem, had been +consumed with remorse for the part which he had +taken on the day when he followed <q>Bacchus +and his reeling train.</q> The words haunted his +mind with maddening repetition. The stern doctrines +of the Chasidim had exercised a singular +attraction for him, and though, stained as he was +with sins for which he could scarcely hope purification, +he did not even propose to join their ranks, he +was a diligent attendant at their services and an +attentive listener to their teaching. This day he +had stood on the outskirts of the crowd, hearing +with a rapt attention the promises and denunciations +of the Law, and listening to, though not daring to +join in, the chanted psalms. <q>Perhaps,</q> he said to +himself, <q>the sound of the holy music will rid me +of that accursed Bacchic chant which rings for ever +in my ears.</q> For a moment, when the massacre +began, that love of life which even the most +<pb n='155'/><anchor id='Pg155'/>miserable scarcely ever loses rose up strong in his +heart. But he crushed it down. <q>I have transgressed +too often,</q> he thought to himself, <q>the +commandment of the Lord; let me obey it at least +this once, though I die.</q> The next moment the +stroke of a Greek sword levelled him to the ground, +and the Bacchic chant vexed him no more. +</p> + +<p> +Not a single man of all that company—so strong +was the contagion of enthusiasm among them—made +any effort to escape the fate that overtook his companions. +Still there was left a survivor to carry to +Mattathias the news, at once so terrible and so +glorious, of that day’s doings. One of the men had +been felled to the ground by the blow of a stone at +the first discharge of the enemy’s missiles, and had +been left for dead upon the field. When he came +to himself, late in the night, he found himself the +only living being among masses of the slain. His +first duty was obviously to carry tidings of the events +to the commander-in-chief, and he made his way to +head-quarters as quickly as his enfeebled condition +permitted. +</p> + +<p> +Mattathias saw that this question of the Sabbath +must be settled at once, and, if the war was to be +carried on with any prospect of success, settled on +the side of freedom. He called a council in the early +morning of the next day—the news had reached +him about two hours after midnight. His five sons +were present, as were Azariah, and Seraiah, with +<pb n='156'/><anchor id='Pg156'/>others who held command in the patriot army. A +long debate followed, for some of the Chasidim still +clung to their rigid opinions, even in the face of +the disaster which had happened, and the manifest +probability, even certainty, of its happening again. +They answered with stern iteration to each appeal +that was made to them by the advocates of reason +and moderation, <q>Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-day.</q> +It was impossible to yield to them, and yet, +such was their courage and devotion, almost equally +impossible to break with them. +</p> + +<p> +Mattathias, who presided at the assembly, had left +the debate to other speakers, and had contented himself +with keeping the peace between them, as far as +he could. At last he rose and delivered his opinion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Brethren,</q> he said, <q>let us take heed that we +break not the Law while we seem to keep it. The +Lord hath commanded us that we shall not work +our own works or do our own pleasure upon His +day. Shall we take occasion thereby to neglect His +work and leave undone His pleasure? The heathen +have come into His inheritance and devoured it. +Shall we suffer them to usurp it for ever? Say, too, +ye that will not stretch out a finger to save the +people of the Lord from destruction because it is the +Sabbath, do ye not reach out your hand to save a +brother or a sister or a neighbour, yea, even a stranger +upon that day, if it so chance that they be overtaken +by some instant need? Nay, more; do ye not pull +<pb n='157'/><anchor id='Pg157'/>out an ox or an ass, if it be fallen on that day into a +pit? and will ye not pull out the Lord’s people from +the pit which the malice of their enemies shall have +digged for them? Listen, therefore, to my sentence. +If the enemy come upon us upon the Sabbath we +will beat him back, God helping. Nevertheless, if +it may be so without damage to the Lord’s cause, +we will not march against him on that day. If +there be sin in this matter let it be upon me and my +children.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And as he spoke the five young men, his sons, +rose up in their places, and answered, <hi rend='italic'>Amen</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The decision was generally accepted and acted +upon, though to the last some of the more determined +of the Chasidim avoided, as far as was +possible, all military action on the Sabbath. +</p> + +<p> +The rule of Sabbath observance was, however, +still very strictly kept. It was two or three days +after the council described above had been held, +when one of the half-bandit, half-patriot recruits +was discovered busily employed in cleaning his +armour on the Lord’s day. He was kept in confinement +till sunset, when the Sabbath was considered to +end; a council of war was hastily summoned to hear +the case. The man pleaded the recent decision of +Mattathias, which had, he said, relaxed the law of +the Sabbath. It was answered to him that the +cleaning of armour was no necessary work, and that +the distinction must now be kept more strictly than +<pb n='158'/><anchor id='Pg158'/>before, lest the people should fall into sin. He then +urged that his offence was an error, and might be +atoned for by a sin-offering. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Alas! my son,</q> said Mattathias, <q>the Temple +is profaned; nor can there be any more either sin-offering +or peace-offering till it be purified. You +must bear your iniquity yourself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +John the soldier, who was unwilling that the army +should lose one whose offence, after all, had only +been an excess of military zeal, and Simon, whose +gentle soul always was inclined to the milder course, +voted for a lighter punishment than death, but they +were overruled. Even Judas voted against them, +knowing that such an army as theirs could only +be held together by the bond of an enthusiastic faith. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Give the glory to God,</q> said the aged president +of the Court, when he had communicated his sentence +to the prisoner, <q>and take your death patiently, +knowing that though you be judged according to men +in the flesh, you shall live according to God in the +spirit.</q> The man bowed his head in submission, +and repeated the confession of faith, <q>Hear, O Israel, +the Lord thy God is one Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Lord bless thee, my son,</q> said Mattathias, +<q>and take thee into Abraham’s bosom.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So the transgressor died. And they buried him +under a heap of stones to which every passer-by +made it his duty to add his tribute. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="13" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='159'/><anchor id='Pg159'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIII. Guerilla Warfare in the Mountains"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIII. Guerilla Warfare in the Mountains"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">GUERILLA WARFARE IN THE MOUNTAINS.</hi></head> + +<p> +Some weeks had necessarily to pass before the +patriot army could assume the offensive. Some +kind of drill was necessary, though Judas, who had +the chief direction of military affairs, did not attempt +to teach his men any elaborate manœuvres. But +practice in sword-play and in shooting with the bow +was diligently attended to. A corps of slingers was +also formed under the command of one Sheba, a +Benjamite, who possessed that skill with his weapon +which was characteristic of his tribe. The sling was +admirably suited to the kind of warfare which they +would have to wage. As long as there were stones +there would not be wanting missiles for the slings, +while the supply of arrows would be likely to fall +short, and could not easily be renewed. Meanwhile +some rude anvils had been fitted up, and every one +who could work as a smith was pressed into the +service of repairing old arms or making new ones. +<pb n='160'/><anchor id='Pg160'/>By degrees many of the fighting men obtained an +equipment which, if not very handsome, was at least +fairly effective. Some of the new arrivals, too, were +old soldiers, and brought their arms with them. +Jews who had enlisted in the armies of the various +Asiatic kings flocked to the standard of independence, +when once it had been set up. Even some of the +well-paid mercenaries who formed the bodyguard of +Antiochus were patriotic enough to prefer to their +luxurious existence the privations of life among the +mountains. It was a life which, at the least, they +could lead without offence. +</p> + +<p> +It was winter when Mattathias and his sons +reached the mountains; and with the first beginnings +of spring the force under his command, now increased +to a respectable strength, commenced active operations. +These were extended over a considerable +range of country to all the villages that had submitted +to the edicts of the heathen rulers of the land. +Even fortified towns, in several instances, were surprised, +not, it may be guessed, without the connivance +of the patriotic party within the walls. The idol +altars which the King’s commissioners had set up +were thrown down with every circumstance of +indignity. All stores belonging to the usurping +government were confiscated for the use of the +national forces. But private property was respected. +Arms, indeed, if they were likely to be useful, were +taken, but always taken at a price. +</p> + +<pb n='161'/><anchor id='Pg161'/> + +<p> +Severe as was the discipline, it met with a +cheerful submission from the men, so commanding +was the influence exercised by their leaders. Conspicuous +among them were, of course, the sons of +Mattathias. All were favourites, but Judas and +Simon took the lead. The strength, the skill, and +the daring of the first were such that he was +absolutely idolized by his troops. There was no +task, however perilous, which they would not +attempt under his guidance, for there was nothing +which he did not seem capable of achieving. His +physical strength was enormous; and his fertility +of resource unfailing. He had always some new +device for outwitting the enemy; and when the +crisis of an undertaking arrived, if an attacking +party were to be helped up some almost inaccessible +height, a gate to be broken open by main force, +or a pass to be held against overwhelming odds, +Judas was always ready and always, it seemed, +successful. Scarcely less honoured, though in a +different way, was the prudence and kindliness of +Simon. If Judas never failed in an attempt it +was, in part at least, because Simon’s advice was +so uniformly sagacious, because he could measure +so exactly the means at their command. And when +the fighting was over, no one could be more unwearying +in his attentions to the wounded. The +voice which rang so loud and clear through the din +of battle was now soft and caressing, and the touch +<pb n='162'/><anchor id='Pg162'/>of his hand was as gentle and tender as if it had +been a woman’s. +</p> + +<p> +Such leaders could do anything with their troops, +even when they had to task their obedience by the +infliction of punishment. Even such men as the +ex-robber Benjamin felt what may be called the +infection of discipline. He had accompanied one +of the expeditions, in which a select force of patriots, +after marching forty miles within twenty-four hours, +surprised a squadron of Greek cavalry in one of the +towns of Galilee. A short but sharp conflict took +place in the square of the town, and Benjamin +had borne himself with conspicuous courage. The +struggle over, the soldiers had received entertainment, +not in every case very willingly given, from +the inhabitants of the town. Benjamin happened +to be quartered upon a particularly churlish host, +and resenting the coarse and scanty fare, so unsuited +to the wealth apparent in all the fittings of +the house, had revenged himself by abstracting a +rich cloak belonging to his miserly entertainer. +The article was stowed away on his own person, +but the keen eye of one of the Chasidim officers +espied it; the thief was denounced when the force +had reached the encampment, and brought before +the council, which was held under the presidency +of Judas. The culprit pleaded in vain the shabby +treatment which he had received. It was not for +him, he was told, to take the law into his own +<pb n='163'/><anchor id='Pg163'/>hands. When he urged that the man was a traitor +to his country he was asked whether he had himself +taken the cloak from patriotic motives. <q>Did +you purpose,</q> said Judas, going to the point with +characteristic directness, <q>to make this a common +possession, or to take it for yourself?</q> Benjamin +faltered under this searching question, and had +no answer to give. Then Judas pronounced his +sentence: <q>In old time he who had offended +in this manner, as did Achan in the matter of the +spoils of Jericho, died the death. These times are +not equal to a justice so strict. But what the law +enjoins that you will suffer. Were such sin as +yours to go unpunished we could expect no blessing +on our arms. We should become, not what we +would be, the armies of the Lord, but a horde +of robbers. You will receive forty stripes save one; +if you offend again, you die.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Without a murmur the culprit bared his shoulders +for the lash. When the whip had once fallen Judas +stayed the executioner’s hand. <q>Benjamin,</q> he +said, <q>you have done ill, but you have also done +well. You saved from death our brother Seraiah +as he lay wounded under the feet of the horsemen. +For this good deed the rest of the punishment +is remitted. Go, and sin no more.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah indeed had been so seriously wounded that +he had to be carried back to the camp on a litter +rudely constructed of boards, and Ruth was now +<pb n='164'/><anchor id='Pg164'/>nursing him in the cave which had been originally +set apart for their dwelling, and which they still +retained. It was a miserable abode, though it +at least afforded shelter from the rain. Indeed +the lot of the women and children in the patriot +encampment was full of suffering. The men had +the constant excitement of their warfare to cheer +them, but the women had only to toil and to endure. +In the day the drought consumed them, and the frost +by night. They had none of the comforts of life. +Their food was coarse in the extreme, and often +very scanty. But, perhaps, their greatest trial was +in the matter of clothes. The stock which they had +brought with them from their homes was, for the +most part, worn out, and it was only on rare occasions, +when some property of the heathen fell into +the hands of the patriots, that any part of it could +be replenished. Sheepskins and goatskins dried in +the sun were commonly used, what remained of +their wardrobes being reserved for special occasions. +</p> + +<p> +Some time after the incident described above a +serious trouble came upon Azariah. Miriam, his +elder daughter, when she returned one day from her +usual task of gathering herbs to eke out the family +meal, complained of headache. It was evident +that she was suffering from sunstroke. As the +spring advanced the heat in some of the narrow +mountain valleys became exceedingly oppressive, +and the town-bred child felt it acutely. For some +<pb n='165'/><anchor id='Pg165'/>days her life was in danger, all the greater because +she had neither medical attendance nor skilful +nursing. Ruth did all she could for the little +sufferer, but then Ruth had her own husband to +attend to, for, though recovering from his wound, he +needed much care, and her child was still too young +to be left alone. One or two visits in the day was +all that she could give. For the most part the +girl’s father was her nurse, the little Judith giving +such help as she could. Love gave a lightness +and tenderness to his touch, and supplied the place +of skill in that marvellous way which is so often +possible to love. Day after day, as he sat by the +bedside, and watched his charge, the girl’s face, +now pale and wasted, and aged as it was with +suffering, reminded him more and more of his lost +Hannah. He lived over the happy past that they +had known before the evil days began, the time +when their first acquaintance as youth and maiden +had ripened into love, and the early years of their +wedded life. Thus he began to live in a world +of imagination, while the sordid circumstances of +the present seemed to make no impression upon +him, though he always retained a punctual recollection +of the duties that belonged to his attendance +upon the sick. +</p> + +<p> +One day Ruth had come in to pay the daily visit +for which, however engrossing her own occupations, +she always contrived to find an opportunity. The +<pb n='166'/><anchor id='Pg166'/>patient was in a sound sleep, with the little Judith +for her sole attendant, Azariah having received an +urgent summons to attend a council of war, in +which some subject with which he was especially +acquainted was to be discussed. +</p> + +<p> +After a few minutes Azariah returned, but without +any of the signs of agitation or haste that might be +expected from one hurrying back to the performance +of a duty that he had been compelled to neglect. +His sister wondered to see him so calm, and she +was still more surprised when he went on to say— +</p> + +<p> +<q>How like the child is growing to my dear +Hannah!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth had often thought the same, but had not +ventured to say so, for Azariah had never mentioned +his dead wife. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> she answered, <q>I have often thought so.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have had some happy times of late. Before +I could not get out of my mind the dreadful sight +of her face when I last saw it.</q> He paused for a +moment, overpowered by the recollection, but soon +resumed in a cheerful voice: <q>But now in this +dear child I seem to see her as she was in those +happy Bethlehem days before our marriage, and +again in the still happier time we had together in +Jerusalem.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But does it not trouble you to leave the child +alone?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, sister, she is not alone. Nor do I speak of +<pb n='167'/><anchor id='Pg167'/>our dear little Judith here.</q> And he stroked the +little girl’s head, and bade her go and play outside, +but be careful not to go into the sun. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Believe me,</q> he went on, <q>that when I am not +here, Miriam’s angel is with her. Perhaps you will +think me mad when I say that I have seen, and that +not once or twice only, the flash of white garments +vanishing in the darkness as I came into the cave. +And last night, as I sat here, dreaming, it may be, +but certainly seeing everything in the cave as +plainly as I see it this moment, the angel came with +the little babe—our little David that my Hannah +took with her to Paradise—to kiss his sick sister. +And when Miriam awoke about an hour after dawn, +the fever had left her.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At this moment the girl opened her eyes. <q>Oh, +father,</q> she cried, <q>did you indeed see little brother +last night?—for I saw him too; but I did not see that +an angel was carrying him. He seemed to be in +the air somehow, with no one holding him up. And +he had beautiful white clothes—not these nasty +sheepskins and goatskins that we have to wear—and +he stretched out his hands to me, and kissed me, +and I felt that moment as if that dreadful burning +had gone out of me. And oh! there was such a +wonderful look upon his face. It was just like the +look on dear mother’s face that evening when the +sun was just setting, and you took little brother +up in your arms, and said his name was David.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='168'/><anchor id='Pg168'/> + +<p> +Ruth could only listen to such talk with wonder +and awe. But she went back to her husband and +child with a lighter heart than she had borne for +many days. +</p> + +<p> +But a trouble was at hand which, though it had +been for some time foreseen, was great enough to +make private sorrows and anxieties seem inconsiderable. +It was reported through the encampment +that Mattathias, the father of his people, was +dying. +</p> + +<p> +The old man’s health had been failing for some +time. The hardships of his new life had told +grievously upon it, all the more that he refused +the exemption from labour which his age required. +He had ceased to accompany the expeditions because +he found that his presence hampered the movements +of younger and stronger men, but the management +of the multifarious affairs of the encampment—the +home administration, as it may be called, +of the patriotic movement—he kept in his own hands. +Early and late he busied himself in this work, and +before many weeks were past his labours wore him +out. +</p> + +<p> +He was well aware that the end had come, and +that all that remained for him to do was to appoint +a successor who should accomplish, or at least carry +on—for he did not deceive himself as to the difficulty +of the work—the task which he had commenced. +All the leaders were summoned to his +<pb n='169'/><anchor id='Pg169'/>presence, the wounded Seraiah, for whose capacity +and serene courage the old chief had a high regard, +being carried thither on a litter. The old man was +propped in his bed on cushions, the difficulty of +breathing making it impossible for him to lie down. +On either side stood his five sons, John, the eldest, +being at his right hand, with Eleazar and Jonathan +near him, while Simon and Judas were on the left. +A physician, the solitary professor of the healing art +that the camp possessed, sat by the bed’s foot, with +a cup of some cordial in his hand. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Last Charge of Mattathias.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_187"/><figure url="images/i_187.jpg" rend="w100"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Last Charge of Mattathias"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Last Charge of Mattathias.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Last Charge of Mattathias</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The old man began by laying his hand on John’s +head. <q>My son,</q> he said, <q>for your loyalty and +faithful obedience I thank the Lord that gave me so +excellent a son for my first-born. You know what it +is in my mind to do with respect to the succession +of my work, and I am assured that you approve. +But for the sake of those that stand by,</q>—and he +pointed to the assembled chiefs—<q>I solemnly declare +that for no defect of courage or honesty I pass you +by. And say if you are content to leave it according +to what seems best to my judgment.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> said the faithful John, <q>I am content.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Simon beckoned to the physician, who handed +the cup of cordial to the dying man. He swallowed +a few drops, and then went on: +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hear, my friends and brethren. In the distribution +of my worldly goods I follow custom and +law. The inheritance of my fathers I give to my +<pb n='170'/><anchor id='Pg170'/>eldest born, according to the custom of the birthright; +and I direct that the younger shall have such +portions as are due to them. But I have that to +give which has been entrusted to me of the Lord, +and with which I must deal according to His +pleasure, so far as it is given to me to know it. +Simon, I will that thou be the father of the people. +Care for them as for thy children. Do justice +between man and man. Strive to the utmost that +they keep the Law of the Lord their God. He has +given thee prudence and discernment and knowledge +of the customs of our fathers. See that thou use +these things for the glory of the Lord and the good +of the people. Judas, I will that thou be captain +of the host. Be stout and of a good courage, +and the Lord shall fight on thy side, and give thee +the victory. The end is not yet, and maybe thou +wilt not see it with thine eyes; but, though it tarry, +wait for it. <q>For they that go on their way weeping, +bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again +with joy, and bring their sheaves with them.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +He then addressed a few words to the two other +sons, words of mingled encouragement and advice. +This done he stretched out his hands, and, with a +voice of surprising firmness in one so weak, blessed +the whole assembly, repeated the usual profession +of an Israelite’s faith, and then drew his last breath +without a struggle. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="14" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='171'/><anchor id='Pg171'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIV. The Burial of Mattathias"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIV. The Burial of Mattathias"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE BURIAL OF MATTATHIAS.</hi></head> + +<p> +Judas and his brothers sat late into the night consulting +about a daring scheme which the new +captain of the host proposed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It would be an unseemly thing,</q> he said, <q>that +Mattathias, the son of Asmon, should be thrust into +a hole among the rocks as if he were an outcast or +a robber. Verily we will bury him with his fathers +in the sepulchre of Asmon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>’Twill be no easy matter to contrive,</q> said +Jonathan, the man of many devices. <q>The sepulchre +is hard by the town, and we can scarcely avoid +the eyes of the people in coming and going.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, Jonathan, I have no purpose of doing the +thing in secret. It would not be well to bury my +father by stealth in his own sepulchre. It shall be +done openly, and before the eyes of men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The brothers, bold men as they were, were +aston<pb n='172'/><anchor id='Pg172'/>ished at the hardihood of the plan. But their +respect for the genius of Judas silenced any opposition. +And then he had never failed in any enterprise. +John was the first to speak. +</p> + +<p> +<q>’Tis well thought of, Judas. Lead the way, and +I follow;</q> and he clasped his brother’s hand. +</p> + +<p> +The captain then developed his plan, which, +when examined, seemed less audacious than it had +appeared at first sight. It was to be a surprise, +and the very unlikelihood of the attempt made its +success more probable. Modin was not occupied by +a garrison, and the townsfolk, even if their goodwill +could not be counted on, would scarcely venture to +resist. Only it would be necessary to act before any +rumour of their intention could get about, and, the +funeral march once begun, to hasten it to a completion +as much as possible. +</p> + +<p> +The body was at once preserved against decay as +far as the scanty means at the command of the +patriots would allow. Then word was sent through +the encampment that all who wished to take their +last look at the dead hero must come at once. For +three hours a constant stream of awestruck and +weeping visitors passed through the tent in which he +lay, attired in his priestly garb, the long white beard +reaching almost to his waist, his wasted features +settled into the majestic repose of death. Every +visitor as he entered loosed his sandals from his feet, +feeling that the place which he was entering was +<pb n='173'/><anchor id='Pg173'/>holy ground. Every one, as he took his last look on +the hero’s face, prayed to the God of his fathers that +his last end might be like his. Women brought +their children that they might kiss the hem of his +garment. It would be a distinction to them in their +old age that they had been privileged to pay this +honour to Mattathias, the son of Asmon. +</p> + +<p> +Before dawn the procession started. The body, in +its rude coffin of wood, was placed upon a bier, +thirty bearers taking it in turns to carry it. The +thirty were divided into five relays of six, one of the +sons of the dead being always among those who +performed the duty. With the exception of a small +force which was left for the protection of the women +and children, all the fighting men of the settlement +accompanied the body. In spite of the efforts +which had been made to procure or manufacture +arms, they were still but poorly equipped. Of +military display, of the <q>pomp and circumstance +of glorious war,</q> there was absolutely nothing. +But the solid qualities of endurance and courage +could be seen in their sinewy forms and resolute +faces. To an observer who could look below the +surface that squalid array had in it the capacity for +achieving an heroic success. +</p> + +<p> +Judas had been quite right in predicting that the +expedition would meet with little or no opposition. +Its march, indeed, was absolutely unmolested by the +enemy. The movement was wholly unexpected, and +<pb n='174'/><anchor id='Pg174'/>consequently no force had been collected to hinder +it; while the garrisons of the two or three fortified +places which the army passed on its route did not +feel themselves strong enough to attempt any attack. +Already, though as yet no pitched battle had been +fought, these Jewish <q>Ironsides</q> had inspired their +enemies with a wholesome dread of their prowess. +Both Greeks and renegades knew that these +ragged, ill-armed mountaineers stood as stoutly +and plied their swords as fiercely as any soldiers +in the world. +</p> + +<p> +No incident occurred in the course of the march +save one, which, though little thought of at the +time, was destined to lead to events of considerable +importance. When the first halt was called, Benjamin, +who was a well-known personage in the neighbourhood, +and who in spite, perhaps in consequence, +of his antecedents enjoyed not a little popularity, +found entertainment in the house of an old acquaintance. +The man was a farmer, who had been accustomed +to make a handsome profit by supplying +the bandits with useful information. Recognizing +his old accomplice in the ranks of the patriot army, +he invited him into his house, and entertained him +with his best. Unfortunately this best happened to +be some salted swine’s flesh. Benjamin had some +scruple about eating it; but it was not strong +enough to resist the claims of a ravenous hunger, +supported as they were by his entertainer’s ridicule. +<pb n='175'/><anchor id='Pg175'/>The meal was washed down by the contents of two +or three flasks of potent wine, and the friends were +so busily occupied with discussing these, and with +talking over old times, that the signal for assembly +passed unnoticed. Then followed a search for +stragglers, and Benjamin was discovered with the +fragments of his meal before him; and though his +hunger had stripped the bones bare enough, no one +could doubt what was the animal to which they had +belonged. +</p> + +<p> +The offender had been caught, so to speak, red-handed, +and some voices were raised to demand his +instant execution. But the officer in command of +the detachment interposed. In any case he would +have objected to a proceeding of which Judas would +certainly have disapproved, and he had besides a +certain kindness for Benjamin, of whose courage and +dexterity he had been more than once a witness. +Accordingly the offender was put under close arrest, +and the army resumed its march. +</p> + +<p> +Benjamin had no need to be told that he was in +very serious danger. The Chasidim, at least, would +be more ready to overlook fifty thefts than one transgression +in the matter of unclean food; and he felt +sure that if he could not contrive to escape before +the army returned to the encampment, possibly +before they reached Modin, his days were numbered. +While he was meditating on the chances of escape, +one of the escort, an associate of former days, was +<pb n='176'/><anchor id='Pg176'/>thinking how he could help him. Happening to be +in front of the prisoner, he purposely stumbled and +fell. The prisoner fell over him, and in the confusion +the soldier cut the cords that bound Benjamin’s +hands. The prisoner was not a man to lose such an +opportunity. Waiting till he reached a convenient +spot on the march, he shook off his bonds, sprang +to the side of the road, and, before his keepers could +recover from their astonishment, was lost to sight +in the woods which bordered it. +</p> + +<p> +When the army reached Modin no attempt was +made to interfere with its proceedings. Our old +acquaintance, Cleon, had been sent to replace the +commissioner killed when Mattathias raised the +standard of revolt, and Cleon was far too careful of +himself to risk his safety in any foolhardy struggle +against superior strength. When the body of armed +men was first seen approaching the town, he had +supposed that its object was to possess itself of any +money, arms, or provisions that might be found in +the place. A nearer view showed the funeral procession, +and one of the townspeople was acute +enough to guess the real purpose of the expedition. +Cleon’s resolve was at once taken. He would make +the best of circumstances which he could not control. +Accordingly he went out of the town with a +flag of truce in his hand, and meeting the vanguard +of the approaching array, demanded an interview +with its leader. +</p> + +<pb n='177'/><anchor id='Pg177'/> + +<p> +He was brought into the presence of Judas. +</p> + +<p> +<q>May I ask,</q> he said, <q>the purpose of your +coming?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We are come to bury Mattathias, son of Asmon, +in the sepulchre of his fathers,</q> was the brief +reply. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you, sir,</q> continued the Greek, with +elaborate courtesy, <q>may I ask to whom I am +speaking?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am Judas, son of Mattathias.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Allow me, then,</q> answered Cleon, <q>to express +my sympathy with you in the loss of so renowned a +father, once, I believe, a distinguished citizen of this +place, and to assure you that you will meet with no +molestation in whatever honours you may see fit to +render to his memory. I would myself willingly +attend the obsequies, did I suppose that my presence +would be welcome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We thank you, sir,</q> said Judas, who was inwardly +chafing at this hypocritical politeness, but +disdained to show his feelings; <q>we would sooner +be alone.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cleon saluted and withdrew. +</p> + +<p> +The funeral ceremonies were performed with an +impressive solemnity. The stone which closed the +entrance to the family tomb of the house of Asmon +had been rolled away, and the dead body was placed +in the niche which had been long ago prepared for +its reception. Only the sons of Mattathias and a few +<pb n='178'/><anchor id='Pg178'/>of their best trusted counsellors and lieutenants +entered the cave; the rest of the multitude stood +without, waiting in profound silence till they should +be told that the old warrior had been laid in his last +resting-place. +</p> + +<p> +When the cave had been closed again John, as +the eldest son of the deceased, spoke a few words to +the army. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We have buried our dead,</q> he said, <q>out of our +sight; but his memory lives and will live among us. +Let us be true and faithful as he was, that we may +be with him when he shall rise again at the last day, +and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the +supper of the people of God. Meanwhile let us +follow and obey him whom with his last breath he +named as his successor. Long live Judas, son of +Mattathias, son of Asmon, the captain of the host +of the Lord!</q> +</p> + +<p> +And all the army shouted their approval. +</p> + +<p> +Cleon had followed up his courtesies by an invitation +addressed to Judas and his principal officers, in +which he begged the honour of their company at a +meal. Judas declined the invitation, but intimated +that he would gladly purchase a supply of corn. +The commissioner, well aware that his guests could +take by force anything that was refused to them, at +once acceded to the request, and Micah was selected, +on account of his familiarity with the Greek language, +to conduct the transaction. +</p> + +<pb n='179'/><anchor id='Pg179'/> + +<p> +The details of the business arranged with the +commissioner’s secretary, Micah received a message +from the great man himself, begging for the pleasure +of an interview. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What!</q> cried Cleon, affecting a surprise which +he did not really feel, <q>is this my old friend +Menander whom I see?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My name is Micah,</q> said the Jew, not without a +feeling of disgust and shame as his mind reverted +to the past. +</p> + +<p> +<q>As you please,</q> said Cleon. <q>By whatever +name you may please to call yourself, I hope that we +shall always be good friends. But tell me, what is +the meaning of this disguise?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I know not what you mean by disguise.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I mean these rags, which a scarecrow would +hardly condescend to wear; that battered helmet, +which looks as if the boys had been kicking it for +a month about the market-place; that deplorably +shabby sword, which even a rag-and-bone man +would be ashamed to hang up in his shop. Is this +the elegant Menander—I beg your pardon, the +elegant Micah, who was once the very pink of +neatness and fashion?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>As for my past follies, you may laugh at them +as you will, nor can I deny that you are in the right. +But of these rags, as you are pleased to call them, +of these shabby arms, I am not ashamed. I have +come to myself. The things that I once prized I +<pb n='180'/><anchor id='Pg180'/>count as dung, and for that which I once despised +I would gladly die.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why, what madness is this? What have you +got to live for? How can you support existence +among this deplorable crew of beggars and outlaws, +with not a man among them, I will warrant, who +has the least taste of culture, or the faintest tincture +of art?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>These <q>beggars and outlaws,</q> as you call them, +are the soldiers of the Lord; and you will find that +they are enemies not to be despised, that these +battered helmets can turn a blow, and these jagged +swords can deal one that will make its way through +all your finery.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, my dear friend—I may call you so, I +suppose, in spite of any little difference of opinion +there may be between us?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Jew made no motion of assent. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, you cannot be deceiving yourself as to the +utter hopelessness of your attempt. Why, when +you come to meet our troops in regular battle, you +will disappear like chaff before the wind. You may +take a few places by surprise, but you have no more +chance of winning a regular victory than a dove has +of killing a kite. Come now, be reasonable; give +up this silly affair, and be my guest, till we can find +something suitable for you to do. I will set you up +with some new clothes, to which you are perfectly +welcome. And I will warrant that in a few days +<pb n='181'/><anchor id='Pg181'/>you will be wondering that you were ever foolish +enough to undertake such a wildgoose business as +this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Your gifts be to yourself. Nay, Cleon,</q> he soon +went on to say, in a softer tone, <q>I would not speak +harshly to you for the sake of old kindnesses which +I doubt not you meant well in showing me. But be +sure that I am in earnest. The old things are hateful +to me. I have other desires, other hopes; and +if they are not satisfied, not fulfilled, I can at least +die for them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Die for them, indeed! <hi rend='italic'>That</hi>, my dear Micah, is +only too likely, and die, I am afraid, in an exceedingly +unpleasant way. It is simple madness to +suppose that a crowd of ragamuffins, under a +general—Apollo save the mark!—who has never seen +a battle, can stand against the troops of the King. +You used to be a very good fellow, Menander or +Micah, or whatever you call yourself, but, as sure as +you are sitting there, if you go on in this mad +fashion, I shall have the pain of seeing you some +day hanging on a cross.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of the word the young Jew started +as if he had been stabbed. It opened the way for a +flood of memories which, for a while, carried him out +of himself. When he could command himself sufficiently +to speak, he burst out— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes—hanging on a cross! Nothing more likely +if only you and your friends get their way. You talk +<pb n='182'/><anchor id='Pg182'/>of taste, and art, and beauty: you have always +plenty of fine words on your tongues, but when +it comes to practice you are as brutal as the +fiercest of the savages whom you profess to despise—nay, +you are ten times worse, for you know what +you are doing. Now, listen to me, Cleon. Some +six months ago I was walking through Jerusalem +after your teachers of culture and art had been busy +giving their lessons. What think you I saw? I saw +a woman hanging on a cross, and her little son, a +babe of a few days old, fastened about her neck. +Thank God they were dead. Some one of your +people had in mercy—for you are not altogether +without mercy—strangled her before they fastened +her to the cross. And what was her offence? Was +she unchaste, a thief, a murderer? Not so; no +purer, gentler soul ever lived on the earth. No, she +had done for her son as her fathers for a thousand +years and more had done for their sons. And this +was how your prophets of refinement and beauty +dealt with her. Cleon, that woman was my sister. +Do you think that such deeds as that will go unpunished? +Surely not; whether your faith—if you +have a faith—or mine be true, there is a vengeance +that follows—slow, it may be, but sure of foot—the +men who work such wickedness. And, for my +part, I doubt not who the first minister of that +vengeance will be. You sneer at our general; he +is no general at all, you think; a mere leader of +<pb n='183'/><anchor id='Pg183'/>vagabonds, who has never seen a battle. He will +see many a battle, yea, and the back of many a foe, +before his work is done. He is a very Hammer of +God, and he will break his enemies to pieces. And +now, Cleon, hearken again to me. You and I have +broken bread together as friends. That is past for +ever. May the God of my fathers send down upon +me all the plagues that He holds in the vials of +His wrath, if I have any truce with the enemies of +His people! But with you, as I would not join +hands in friendship, so I would not cross them in +anger. Pray, therefore, to your gods, as I will certainly +pray to Him whom I worship, that we may +never see each other again. And now farewell!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The expedition returned to the mountains without +mishap. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="15" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='184'/><anchor id='Pg184'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XV. The Sword of Apollonius"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XV. The Sword of Apollonius"/> +<head>CHAPTER XV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE SWORD OF APOLLONIUS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The daring action of Judas at Modin was a defiance +to the rulers at Jerusalem, and felt to be so, not only +by them, but by the whole country. It was followed +up by active operations on the part of the patriots +against the smaller towns of south-eastern Palestine. +The population began to feel that it was safer +to be on the side of the patriots than against them. +Thanks to this feeling, to the genuine favour with +which the movement was regarded, and to the perfect +system of scouts which he had organized, Judas +had early and trustworthy information of all the +movements of the enemy. Apollonius had made up +his mind that he must act if he was not to lose +entirely his hold upon the country, and set about +organizing a force so overwhelmingly strong that it +must, he thought, sweep the insurgents before it. +This intention, and indeed, it may almost be said, +every detail of his preparations, was communicated +to Judas. He, on his part, was determined that a +<pb n='185'/><anchor id='Pg185'/>heathen army should never again invade the mountain +sanctuary. He would not await attack. His +military instincts, which, indeed, were extraordinarily +fine and true, warned him that boldness was now his +best policy, and that he should go down and give +battle to the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +It was on the eve of the departure of the patriot +army, when Seraiah might have been seen making +his way back from a conference of the chiefs to the +cave which served him as a dwelling. He was now +recovering from his wound, but he was still too weak +to support the fatigues of a march. Accordingly +Judas had left him in command of the little garrison, +scarcely, indeed, containing one able-bodied man, +which was to protect the encampment. When he +reached his home he found his nieces, Miriam and +Judith, sitting with his wife, and watching the infant +that was slumbering by her side. +</p> + +<p> +<q>See,</q> said Judith, as the child smiled in his +sleep, <q>his angel is whispering to him. Oh, uncle, +have you ever seen the angel?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She prattled on without waiting for an answer. +<q>Father sees angels, and they bring him words from +mother, where she is in Paradise. And, do you +know, uncle, last night he had a wonderful dream +about a sword? He told it to us this morning. He +often tells us his dreams. Sometimes he seems as if +he were talking to mother; and he says that Miriam +is so like her.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='186'/><anchor id='Pg186'/> + +<p> +<q>Well, Judith, and what was the dream?</q> said +Ruth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father saw a mighty angel—one of the cherubim, +you know, that father says God sends abroad to do +His errands—come flying down, and the angel had +in his hand a great sword. And he stood by father’s +bed, and showed him a name graven on the blade—it +was the name which we may not speak, though it +is part of father’s name<note place="foot">Azariah, holpen of Jehovah.</note>—and when he had done this +he put the hilt in his hand and departed. Then +father awoke, and found only his own old sword in +his hand; and this, you know, is so hacked that it is +not of much use, and is very weak, too, in the +handle. Father never sleeps without it, and he +must have drawn it out in his sleep, without knowing +it, from under the pillow where he keeps it. But he +says the dream will certainly come true. And now, +Miriam,</q> she went on, turning to her sister, for the +little maiden was of the true housewife temper, <q>we +must be going back to get father’s dinner ready for +him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When they were left alone Seraiah said to Ruth, +<q>It is as I feared—I am to stay behind.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth felt a thrill of joy go through her, but was +too wise a woman to show it. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Old Reuben will not hear of my going. He +says that I should be more hindrance than help, and +perhaps he is right. The Lord’s will be done, +<pb n='187'/><anchor id='Pg187'/>though I would fain have struck a blow in the battle +that is to decide; for I am sure that as this battle +goes, so will the end be. But I am to be in +command of the garrison here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you will not mind taking care of the women +and children, dear husband?</q> said Ruth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I should be ungrateful indeed if I did,</q> said +Seraiah, as he kissed her. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the excitement in the camp had risen +to fever heat. Scouts had come racing in at headlong +speed with tidings that the enemy’s army had +started from Jerusalem, and that it numbered not +less than twelve thousand regular troops, well-equipped, +and furnished with a formidable supply +of the engines of war. The patriots were in that +state of exaltation in which men make little of the +numbers opposed to them, and the disparity of forces +roused no apprehensions. If any such were felt +they gave way to rage when the messengers added +that the hated Apollonius himself was in command +of the hostile army. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah and Micah were among a small company +of chiefs who were standing outside the tent of +Judas, and were discussing the prospects of the war. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The curse of God light upon him!</q> cried +Azariah. <q>Surely He will so order it that I may +smite him down on the field of battle, and avenge +the innocent blood! Surely the blood of my wife +and my child cries against him from the earth!</q> +</p> + +<pb n='188'/><anchor id='Pg188'/> + +<p> +<q>Nay, brother,</q> broke in Micah, <q>the task of the +avenger of blood lies upon me, for I am next-of-kin +to Hannah.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Surely,</q> replied Azariah, with some heat, <q>there +is no kinship so close as the tie which binds husband +to wife! ’Tis I that should be Hannah’s avenger of +blood.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My brothers,</q> broke in the voice of Judas, who +appeared in the door of his tent, <q>you think too +much of your private wrongs. Great they are, I +know—none greater. But is there one soldier in +this army that has not lost wife, or child, or father, +or brother by the hand of this evil man? We will +go, one and all, as avengers of blood, and the Lord +will deliver him into the hands of him whom He +shall choose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Next day the army set out. On the evening of the +second day they came in sight of the forces of Apollonius. +Some of the more fiery spirits were for an +instant attack, but the prudence of Judas, which +was not less conspicuous than his daring, restrained +them. His men were wearied with a long day’s +march, and they wanted food. And he himself had +not had time to reconnoitre the enemy’s position or +receive any intelligence from his scouts. +</p> + +<p> +Early next day the battle began. In one sense +Judas was greatly overmatched. The enemy were +superior in numbers—almost in the proportion of four +to one—and in equipment. But, on the other hand, +<pb n='189'/><anchor id='Pg189'/>the Hebrew leader could rely implicitly on his +soldiers. Anything that mortal man, inspired by +zeal and the burning sense of wrong, could achieve, +they might be trusted to do. To such a temper, +of course, the policy of attack is best suited. +Judas massed his best troops on his right wing, +which happened to be opposed to what his eagle eye +discerned to be the weakest part of the enemy’s +line. Apollonius saw his intention, and commenced +a movement of troops which was designed to +strengthen the weak point in his array. But such +a movement in the face of a hostile force cannot be +carried out without confusion. Judas saw his opportunity, +ordered his men to advance at the double, +and closed fiercely with the foe. +</p> + +<p> +The Greek line broke almost at once, and the +chief danger now was that the conquerors might +press on too eagerly. The Greeks were not an undisciplined +mob which could be treated with contempt. +Some of them, at least, were veteran soldiers, in +whom the sense of discipline was an instinct, and +who, if not very enthusiastic in the cause for which +they were fighting, were perfectly well aware that +their best chance of personal safety was to be found +in keeping together and holding their ground. Judas, +in whom native genius seemed to supply the want of +experience, appreciated the enemy with whom he had +to deal, and kept his own men well in hand, though +he was careful not unduly to check their courage. +</p> + +<pb n='190'/><anchor id='Pg190'/> + +<p> +The fortune of the day continued to declare in +favour of the patriots; but Apollonius himself, surrounded +by a picked force of mercenaries, still held +his ground. Shortly after noon Azariah and Micah, +who had kept close together during the battle, and +had both performed prodigies of valour, gathering a +company of their immediate followers, made a determined +rush in his direction. The bodyguard, terrified +by the fierceness of this onset, wavered and fled, +leaving but three or four faithful attendants, who +refused to leave their commander. +</p> + +<p> +The Greek recognized Azariah, and called to him +by his name. <q>Azariah, if you think that I have +wronged you, I do not refuse you the opportunity of +revenge. Come out from your companions, and I +will meet you alone. You are a brave man, and +would not take a soldier at unfair odds.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah did not deign to answer; but one of his +comrades replied, <q>Dog of a heathen! you forget +where you are. We are not contending in your +foolish games: we are the avengers of blood—the +innocent blood which you have shed; and we will +slay you as men slay a venomous snake. Such +equity as you have dealt to others, we will show to +you. Was it in fair fight that you slew women and +children?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Apollonius looked on the ring of scowling faces +that surrounded him, and saw that there was no +mercy or even what he would have called the +<pb n='191'/><anchor id='Pg191'/>courtesy of war to be hoped from them. <q>I only +wish,</q> he said, <q>that I had rooted out the whole +cursed brood from the earth, and burnt the den of +thieves which you call your city, and laid the shrine +of the demon whom you call your God level with the +ground!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Silence, blasphemer!</q> cried Azariah, as he +whirled his sword over his head. +</p> + +<p> +It was not the almost worthless weapon, with its +dented edge and broken hilt, that he had carried into +the battle. Early in the day he had cut down a +Greek officer, and taken the sword of the dead man +in exchange for his own. +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke he beckoned to his countrymen. +They stood back, even Micah recognizing the right +of the husband to strike the first blow at the murderer +of his wife. +</p> + +<p> +Apollonius raised his sword to parry the stroke +which he expected to be aimed at his head. With +a rapid change of movement his adversary changed +the blow into a thrust, and drove the point of his +weapon through the Greek’s heart. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah was drawing out his weapon from the +corpse, when Judas, who had been hastening to the +spot not without some hope of himself crossing +swords with the hated Apollonius, came up. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A mighty weapon that!</q> he exclaimed, as the +conqueror wiped the blade on the dead man’s tunic. +<q>Let me take it in my hands.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='192'/><anchor id='Pg192'/> + +<p> +He poised it and judged its balance, tried the +edge, and then narrowly scanned the markings on +the blade. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said he, <q>how came you by this sword? +I had observed</q>—and indeed his eagle eye noted +every detail—<q>that yours was but a poor weapon, +unworthy of your strength, and I wished to find +something better for you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah told him how he had taken it from a +Greek on the field of battle. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And saw you this?</q> he went on, pointing to the +Holy Name which had been engraved on the blade. +<q>Doubtless this belonged to some Hebrew warrior +in time past, for the fashion of the letters is somewhat +antique; the heathen whom you slew had +taken it, and now the Lord has given it back into +the hands of the faithful.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah then related his dream. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The angel whom you saw,</q> said Judas, <q>was, +doubtless, the angel of battle, and the Lord has been +faithful, as ever, to His promise.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He gave back the consecrated sword to Azariah, +and took the weapon which was still grasped in the +right hand of the dead Apollonius. <q>With this,</q> +he said, <q>I will fight as long as I live.</q> And he +broke out into the triumphal chant of the Psalmist—<q>The +ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have +bent the bow to cast down the poor and needy. +Their sword shall go through their own heart and +their bow shall be broken.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Sword of Apollonius.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_213"/><figure url="images/i_213.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Sword of Apollonius"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Sword of Apollonius.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Sword of Apollonius</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +</div><div type="chapter" n="16" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='193'/><anchor id='Pg193'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVI. News from the Battle-Field"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVI. News from the Battle-Field"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">NEWS FROM THE BATTLE-FIELD.</hi></head> + +<p> +While the patriots, bivouacking on the field of +battle, slept the sound sleep of those who have +fought a good fight, the women, left, with the +children and the sick, in charge of a small guard, +only strong enough to protect them against casual +robbers, felt the most intense anxiety. Ruth in +her cave, with the children slumbering by her +side, watched through the night, listening intently +to every sound. At one time she could hear +the bats which haunted the rocks flapping and +fluttering as they went out to take their flights +in the night air. Then from farther away came +the moaning of the jackals, as they hunted for their +prey, with now and then the deeper note of a wolf, +or the sound, so strangely like to mocking laughter, +of the hooting owls. Everything at that moment +seemed very dark and hopeless to the anxious +wife. +</p> + +<pb n='194'/><anchor id='Pg194'/> + +<p> +<q>’Tis everywhere the same,</q> she thought to herself—<q>the +stronger hunt and devour the weak. The +lions roaring after their prey, do seek their meat +from God. The lambs and the fawns are their prey, +and God gives the helpless, innocent things into +their jaws. And will he give us to the jaws of the +heathen who are hunting us that they may devour +us? Did He deliver the thousand who died that +they might not profane His Sabbath? Not so. He +suffered them to perish, to be a prey for the beasts +of the field and the fowls of the air. <q>Verily our +bones lie scattered before the pit, like as when one +breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +And then her thoughts travelled to those who +were especially close to her heart. Azariah and +Micah—where were they? How had it fared with +them in the battle? Were they lying on the field +of battle with stark faces turned to the stars of +heaven, and the vultures preying on their limbs? +And she shuddered, and hid her face in the coarse +coverlet under which she lay, as if she would shut +out the dreadful picture that her thoughts had conjured +up before her. +</p> + +<p> +When she opened her eyes again, there was a +faint suspicion of light in the darkness of the cave. +The bats came flapping back from the outer air +to their haunts in the roof. Jael, the jackal, who +had been for her nightly prowl came back with her +cubs, and lay down in her accustomed corner. The +<pb n='195'/><anchor id='Pg195'/>light grew rapidly stronger, and when Ruth stepped +from the threshold of the cave into the fresh morning +air, though the sun was not visible, its light +had begun to touch the highest summits of the +mountains. +</p> + +<p> +Looking to the head of the pass Ruth could see +her husband where he stood at his post of observation, +a spot which commanded a distant view of +the westward approaches to the encampment. As +she watched him she observed him make a signal +that indicated that he had to make some important +communication. A moment afterwards she could +see other men hurrying to the spot. She bade +Miriam and Judith, who were always her guests +during their father’s absence, watch the still sleeping +infant, and made all the haste she could to join +her husband. When she reached him she found +the little group of watchers straining their eyes +as they gazed at a body of armed men that could +be seen in the distance. <q>Who are they? foes +or friends?</q> was the question that was in every +heart, though none ventured to put it into words. +</p> + +<p> +As the vanguard of the approaching force came to +an eastward turn in the path, a ray of sunshine +touched the helmets of the men and made them +glitter. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What is this?</q> said one of the men. <q>They +went with caps of leather; whence come these +helmets of brass and steel?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='196'/><anchor id='Pg196'/> + +<p> +A shudder went through the hearts of Ruth and +of the other women who by this time had joined +her. If the patriots had been overpowered, and +these armed men were heathen murderers and +ravishers come to wreak their vengeance on those +who had been left behind—— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Whence come they?</q> said Seraiah. <q>They are +the spoils of the heathen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke the distant sound of singing was +carried by the wind up the pass, and though the +words could not as yet be heard it was recognized +at once as one of the Temple chants. The little +band of sentries and women raised a joyful shout, +and hurried down the pass to meet the new comers. +And now the noble voice of Judas could be heard +leading the song of triumph. <q>Thou hast girded +me with strength unto the battle; Thou shalt throw +down mine enemies under me. Thou hast made +mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me; +and I shall destroy them that hate me.... I will +beat them as small as the dust before the wind.</q> +And now the good news had spread like wildfire +through the camp. The rest of the women hastened +down to meet and greet the deliverers, and among +them Miriam and Judith, carrying Ruth’s infant +child. The first thought of all was to do honour +to the chief who had led the host of the Lord to +victory. They kissed the hem of his robe, his hands, +even his feet. It was only when they had satisfied +<pb n='197'/><anchor id='Pg197'/>these feelings of gratitude and reverence that they +could think of private affections. And when the +whole array, the women and children now mingling +in the ranks with the armed men, reached the top of +the pass, it halted for a few minutes. The name +which Micah, in his talk with Cleon, had given to +Judas had passed through the army, and had caught +the popular fancy. There was scarcely a man among +them but had seen him dealing death at every blow +among the ranks of the heathen. <q>Hail, Judah +Maccâbah! Hail, Hammer of God!</q> was the cry +that went up from the assembled multitude. The +title has been given in after times to other sturdy +champions of the truth, notably to him who, in the +Valley of Tours, turned back the tide of Paynim +invasion;<note place="foot">Charles Martel defeated the Saracens between Poictiers and +Tours (<hi rend='small'>A.D.</hi> 732).</note> but never has it been more honourably +gained, or more worthily borne, than it was by +Judas, the son of Mattathias. +</p> + +<milestone unit="tb"/> + +<p> +Great as was the exultation of the patriots over +their victory, no one among them, and least of all +their far-sighted general, deceived himself with the +flattering notion that it had finished the war. +Every one was well aware that the defeat and death +of Apollonius was not only a disgrace that Antiochus +and his lieutenants were bound to avenge, +but a disaster that had to be repaired. It was +with<pb n='198'/><anchor id='Pg198'/>out surprise, therefore, that Judas heard that Seron, +Governor of Coele-Syria, was marching southwards +over the great maritime plain known by the name +of Sharon, with what rumour described as a vast +host. +</p> + +<p> +Judas at once resolved to repeat the policy which +had been found so successful in the conflict with +Apollonius. The enemy would soon reach the +passes that led into the hill-country of Eastern +Palestine; and it was there that he must be met. +To allow him to make good this movement without +opposition would be to throw away a great advantage. +The Jewish commander resolved, accordingly, +to dispute the possession of the pass. With +a boldness which seemed to some of his followers +to verge upon rashness, he left Jerusalem, occupied +as it was by a hostile garrison, behind him, and +marched westward till he reached the range which +looks over the Plain of Sharon to the Great Sea. +</p> + +<p> +This strategy was simple enough, though it was +not wanting in boldness; but then came the difficult +question, <q>What road will the enemy take—the +ordinary route by Emmaüs,<note place="foot">Not to be confounded with the village near Jerusalem.</note> or the more difficult +way through the pass of Beth-horon?</q> The scouts +were at fault, but it seemed likely that a general +strange to the country would prefer the easier +course. But scarcely had Judas acted on this +probability and taken up his position on the plateau +<pb n='199'/><anchor id='Pg199'/>of Emmaüs, than a breathless messenger came +rushing in with the intelligence that Beth-horon was +to be the point of attack. The patriots had already +been in motion since dawn, but another march was +necessary, and, if it was to be of any avail, must +be executed at full speed, and without any pause +for food or rest. There had been just time to +reach the head of the pass, and to hide the vanguard +behind rocks and in the ravines that led into the +main road, when the Greek force was seen to be +approaching. It was still a mile distant, and as the +road was steep, making a rise of not less than five +hundred feet in the mile, its progress was slow. It +was an anxious time of waiting as the patriots +watched the hostile column drawing nearer and +nearer. They could see its strength, its dense and +numerous files, the discipline showed by the precision +of its march, and its complete equipment, +so different from their own imperfect supply of +weapons and armour. And there were some whose +hearts fainted within them at the sight. <q>How +shall we, being so few, be able to stand up against +so great and strong a multitude? And now we are +worn with marching, and weak for want of bread.</q> +Judas was indefatigable in cheering and encouraging +them. <q>With the Lord our God,</q> he said, as +he went from one company to another, <q>it is all one +to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company.</q> +Then he pointed to Ajalon, and recalled to +<pb n='200'/><anchor id='Pg200'/>the thoughts of his hearers the famous associations +of the place. <q>Do you not remember,</q> he said, +<q>how Joshua, the son of Nun, smote the five kings +of the Canaanites? The Lord was with him, staying +even the sun and the moon in their course, that +He might give to His people the heritage of the +heathen, and surely He will be with us on this day, +for His name’s sake, that he may restore to us this +same heritage. His enemies come against us in the +pride of their hearts to destroy us, and our wives, +and our children. But the Lord is on our side; +and He will overthrow them before our face. And +as for you, be not afraid of them. Stand fast and quit +you like men.</q> He had not completed the round +of his force—and indeed there were some companies +in it which he knew to be of temper so sturdy that +they might safely be left to themselves—when the +Greeks, slowly labouring in their heavy armour up +the ascent, came within reach. Judas gave the +signal, and with a loud cry, <q>The Hammer of +God! The Hammer of God!</q> the patriots rose +from their ambush, and threw themselves on the +van of the enemy. The attack was entirely unexpected, +for the Greek commander was ill-served by +his scouts, and it met with no serious resistance. +Almost in a moment the Greek line was broken, +and a wild flight commenced. When the fugitives +reached the plain they scattered themselves in all +directions. With his usual prudence, Judas checked +<pb n='201'/><anchor id='Pg201'/>his men in their pursuit of the vanquished, but eight +hundred lay dead or seriously wounded upon the +plain. +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah, who had extorted from the old physician +attached to the patriot army an unwilling permission +to bear arms, had fallen fainting to the ground, +close to the entrance to the pass. Near him lay six +or seven Greek corpses. The tide of battle had passed +elsewhere, and the place was deserted. This was +exactly the opportunity which Benjamin and his +associates—since his escape during the expedition to +Modin he had gathered about him a small band—had +been watching. They issued from their +hiding-places among the rocks, and began to search +the prostrate bodies for spoil. The first that they +came to was a Greek sub-officer, somewhat richly +attired. The man was still alive and groaned as +they turned him over to get more conveniently at +the silver ornaments of his belt. <q>Curse the +villain!</q> cried Benjamin, as he drove his sword +into his side; and when the poor wretch breathed +his last, went on, <q>A brave man might have been +left to take his chance, but such cowards as these +’tis positively a good work to despatch. Did you +ever see such a scandalous flight?—and they were +positively five to one at the very least.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was now Seraiah’s turn to be stripped. He, +too, gave signs of life, and one of the robbers, an +Edomite, who hated Jews and Greeks impartially, +<pb n='202'/><anchor id='Pg202'/>was about to stab him, when Benjamin, who recognized +his old comrade’s face, interfered. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, man,</q> he said, <q>’tis one of the patriots, +and an old friend of mine to boot. Look you after +the others, and I will attend to this brave fellow.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Hastily and with a practised hand he bound up +Seraiah’s wound, for the old place had broken out +afresh. The injured man, consumed by the thirst +that follows the loss of blood, begged for water. +Benjamin supplied him with a draught from the +bottle which he carried, and followed it up with +some rough wine of the country in a wooden cup. +By this time the robbers, who had finished their +work of spoiling the dead, were ready to return +to their hiding-place among the hills. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come, captain,</q> said the Edomite, <q>’tis time +to go; you had best leave your friend to himself, +or you will see more of his countrymen than you +will quite like.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Go,</q> said Benjamin; <q>I will follow you soon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah was now sufficiently revived to be able +to sit up. The robber offered him bread and flesh. +<q>’Tis clean meat,</q> he said. The wounded man, +however, refused it. It might be of a lawful kind, +but he did not know that it had been lawfully +killed, and he contented himself with bread to which +he added a few raisins with which he happened +to have provided himself. Another draught of wine +completed the repast. +</p> + +<pb n='203'/><anchor id='Pg203'/> + +<p> +<q>Benjamin,</q> he said, when he had finished, <q>you +are too good for this life, for these friends. Come +with us and fight on our side, for be sure that it +is the side of the Lord. I will intercede for you to +our captain, and he is as merciful as he is strong.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, nay,</q> said Benjamin, <q>you are too confident; +yours may be the side of the Lord, for I +don’t know much about these things, but the side +of the Lord, as far as I have been able to see, +does not always win. I hate these Greeks. They +robbed me of my house and everything that I had. +May all the curses that are written in the Law +overtake them! But they are very likely to get +the best of it after all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Did you see how they fled to-day?</q> cried +Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes; you made them run,</q> said the robber, with +a grim laugh. <q>It was rare sport to see them pelt +helter-skelter down the pass, like so many sheep +with a dog after them. But there are many more +where these came from, and they will simply +trample you down.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That will not be done so easily as you think. +Is Judas the Hammer—for that is what the people +call him—a likely man to be so dealt with? Nay, +Benjamin, he is another Joshua, another David, +and I am as sure as if a prophet had told me that +the Lord of Hosts is with him, and will deliver the +heathen into his hands.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='204'/><anchor id='Pg204'/> + +<p> +Benjamin was silent awhile. Then he said, in an +altered tone, <q>You say the truth about Judas, the +son of Mattathias. A better captain to lead, a +better soldier to strike with the sword, I never saw. +I would gladly follow him. And verily I would +sooner fight for my people than for my own hand. +But your ways are over-strict. I cannot put up +with these <q><corr sic="(double quotes)">religious</corr></q> as you call them. Why +should I not eat pig’s flesh if I can get it? It +has a good relish, and it has never harmed me +yet.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But ’tis forbidden, Benjamin,</q> gently answered +Seraiah, now in good hopes of winning over this +somewhat stubborn proselyte, <q>and you are too +good a man to give up your country for a matter +of meat or drink.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Aye,</q> said the man, <q>but there are other +things.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nothing surely that cannot be borne,</q> went on +Seraiah. <q>Oh, Benjamin, you have saved my life +to-day, and henceforth you are my brother; but I +could almost wish, but for my wife and child’s sake—you +remember Ruth and the babe?—that you had +left me to die, if I am to see you return to the +ways of death.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The cause was almost won when, at an unhappy +moment, a party of Jewish soldiers returning from +the pursuit came in sight. One of them immediately +recognized Benjamin, and gave the alarm +<pb n='205'/><anchor id='Pg205'/>to his companions. They rushed to arrest him, +but Benjamin divined their purpose and dashed +up the rocks. To overtake him was impossible, +for he was fleet of foot and unencumbered; but one +of the Chasidim, for the soldiers belonged to this +party, let fly an arrow which struck him in the +left arm. It was but a slight wound, for the barb +was not covered in the flesh; but it stirred him +to a furious rage, which was all the fiercer because, +by a great effort, he had just brought himself to yield +to Seraiah’s arguments. He tore the arrow from +the wound, hurled it at his pursuers with impotent +rage, and crying, <q>All the plagues of Egypt consume +you!</q> disappeared among the rocks. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have lost a good recruit,</q> said Seraiah +to his comrades when they returned to him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What should this son of Belial profit us?</q> +one of the Chasidim haughtily replied. <q>The Lord +grant that my next arrow may be driven better +home!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah made no answer, but painfully lifting +himself from the ground made his way up the +pass alone. He did not care for the company of +his comrades, and they, on their part, though they +could not help respecting him as a soldier, thought +him sadly wanting in zeal for the Law and for the +traditions of the elders. +</p> + +<p> +Late that night some of the fugitives, who had +crossed the mountains somewhat further to the +<pb n='206'/><anchor id='Pg206'/>south, reached Jerusalem. They found the city +anxiously expecting tidings of the battle; and two of +their number who were officers were at once brought +into the Governor’s house. He was indisposed, and +Cleon, who had given up his post at Modin and +was now attached to head-quarters, saw the new +arrivals in his stead. When he had heard their +story, he did not conceal his scorn for the mismanagement—or +was it cowardice?—that had made +a well-equipped and powerful army flee before a +crowd of half-armed vagabonds. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is easy to talk, my fine sir,</q> retorted one of +the men, <q>when you have only got to stop at home +and find fault; but if you had seen them to-day, +you would be singing to a very different tune. By +all the gods above and below, these Jews rushed on +more like lions than men. And as to this Judas, +son of Asmon, there is no standing against him. +No man wants two blows from <hi rend='italic'>his</hi> sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A good soldier, I dare say,</q> said Cleon superciliously, +<q>and a skilful swordsman. But there are +others as good as he. And as for his army, if it is +to be called an army, it is quite impossible that it +can hold out very long. I was a little hasty in what +I said just now. These fanatics have a way of +giving some trouble at first, and it is quite possible +for really good troops to be beaten by them. But +it is quite out of the question to suppose that they +can resist any serious attempt to deal with them. +<pb n='207'/><anchor id='Pg207'/>Of course we have made the usual mistake of +making too light of them. That must not be +done again. The next expedition will be made +with overwhelming force, and will unquestionably +bring this troublesome matter to an end. I hope to +go with it myself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That will be as you please, sir,</q> said the officer, +who had not by any means recovered his temper +after the imputations cast on his courage, <q>but if +I may venture to say so, I would recommend that +you should not get in the way of Judas, the son of +Asmon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And, indeed, whatever men like Cleon may have +pretended to think, from that time <q>began the +fear of Judas and his brethren and an exceeding +great dread to fall upon the nations round about +them.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="17" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='208'/><anchor id='Pg208'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVII. The Battle of Emmaüs"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVII. The Battle of Emmaus"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE BATTLE OF EMMAUS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The effort to wipe out the disgrace of the two +defeats and to restore the Greek supremacy was +not long delayed; and when it was made, it was +made with all the force which the lieutenants of +Antiochus could command. The King himself was +absent in Persia; but his vicegerent had <foreign rend='italic' lang="fr">carte +blanche</foreign> for the preparations which they were to +make. Lysias, Governor of Syria, had collected +forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse, and +this force had been put under the command of +Nicanor, Gorgias being his principal lieutenant. +This time, it was intended, the work should be +done thoroughly. This Jewish people, so obstinately +troublesome, was to be absolutely extirpated. +Not a single native inhabitant was to be left in +Palestine, which was to be peopled in future by a +more accommodating and manageable race. +</p> + +<p> +This scheme, if it was to be carried out, would +<pb n='209'/><anchor id='Pg209'/>involve huge dealings in human flesh, and the slave-merchants +of the sea-coast cities were, naturally, +vastly interested in its success. Anxious to do the +business as cheaply and effectively as possible, they +formed what, in the language of modern commerce, +would be called a <q>Syndicate,</q> and sent parties of +dealers to follow the two armies, and act as their +agents when the scheme should begin to come into +practical working. +</p> + +<p> +This was the occupation, then, of four repulsive-looking +creatures who had obtained permission to +follow the army of Nicanor, and whom we may +see discussing a flagon of the best Chian wine—the +trade was as profitable as it was odious—and +canvassing the prospects of business. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said one of the four, pursuing the +narrative of an interview which he had just been +having with Lysias, <q>we had a long debate about +terms. The Governor was quite firm about one +thing: there must be no picking and choosing. +<q>No,</q> he said, <q>either you buy them all, or they +shall be put up in the open market.</q> <q>But what,</q> +I said, <q>am I to do with the old and the weak?</q> +<q>And what am I to do with them?</q> he answered. +<q>No; you must buy them all or none.</q> There I +could not move him. He could not be bothered with +detail. For so many prisoners, so many talents, +half paid down, half six months credit. Old men +and women at their last gasp, and new-born babes +<pb n='210'/><anchor id='Pg210'/>were all to be counted in. Those were his terms +and I had to accept them, or we should not have +come to an agreement.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That does not seem a good bargain,</q> interrupted +another member of the company. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Wait a moment,</q> said the first speaker, <q>till +you hear the price. I think you will agree that +there is no reason to complain. At first he wanted +a talent<note place="foot">The talent must have been a talent of gold, which may be reckoned +as equal to £3,300.</note> for every fifty. That of course was out of +the question on the <q>take-all</q> terms, and I told our +friend so quite plainly. <q>No,</q> I said, <q>a talent for +every hundred is about the right price, and even +then we may very well lose,</q> which, you will allow, +was sailing very near the wind indeed. Well, we +had a long argument. First he would meet me half +way. But I held out. You know they <hi rend='italic'>must</hi> have +money. There is Antiochus—the <q>Glorious</q> they +call him—gone off to Persia on a wild goose chase +after some treasures he has heard of. I’ll wager +that he’ll spend more than he gets by a long way. +I have friends at Court, and they tell me that the +treasury is as empty as—well, we’ll say a wine jar, +after our friend Nicias there has had it at his mouth +for a minute. So I was firm. And at last—to make +a long story short—we came to terms at a talent for +ninety. And I can’t help thinking that it is not by +any means a bad bargain.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='211'/><anchor id='Pg211'/> + +<p> +<q>And what are we to do with the worthless +ones?</q> said one of the dealers. <q>Surely having to +keep them will take all the shine off our profits.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Keeping them! Who talks about keeping them? +We shall only have to bury them, and that does not +cost very much. You have not been long in the +trade, my good friend, and you don’t know how soon +their food seems to disagree with the poor wretches +whom we can’t sell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He smiled an evil smile, and the others burst out +into a laugh, in which, however, the young man +who <q>had not been long in the trade</q> did not join. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what becomes of all the money?</q> said one +of the dealers, who had hitherto taken no part in the +conversation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, a part will be wanted for present expenses, +pay of the troops, stores, and so forth; and that is +to be paid in gold. But the greater part has to go +to Rome—the King, you know, owes a great deal on +the indemnity account. For that we shall find bills +of exchange.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Most of the money, then, is to go to Rome?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes; and don’t you see the advantage of the +arrangement? Of course most of it will come back +into our pockets. Slaves from this part of the world +are quite the fashion in Rome now; and I am very +much mistaken if these Jewish slaves don’t turn out +a great success. They are quite a novelty; I should +think that they have hardly been seen in the Roman +<pb n='212'/><anchor id='Pg212'/>markets. And then they have a very distinguished +look, and the girls are sometimes remarkably handsome. +I don’t like to brag—and of course this is all +between ourselves—but I think that we shall make +a <hi rend='italic'>very</hi> good business indeed out of this campaign.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>If our side wins, that is,</q> said the youngest of the +dealers, who was evidently a little discomposed by +what he had heard. +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>If</hi>, indeed! There is no <q>if</q> in the matter. You +don’t suppose this set of ragged beggars can stand +against the army of Lysias?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, they stood against Apollonius, and killed +him; and they stood against Seron.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, but this is another matter altogether. +Lysias has got fifty thousand as good troops as +there are in the world, barring, of course, the +Romans; and they <hi rend='italic'>must</hi> win. And then we shall +all make our fortunes as sure as the sun is in the +sky.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And, indeed, as viewed from without, the prospects +of success which seemed to lie before the forces of +Antiochus were very great. The army was powerful—it +numbered nearly eight times as many as that +of the patriots—it was thoroughly well equipped, +and it was led by men who at least had the reputation +of being good soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +This time it was judged expedient to avoid the +difficult pass of Beth-horon and to advance by the +easier road of Emmaüs. At Emmaüs, accordingly, +<pb n='213'/><anchor id='Pg213'/>Nicanor had pitched his camp for the night, intending +to move early the next day on Jerusalem, to +occupy that city with overwhelming force, and to +carry on the operations of the campaign from that +base. He was the more hopeful of success because +he had received exact information of the position of +the patriot general. Benjamin had never forgiven +the painful wound which he had received from the +arrow of one of the Chasidim after the battle of +Beth-horon. The injury had galled him all the more +because his feelings had been really touched by the +appeals of Seraiah, and he had seriously meditated +throwing in his fortunes once more with the cause +of his countrymen. He now made his way to the +camp of Nicanor, and told him all that he knew of +the position of Judas. The Greek general despatched +his lieutenant with a picked force to attack him. +While the enemy was thus occupied he should be +able, he thought, to make the passage of the +mountains without hindrance or loss. +</p> + +<p> +Judas was at Mizpeh, in command of a force +more numerous than any he had before been able +to collect, but still not amounting to more than six +thousand men. But the sight that this six thousand +saw from the Mizpeh ridge—the watch-tower, as it +was called—was such as to rouse to fury the hearts +of all who beheld it. For there, lying before them, +was the city of their love, the city of David, of +Solomon, of Josiah, of Hezekiah, of Ezra, and +Nehe<pb n='214'/><anchor id='Pg214'/>miah, and they could see, only too plainly in the +clear sunset light, the horror of its desolation. The +streets were empty; the walls, in old time thronged +at evening by crowds of citizens and their families, +were deserted; the gates were shut. The Temple +could be seen, but its courts were silent and empty. +And, rising above, in the City of David, in the very +heart of the Jewish kingdom, was the fort of the +Greek garrison—the hateful sign of the domination +of the heathen. Then followed a touching ceremony, +by which the servants of the Lord, banished from +the courts of His House, yet sought to show the +reverence and the love which they felt for its sacred +precincts, for the Holy Place which they could see +with their eyes, though they might not tread it with +their feet. A numerous company of mourners, chosen +to represent the whole people, ranged themselves on +the ridge which commanded the prospect so sad and +yet so dear. They were clad in garments of black +sackcloth, itself ragged and tattered, and had strewn +ashes on their heads. They spread out copies of the +Law—that Law which the heathen had silenced in +its own peculiar seat, and which they had insulted +and profaned, picturing on its very pages the cruel +and lustful demons whom they worshipped; the +functions of the priests had ceased, but they could +at least display within sight of the Sanctuary the +garments which they wore; the sacrifices could not +be offered, but they could at least show the bullocks +<pb n='215'/><anchor id='Pg215'/>and rams, the firstfruits of the cornfield and the +vineyard, and present them in heart and will; vows +could not be performed, but the Nazarites, with their +unshorn locks, could stretch out their hands to the +Sanctuary, and dedicate themselves in intention. +And then from the whole multitude rose the cry, +<q>What shall we do with these, and whither shall +we carry them? For Thy Sanctuary is trodden down +and profaned, and Thy priests are in heaviness and +brought low. And lo! the heathen are assembled +together against us to destroy us; what things they +imagine against us, Thou knowest. How shall we +be able to stand against them, except Thou, O God, +be our help?</q> +</p> + +<p> +This done, the trumpets sounded, as if to remind +the mourners that they were soldiers again, and the +whole multitude fell at once into military order. +Judas carefully inspected his force. Mindful of the +old indulgence given by the Law, he proclaimed that +any among his followers who were building a house, +or planting a vineyard, or had left behind him at +home a newly-married wife, should depart. Those +were not days when houses were being built or vineyards +planted, for the land, save for some barren +mountain ranges, was in the power of the heathen; +nor was it a time for marrying or giving in marriage. +Scarcely a man out of the whole array claimed the +exemption. And when the leader went on, <q>If any +man be timid or of a faint heart, let him turn +<pb n='216'/><anchor id='Pg216'/>back, while there is time,</q> only two or three slunk +away. +</p> + +<p> +To those that remained Judas addressed a few +stirring words. <q>You have seen,</q> he said, <q>the +city of your fathers from afar, how it lies desolate +and dishonoured. Be bold and quit you like men, +and the Lord will deliver it into your hands, for He +can deliver both by many and by few. Arm yourselves +at dawn, and we will fight with those nations +who have defiled our sanctuary and have now come +out to destroy us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But the struggle was to come sooner than any one +had looked for it. Azariah had been setting the +sentinels who were to watch the northern side of +the encampment, when he heard a voice that seemed +to have a familiar sound. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Azariah!</q> it said, in a penetrating whisper. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am here; say on;</q> and he felt sure that he +recognized the voice of Benjamin. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell your captain that Gorgias has come out of +the camp of Nicanor with six thousand men, the +very choicest of his army, and that he will attack +him this night. Farewell!</q> +</p> + +<p> +And before Azariah could answer he was out of +sight and hearing. A quick remorse had overtaken +the robber for his treacherous act, and he had done +his best to remedy the wrong. +</p> + +<p> +Judas, on hearing the news, lost no time in +making his resolve. It was bold, even audacious. +<pb n='217'/><anchor id='Pg217'/>He would not wait to be attacked, but would himself +attack, and that not the detachment under Gorgias, +which it was quite possible he might have some +difficulty in meeting, but the main body itself. Here +he would certainly have the advantage of being +utterly unexpected. And a victory over this would +be almost, if not absolutely, decisive. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly he left his camp at Mizpeh without +attempting to remove any of his belongings. In +truth, they were scanty enough, and, if things went +well with him, he should secure spoil of a hundredfold +more value than all that he had left. With +nothing but their arms, and such scanty provision as +they could carry in their pouches, his men marched +through the darkness down into the plain. +</p> + +<p> +The day was dawning when he came within sight +of the camp of Nicanor. Though not regularly +fortified, it was a place of considerable strength, +which an army far more numerous and better +equipped than that which Judas had under his +command might hesitate to attack. The cavalry +had bivouacked outside; the infantry were within +the lines, but might be seen passing out of the gates. +</p> + +<p> +So formidable a task did it seem to attack a +fortified camp, held by a vastly superior force, that +even Judas’s band of heroes hesitated for a moment. +He felt it at once, and at once addressed himself to +check it. He called a halt, and bidding the ranks +close in to as small a space as possible, he addressed +<pb n='218'/><anchor id='Pg218'/>them, sending his mighty voice in the still air of the +morning with so commanding a power that it +reached the very extremity of the crowd. In a +few stirring words he reminded them of the +deliverances which God had wrought in old time +for His people. He spoke of the three hundred of +Gideon, how they had discomfited the host of the +Midianites, of the angel that had smitten with an +unseen sword the legions of the haughty Sennacherib. +He told them of the day when Macedonian +and Jew had stood side by side against the Gallic +invaders of Asia, and of how the Jew had stood firm +while the Greek had fled before the fury of the barbarian +onset. Finally he reminded them of the +victories which they themselves had so lately won +against overwhelming odds. +</p> + +<p> +When he had finished his harangue, he divided +the host between himself and his brothers, John, +Simon and Jonathan. Eleazar was to recite the +Holy Book, and to give his name as the watchword +of the day. These arrangements made, he gave a +signal to the trumpeters. They blew a piercing +blast. Then, with a shout, <q>The Help of God! +The Help of God!</q><note place="foot">This is the meaning of the name Eleazar.</note> the patriots charged. It +might have seemed to an onlooker the strategy of +despair, but it was successful, as it had been many a +time in history before, as it has been many a time +since. +</p> + +<pb n='219'/><anchor id='Pg219'/> + +<p> +The Greeks stared at them, as they advanced, with +astonishment. Were these men madmen, or were +they fired by some Divine fury? In either case they +would be dangerous antagonists. As the patriots +drew nearer, without a sign of hesitation or holding +back, the terror which had been creeping over the +minds of the Greeks became insupportable. They +broke and fled, and did not even, so complete was +their demoralization, attempt to hold their camp. +Though pursuit was shortened by the approach +of the Sabbath, which Judas would not suffer to +be infringed upon even to complete his victory, +more than three thousand fell, and as the Greek +line had not waited to receive the onset of the +patriots, all of them perished in the flight. +</p> + +<p> +The work was not yet done, for the detachment +under Gorgias had still to be accounted for. This, +however, gave the conquerors very little trouble. +That general had found the camp of Judas empty, +and had naturally concluded that its occupants had +been frightened away by his approach. He started +in pursuit, but without being able to find any clear +traces of the route which the supposed fugitives had +taken. Probably, he thought, this would be in the +direction of the mountain retreat from which they +had issued. It was long before he satisfied himself +that he was mistaken; but the peasants whom he +questioned were evidently truthful when they +declared that they had seen nothing of the force +<pb n='220'/><anchor id='Pg220'/>of which he was in search. He had to retrace his +steps, and could not do this till he had given his men +a rest, wearied as they were with almost incessant +marching for a night and a day. It was late in the +afternoon before he arrived in sight of the camp of +the main body, and by that time Judas’s victory had +been won. He was astonished and alarmed to see +that part of it was on fire. Shortly afterwards a +fugitive from the defeated army came in with news +of what had happened. Neither Gorgias nor his +men were in any humour to encounter the patriots; +they hastily turned and made the best of their way +to Jerusalem. +</p> + +<p> +Information of this retreat was soon brought to +Judas by his scouts, and he felt that now at last he +and his followers might enjoy their victory. The +Sabbath was given, as usual, to rest and devotion. +A great service was held, a prominent feature of it +being the chanting of the great Psalm of Thanksgiving,<note place="foot">Psalm cxxxvi.</note> +<q>O give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy +endureth for ever.</q> The marvels of creation, the +deliverance from Egypt, the passage of the hosts +of the Lord through the Red Sea, the fall of the +Amorite kings who had sought to stop their way to +the Promised Land, the possession of the inheritance +which had been promised to the fathers—all these +blessings were enumerated, and after each new +theme, given by the clear voices of the singers, rose +<pb n='221'/><anchor id='Pg221'/>the thunderous chorus of reply from the multitude, +<q>For His mercy endureth for ever.</q> +</p> + +<p> +On the first day of the week the spoils were +divided. The division was made with scrupulous +fairness, and with a reverent regard to the injunctions +of the Law. The wounded received a special +consideration for their sufferings; a share was reserved +for the widows and orphans of the slain; and +those to whom had been given the unwelcome duty +of staying behind to guard the encampment were +not forgotten. The rich furniture of the officers’ +tents, the gold and silver plate, the many-coloured +silks, and robes of Tyrian purple, with a well-furnished +pay-chest, made together a splendid +booty. +</p> + +<p> +Among the prisoners was the party of slave-dealers +to whom our readers were introduced at the +beginning of this chapter. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who are you?</q> cried Judas, when they were +brought before him, <q>and what do you here?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We are merchants,</q> said their spokesman, +<q>brought by business into the camp of his Excellency +Nicanor.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And in what merchandize do you deal?</q> asked +Judas, though, as may be supposed, he was perfectly +well acquainted with their occupation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We deal in the prisoners of war,</q> answered the +man. <q>Permit me, sir,</q> he went on, <q>to congratulate +your Excellency on the splendid victory +<pb n='222'/><anchor id='Pg222'/>that you have won, and to beg the favour of your +custom. We offer the best of prices for goods, and +pay in ready money or in bills on the best houses, +quite as safe as cash, I can assure you, and far +more convenient to carry.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you know this document?</q> asked Judas, +holding up a piece of parchment which had been +found among the property of the slave-dealers. +</p> + +<p> +The man turned pale and said nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Judas then proceeded to read aloud: <q>It is hereby +covenanted between the most excellent Lysias, +Governor of Syria, on the first part, and Theron and +his Company, dealers in slaves, on the second part, +that the said Lysias shall hand over, and that the +said Theron and his Company shall take all persons +that shall be captured in the operations now about +to be begun by the army of the said Lysias. And +it is further covenanted that the said Theron and +Company shall pay to the said Lysias or such other +persons as he shall appoint, the sum of one talent of +gold for every ninety persons delivered alive into +the hands of the said Theron and Company. +Furthermore it is agreed that the said Theron and +Company shall have no claim for a drawback for +any such persons dying after they have been once +delivered; but that a drawback shall be allowed at +the rate of six <foreign rend='italic'>minæ</foreign><note place="foot">About £,24.</note> for every person, who, as being +a loyal subject of our lord and king Antiochus, or of +<pb n='223'/><anchor id='Pg223'/>any prince in friendship and alliance with him, shall +have been wrongfully taken prisoner.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Know you this document?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Theron stammered an assent. <q>It is but a +common matter of business, my lord. Such covenants +must be drawn up, and, doubtless, they sound +somewhat harsh.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ye have digged a pit, and are fallen into the +midst of it yourselves,</q> said Judas, in a voice of +thunder. <q>Let them be taken with the followers +of the camp to the slave-market of Sidon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Mercy, my lord!</q> cried the dealers, falling on +their knees. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Such mercy as you have shown yourselves you +shall have, and no more. Lead them away.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, my lord,</q> cried Theron, struggling away +from the soldier who had grasped him by the arms, +<q>you do ill to deal so harshly with men that have +not borne arms against you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have done tenfold worse,</q> was the answer. +<q>I know your works. You sell our youths to the +mines, where the young man grows old and decrepit +before he has reached to middle age, and the +maidens you sell to shame; and the old and sick +you slay with the sword or poison. Take them +away.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Listen once more, my lord,</q> cried the man, in +an agony of despair. <q>We have money; not here, +of course, but with those whom we represent; if +<pb n='224'/><anchor id='Pg224'/>you should want a loan, we can find it for your +Excellency, and at low interest, lower than you will +find elsewhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Take them away!</q> thundered Judas. +</p> + +<p> +And taken away they were, still screaming out, as +they were dragged off, offers of ransom, or loans at +five per cent. interest, or no interest at all. +</p> + +<p> +The next day Judas and his army, richly laden +with spoils of every kind, returned to the sanctuary +among the hills. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="18" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='225'/><anchor id='Pg225'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVIII. The Battle of Beth-zur"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVIII. The Battle of Beth-zur"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE BATTLE OF BETH-ZUR.</hi></head> + +<p> +Several months have passed since the scenes described +in the last chapter. During the winter Judas +has been increasing and consolidating his army, and +he has now a force both more numerous and better +equipped than any that he had hitherto commanded. +Again he has marched to encounter the Greeks, but +he has no easy task before him. Lysias in person +commands the Syrian army. Antiochus has sent +him some veteran troops from the capital; he has +raised fresh levies of his own, and he has enrolled in +his ranks the remnants of the armies of Seron and +Nicanor. Altogether he has collected an army of +sixty thousand men, and must out-number his antagonists +at least five times. The struggle will be of +a critical kind, and the victory, if won at all, can +hardly be won without grievous loss. The Greeks +are fighting for their last stake. If they lose this +they are disgraced. +</p> + +<p> +The experience of a soldier’s wife had not lessened +<pb n='226'/><anchor id='Pg226'/>the anxiety with which Ruth waited for news of the +battle. This time all that were especially near and +dear to her had gone with the army—her husband, +her brother, and Azariah—all had run or were even +then running deadly peril of their lives. When the +news came it might find her utterly desolate, a +widow indeed. +</p> + +<p> +During the night these terrors had had almost +undisputed sway. It seemed impossible to her to +recall the holy words which at other times brought +comfort to her soul. Some dreadful picture of her +dear ones lying cold and stark upon the battle-field +would rise up before her eyes; and again and again +the hideous laughing of the hyenas, echoed among +the hills, seemed to her like the mocking triumph of +the heathen. +</p> + +<p> +The light of morning brought, as it is wont to +bring, if not cheerfulness, at least a more hopeful +spirit. Anyhow she had not to lie in forced inaction. +The daily duties had to be done; and she could find +in them not forgetfulness, indeed, but the wholesome +invigorating influence of work. Her first task was +to fetch the daily ration of food. Miriam and Judith +accompanied her, and her little boy was now old +enough to toddle by her side. The girls had already +begun to bear the burdens of a woman’s cares, but +the child was in happy unconsciousness of trouble, +and there was a certain infection of cheerfulness in +his laughter and prattle. +</p> + +<pb n='227'/><anchor id='Pg227'/> + +<p> +Ruth’s way to the store where the rations were +distributed led past the point from which the best +view of the pass could be obtained. She scanned +the prospect eagerly as she went, but could see +nothing. On her return she espied the figure of a +man who seemed—for he was still almost too distant +to be distinguished—to be approaching. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Look, girl,</q> she cried, <q>surely some one comes +yonder, and he must be bringing tidings of the +battle. Oh! if they are safe——</q> +</p> + +<p> +As she spoke she dropped the piece of flesh, which +she was carrying, from her hand; and immediately +a vulture swooped down and carried it off. +</p> + +<p> +The watchman had now descried the figure of +the traveller, and made the signal which was to +indicate to the inmates of the encampment the fact +that tidings from the army was at hand. In an +instant all that were able to move had poured out, +and were hurrying to the top of the pass. +</p> + +<p> +The messenger was Micah, whom, as one of the +fleetest runners in the army, Judas had selected to +carry the news of his victory. He had traversed the +distance, which could not have been less than thirty +miles, at a pace which had sorely tried even his +athletic frame. He flung himself on the ground, +panting convulsively for breath, and unable to speak. +One of the elders poured a few drops of cordial into +his mouth, and by degrees he recovered his powers. +His first act was to kneel and with outspread hands +<pb n='228'/><anchor id='Pg228'/>to thank the Lord of Hosts. <q>We thank thee, God +of our fathers, that thou hast delivered us out of the +hand of the enemy, and brought us unto the haven +where we would be.</q> Then, amidst the breathless +attention of the listening crowd, he told the story. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Judas the Hammer,</q> and as he said the name a +murmur of blessing could be heard from the whole +assembly—<q>Judas, the Hammer of God, has smitten +the enemy to pieces. Two days since he met Lysias—for +the Governor himself was in command—at +Beth-zur. There by that valley of Elah, where +David slew Goliah of Gath, has the Lord God of +Israel proved again that the battle is not to the +strong nor the race to the swift. Judas himself led +the right wing; the left he had given to Seraiah and +Azariah, whom I myself had the privilege of following. +The lines of the two armies were about equal +in length; nor, indeed, was there room on either +side for more; but they had their ranks forty deep +and more, and we but seven or eight at the most, for +they were many times more numerous. But the +Lord showed once again that He can deliver as +surely by few as many. Our captain, than whom +no man has a more generous temper, though he +would gladly have been the first to advance against +the enemy, granted that privilege to us. Then we +shouted, as we did in the day of Emmaüs, <q><corr sic="(double quotes)">The +Lord is our Help!</corr></q> and ran forward. While we were +yet half a furlong from them, we saw them tremble +<pb n='229'/><anchor id='Pg229'/>and waver; and before we could cross our swords +with them their line had broken. That done, their +numbers availed them no more, but rather hindered +them, so crowded and crushed together were they. +We slew till we were weary of slaying.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what befell Lysias, the Governor?</q> asked +one of the elders. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He had posted himself over against Judas himself, +judging that there would be the most need of +his presence. And indeed they say—for I myself did +not see him, being, as I have said, on the other side +of the field—that he bore himself as a brave soldier +and a good captain. And Judas, when he saw him, +pressed forward, seeking to meet him face to face. +But Lysias was struck with terror and fled. He +had not the heart to abide a stroke from the +Hammer. He escaped with some hundred horsemen +of his bodyguard from the field. The prisoners +say that he is gone to Antioch to gather another +army. Let him gather it. We will deal with it and +him as we have dealt hitherto with the enemies of +the Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what does Judas now?</q> asked the elder. +</p> + +<p> +With a look of joy and triumph Micah lifted his +head and said, <q>He is in Jerusalem. The Lord has +given back into our hands the Holy City, the City +of David His servant.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It is impossible to describe the delight with which +this announcement was received. The women, even +<pb n='230'/><anchor id='Pg230'/>the men, wept for joy. This was indeed a glorious +gain of victory. Last year they could only see the +Holy City from afar, and weep over its desolation. +Now they could pour out their love and their sorrow +within its sacred precincts. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> he repeated, <q>Judas is in Jerusalem, and +is making ready to purify the Temple. And you are +to return as speedily as you can. The days of your +exile are over. Our God has recalled His banished +unto Him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His public mission finished, Micah could give time +to private affection. He went with Ruth and <anchor id="corr230"/><corr sic="the the">the</corr> +children to their cave, and then, after sharing +their morning meal, told them all they wanted to +hear. Seraiah and Azariah were both safe, though +both had had narrow escapes, Azariah’s helmet +having been broken in by a sword-stroke from a +gigantic Gaul, and Seraiah being saved by a little +roll of the Prophecy of Daniel, which he always +carried about with him—it was a gift from his wife—and +which had stopped the point of a javelin that +would otherwise have pierced his heart. Ruth and +the children were never satisfied with asking questions +and listening to his answers. Even the little +Daniel seemed to understand something of what +was being said, as he listened, with his baby-eyes +wide open, to the talk of his elders. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And Cleon,</q> asked Ruth, <q>the Greek with +whom you used to be so friendly in time past—did +<pb n='231'/><anchor id='Pg231'/>you see him? You met him, you told us, in Modin, +and parted in anger; did you meet him again?</q> +</p> + +<p> +A cloud seemed to pass over Micah’s face at this +question, and for a few moments he was silent. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! Ruth,</q> he said, <q>the Lord be merciful to +him, as He has been merciful to me! And did I not +sin against Him tenfold more grievously than any +heathen could have sinned? For was I not a child +of the Covenant, and had I not light and knowledge, +whereas he was born in ignorance and knew not of +the mercies and deliverances which I knew, and +knowing despised.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is he a prisoner, then?</q> asked Miriam, <q>and +will Judas spare him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He needs no mercy from man, my child,</q> said +Micah, solemnly. <q>In the battle I did not meet +him. That was well. I should have been loath to +cross swords with him; and yet I could hardly +have failed to do so. But in the evening, when +Lysias had fled eastward with the remnants of his +host, and the victory was won, I saw him on the +field of battle. The captain himself was with me, +as we went among the wounded and the dead, looking +for any to whom we could give such help as they +needed. He had been pierced with a ghastly wound +through the breast. And when Judas saw him, he +said to me, <q>Ah! that is a brave soldier, and as good +a swordsman as ever I met. I had a hard bout with +him this morning, and had he not slipped in making +<pb n='232'/><anchor id='Pg232'/>a blow, it might have gone ill with me. Do you +know him?</q> <q>Yes;</q> I said, <q>in the old time, when I +mingled with the heathen and walked in their ways.</q> +<q>See, then, whether you can help him in any way; +I love a brave man, be he heathen or no.</q> I was +willing enough to do anything that I could for him, +you may be sure; one glance at that pale face was +enough to chase away all the anger with which we +had parted. <q>Cleon!</q> I said. And he knew me +and smiled—a very wan and feeble smile, but still a +smile. Then I tried to stanch the blood that was +flowing from his wound. <q>Nay,</q> said he, <q>’tis idle; +I am past all help; let it flow, and I shall be +sooner out of my pain. But, dear Menander—nay, +pardon me, I should call you Micah—give me some +water to drink, for I have a raging thirst.</q> I had a +leathern bottle of water, and gave him a draught. +Then I rested his head upon my shoulder, and +bathed his forehead with the water. Judas meanwhile +had gone further, and I saw a party of the +Chasidim ranging the field, and I thought that they +could scarcely pass us by without seeing us, so I said +to Cleon, <q>Let me lay you down till these are past; +for if they know you as a friend of Jason they will +not spare your life. ’Tis better to feign death than +to meet it at their hands.</q> Then he smiled and +said, <q>No need, Micah, to feign death. Your +Hammer has smitten me down, and I shall not +need another stroke.</q> And almost as he spoke the +<pb n='233'/><anchor id='Pg233'/>words, he died. And just then the captain came +back, and we buried him where he had fallen. The +Lord have mercy on him!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But will He have mercy on the heathen?</q> said +Miriam, who had begun to think. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, child—who knows?</q> answered Micah. +<q>Surely some of us need His pardon more than +they, who have not known Him, nor have been +called by His name.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>Farewell to the Mountains.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_255"/><figure url="images/i_255.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="Farewell to the Mountains"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>Farewell to the Mountains.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Farewell to the Mountains</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The next day Micah returned, in obedience to +orders, and two or three days afterwards all the +party that had been left in the mountains followed +him to Jerusalem. It was a happy day, but saddened, +for the children at least, by one loss. The jackal, +Jael, followed the party awhile, but when they +reached the plain, stood still and watched them +disappear, making mournful cries the while. Even +the prospect of seeing their old home could not quite +reconcile the children to the loss of this strange +playmate, who had yet grown so dear to them. +</p> + +<p> +And so the rugged mountains which had afforded +a refuge to the faithful remnant were left again to +silence and solitude. But the memory of what the +confessors and martyrs had endured in the evil days +was never to perish. Generation after generation +remembered with sympathy and reverence what +men, aye, and weak women and children had borne +for conscience’ sake—cold and hunger and nakedness, +and that anguish of soul which is harder to +<pb n='234'/><anchor id='Pg234'/>be endured than all bodily pain. Two centuries +later, an inspired Hebrew, writing to Hebrews, commemorated +the noble endurance of this faithful band +in his famous roll of the triumphs of faith: <q>They +wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being +destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world +was not worthy; they wandered in deserts and +mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.</q><note place="foot">Hebrews xi. 37-38. Compare ii. Macc. x. vi. <q>When as they +wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.</q></note> +</p> +</div><div type="chapter" n="19" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='235'/><anchor id='Pg235'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIX. In Jerusalem"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIX. In Jerusalem"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">IN JERUSALEM.</hi></head> + +<p> +Among those who watched the approach of Judas +and his host to Jerusalem were two men, one in +extreme old age, the other numbering, it would +seem, about fifty years. They wore the priestly +garments, old indeed and threadbare, but still clean +and showing many signs of careful repair. Theirs +was a strange history. For two years they had +been in hiding in the city. When Apollonius had +filled the streets of Jerusalem with blood, the murderers +had sought with especial care for all priests +and Levites. To them at least no mercy was to be +shown. These two men—Shemaiah was the name +of the elder of the two, and Joel that of the younger—had +narrowly escaped death from the soldiers of +Apollonius. They had taken refuge—so close was +the pursuit—in a garden, the gate of which happened +to be open, and had hidden themselves in the bushes +till nightfall. Where they were, who or of what +<pb n='236'/><anchor id='Pg236'/>race was the owner of the house, whether they were +likely to meet with more mercy from his hands than +they could expect from the soldiers, they knew not. +But that hiding-place was their only chance, and +in their desperate strait they snatched at it. While +they were debating in whispers whether they should +throw themselves on the compassion of this unknown +person, they saw—for it was a moonlight +night—the figure of a woman walking down a path +which passed close by their hiding-place. They could +see from her features, which the brilliant moonlight +of the East lighted up, that she was a countrywoman +of their own, and they resolved to appeal to her for +protection. Shemaiah, whose age and venerable +appearance would, they judged, be less likely to +alarm, threw himself on the ground at her feet. +She started back in astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady,</q> he said, <q>I see that you are a daughter +of Abraham. Can you help two servants of the +Lord that have so far escaped from the sword of +the Greeks?</q> +</p> + +<p> +She was reassured by a nearer view of the speaker. +<q>Who are you?</q> she said. <q>Speak without fear, +for there is no one to harm you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Shemaiah told his story. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And your companion,</q> said Eglah—for that +was the woman’s name—<q>where is he?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old man called to Joel, who came forth at his +bidding from his hiding-place. +</p> + +<pb n='237'/><anchor id='Pg237'/> + +<p> +Eglah stood for a few minutes buried in thought. +Then she spoke. +</p> + +<p> +<q>As I hope that the Lord will have mercy on me +and pardon my sin, so will I help you even to +the giving up of my life. But I am not worthy that +you should come under my roof. Now listen to my +story. When Antiochus—the Lord reward him for +the evil that he has done to His people!—came to +this city, I was seized and sold for a slave. And a +certain Greek soldier, Glaucus by name, the captain +of a company, bought me in the market. He had +compassion on me, and dealt honourably with me, +and made me his wife after the fashion of his people. +And I consented to live with him, though I knew +that it was a sin for a daughter of Abraham to be +wife unto a man that was a heathen. But alas! sirs, +what was I to do? for I was a weak woman, and +there was no one to help me. Should I have slain +him in his sleep, as Judith slew Holofernes? Once +I thought to do so, and I took a dagger in my hand, +but when I saw him I repented. Whether it was +fear or love that turned me I know not. That I was +afraid I know, for the very sight of the steel made +me tremble. And I must confess that I loved him +also, for he had been very kind and gentle with me; +and there is not a goodlier man to look at in all +Jerusalem.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Be comforted, my daughter,</q> said Shemaiah, +whose years had taught him a tolerance to which +<pb n='238'/><anchor id='Pg238'/>his younger companion had, perhaps, scarcely +attained. <q>’Tis at least no sin for a wife to love +her husband.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you do not think me so wicked as to be +beyond all hope?</q> cried poor Eglah, eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, my daughter,</q> said the old man; <q>you +were in a sore strait, and all women are not as Judith +was.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you will not refuse to come into my house? +I have a large cellar where you can lie hid. ’Tis +under the ground, indeed, but airy and dry, and you +can make shift to live there. And I will feed you as +best I may. My husband has an open hand, and +never makes any question as to the money that I +spend upon the house, and he will not know what I +have done. I judge it best to keep the thing from +him, not because I fear that he would betray you—for +he is an honourable man and kindly, but it would +go hard with him, being an officer in the army of the +King, if it should be discovered that he knew it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And so for two years Shemaiah and Joel had +inhabited the cellar in Eglah’s house. Glaucus, +the husband, was just the kindly, generous man +whom his wife had described. Once or twice he +had terrified her by some joking remark about the +rapidity with which the provision purchased for the +house disappeared. <q>When we dine together, my +darling,</q> he said, on one occasion, <q>you eat what +would be scarce enough for a well-favoured fly; +<pb n='239'/><anchor id='Pg239'/>but I am glad to think that you are hungry at +other times.</q> <q>O husband,</q> she said, <q>there are +many poor of my own people, and I cannot deny +them.</q> She hoped as she said it that the falsehood +would not be counted as another sin against her. +<q>Nay, nay, darling,</q> said the good-natured man. +<q>Give as much as thou wilt. Thank the gods +and his Highness the King I have enough and to +spare.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Glaucus, though allowed to live in his own house, +had, of course, to spend much time upon his military +duties, and was, consequently, often away. During +his absence Eglah could bring out the two prisoners +from their underground lodging, and allow them to +enjoy the fresh air of the garden, which, happily, +was not overlooked. She gave them the best food +that her means would procure, and at the same time +took pains, as has been said, to keep their garments +scrupulously clean and neat. On the whole they +passed the time of their captivity in tolerable +comfort, and without much injury to their health. +Latterly they had been cheered by the tidings, +always given to them at the very earliest opportunity +by their hostess, of the successes of Judas. +Within the last few days Glaucus had told his wife +that a decisive battle was expected, that it would +probably be fought at Beth-zur, and that if her +countrymen won it, there was nothing that could +hinder them from taking possession of Jerusalem. +</p> + +<pb n='240'/><anchor id='Pg240'/> + +<p> +Glaucus, who held a command in the garrison of +the fort, had not been with Lysias at Beth-zur, but +he had heard late on the evening of the day of the +result of the battle and had, of course, told it to his +wife, and she in turn had communicated it to her +inmates. They had been scarcely able to sleep for +joy, and had eagerly waited for news of the conqueror’s +approach. Evening was come, and Eglah +had not paid them the accustomed visit. The +house was curiously silent; all day not a sound of +voices or steps had reached their ears. And now +the suspense had become unbearable. <q>Go forth,</q> +said Shemaiah to his younger companion, <q>go +forth, and bring me word again.</q> Joel crept out +of his retreat. The streets were deserted; but the +fortress was crowded. The garrison stood thickly +clustered on the walls, and with them were many +inhabitants of the city. It was easy to guess that +what Glaucus had foretold had happened. Judas was +on his way to take possession of Jerusalem, and all +who had compromised themselves by resisting him, +had either fled from the place altogether or had taken +refuge in the fort. He returned to Shemaiah with +a description of what he had seen, and the two +at once hastened down to the walls to greet the +deliverers. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was near its setting when they entered +the city. Without turning to the right or left, +though many must have been consumed with +<pb n='241'/><anchor id='Pg241'/>anxiety to hear the fate of kinsmen and friends, +they marched to Mount Sion. It was an hour of +triumph, the fruition of hopes passionately cherished +through many a dark day of sorrow. To stand once +more in the place which God had chosen to set His +name there, how glorious. But it had its bitterness, +as such hours will have, for it was a miserable +sight that greeted them. Nothing, indeed, had +been done of which they had not heard. There +was nothing that they might not have expected +or foreseen. Yet the actual view of the holy place +in its dismal forlornness overpowered them. It was +as if the sight had come upon them by surprise. +<q>When they saw the Sanctuary desolate and the +altar profaned, and the gates burnt with fire, and +shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or one +of the mountains, and the chambers of the priests +pulled down, they rent their clothes, and made great +lamentations, and cast ashes upon their heads, and +fell down flat to the ground upon their faces.</q> +</p> + +<p> +To repair this ruin, to put an end to this desolation, +to purify the place which had been so shamefully +polluted, was the first duty of the deliverers. +But that the work might be done in peace it was +necessary that the fortress of Acra, to use military +language, should be masked. A strong force was +told off to perform this duty; the rest would lend +their aid to the great work of purification. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="20" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='242'/><anchor id='Pg242'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XX. The Cleansing of the Temple"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XX. The Cleansing of the Temple"/> +<head>CHAPTER XX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE.</hi></head> + +<p> +Azariah and Micah had been put under John, the +eldest of the five brothers, in command of the force +employed to blockade the garrison of Acra. The +night had passed quietly; the garrison had not +attempted a sortie, and had not even harassed the +besiegers with a discharge of missiles. And when +the morning came they seemed inclined to continue +the same inaction. From the high ground the two +Jews looked down upon the Temple courts and saw +the priests directing a crowd of eager helpers in the +work of cleansing the Sanctuary, and labouring +diligently with their own hands. The first task was +to pull down the idol altar which had been erected +on the altar of burnt-offering. This was done in a +fury of haste. The hands of the workmen could +not, it seemed, move fast enough in destroying the +abominable thing. The stones were carried out of +the temple with gestures of loathing and disgust, +<pb n='243'/><anchor id='Pg243'/>and afterwards taken to the Valley of Hinnom—unholy +things to be cast away in an unholy place. +</p> + +<p> +But the stones of the holy altar itself had been +polluted by the superstructure that had been erected +upon them. What was to be done with them? At +least it was manifest that they could not stand where +they were. Sacrifice could not be offered upon them. +They were reverently detached from the cement +which bound them together, and then borne one by +one to a chamber of the Temple, where they were +to be laid up till a prophet should arise who should +show what was to be done with them. The first +duty of dealing with the altar completed, came the +work of cleansing and repairing the courts and +chambers. The long, trailing creepers were pulled +down; the weeds and shrubs were rooted out. The +place was still a ruin, but the manifest signs of its +desolation and abandonment were removed. So +numerous and so eager were the labourers that for +this part of the work a few hours sufficed. The +task of reparation would, of necessity, be longer and +more tedious. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah and Micah had been watching the work +with perhaps a more absorbing interest than was +quite consistent with their duty of watching the +garrison, when suddenly one of the sentries blew +an alarm. Scarcely had it sounded when a flight +of arrows from the garrison of the fortress fell +among the besiegers. The Greeks had watched +<pb n='244'/><anchor id='Pg244'/>their opportunity, and when almost all eyes were +turned on the work that was going on below, had +sent a volley among the ranks of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +This sudden attack did no little damage. One or +two of the patriots were killed on the spot, several +were seriously wounded; the others either covered +themselves with their shields, a precaution which +they ought not to have neglected, or sought refuge +among the ruins. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah, though he had been caught a little off +his guard, was not unprepared to deal with a +manifestation of this kind. He had organized a +company of slingers, and he now ordered them to +advance and clear the wall of its defenders. They +knelt with one knee upon the ground, and covered +themselves with their shields. Under this shelter +they loaded their slings. Then, rising rapidly at a +preconcerted signal from their commander, they sent +a simultaneous and well-directed shower of leaden +bullets on the defenders of the wall. These missiles, +sent with a skill and a strength in which the Jewish +slingers were unsurpassed, had a marvellous effect. +In a moment the wall was cleared, except that here +and there along its length the dead and wounded +might be seen. The survivors did not venture forth +from shelter to carry them away. A fierce conflict +followed. From the loopholes of the towers and +from behind the battlements the Greek archers kept +up the discharge of their arrows, and the Jewish +<pb n='245'/><anchor id='Pg245'/>slingers replied. No great damage was done on +either side; but every now and then a skilful aim +at some exposed body or limb was followed by a cry +of pain from the wounded man, and the cry was +taken up by a shout of triumph from the hostile +force. In the course of the afternoon a storm came +on, with thunder and lightning and a deluge of rain. +Before it had cleared away the light had failed, and +hostilities had perforce to be suspended. +</p> + +<p> +About the beginning of the second watch<note place="foot">Nine o’clock, p.m.</note> Micah, +who was making a round of the sentries, heard the +sound of something that seemed to fall heavily upon +the soft and plashy ground. The rain had ceased, +and the sky had partially cleared; for a few minutes +all was still; then Micah could hear a sighing +which was not the sighing of the wind. He +followed the guidance of the sound, and found a +woman lying almost insensible upon the ground. +He called one of the sentinels to help him, and +together they carried her under shelter, and brought +torches, by the light of which they might examine +her injuries. That she was stunned by the fall was +evident, for she did not speak, and when they +attempted to move her she groaned with the pain. +When left alone she did not seem to suffer much, +and they judged it best to wait for the morning, +administering meanwhile a little wine and water +from time to time. +</p> + +<pb n='246'/><anchor id='Pg246'/> + +<p> +The next morning four of the soldiers were told +off to remove her on a litter that had been constructed +for the use of the wounded to a deserted +house in the Lower City—and of deserted houses +there was only too great a choice. As the bearers +put down their burden on the way to take a brief +rest a strange figure came up to the party. It was +a woman, young and still showing the remains of +beauty, but with a miserably haggard look. It was +easy to see from her uncertain gait and wandering +eye that she was a lunatic. +</p> + +<p> +Huldah had been for some time a well-known +figure in Jerusalem, and her story was of the saddest. +She had been a servant in the house of Seraiah, +and had been Ruth’s own waiting-maid. Returning +home from some errand on which she had been sent +one day at the beginning of Apollonius’s reign of +terror, she had been seized by the attendants of the +newly-dedicated Temple of Jupiter, and made a +slave. Before many weeks had passed the cruel +outrages to which she was subjected overthrew her +reason. Thus become a trouble to her captors she +was permitted to escape. Since then she had been +accustomed to wander about the city. The horrors +of the past still haunted her, and the recollection +of the abominable idolatries in which she had +been forced to serve. At every pool of water and +fountain she would stay and wash. From every +passer-by she would beg for something that might +<pb n='247'/><anchor id='Pg247'/>serve for her cleansing: it was the one craving of +her soul to be rid of its defilement. For food or +money she never asked; but a few kindly souls +in the city gave her enough to support life, and +sometimes would renew the garments, threadbare, +but always scrupulously neat and clean, which she +wore. Of these friends the kindest was Eglah, who +had a fellow-feeling for the sufferer, and who was +always on the watch to atone by her charitable deeds +for what she believed to be the great offence of her life. +</p> + +<p> +Huldah cast a glance at the litter in passing, and +at once recognized in the suffering woman her own +benefactress. For indeed it was Eglah whom +Micah had found under the fortress wall. The +recognition made a marvellous change in the poor +maniac. It turned her thoughts in another direction. +She ceased to dwell upon her own sufferings, +and, for the time at least, reason regained its sway. +</p> + +<p> +She knelt down by the side of the litter, and +kissed one of the hands that hung listlessly down. +Then, rising to her feet, she arranged the cushion +on which Eglah lay so as to make it more comfortable. +That done, she bade the bearers take up their +burden, made a gesture of dissent when they were +turning aside to the house to which they had been +directed, and led the way to Eglah’s own dwelling. +</p> + +<p> +The unhappy creature was positively transformed +by the charge which had thus been laid upon her. +The most intelligent and thoughtful nurse could not +<pb n='248'/><anchor id='Pg248'/>have done better for her patient than did the poor +distracted Huldah. A physician who was called in +examined Eglah, and found that though she had +been sadly bruised and shaken, no bones were broken. +Whether any internal injury existed was more than +he could positively say; that time alone would +show. Meanwhile careful attention was all that +could be done for her, and attention more careful +than Huldah’s it would be impossible to imagine. +</p> + +<p> +The two priests who had found shelter in Eglah’s +house were naturally among those whom Judas had +summoned to take part in the cleansing of the +Temple when he made proclamation for all such +as, being of the House of Aaron, were <q>of blameless +conversation and had pleasure in the Law.</q> Posts +of special dignity were, indeed, conferred upon them, +for both were men of high reputation for sanctity +and learning, which was not a little increased by the +romantic story of their long seclusion and marvellous +escape. Judas assigned them quarters near to his +own, and was accustomed to have frequent recourse +to their advice. They thus found themselves almost +constantly employed, and were unable for several +days to find an opportunity of inquiring what had +happened to their protectress. +</p> + +<p> +When at last they found their way to the house +Eglah had sufficiently recovered her strength to be +able to rise from her bed. She was sitting, busy +with her needle. Huldah was watching her with +<pb n='249'/><anchor id='Pg249'/>an intense look of affection that was infinitely +pathetic. +</p> + +<p> +The poor woman told her story with a voice that +again and again was broken with sobs. +</p> + +<p> +<q>When I was preparing your morning meal in the +kitchen my husband, whom I had never before +known to set foot in the place, suddenly appeared. +I was greatly terrified lest he should ask for whom I +was getting the food ready, but he was too much occupied +with other things to notice it at all. <q>Eglah,</q> +he said, <q>you must come with me into the fort. +Judas the Hammer has broken our army to pieces. +Lysias has fled before him, no one knows whither, +and within a few hours he will be in the city. I +would have you here, for the fort is scarcely a place +for a woman, but I fear your people. Haply they +may slay you as having been yoked to a heathen. +My darling,</q> he went on—and here poor Eglah’s +voice was choked with tears—<q>I have done ill for +you, I fear; but I meant it for the best. And now, +I fear, you must cast in your lot with me. May the +God whom you serve turn it for good.</q> So I gathered +a few things together, and went with him. I thought +many times that we should scarcely have reached the +fort alive, for the people cursed us as we went, the +women especially casting many bitter words at me +as one that had left her people to join herself to the +heathen. But my husband had some six or seven +soldiers with him; and they were brave men and +<pb n='250'/><anchor id='Pg250'/>well armed. We had not been many hours in the +fort before there began a battle between the garrison +and the soldiers of Judas. One of my husband’s +men, who had gone in a spirit of folly and vanity +to show his courage, was struck down with a stone, +and my husband ran forth to drag him in. And just +as he was returning, another stone from the slingers +struck him on the back of his head. It was about +the ninth hour of the day when he was wounded, +and he lived till the beginning of the second watch, +but he never spoke again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Here the poor creature’s story became confused +and broken, and her listeners could only guess what +had followed. The tale of what followed must be +told for her. <q><q>Ah!</q> said one of the soldiers, +<q>Glaucus has it. He will never move again, I +reckon. A good fellow, but overstrict.</q> <q>But how +about the Jewish girl whom he calls his wife?</q> +said the other; <q>I shall take her.</q> <q>Nay, nay; +let there be fair play between us, comrade, as +there has always been. Why you more than I?</q> +<q>Because I was the first to speak.</q> <q>Not so; ’twas +I that first spoke of her.</q> <q>Well, we won’t quarrel, +comrade. No woman is good enough to separate +old friends. Let us cast the dice for her, and the +man that wins shall stand treat for a flagon of wine.</q> +And then Eglah heard them cast the dice, and +count the numbers—they would have twenty throws +a-piece, they said—and curse and swear when they +<pb n='251'/><anchor id='Pg251'/>threw low. And when they had finished their dice-throwing +they came in to see how Glaucus fared; +and just as they entered the chamber, he drew a long +breath and died. One of them put his hand upon +his heart and said, <q>’Tis all over with him; he will +never toss a flagon or kiss a pretty girl again.</q> And +then he laid his hand upon Eglah’s shoulder, and +said, <q>Cheer up; we will find another husband for +thee as good as he.</q> But the first said, <q>Nay, Timon, +leave her alone. The women are not like us. You +must give them a few hours to cry.</q> <q>Well, well,</q> +said his comrade, <q>you were always soft-hearted. +Let us come and have our flagon; there is no reason +why we should wait for that.</q></q> The comrades went +on their errand and left the widow alone with her +dead husband. She kissed him, and cut off a little +curl of his hair, and then went forth on the wall—for +the chamber in which he lay was in one of the wall-towers—and +threw herself down to the ground. It +was better, she thought, to die than to sin again. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Daughter,</q> said Joel, <q>you should thank the +Lord that, without your own doing, the tie that +bound you to this heathen man is broken.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>O sir,</q> broke out the poor woman, <q>do not say +so. I cannot find it in my heart to thank Him, +though I do try to say in my heart, <q>Thy will be +done.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Brother,</q> said the old Shemaiah, <q>you are too +hard upon her. ’Tis right that a wife should mourn +<pb n='252'/><anchor id='Pg252'/>for her husband, be he Jew or Greek. Before the +Lord, I had thought ill of her had she been of the +temper that you would have her.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Eglah turned to the old man a grateful look. <q>O +sir,</q> she said, <q>you do not know how kind and good +my Glaucus was. I never had an angry word from +him. Nor did he ever hinder me from my prayers. +Rather he would say when I went three times to my +chamber to pray, <q>Speak a word for me, wife, if you +will.</q> And he would oftentimes speak to me about +my God, and say that he liked Him better than the +gods in whom <hi rend='italic'>he</hi> had been taught to believe. And I +used to tell him stories out of the Book, and how the +Lord had delivered his people out of the land of +Egypt, and had brought them into the land which +He sware to Abraham to give him. And he never +mocked or laughed, but listened with all his heart. +And, sir, I do sometimes think that if he had been +spared to live longer, he would have become one of +us. But he is dead, and I shall never, never see him +any more.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And the poor desolate widow burst out into a +passion of tears, and threw herself prostrate on the +couch, Huldah trying to comfort her, not with +words—which, indeed, she could not command, +and which, in any case, would have been of small +avail—but with great demonstrations of love. +</p> + +<p> +After a while Eglah looked up, and turning to +Shemaiah, in whose sympathy and charity she +<pb n='253'/><anchor id='Pg253'/>trusted, said, <q>O, sir, do you think that there is +any hope for him? Must he go into that dreadful +Gehenna? For indeed he was kind and good, and +never thought of any woman but his wife, and never +injured one of our people, but would help them and +defend them when his fellows were rough with them. +He was better than many Jews that I know. Is it +not possible that God may have mercy upon him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Joel was about to speak, but Shemaiah beckoned +to him to hold his peace. <q>My daughter,</q> he said, +<q>these things are too deep for us; but I would say, +be of good hope for him that is gone, seeing that he +was such as you say. Shall not the Judge of all the +earth do right? To some He giveth much light, +and to some but little; and He judgeth each +according to that which He has given. Therefore +I bid you be of good cheer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And may I pray for him?</q> asked Eglah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Surely you may, for no prayer, so that it come +out of an honest heart and pure lips, but finds some +fulfilment.</q><note place="foot">There seems to have been a belief among the Jews of this time in +the efficacy of prayers for the dead. So we read in 2 Maccabees xii. +45: <q>Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead that they +might be delivered from sin.</q> This is probably the chief reason why +the Council of Trent included the Books of Maccabees and other +Apocryphal writings in the Canon of Scripture.</note> +</p> + +<p> +He rose and, giving her his blessing, departed, +followed by Joel, whose narrow intelligence was not +a little startled by what his old companion had said. +</p> +</div><div type="chapter" n="21" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='254'/><anchor id='Pg254'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXI. The Dedication of the Temple"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXI. The Dedication of the Temple"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE.</hi></head> + +<p> +Jerusalem now began to assume an aspect very +different from that which it had borne for some +years past. Thousands, who had been driven away +by the terrors of the evil days, now hastened to +return. Many of the lower class, constrained by +the necessity of poverty, had always remained, +enduring persecution as best they could, and often, +of course, escaping it by their obscurity. Now the +wealthier inhabitants began to flock back from their +hiding-places in the country and from foreign lands; +the streets again began to be busy; the shopkeepers +displayed the wares which there had been +no one to purchase, or which they had been afraid +to show; the long-shut markets were reopened and +thronged with purchasers. +</p> + +<p> +The priests alone, gathered as they were from +their abodes scattered throughout Palestine, made +a considerable addition to the population of the +<pb n='255'/><anchor id='Pg255'/>city. They were a numerous class, far beyond +any requirements of their sacrificial duties, and +commonly remained at home, awaiting the rarely +recurring occasion of services that called them to +Jerusalem. But now a work was before them in +which all could take part, for the Temple, having +been cleansed and having received such repair as +could be done at once, was to be dedicated afresh. +</p> + +<p> +The first necessary work was the construction +of a new altar of sacrifice. This work was to be +of the primitive kind, in strict conformity to the +Law, and as unlike as possible to the elaborate +erections of the alien worship, and it was to be +done, from first to last, by the consecrated hands +of the priests. They dug out of the earth of the +valley rough stones. No tool of iron was to be +used in raising them from their place; none was +to be employed in hewing them into shape. It was +the priests again who solemnly conveyed them into +the Great Court of the Temple, who joined them +together with mortar, and covered them with whitewash. +Meanwhile other preparations for a wholly +renovated service were being busily carried on. +Most of the furniture of the Temple had been +carried off by a succession of plunderers; if any of +the less valuable and less easily removed articles +had been left these had suffered an irremediable +defilement. Everything therefore had to be replaced; +and workmen were now busily employed +<pb n='256'/><anchor id='Pg256'/>in this work. The altar of incense, the candlestick +with its seven branches, the table on which the +loaves of the shew-bread were to be placed, the +mercy-seat with the overshadowing cherubim that +was the chief feature of the Holy of Holies, and +the various curtains that were needed for the +separation of the various parts of the building, +were manufactured with all possible haste, some +of the articles, from lack of time and materials, +being intended to serve their purpose only till they +could be more worthily replaced. Generally, however, +it was time rather than means that was +wanting, for in the late campaigns treasure almost +enough to replace the spoliations of years had been +taken from the Greeks, and this, after being duly +purified and blessed, could be devoted to holy uses. +</p> + +<p> +And so came on the day that had been appointed +for the Feast of Dedication. It was to be the 25th +of the month Chisleu.<note place="foot">The month Chisleu about corresponds to our December.</note> It was a memorable day, +both for good and evil, in the annals of Jewish +worship. On this day, ages before, Jerusalem, the +newly-won capital of the nation, had been finally +chosen as the place where God should set His +name; for on this day David, as he made atonement +in the day of pestilence, bought the threshing-floor +of Araunah the Jebusite to be the future dwelling-place +of the Presence of the Lord God of Israel. +And on this day, again, five years ago, the first +<pb n='257'/><anchor id='Pg257'/>idol sacrifice had been offered within the consecrated +precincts. +</p> + +<p> +In the early morning, before the sun had risen upon +the earth, a spark was obtained by striking stone +against stone, the fire was rekindled on the altar, +the golden candlestick was lighted and the table of +the shew-bread duly furnished with its twelve loaves. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the rest of the people also had been +busy in making preparations for the great celebration. +Every family, even the poorest, was to keep +festival on the day that was to be a new beginning +of the national life. The women and children were +early afoot, gathering branches of palms and other +<q>goodly trees</q>; none of them having busier hands +than Ruth and her nieces. Even the little Daniel +would take his part in the work, tottering along +by his mother’s side with his arms full of boughs. +When they had gathered as great a burden as they +could carry, Ruth gathered her little company about +her, and told them, just as the rising sun began +to flood the valley with its slanting rays, the story +of the day—of the glory and the shame which it +had brought to Israel. +</p> + +<p> +And now, as the time of the morning sacrifice +drew near, the whole people moved in one great +stream towards the Temple, and the Great Court +was crowded. On the walls of the fortress the +heathen soldiers of the garrison stood in throngs +watching the solemnities of the day. Some of them, +<pb n='258'/><anchor id='Pg258'/>of course, were ready with their mockery; but most +looked on in respectful silence. Many of them had +witnessed the prowess of these strange fanatics in +the field. They might be given over to a <q>senseless +and tasteless superstition,</q> but they could +deal shrewd blows with their swords, and therefore +they were not to be despised. No truce had been +arranged, but one was tacitly observed. The forbearance +of the Greeks was partly due to a wholesome +awe of the Jewish archers and slingers, partly +to a curiosity that, as has been said, was not wholly +unmixed with respect. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the solemn ritual of sacrifice. This +ended, the whole congregation of the people united +in solemn supplication to the Lord God of Israel. +Usually it was the custom to stand during the office +of prayer; sometimes the attitude of kneeling was +used; now, as if to express the intensity of their +feeling, they threw themselves flat upon their faces, +and poured out their entreaty that evils such as +they had endured in the past might never again +come upon them in the future. <q>O Lord,</q>—this +was the burden of their prayer,—<q>if we sin against +Thee any more, do Thou chasten us Thyself with +Thine own hand, after the multitude of Thy mercies. +Make us suffer that which shall seem good to Thee +here in our own land, but scatter us no more among +the heathen, and deliver us not again unto the nations +that blaspheme Thy holy name.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='259'/><anchor id='Pg259'/> + +<p> +The prayer ended, came the great Psalm of Thanksgiving; +and then the people dispersed to their houses +to hold festival. Their mirth was prolonged far into +the night, which, indeed, was almost turned into day +throughout the streets of Jerusalem, so brilliant was +the light that streamed from the lamps set in almost +every window. +</p> + +<p> +For eight days the Feast of Dedication was continued. +Each day the services began with the +customary morning sacrifice. At earliest dawn the +Master of the Temple summoned the priests who +had been watching round the fire in the gate-house +as they waited for his summons. Then they went +out and fetched the lamb for the burnt-offering. +The creature had already been examined on the +previous day, and pronounced to be free from spot or +blemish. This done, they went outside the court in +which the great altar stood, and watched for the +coming day. The Mount of Olives stood between +them and the East, and far behind it were the +mountains of Moab. Here the first streaks of the +morning light were to show themselves. Then the +priest whose turn it was to slay the victim of the day +bathed in the great laver. Thus purified for the +performance of his office, he stirred up the burning +embers from under the ashes of the altar, and added +fresh fuel. This done, he was joined by the other +priests, and the morning sacrifice was offered. Then +followed the special ceremonies of the festival, +<pb n='260'/><anchor id='Pg260'/>among them the prayer for deliverance from captivity, +as already given, and the singing of the great +Thanksgiving. And every day the public services +were followed by private rejoicings. No one could +have believed that the rejoicing city, gay with its +brightly dressed throngs of merry-makers and resounding +with the music of tabret and harp, was the +desolate place so long trodden down by the heathen. +There had been days in the past when the most +hopeful could scarcely discern any light in the darkness. +But now they could see the <q>silver lining of +the cloud.</q> In this very Temple, now dedicated +afresh with such joyous zeal, but a few years before, +the priests <q>had left the sacrifices when the game +of the Discus called them forth.</q> That deadly folly +had been purged with blood. The brutal violence +of Antiochus had saved the nation from an imminent +relapse into heathenism. +</p> + +<p> +Among the many hearts that were gladdened by +these rejoicings there was one, as sorely burdened +as any, that had found a complete deliverance from +the troubles of the past. The unhappy Huldah, in +proportion as her charge gained strength, and her +work became less absorbing, had seemed to be falling +back into her old condition. For the time her +thoughts had been concentrated on the suffering +Eglah; now they were free to be turned upon herself, +her own troubles, her own dismal memories. +Eglah did all she could to keep her employed, and +<pb n='261'/><anchor id='Pg261'/>the girl’s gentle and affectionate nature still felt +her influence. Yet it was evident that unless some +remedy could be found the old madness would resume +its sway. +</p> + +<p> +On the first day of the Dedication festival, the two +were standing together in the Court of the Women. +The priests, who were making a circuit of the whole +building, sprinkling everywhere the blood of purification, +came in due course to the spot. As they +performed their office a drop fell upon the garment +of Huldah, who had been joining in the prayers +with an earnestness almost frenzied. The effect was +marvellous. In a moment the excitement passed +away. Her eyes lost their wandering look, and, in a +tone calmer and more collected than any that she +had ever before been known to use since the time of +her trouble, she said, showing the crimson spot to +Eglah—<q>He has heard my prayer; He has sprinkled +me with the blood of cleansing.</q> She stood silent +and collected until the whole ritual was finished, and +when the time for the hymn of thanksgiving came +round joined her voice with a quiet happiness to the +voices of the congregation. +</p> + +<p> +When the people returned to their homes Huldah +left the Temple in company with Eglah. But it was +evident that her strength was exhausted. She could +barely totter along with all the help that Eglah +and a neighbour could give her, and when she came +to the house of Seraiah and Ruth, which happened +<pb n='262'/><anchor id='Pg262'/>to lie in her way, she sank almost unconscious to +the ground. Providentially at that moment Ruth +came up with her husband and the little Daniel. +</p> + +<p> +<q>She seemed so much better in the Temple—was +quite calm and peaceful again—and now I am afraid +that she is going to be very ill,</q> said Eglah. +</p> + +<p> +Woman’s wit suggested to Ruth a happy thought +for dealing with the sufferer. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Leave her to me,</q> she said. <q>She was happy +here once, and here, if it please the Lord, she will +be happy again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth and her husband carried her into the house, +and laid her upon her bed in her old chamber. +Once there she was able to swallow a little broth +which had been hastily prepared, cast one grateful +look of recognition at her old mistress, and then fell +into a deep sleep. The next morning she awoke, +entirely restored to reason, and, though still somewhat +weak, able to go about the household tasks in +which she had been once employed, and which she +resumed at once without a question, and as if, indeed, +they had never been interrupted for a day. The +three years of misery were entirely blotted out of her +memory; nor did any spectre from the past ever +come back to trouble her. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="22" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='263'/><anchor id='Pg263'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXII. Wars and Rumours of Wars"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXII. Wars and Rumours of Wars"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The Feast of Dedication having been kept and +made an ordinance in Israel for ever,<note place="foot">See S. John x. 22, 23: <q>And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the +Dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the Temple, in +Solomon’s <corr sic="(no end quote)">porch.</corr></q></note> Judas’s next +act was to fortify the restored Temple. It was +exposed, even more than the rest of the city, to a +sudden attack from the garrison of the fort, which +might work irreparable mischief could it gain, even +for an hour, possession of the sacred building. Accordingly +a high wall, strengthened at intervals by +towers, was now erected round it, and a force was +told off from the army to watch it. This done, the +patriot leader could attend without anxiety to other +cares. At Beth-zur a fortress was erected and +strongly garrisoned to guard the Eastern frontier +especially against the attacks of the Idumeans, who, +under their new name, inherited all the old Edomite +jealousy of Israel. After personally superintending +<pb n='264'/><anchor id='Pg264'/>the erection of this stronghold, Judas marched +against other tribes on the east and south, who had +been taking advantage of the troublous times to +plunder their Jewish neighbours. The Arabs of the +Negeb, or South Country, were defeated at a pass +near the Dead Sea, which bore the appropriate name +of the Pass of the Scorpions; the Ammonites, +another tribe whose kinship with the chosen people +seems to have embittered their hereditary enmity, +were defeated under their Greek leader, Timotheus. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile life at Jerusalem had been settling +down into a peaceful order. The younger of the +two priests whom Eglah had befriended had found +scope for his energies by joining the army; +Shemaiah, the elder, was again an inmate in the +house which had sheltered him, where Eglah, who +had never forgotten the charity with which he had +spoken of her husband, tended him with all the care +of a daughter. The old man was never tired of +hearing the story of the two dismal years during +which he had been in hiding. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah, father!</q> she said to him one day, <q>you +were not so ill off in your poor prison after all. +Had you had your liberty you would have seen +altars to the false gods in every street. And it +was not safe to pass them without showing some +sign of reverence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And how did you fare, my daughter?</q> asked the +old man. +</p> + +<pb n='265'/><anchor id='Pg265'/> + +<p> +<q>I could avoid them, knowing where they were, +by passing by on the other side, and my good +Glaucus—the Lord have mercy on him!—was +always kind and helpful. He would fetch the water +regularly from the fountain, where there was an altar +to the Naiad, as they called the demon of the spring, +which I could not have avoided. The people used +to laugh at him for doing a woman’s work, but he +did not heed them. O why was he taken away +before he could learn the truth? I think that he +would have known it if he could have lived a little +longer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And the poor woman burst into a passion of tears. +She was always haunted with this fear of her husband’s +fate, and reproached herself with not having +been earnest enough in speaking of the truth to her +husband. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Peace, my daughter,</q> said the old man, gently; +<q>the mercies of the Lord are without end, and His +ways past finding out. Be sure that He will not +forget the kindness that was showed to a daughter +of Abraham. But tell me,</q> he went on, anxious to +change the subject—<q>tell me how we came to find +the courts of the Temple desolate and overgrown as +though no one had entered them for months? Did +you not say that there were sacrifices there, and +feasts to the demons whom the Greeks worship?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, father; it was so for a time. But soon +there were few or none to make sacrifices, for the +<pb n='266'/><anchor id='Pg266'/>city was utterly impoverished. So the priests, whom +Philip the Phrygian and Apollonius—the curse of +the Lord be upon him!—brought in to serve at the +altars, went elsewhere, for, of a truth, they would +have died of hunger had they stayed here. O +father, it was a mournful existence; of a truth we +were fed with the bread of affliction and the water +of affliction.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As they talked Ruth came in with a troubled +face. +</p> + +<p> +<q>O Eglah!</q> she cried, <q>I did hope that we +should have peace and quiet, but there are wars and +rumours of wars on every side. This morning letters +came to the captain from our brethren in Gilead. +That evil Timotheus—would to God he had not +escaped out of the hand of Judas!—has gathered +together a host of the Ammonites and slain some—a +thousand, ’tis said, with their wives and children, +and shut up the rest in the fortress of Dametha. +And now my husband and my brother are in council +with the captain, and I fear me much that they will +be sent to the wars, for indeed,</q> she added, with a +touch of a woman’s pride in those that are dear to +her, <q>Judas esteems them highly, and will always +have them in places of trust. Nor would I keep +them back from helping the Lord’s people. But +hark! I hear his step.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As she spoke Seraiah came in from the council. +</p> + +<p> +<q>How is it?</q> cried Ruth, with trembling voice, +<pb n='267'/><anchor id='Pg267'/>her fears again getting the upper hand. <q>Do you +go? and Azariah?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, my dearest, I go, and next in command to +the captain and his brothers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth flung her arms round her husband’s neck. +<q>Oh! I am proud of you; but yet if you could have +stayed, for our little Daniel is so young——</q> +</p> + +<p> +And she could say no more. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, wife, be of good cheer, and do not grudge +us to the Lord’s service, for indeed there is need of +us all. Even while the letters from Gilead were +being read there came messengers from Galilee with +their clothes rent. From them we heard that the +men of Ptolemaïs and of Tyre and Sidon and all +Galilee of the Gentiles were gathered together. +Then it was determined that Simon should go to +Galilee with three thousand men, and Judas and +Jonathan to Gilead.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what of Azariah?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He and Joseph, the son of Zachariah, are to be +left in the city with the remnant of the army as +captains of the people. They are to have the +Governor’s house, and you, with our little Daniel, +will live there while I am away. This will be well +for you, and for Miriam and Judith also, for there +will be many coming and going, and Miriam is a fair +maiden, as she should be, being kin to you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Ruth smiled through her tears at the lover-like +compliment. +</p> + +<pb n='268'/><anchor id='Pg268'/> + +<p> +<q>Come now,</q> Seraiah went on, <q>and get ready +what I shall want for my journey, for we set out +at sunset.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two women kissed each other, and the old +priest blessed Seraiah. <q>The Lord give thee strength +in the day of battle, and deliver thee out of the hand +of the enemy, and bring thee back to the house of +thy fathers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At sunset exactly—for Judas was one of the +commanders who are exactly and punctually obeyed—the +two expeditions set forth. +</p> + +<p> +Their departure was, of course, observed by the +garrison of the fort, who were encouraged by it to +make some fierce sallies on the diminished forces +of the patriots. These were as fiercely repelled, and +in a few days things settled down again into the +virtual truce which had existed for some time +between besiegers and besieged. +</p> + +<p> +Eight days after the departure of the expeditions +tidings of victory came from the main army under +Judas. The captain of the host had taken Bozrah, +in Edom. The place lay at least a hundred miles +to the east; but the patriots had covered the distance +with unexpected rapidity, and, reaching the +place before there had been any notion of their +approach, had taken it almost without resistance. +The messenger had left, he said, as soon as the place +was taken, but Judas had marched the same night to +Dametha, which was in urgent need of relief. +</p> + +<pb n='269'/><anchor id='Pg269'/> + +<p> +The next day came in tidings of further success. +Dametha and its garrison, with the crowd of helpless +fugitives which had sought shelter within its +walls, was safe. The night march from Bozrah +had been made just in time. Had it been delayed +till morning it might well have been too late. +The Ammonites had chosen that very day for a +fierce assault upon the place. Just as the day was +dawning and the assailants were close under the +walls Judas had appeared. His approach had been +observed by the besieged, who had watched it from +the citadel, but the assailants were taken by surprise. +Hemmed in between two attacking forces, the +garrison who made a sortie from the town and the +army of the patriots in the rear, they had been +utterly routed. Timotheus had barely escaped with +his life, and had fled northward, followed by Judas +in hot pursuit. A few days afterwards came the +news that the campaign was at an end—begun and +finished within the space of two weeks. This time +the captain had found time to write a despatch. It +ran thus:— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Judas, Captain of the Lord’s host, to Azariah, +greeting. Know that the Lord has delivered the +enemy into our hands. Timotheus, having suffered +defeat at Dametha, fled northward to a temple where +the heathen worship the <q>Two-horned Ashtaroth,</q> +a strong place by nature and skilfully fortified. I +judged it better that I should not spill the blood of +<pb n='270'/><anchor id='Pg270'/>the people of the Lord in assaulting it, and so, +having cleared the walls of defenders by help of my +slingers, I surrounded it with great quantities of +faggots. To these I caused fire to be set, nor did +my slingers suffer the Ammonites to approach to put +out the flames. In the end the whole was consumed, +and Timotheus perished in the fire. The Lord has +rewarded him according to his deeds. So much +for what has been done: now for what remains to +do. This country is not as yet a safe dwelling-place, +and will not be till the heathen shall be +more thoroughly subdued. It is my purpose, therefore, +to bring the people of this land to Jerusalem. +Provide, to the best of your ability, for their food and +<corr sic="lodging">lodging.</corr> Farewell!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The exultation felt by the people at Jerusalem when +the tidings of their final victory reached them passes +description. The times of David, they were sure, +were about to return. The promise was once again +to be fulfilled—<q>He shall reign from the flood +[the Euphrates], unto the world’s end.</q> In the +Temple chant of the day the words went—<q>I will +not be afraid of ten thousands of the people that +have set themselves against me round about. +Up, Lord, and help me, O my God, for Thou +smitest all Thine enemies upon the cheek-bone. +Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But when tidings of still further victories, won by +Simon in Galilee, came in to swell the popular +<pb n='271'/><anchor id='Pg271'/>enthusiasm, there was a certain change of feeling, +something of the jealousy that almost inevitably +springs up when great deeds are done. Joseph and +Azariah chafed at the life of inaction which they +were forced to live at Jerusalem, and what they +thought in their hearts the soldiers did not hesitate +to express openly. <q>Let us also,</q> so ran the common +talk—<q>let us also get for ourselves a name, +and go and fight against the enemies of the Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +On the day after the tidings of Simon’s victories +came in the two captains were waited upon by a +deputation of soldiers, who came to urge that they +might be relieved from the inaction to which they +were condemned, an inaction made all the more +hard to bear by the glories that were being won +elsewhere. Azariah and Joseph listened with attention, +and, indeed, were at no pains to hide their +sympathy. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The men are right,</q> said Joseph, when the +deputation had withdrawn. <q>They will lose all +heart if we keep them idling here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>In my heart I am inclined to agree with you,</q> +answered his colleague; <q>but what did the captain +say?—<q>Watch the garrison of the heathen that they +do no hurt to the city and the Holy Place while we +are away.</q> But he said nothing of going elsewhere, +and I should be unwilling to disobey him, for, beyond +all doubt, the Lord is with him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, brother, you are too narrow in your +<pb n='272'/><anchor id='Pg272'/>thoughts of obeying. We obey him best if we do +the best that we can for the cause of the Lord. +And though I honour Judas greatly, yet he is but a +captain in the Lord’s host, even as we are. Why +should we not do as he has done? And tell me, +Azariah,</q> he went on, <q>do you think that the vision +which you saw when the angel of the Lord brought +you a sword with the Name written on it has been +altogether fulfilled? Shall this sword which he +bade you use for the Lord always abide in the +scabbard? Is this the life to which you are +called?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You speak truly,</q> said Azariah. <q>I can scarcely +be faithful to my trust if I suffer the sword of the +Lord to rust. But tell me, what think you we had +best do?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Gorgias,</q> said Joseph, <q>is encamped at Jamnia, +and does great mischief to the land and the people; +if we can drive him out we shall earn great thanks +both from the captain and from our brethren.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The resolution of the commanders was heard with +unmingled delight by their men, and with almost +equal pleasure by the inhabitants of the city. Some +of the more cautious disapproved, and Shemaiah +even made his way to the Governor’s house—no easy +task for his scanty strength—and remonstrated with +Azariah. <q>My son,</q> said he, <q>your strength is to +sit still. Make not too much speed, and be not +over-bold.</q> He was listened to with respect, and +<pb n='273'/><anchor id='Pg273'/>even with some compunction on Azariah’s part. +But it seemed too late to retreat. To hold back now +would infallibly give rise to the charge of cowardice, +and Azariah, brave as a lion against all outward +danger, had not the rare moral courage which would +have enabled him to face such an accusation. +</p> + +<p> +At sunrise on the day after the resolution had been +taken, the expedition set out with confident expectation +of victory, and watched from the walls by an +eager multitude. At sunset a miserable remnant +came straggling back into the city. They had fared, +as their fathers had fared many centuries before, +when, with the like unauthorized daring, they had +assaulted the hill fortress of Ai, and had returned, +bringing discouragement with them. Gorgias had +sallied out from his hill fortress, had charged the +Jewish force with full advantage of the ground, and +had driven them in headlong flight before them. +Azariah and Joseph had done all that leaders could +do to turn the tide of battle, but their efforts had +been in vain. Two thousand men had fallen, the +wounded being, perforce, left to the mercy or cruelty +of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +The city was filled with mourning for the dead; +and, of course, there was a rapid revulsion of feeling +against the leaders whose rash action had ended in +such disaster. <q>Who are these men,</q> was the +general cry, <q>who have caused the people of the +Lord to perish? They are not of the seed of those +by whose hand deliverance is given to Israel.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="23" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='274'/><anchor id='Pg274'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIII. More Victories"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIII. More Victories"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">MORE VICTORIES.</hi></head> + +<p> +The heathen in the fort observed the return as they +had observed the departure of the expedition that +had ended so disastrously. Their sallies became +fiercer and more frequent, and Azariah, his forces +weakened by the loss of two thousand men, found it +difficult to repel them. Nothing could have exceeded +the energy with which he devoted himself to this +duty, or the courage with which he executed it. +Night and day he was at his post, for it was here +only that he found a refuge from the anguish and +doubt which tormented him; here only the reproaches +of the widows of the slain could not follow +him. He allowed himself no rest; sleep he seemed +absolutely to do without, and food he hastily snatched +at any moment when the opportunity offered. +</p> + +<p> +One remission only from this task he allowed himself, +and this because it was a duty. He paid a +daily visit to his children. They, too, poor little +souls, had not escaped a share in the trouble. The +<pb n='275'/><anchor id='Pg275'/>life which they had led for the last two years had +developed their understanding beyond their age, and +they felt, if they did not fully appreciate, their +father’s unhappiness. One consolation they had, +the care of two little orphans—the father had fallen +in the expedition, and the mother had been struck +down by the news of her husband’s death—who had +been taken into the house and put under the charge +of the elderly kinswoman who looked after Azariah’s +household. +</p> + +<p> +On one of these occasions he found the aged +Shemaiah. His first impulse was to avoid the old +man, but a few words of sympathy overcame him; +his self-control broke down, and hiding his face in +his robe he shed the rare and painful tears of a man. +</p> + +<p> +When the first outburst of grief was over he +spoke. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell me, father, why has God forsaken His +servant who trusted in Him. I went out in faith—and +see the end. Would that I had died in the +battle!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My son, may it not be that you tempted the +Lord? Did you count the cost when you went +forth against Gorgias, whether you had force sufficient +for the attack, or skill to handle it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Does faith, then, go for nothing? Had Judas +men enough, as soldiers reckon in such matters, +or skill enough, seeing that he had had no experience +in war, when he overthrew Apollonius? +<pb n='276'/><anchor id='Pg276'/>Yet the Lord gave him the victory because he +trusted in Him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My son, God gave the victory to Judas, having +first given him not strength only and courage, but +skill also and understanding. He gives not the +same gifts to all: to Moses wisdom and learning, but +to Aaron eloquent speech; to David the arts of war, +but to Solomon the arts of peace. Think you that +because you are a servant of the Lord, you are +therefore to choose the service that you will do? +You would be captain of the Lord’s host like Judas. +Would you also indite psalms with David, and +devise proverbs with Solomon? The Spirit of the +Lord divideth to every man severally as He will. +To Mattathias He gave discernment to see in Judas +the leader and commander of the people, and the +people were obedient to him. And so Judas discerned +in you one who might be entrusted with the +defence of the city, but not with the warfare against +the heathen that are without. This was your +service, but you were not content with it. Think +not that the Lord has forgotten you, but rather that +you have left the place in which you were set.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This was plain speaking, but given with such +gentleness and sympathy that the rebuke healed +more than it wounded. Humbled yet comforted, +Azariah returned to his post before the fortress. +But he could not forget that his great trial was yet +to come. Nor was it long delayed. The next day +<pb n='277'/><anchor id='Pg277'/>it was evident that something was happening that +had attracted the attention of the garrison. The +highest tower was crowded with soldiers who were +intently watching something that could not be +seen from below. And indeed it was a remarkable +spectacle. Judas was returning with his victorious +army, escorting at the same time a vast crowd of +non-combatants, men, women, and children, the +whole population of the country beyond Jordan, +which could no longer be inhabited with safety, and +all Jerusalem had gone out to meet the champion. +Then, in a moment, the tower was deserted, the +gates were thrown open, and a furious sortie, the +last that could be attempted with any hope of success, +was made with the whole force of the garrison. It +was with a desperate courage that Azariah repelled +the attack. Never had he exposed himself so +recklessly. He could almost have wished to fall in +the fight; for now the dreaded meeting was at hand, +and he had to render up to his chief the trust which +he had so abused. The attack was repelled, and +then Azariah had to remain in an inaction that was +almost unbearable till he should be summoned to the +interview with his chief. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was just setting when a soldier presented +himself, and, after saluting, said, <q>The general seeks +you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Has he summoned the council?</q> asked Azariah, +who dreaded a public censure. +</p> + +<pb n='278'/><anchor id='Pg278'/> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> said the man; <q>he is alone.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And Azariah followed him to the captain’s house, +with such a tremor in his heart as no dangers of +battle had ever caused. +</p> + +<p> +What followed at the meeting was never known, +save as far as the result was concerned. Shemaiah +was awaiting his return, and the first glance showed +the old man that things had gone well with his +friend. The burden of trouble was gone. Azariah +looked brighter and more cheerful—so great is the +force of reaction—than he had done since he had lost +his Hannah. Shemaiah felt that there was no need +to question him, and waited in silence for what his +friend should please to tell him. What he heard +was this: +</p> + +<p> +<q>The captain would have kept me in the office to +which he appointed me when he departed. He said—and +I repeat his words, not for my own glory, but +for a proof of his generosity—<q>No man could have +better kept the heathen from the fort in check than +you have done. Therefore, I would have you stay +where you are. I must go again to the wars, for +the Idumeans and the Philistines have to be subdued. +And I shall go with a lighter heart, leaving +the defence of the city in your hands.</q> But I said +to him, <q>O my lord, let me rather go with you. +You have accomplished to the full the work unto +which you were sent of God, and have come back, +having redeemed from captivity and death our +<pb n='279'/><anchor id='Pg279'/>brethren from beyond the river, nor lost one of +your own people. But I, going in the presumption +of my heart to a warfare unto which I was not sent, +have accomplished nothing; I have wrought no +deliverance for my people, and the bones of two +thousand of my brethren lie scattered on the plain. +Henceforth I am but a sword in the hand of the +servant of the Lord.</q> But the captain said nothing. +Let it be as he will. As for me, I am content, for +I know that he has pardoned me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Whatever the kind of service in which Judas +might see fit to employ his lieutenant, it was +clear that there would be no lack of work for him +to do. +</p> + +<p> +The victories of Judas in Gilead had been followed +by successes won by Simon in Galilee. And from +Galilee, as from Gilead, there had been a great +migration of the inhabitants, who sought in Jerusalem +a safer home than they could find in their +own country. +</p> + +<p> +And now, at the head of a more powerful army +than he had hitherto been able to collect, Judas set +out. His first object was Hebron, which had for +some time past been in the possession of the Idumeans. +He took it by assault; it might almost be +said, so unexpected was his coming, by surprise. +Indeed, one cause of his success was the extraordinary +rapidity and secrecy of his movements. +Almost the moment that his plans were formed, he +<pb n='280'/><anchor id='Pg280'/>was on his way to execute them. Even if there had +been traitors or spies in his camp—and such were +almost unknown—any information which they could +send to the enemy was outstripped, so to speak, by +his action. Hebron had to be abandoned after its +capture, for he could not spare a sufficient garrison +to hold it. All that could be done was to take care +that it should not, for some time at least, become +a stronghold of the enemy. Its citadel was destroyed; +the towers on the wall burnt, and a furlong +of the wall itself broken down. +</p> + +<p> +From Hebron the Jewish leader marched southward, +and then turning eastward invaded the +country of the Philistines. Azotus, which was +supposed to be safe on account of its maritime +position, and was, in consequence, negligently +guarded, was assaulted with success, and its temples +and altars destroyed, though Gorgias was still in +force at Jamnia, only nine miles to the north. +Several of the smaller Philistine towns were taken +on the return march to Jerusalem; and altogether this +people received a lesson which they were not likely +soon to forget. All this was accomplished with very +little loss. Joel, the priest, however, was killed at +Azotus, where he had recklessly exposed himself in +the attack. +</p> + +<p> +Great as was the popular rejoicing at these victories, +it was nothing to the exultation caused +by the next tidings that reached +Jerusalem—<pb n='281'/><anchor id='Pg281'/>Antiochus, the oppressor, the blasphemer—Antiochus +was dead! +</p> + +<p> +The day after the return of the army a Syrian +runner was caught while endeavouring to make +his way into the fortress through the lines of the +besiegers. He had been sent by Lysias with a +despatch to the commander of the garrison. The +document was of the briefest. It ran thus: +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; center; font-size: small"><q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Lysias, the Governor, to the most valiant Eucrates.</hi></q></p> + +<p rend="margin-bottom: 2; margin-left: 2; margin-right: 2; font-size: small"> +<q>Know that our most excellent Lord and King, Antiochus, surnamed +the Illustrious, is dead in Persia. Let the soldiers that are with +you swear allegiance to the son of our departed master by the name +of Antiochus Eupator, which he has taken to himself in remembrance of +the glories of his father.</q><note place="foot">Eupator means <q>Born of a great father.</q></note> +</p> + +<p> +The man, when questioned by Judas and the +council, was able to supplement the bare news of +the King’s death with some interesting details. He +had had some talk with the messenger who had +brought the tidings to Antioch, and had heard all +that was as yet known. His story ran thus: +</p> + +<p> +<q>The King was in Persia when he heard how his +armies had been defeated, not once or twice only, +in the land of Judæa. Great was his rage—so great +that for the space of three or four hours none dared +to come near him. Then he summoned his counsellors +to him, and said, <q>I will destroy this nation +of rebels till there shall be not one of them left,</q> +and giving up all other plans he marched westward +<pb n='282'/><anchor id='Pg282'/>with all his army. But on his way he came to the +city of Elymaïs, where there is a temple, the +treasury of which is reputed to be more wealthy +than any in the whole land of Persia, for it has +never been spoiled within the memory of man. Even +the great Alexander left it untouched, adding also +much of the spoil which he had taken himself. +This temple the father of the King had sought +to plunder; but the people of the city rose against +him, and drove him away. When the King came +to this city he said, <q>Here is another nest of rebels. +Did they not rise against the King, my father? +Verily I will avenge his memory upon them.</q> So +he went into the city, having some five hundred +soldiers with him. And the magistrates received +him with honour. And when he said, <q>I would see +your temple and its treasures,</q> they consented. +<q>Only,</q> they said, <q>it is our custom that no armed +man may come within the precincts.</q> <q>Will you +strip me of my sword?</q> said the King. <q>Not so,</q> +they answered, <q>but your followers must be without +any, and not more than ten in number.</q> When +the King heard this he was greatly wroth, and said +to the magistrates of the city, <q>I will come in +despite of you.</q> So he went, he and his five +hundred, to the square in which the temple stands. +But he found the whole place filled with an armed +multitude, and when he would have forced his way +into the precincts he was beaten back, losing not +<pb n='283'/><anchor id='Pg283'/>a few of his soldiers, and being himself struck on +the head with a stone. After this, whether it was +from his rage, which became more terrible than +ever, or from any other cause, I know not; but the +King was smitten with some disease, and could no +longer ride, as he had been wont, but was carried +in a litter. And they say that the stench of his +wounds was so great that the men who bore the +litter could scarcely endure it, but were changed +continually. So they brought him to Tabol, in the +land of Persia, and there he died, being terribly +tormented with pain. And I heard that when +he was dying, he cried out with a most lamentable +voice repenting him of the wrong that he had done +against the gods in robbing their temples.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Of what did he speak?</q> asked one of the council. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> said the man, <q>that I know not. Some +said that he spoke of this Temple in Jerusalem, and +some that it was the temple in Elymaïs, where men +worship the moon-goddess, that was in his mind. +But more I do not know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Judas rose up in his place and repeated the last +words of that great triumphal chant in which more +than a thousand years before Deborah and Barak +had celebrated the overthrow of another king who +had mightily oppressed the children of Israel. +</p> + +<p> +<q>So let all Thine enemies perish, O Lord, but let +them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth +forth in his might.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="24" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='284'/><anchor id='Pg284'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIV. The Sabbatical Year"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIV. The Sabbatical Year"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE SABBATICAL YEAR.</hi></head> + +<p> +A time was now approaching to which the responsible +leaders of the people looked forward, for +the most part, with great anxiety. This was the +Sabbatical year. During a whole twelve months it +would not be lawful to carry on any offensive war, +or, a far more serious matter, to till the ground. +Debate ran high as to whether the Law could be +observed in its strictness. There were many who +asked, with no little show of reason, <q>Will it be +possible in times so troublous to keep a year of +rest? Moses, when he commanded it, thought of +a people dwelling quietly in a land from which they +had driven out all their enemies. As things are +now, these enemies are about us, and even in the +very midst of us. And then the harvest? Will it +suffice to feed the people, already more than twice +as numerous as in the previous year, and daily +increasing?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='285'/><anchor id='Pg285'/> + +<p> +The answer of the Chasidim was peremptory. +<q>For what,</q> they asked, <q>have we suffered and +fought? For what did the martyrs lay down their +lives—Eleazar the priest, and the mother and her +sons, and Hannah, the wife of Azariah, and others +without number? For what did Mattathias wear +out the remnant of his years? Was it not for the +Law, that it might be kept whole and undefiled? +Might we not have lived in peace, and stood high +in favour with the King, if we had been content to +forsake the law of the Lord our God? And now that +He has given us the victory, and delivered us from +the hand of the heathen, so that we may serve Him +without fear, shall we cast His commandments behind +our backs? Were we not few in number, and +scarcely armed, and yet did He not give into our +hands great armies, well equipped with shield and +sword and spear? Were we not well-nigh perishing +of hunger among the mountains, and did He not +richly supply our needs? Surely the earth is the +Lord’s and the fulness thereof, and, if He will, He +can make that which it bringeth forth of itself to +abound even as the fields which the sower has sowed +and the reaper has reaped?</q> +</p> + +<p> +And the Chasidim had their way, as zealous men +are wont to have it, when they know exactly their +own minds and what they want. The Sabbatical +year was proclaimed. There was to be no labour, +no ploughing or sowing, no tendance of oliveyards +<pb n='286'/><anchor id='Pg286'/>and vineyards. The people were to live simply and +wholly on the bounty of the earth. +</p> + +<p> +The first month of the Sabbatical year itself bore +the name of the Sabbatical month. Into this were +crowded three of the great feasts and celebrations +of the year—the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of +Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. But +the whole year was to be one round of religious +celebrations. To the daily sacrifices in the Temple +were added special services of intercession, praise, +and thanksgiving. Nor did the Temple-worship +alone satisfy the religious wants of the people. The +synagogues were thronged, and that not on the +Sabbath only but on every day of the week. The +Law and the Prophets were read and expounded, +not, we may be sure, without many stirring references +to the events of the day. +</p> + +<p> +All this religious enthusiasm was wanted to support +the people under the hardships of the time. +Provisions, if they did not actually run short, began +to rise in price. Judas and his council did their +best to prevent it; but the selfish instincts of the +possessors of corn could not be overcome; stores +were held back from the market, and the poorer +class, swollen as it was in numbers by the great +immigration of the preceding year from Gilead and +Galilee, began to suffer seriously. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the insolence of the Greek garrison +was increasing daily. The Jewish soldiers contented +<pb n='287'/><anchor id='Pg287'/>themselves, or endeavoured to content themselves, +with repelling attack. This meant, of course, standing +exposed to showers of missiles which they could +not return, and it tried their patience to the uttermost. +Even some of the Chasidim were heard to +murmur that there must be some limits to this +endurance; among the besiegers in general, who +had not risen to the height of Chasidim zeal, a +spirit of discontent was growing up that might well +have become dangerous. +</p> + +<p> +Before long, however, the evil worked its own +cure. One sabbath-day, about the beginning of the +month which we should call November, there was a +great solemnity in the Temple, and the outposts of +the besieging force had been more than usually +weakened. Ruth, with her little Daniel and her +two nieces, was going towards the Temple, escorted +by her husband and Micah, when one of the lower +gates of the fortress was suddenly thrown open, and +a party of Greeks rushed out upon the party. +Seraiah and Micah were both armed, but for some +minutes they had to make head against their +assailants alone. One of the soldiers who had +seized Ruth was promptly felled to the earth by a +blow from Micah’s sword; and Seraiah did similar +execution on another. But the odds were too great +for them. Micah was brought to the ground, and it +was only by desperate efforts that his brother-in-law +could save him from being stabbed as he lay. Ruth, +<pb n='288'/><anchor id='Pg288'/>meanwhile, being left without help, was carried off +to the very gates of the fortress. And then, just +before it was too late, came the longed-for help. +The two girls, who, with their little cousin, had been +some distance behind, ran screaming towards the +Temple, and happily met with their father, who +was just about to change guard at one of the posts. +He and his company ran at the top of their speed +to the scene of the conflict, plunged recklessly +through the missiles which were showered on them +from the fortress, and reached the wall at the same +moment with the ravishers, whose progress was +impeded by the struggles of the captive, for, brave +woman as she was, she never lost her presence of +mind. A few of the party escaped into the fortress, +the nearest gate of which was cautiously opened to +receive them; but the greater number were instantly +put to the sword. Ruth, whose strength broke down +when she knew that she was safe, was carried home, +sorely bruised and half-unconscious. +</p> + +<p> +Judas was profoundly moved when he heard of +this outrage. He had long been chafing under the +restrictions imposed upon his action by his rigid +supporters, and this determined him to break through +them. He had a great affection for Azariah and his +kindred. The men were known to him for their +loyalty and courage, and Ruth as an indefatigable +worker among the sick and wounded. His resolution +was taken, but with the prudence and soundness of +<pb n='289'/><anchor id='Pg289'/>judgment that were habitual to him he was careful +to avoid any appearance of being peremptory or +self-willed. He called to him one of his lieutenants, +who was reputed to be a leader among +the Chasidim. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Micaiah,</q> he said, <q>you remember when a +thousand of our brethren were slain by the heathen, +helpless and unarmed, because it was the sabbath?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I remember,</q> replied the man. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And that it was determined by my father, as +captain of the host, with full consent of all the +princes and priests, that such a thing should happen +no more?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It was so determined.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Think you, then, that there is one law for the +seventh day, and another for the seventh year?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I know nothing, save what I find in the traditions +of the fathers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our fathers had no such experience as we have +had. No, Micaiah, we will not reap nor sow, trusting +that the Lord will feed us. But I see not that +the Law forbids us to strike with the sword when +the heathen seek to carry our wives and our children +into captivity, nor will I lay upon the people a burden +that the Lord has not laid upon them. If I sin in +this matter, let the punishment fall upon me and +upon my father’s house.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Micaiah was not altogether content, but he did not +feel sufficiently convinced to resist. And, indeed, the +<pb n='290'/><anchor id='Pg290'/>character and the exploits of Judas gave an overpowering +weight to any conclusion at which he +arrived. +</p> + +<p> +The next day an assembly of the soldiers was +held, and Judas informed them that operations +would be more vigorously conducted for the future. +The announcement was received with great satisfaction, +even by the stricter partisans of the Law. +The insolence of the garrison was summarily +checked. The sallies on which it ventured were +repulsed so fiercely that they were soon discontinued, +while relays of archers and slingers, +succeeding each other without intermission from +earliest dawn to nightfall, kept the walls clear. +</p> + +<p> +But though this difficulty was surmounted others +not less serious remained. The privations resulting +from the observance of the Sabbatical year were such +as to overtask the endurance of all but enthusiasts. +And, of course, under these circumstances it was +inevitable that the regulations should be evaded. +Huldah, with the children, was wandering one day +among the gardens in the neighbourhood of the city. +They were searching for some fruit for Ruth who +was now making a very slow recovery from the +injuries which she had received. They were at +liberty to go where they pleased, for all right of +property was at an end, at least for the time. But +others had been before them, and it seemed as if +everything had been gathered, even before it was +<pb n='291'/><anchor id='Pg291'/>ripe. They were returning home with but the +scantiest results from this toil when they witnessed +a scene of uproar. Some men had been discovered +by the officers of the chief priests in the unlawful +act of cultivating the ground. They had been +sowing the seeds of some quick-growing plants, +doing it in such an irregular fashion that what +came up might seem to have been chance-sown, but +they had been detected, and were now being led off +in custody, angry and defiant, and loudly condemning +the bigoted folly which, as they said, to carry out +an obsolete enactment, condemned a whole people +to starvation. +</p> + +<p> +A crowd speedily gathered and followed the +officers and their prisoners to the house of one +of the chief priests. Huldah and the children went +with it. The case was tried, in Eastern fashion, in +the open air and in public. The process was short, +for the offenders had been caught in the act, and the +law which they had transgressed was plain. The +defence which they attempted on the plea of +necessity was cut short by the judge. <q>The Word +of God,</q> said he, <q>is of more account than meat +and drink. Take these men,</q> he went on, speaking +to an officer whom we should call the provost-marshal, +<q>and see that they suffer each forty stripes +save one. And you,</q> he added, turning to the +prisoners, <q>know that if you offend again in this +matter you shall be stoned with stones till you die.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='292'/><anchor id='Pg292'/> + +<p> +The men were bound and flogged. That was +a sight which Huldah and the children did not +wait to see; but just as they were reaching their +home the men passed them, furious at the indignity +which they had suffered, and loudly proclaiming +their determination to be revenged. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning they were missing from the +city. A porter at one of the smaller gates was +found tied and gagged. He said that he had been +attacked by a party of men, some of whom could +be identified by his description with the sufferers of +the day before. The others were Greeks, apparently +belonging to the garrison. They had surprised him, +taken his keys from him, and had gone—so he +judged from something that he had overheard—on +the road to Antioch. This gave a serious aspect to +the affair. The men had evidently deserted, and +would put all the information that they had at the +service of the enemy. Judas immediately ordered +a pursuit. But though the party that he sent out +was more than once close upon the tracks of the +fugitives it did not succeed in overtaking them. +</p> + +<p> +Time went on. The Feast of the Dedication +came round, and was kept with as much cheerfulness +as the depressed spirits and scanty means of +the people permitted. Spring succeeded winter, +bringing with it in its milder temperature and in +the abundance of its natural growths some alleviations +of the common suffering. But the prospect, +<pb n='293'/><anchor id='Pg293'/>as a whole, was scarcely brighter. It was almost a +relief when tidings reached the city that a struggle +was at hand. It was better, thought many, to die +on the field of battle than to sit still and starve. +And, indeed, death on the battle-field seemed a likely +prospect. Lysias, who had been making his preparations +during the whole of the winter, was now, +it was said, about to set forth. The force which +he had under his command was reported to be +overwhelmingly strong, numbering not less than +120,000 men. It was also said that he had with +him thirty-two war-elephants. The boy-King—Eupator +was not more than nine years old—was +also said to be with him. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="25" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='294'/><anchor id='Pg294'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXV. Reverses"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXV. Reverses"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">REVERSES.</hi></head> + +<p> +Judas met the danger with his accustomed resolution. +He waited in the city till he could be certain +of the road which the invaders were taking. As +soon as he knew that it was from the south that +they were approaching, he collected all his available +force, having for the purpose to raise the siege +of the fortress, and marched forth to meet them. +</p> + +<p> +The fortress of Beth-zur, which was intended to +be the first line in the defence of the capital, was in +danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. Micah +had received, early in the year, a commission to revictual +it, but had found the task one that was difficult, +if not impossible, to execute. There was a positive +scarcity of food, and the scarcity was aggravated as +usual by the practice of hoarding. It was to little +purpose that Micah scoured the country, making +requisitions of grain and other supplies. Some few, +strong in their faith, gave up what they had, and +committed themselves and their children to the +<pb n='295'/><anchor id='Pg295'/>Lord, whose law they were seeking to obey. Others +met the demand with a flat refusal, and at the same +time taunted Micah with the folly of enforcing an +impracticable law in times of such difficulty. Many +met him with the plea of poverty, and their wasted +forms and sunken faces were proof enough that this +plea was genuine. The work, therefore, for all the +zeal that Micah displayed, went on but very slowly, +and, indeed, was not half finished when the advanced +guard of the army of Lysias appeared. Beth-zur +was immediately invested. The engines, of which +Lysias had a large stock, played fiercely upon the +walls, and preparations was made for an assault. +Micah, on the other hand, saw no hope that he +would be able to stand a long siege. The garrison +under his command was not large enough adequately +to man the walls, while it was too large for the +stock of provisions which he had been able to collect. +</p> + +<p> +Under these circumstances his resolution was +soon taken. Before dawn on the second day of the +investment the whole garrison made a desperate +sally. Happily they had no non-combatants to care +for, and as yet no sick or wounded. Fire was set +to the engines. The besiegers, thinking that this +was the object of the attack, and that the garrison +would make their way back into the fortress, when +this had been accomplished, occupied themselves +chiefly in putting out the fire. But Micah had no +intention of returning. He availed himself of the +<pb n='296'/><anchor id='Pg296'/>confusion caused by the burning of the camp, cut +his way with desperate resolution through the +enemy, and succeeded in reaching the camp of Judas +with the larger part of his force. The rest were not +able to follow him, but succeeded in regaining the +fortress, which they continued to hold against the +Greeks. +</p> + +<p> +The camp was at Beth-Zachariah, about nine +miles south from Jerusalem, and on an elevated +position, not less than three thousand feet above the +level of the sea, which commanded the whole of +the neighbouring country. Behind, to the north, +could be seen the towers of Jerusalem, with Bethlehem, +the City of David, in the nearer foreground, +nestling among its oliveyards and vineyards. To +the west lay the plain of Philistia, with the white +cliff of Gath clearly visible in the extreme distance; +to the east could be seen the purple mountains of +Moab. The road from Hebron, by which the Greek +army would approach, crept along the eastern side +of the mountains. From his elevated position Judas +could see the movements of his adversaries while +they were still at a considerable distance. Observing +that they pitched their camp on the further side of +a narrow defile, with the character of which he was +intimately acquainted, he conceived the idea of an +ambush. +</p> + +<p> +He summoned Azariah to his tent and detailed +his plan. Azariah also knew the place well, and +<pb n='297'/><anchor id='Pg297'/>entered into the scheme with enthusiasm—such +enthusiasm, indeed, that Judas felt it necessary to +give him a parting caution. <q>Remember,</q> he said, +<q>if this scheme fails, that you come back to me +immediately. If the ambush should be discovered, +retreat at once. There must be no attack. I cannot +spare a man. We shall want all that we have, if not +more than all, to make head against the thousands +of Lysias.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah promised obedience, and lost no time in +setting out on his errand. Shortly after sunset he +started, having with him a picked force of a thousand +men. Before midnight he had reached the place +fixed upon by Judas, and there, in a hollow half-way +up the side of the hill that formed one side of the +pass, he laid his ambush. +</p> + +<p> +It was an anxious night for the little band. It +was always an accepted maxim in ancient warfare +that it was the most steadfast courage that was +wanted for the ambush. Men who were brave +enough when fighting in the open plain found +their courage fail when they had to lie for hours +watching for the moment of attack, crouched upon +the ground, unable to move and scarcely venturing +to talk. Azariah’s men were brave—indeed they +had been carefully chosen for this very service—but +they were not altogether insensible of the dangers +of their position. They knew, too, and even exaggerated +the strength of the advancing army. As +<pb n='298'/><anchor id='Pg298'/>they talked in whispers during the night, for, as may +be imagined, few could sleep, they spoke of the +chances of the coming day. The elephants, which +had never before been seen on Jewish soil, were +mentioned with special awe. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Strange and terrible beasts they are,</q> said one +man to his neighbour; <q>savage as lions, and many +times larger and stronger.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Is it so?</q> said the other. <q>I heard once from +an Arab, who had been driver of one of these creatures, +that they are marvellously gentle and tame.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Maybe they are by nature; but their drivers +have ways of rousing them to fury before the battle.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How so?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They show them the blood of grapes and +mulberries, and the creatures rage terribly. ’Tis +said that one of them can tread down a whole +company of men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, but ’tis possible, I know, to stand against +them. King Antiochus, father to the madman +whom the Lord smote for his sins, had an array +of them in his army when he fought against the +Romans at Magnesia, but they profited him little. +So Simeon told me—you know the man, the old +Benjamite who took service with the King. The +Romans stood firm in their rank, and threw their +javelins at the beasts’ trunks, and in the end, so +Simeon said, they did more damage to their own +people than to the enemy.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='299'/><anchor id='Pg299'/> + +<p> +<q>The Lord grant that it be so to-morrow.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The sun had just risen when the approach of the +Greek army became visible. And now the vanguard +was almost within striking distance of the ambush +which, to all appearance, was still undiscovered. +Another few steps and they would be immediately +below, at a point where they might be assailed with +disastrous effect. Behind a little rock which was +within a few yards of the pass Azariah knelt, sword +in hand, waiting to give the signal to his men. +Their fears had mostly vanished in the morning +light, and the dreaded elephants did not form part +of the advanced guard. +</p> + +<p> +But just as Azariah was about to give the signal +to charge his quick ear caught the sound of tramping +feet, which seemed to come from some place +above his own position. The next moment he +caught sight, in the slanting rays of the early sun, +of the glitter of helmets and shields. A Greek force, +fully equal in number to his own, was marching in a +direction parallel to the pass but higher up the +mountain-side. Lysias had learnt wisdom from +experience. He no longer despised his enemy, but +credited him with the military skill which, indeed, +he had more than once proved himself to possess. +He had foreseen the ambush, and had sent a force +to guard against the danger. Azariah’s force, though +out of sight of the road, could be seen from the +higher ground, and the Greeks greeted their +appear<pb n='300'/><anchor id='Pg300'/>ance with shouts of laughter. For one moment a +wild desire to charge swept through the mind of the +Jewish captain. He had hoped to blot out by some +brilliant service the remembrance of his former +disaster, and now he had failed again. True, it was +not by his own fault; yet he had failed, and he would +have to go back to Judas empty-handed. A single +word would have sent his men in furious onset +against the foe. Should he say it? Then there +came back to his recollection the gentleness and +forbearance of Judas. He could not disobey such +a leader a second time. He gave the signal to +retreat. His men heard it with disgust; but they +knew that he was acting against his own desire as +much as against theirs, and they obeyed without a +murmur, or, if some of the youngest and fiercest +among them complained of the order, it was only +under their breath that they spoke. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah now made his way to Judas with all the +haste that he could use. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have failed,</q> he said. <q>The heathen seemed +to know of our design beforehand. There could be +no surprise, so I did not attack, but came back to +you at once.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have done well,</q> said Judas, who knew what +a sacrifice the fiery soldier had made. <q>A chance +victory won by disobeying orders is worse than a +defeat.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But Judas, though, as always, he did full justice +<pb n='301'/><anchor id='Pg301'/>to his lieutenant, was much depressed by the failure +of the attempt, and he looked with a gloomy brow +at the approaching host, as it came on in all the +pomp and circumstance of war, the sunlight gleaming +on the banners, the helmets of brass and gold, and +on the long, slanting lines of spear-heads. As it +came nearer the regular tread of the columns and +the clang of arms, with now and then the shrill +voice of a clarion or the deep note of a trumpet +heard above the roar, moved even the stoutest warrior +to something like fear. +</p> + +<p> +Judas followed once more the tactics which he +had so often found successful. To stand on the +defensive was hopeless; his few thousands would +inevitably be trodden down under the feet of this +huge multitude. His only hope was in attack. If +he could but break the line at a single point his +success might be again, as it had been before, the +beginning of a panic, and the great host of Lysias +might melt away as the host of Apollonius had +melted; but the attack must be made while the +enemy were yet upon ground where they had not +space to make full use of their numbers. He charged +with his accustomed fury before the vanguard of +the enemy had emerged into the open. For a time +it seemed as if his audacity was to be successful. +The hostile army reeled under the shock of the +patriots’ furious charge. In two or three places it +broke. But there was in reserve a second line of +<pb n='302'/><anchor id='Pg302'/>veterans, the steadiest and best troops that could +be found in the Syrian armies, for Lysias knew by +this time that none but the very best could stand +against Judas and his Ironsides. And then the +numbers were overpowering. Step by step the +Jewish column was forced back. They left six +hundred of the enemy dead on the field behind +them; but the attack had failed. +</p> + +<p> +Then, as the Greek army deployed upon the open +ground which the retreat of the Jews left open to +them, the elephants came upon the scene—the +<q>huge, earth-shaking beasts,</q> which even the hardiest +warrior could hardly see for the first time without +some sinking of heart. Each animal was accompanied +by picked bodies of horse and foot. Each +carried a tower from which skilful marksmen, whose +accurate aim was greatly helped by their elevated +position, hurled missiles upon the ranks of the +foe. The creatures themselves seemed to share in +all the fury of the battle. They trumpeted loudly +and furiously; at the bidding of the Indian drivers +who were perched upon their necks they seized +soldiers from among the Jewish ranks with their +trunks, whirled them aloft, and then dashed them +down, mangled and lifeless corpses, upon the +ground. +</p> + +<p> +Then was done one of the heroic acts which stand +out conspicuously on the pages of history. Eleazar, +one of the Maccabee brothers, saw how his +country<pb n='303'/><anchor id='Pg303'/>men were being demoralized by the terror of these +strange adversaries, and felt that it was a crisis that +called for personal devotion. One of the elephants +was conspicuous among the rest, not only for its +superior size but for the splendour of its equipment. +He felt sure that it must be the one that carried +the boy-King himself. Immediately his resolve was +taken. He made his way, striking furiously right +and left, and dealing death with every blow, through +the Syrian ranks, crept under the huge beast, and +dealt him a mortal wound. Like another Samson, +he perished by his own success. The creature fell +with a suddenness that gave him no opportunity of +escape, and he was crushed to death by its weight. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Death of Eleazar.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_327"/><figure url="images/i_327.jpg" rend="w80"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Death of Eleazar"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Death of Eleazar.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Death of Eleazar</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The hero did not accomplish his object, to rally +his countrymen. One might rather say that +their panic was heightened by the fall of one of +the heroic brothers, a son of the great house to +which they owed their liberty. But his deed was +not forgotten. The fourth of the Maccabee brothers +lived in the history of his people as Eleazar Avaran—Eleazar +<q>the Beast Slayer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But the battle was lost beyond all hope. The +only thing left for Judas was to save as much as he +could out of the wreck. He sounded the signal for +retreat, drew off his men in good order, and, making +his way back as rapidly as possible to Jerusalem, +threw himself into the Temple fortress, resolved to +stand a siege. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="26" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='304'/><anchor id='Pg304'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVI. Light out of Darkness"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVI. Light out of Darkness"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.</hi></head> + +<p> +For a time the prospects of the patriots seemed dark +indeed. Beth-zur had fallen, and the only hope +of the cause was in the Temple fortress. This was +fiercely assailed by the garrison of the Greek stronghold +of Mount Zion on the one side, and, on the +other, by the army which had been victorious at +Beth-Zachariah, and which now occupied the Lower +City. The Temple fortress was strong; it was +fairly well supplied with munitions of war; and the +garrison was large—indeed, almost too large for the +accommodation of the place. The fatal weakness +of the position was the scanty supply of provisions. +Only water was abundant, for the unsparing toil of +former generations had provided for this want; had +it not been for this the resistance of the garrison +must very soon have come to an end, for food was +scarce—so scarce, indeed, that the strength of the +fighting men could hardly be maintained by the +in<pb n='305'/><anchor id='Pg305'/>sufficient rations which were doled out to them, +while the few non-combatants received barely enough +to keep body and soul together. +</p> + +<p> +The condition of the Jewish population of the +city was not as bad as might have been expected. +The cruelties of the days of Apollonius and Philip +were not repeated; for Lysias, who, as guardian of +the boy-King, was practically supreme, favoured a +policy of conciliation, and did his best to repress +outrage. Indeed he sanctioned the establishment +of what may be called a municipal guard or militia, +which, while under obligation to give no assistance +to the garrison of the Temple, was permitted to +protect the peaceful inhabitants of the city. This +guard was under the command of Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +There was much, of course, that it was difficult +for those to bear who looked to Judas and his +brothers as the hope of Israel. Menelaüs had +returned, and with him a whole troop of renegade +Jews, whose insolence and impiety sorely tried the +patience of the faithful population. And the scarcity +of food was only less severe in the city than it was +in the fortress. +</p> + +<p> +For some time Seraiah’s own household continued +to receive mysterious supplies from some unknown +source, which made them far more comfortable than +their neighbours. Once a week, or even oftener, they +would find a bag of corn or flour, a basket of dried +grapes or other fruits, a bundle of salt fish, a string +<pb n='306'/><anchor id='Pg306'/>of doves or wood-pigeons, put in an outhouse, nor +could they guess who their benefactor could be. +But when this had gone on for nearly two months, +the secret came out. Seraiah, returning from his +military duties at an early hour in the morning, and +entering by a little postern gate in order to avoid +disturbing the household, saw a man drop from the +garden wall. He seized him by the arm, and the +stranger, turning sharply round, revealed the well-known +features of Benjamin. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What do you here?</q> he asked. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am come on an errand of my own,</q> answered +the robber. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But in my house?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ask no more questions,</q> said the man; <q>but +take my word—and I would not lie to you for all the +kingdom of Antiochus—that I mean no harm to you +or yours.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A thought flashed across Seraiah’s mind. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is you, then, who have been bringing us, week +after week, these supplies of food?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Benjamin said nothing. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I adjure you by God that you answer me,</q> said +Seraiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, if you will know it, it is I who have done +it. Why should not God use a man’s hands to feed +His servants, as well as a raven’s beak?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell me—how did you come by these things?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>In various ways.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='307'/><anchor id='Pg307'/> + +<p> +<q>Lawfully?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, I can hardly say; you and I might not +agree about the matter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell me—did you buy them with your money?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay; that is not my way. I do not buy or +sell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you stole them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I told you that we should not agree. But this I +know, that they to whom they belonged could do +without them better than you and your children.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Benjamin,</q> said Seraiah, <q>you mean well, and I +thank you. But after this bring no more of these +gifts, for I cannot receive them. I would not have +my Judge say to me, <q>When thou sawest a thief, +thou consentedst unto him.</q> I had sooner die of +hunger—aye, and what is far worse, see my children +die—than take that which has not been lawfully +acquired.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>As you will have it,</q> said Benjamin; <q>if there +were more like you, mayhap I should have been a +better man. But meanwhile, the world being what +it is, you and yours will have a hard time of it;</q> +and he turned to go away. <q>And the captain,</q> he +went on—<q>how does he fare? I hear that things +are not going well with him. ’Tis a thousand pities, +for a braver man never handled sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Seraiah told him briefly the story of recent events, +and described the present condition of affairs, the +other listening with an eager attention, and breaking +<pb n='308'/><anchor id='Pg308'/>in now and then with an exclamation of wonder and +admiration. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come, Benjamin,</q> he said, when he had finished, +<q>why will you not throw in your lot with us? +Things look dark just now; but they will brighten. +He who has helped us so far will not desert us +now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sir,</q> said the man, <q>I would gladly follow the +captain, whether he led me to life or to death. No +man could ask a better lot than to be his soldier. +But I like not all that are with him. They are over-strict, +and make no allowance for such as have not +their zeal. Once they beat me; another time they +had stoned me to death but that I slipped out of +their hands; and both for some miserable trifles +which no man of sense would care about. No, sir; +Judas I honour and love, but these bigots who give +a man no peace I cannot away with. And now the +day is beginning to break, and I must go. I am +sorry that you will not take my poor gifts.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The next moment he had disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +And now came a time of grievous trouble for Ruth +and her young charges, for she had naturally taken +charge of Azariah’s two daughters. She did not +question her husband’s refusal to share any longer +the illicit gains of Benjamin, but she could not shut +her eyes to the fact that the children were suffering +grievously. For herself she could endure, as women +can; the girls, too, were old enough to understand +<pb n='309'/><anchor id='Pg309'/>the cause of their suffering, though they could not +enter into the reasons of what seemed so strange an +observance—the Sabbatical year; but little Daniel +was too young to know much beyond the fact that +he was always terribly hungry, and though he was +often brave enough to check his crying when he saw +how it distressed his mother, there were times when +the pangs of hunger were more than he could bear +in silence. Poor Ruth denied herself everything but +the few scraps that were absolutely necessary to +keep body and soul together, and her physical weakness +did not make it easier to keep up her hope and +courage. Her hardest task, perhaps, was to hide, as +far as it was possible, the true state of things from +her husband. His strength must be kept up, for so +much depended upon it; but the children, not to +speak of herself, had to have their scanty share +diminished that it might be so. This, of course, he +was not allowed to know, and Ruth was at her wits’ +end again and again to keep it from him. +</p> + +<p> +Within the Temple fortress, meanwhile, things +had become almost desperate. A few shekels’ weight +of flour was given out to each man daily, for Judas +insisted that all should share alike. That even +this scanty allowance might hold out the longer, +numbers of the garrison made their escape every +night under the cover of darkness that the remainder +might prolong their resistance for yet a few days +more. +</p> + +<pb n='310'/><anchor id='Pg310'/> + +<p> +Before long came a time when absolutely nothing +was left. <q>Their vessels were without victuals,</q> +and Judas and the few that still remained with him +met to hold a final deliberation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My friends,</q> said the great captain, <q>you see +the straits into which we are brought. There is no +need to tell you of them, or to prove by words what +we all know too well in fact. What, then, shall +we do? Shall we stay here and perish slowly by +hunger, or shall we fall upon our swords, or shall we +sally forth from the gates, and, having slain as many +of the heathen as we may, so perish ourselves? I +had hoped that the Lord would give deliverance to +Israel by my hand, and by the hand of my brothers. +But if it be not so, His will be done. For He is not +shut up to do that which it pleaseth Him by one +man or another. He can call whomsoever He will, +and give him strength for the work.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He paused for a moment, and Azariah broke in, +<q>It is well said, O captain of the host. The Lord +hath helped His people hitherto, and He will help +them to the end. Only let us trust in Him, for</q>—and +here, with an impetuous gesture, he struck +his foot upon the rock—<q>they that put their +trust in the Lord shall be even as this mountain, +which may not be removed, but standeth fast for +ever.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Judas was just rising to announce his resolve +when the sound of a trumpet was heard at the gate +<pb n='311'/><anchor id='Pg311'/>of the fortress. It was a herald bringing a message +from the young King. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have you aught to say to me in private?</q> asked +Judas, when the man was brought in. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> he answered; <q>my message is one that +all may hear.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He then delivered it, reading the words from a +parchment which he carried in his hand, and which +bore the sign-manual (an impression of the seal-ring +dipped in ink) of Antiochus Eupator, as well as that +of Lysias. They ran thus: +</p> + +<p> +<q>Antiochus, surnamed Eupator, King of Syria +and Egypt, offers to the people of the Jews peace +and friendship. He permits them to worship God +after the manners and customs of their fathers, and +he hereby revokes all the edicts which the King, +his father, having been misinformed by unfaithful advisers, +issued against the said nation of the Jews.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Never was there a more surprising, a more unexpected +change in the position of affairs. But it +might have been foreseen by those who had watched +with a full knowledge of the truth, the recent course +of events. +</p> + +<p> +Despatches had reached Lysias from Antioch +which convinced him that he and his young charge +had enemies to reckon with who would be far more +formidable than Judas and his followers. Philip had +returned from Persia with the host of Epiphanes, +and had assumed the management of affairs, and +<pb n='312'/><anchor id='Pg312'/>Philip was a dangerous rival. Were he to prevail, +his own position as the chief adviser of the King +would be untenable; and the King himself would +very probably be dispossessed by some other +claimant to the throne. +</p> + +<p> +He laid the case, or at least so much as it was +necessary to explain, before the boy-King. The lad, +who was indeed intelligent beyond his years, at once +acquiesced in the advice, that easy conditions of +peace should be offered to the garrison. +</p> + +<p> +Then an assembly of the soldiers was summoned. +All the officers were invited by name, and, after the +usual fashion of such gatherings, as many of the +men as could crowd into the chambers were also +present. To them Lysias said nothing about the +news from Antioch, which it would be better, he +thought, to conceal as long as possible; but he +dwelt on the useless hardships which they were all +enduring. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Famine and the pestilence are upon us,</q> he +said, <q>and we decay daily. But the place to +which we lay siege is strong, and we are no nearer +to the taking of it than we were six months since. +Now, therefore, let us offer to these men, who are +neither robbers nor murderers, peace and liberty, +that they may worship God after their own fashion, +and live by their own laws. For, of a truth, it is +far better, as many of yourselves know, that they +should be our friends than our enemies.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='313'/><anchor id='Pg313'/> + +<p> +An unanimous shout of approval was the answer; +and hence the message which came so opportunely +to Judas and his followers in the very crisis of their +despair. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="27" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='314'/><anchor id='Pg314'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVII. A Peaceful Interval"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVII. A Peaceful Interval"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A PEACEFUL INTERVAL.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was one of the stipulations of the peace offered +by the young Antiochus, and accepted by Judas, +that the King should be admitted with due ceremony +into the surrendered fortress. It was to be a formal +acknowledgment of his authority, but nothing more. +No change, it was understood, was to be made; the +King and his attendants were not to go beyond the +court which it was lawful for the Gentiles to enter. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow, accordingly, the boy-King came +with a splendid procession of nobles and officers. +In front marched a company of soldiers, picked from +the whole army for their beauty of feature and commanding +stature, and gorgeous with their gilded +arms. Then, in the order of their dignity, came the +high officers of state; last, the young monarch himself, +the Governor Lysias leading him by the hand. +</p> + +<p> +The approach to the Temple was thronged by a +crowd of eager spectators, none of whom were more +profoundly interested in the sight than the little +Daniel, with his cousins, Miriam and Judith. The +<pb n='315'/><anchor id='Pg315'/>child’s fancy had been caught by all that he had +heard of the young prince. It seemed strange to +him, almost beyond belief, that a lad, a little older, +it was true, than himself, but younger than Miriam, +should have power to do so much harm. <q>Mother,</q> +he said one day to Ruth, <q>why does God let him +hurt so many people? It is all his doing that the +brave soldiers are shut up in the Temple, and that +we have so little to eat. Will he not be punished for +it some day? I suppose, as he is a king, nobody +can punish him except God. But He will, won’t +He, mother?</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: <hi rend='italic'>The Boy King.</hi>]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="i_341"/><figure url="images/i_341.jpg" rend="w100"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Boy King"/> +<head><hi rend='italic'>The Boy King.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Boy King</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +Then came the unexpected news of the peace; +and nothing would satisfy little Daniel but that he +must see the boy-King received in the Temple. +Eagerly did the child watch him as he walked in his +little suit of armour, which the most skilful artizans +in Antioch had made so light as not to be too much +for his strength, and great was his delight when +Eupator, catching a sight of his eager face, kissed +his hand to him with a pleasant smile. That smile +he never forgot, though it is true that his old anger +against the young king returned next day almost +as vehemently as ever when he heard that orders +had been given that the ramparts of the Temple +fortress were to be broken down, and that the +Greek soldiers, anxious to depart, had begun the +work of destruction the very hour at which the edict +had been published. +</p> + +<pb n='316'/><anchor id='Pg316'/> + +<p> +Though this breach of faith was a great blow to +the patriots, still they had much to console them. +In the first place, to their intense relief, the Greek +army marched away, and the Holy City was no +more defiled by the presence of the heathen. Then +the renegade Menelaüs, whom every faithful Jew +hated with a more bitter hatred than he felt for the +heathen themselves, went away, but not of his own +free choice, with the King. Lysias had an honest +man’s dislike for a traitor, and indeed did not scruple +to say that this impostor, who was neither good Jew +nor real Greek, had done more than any one else to +cause the recent troubles. +</p> + +<p> +Not less welcome was the end of the Sabbatical +year. This of itself would not, of course, have +relieved the pressure of scarcity; but there was +help from without which before had not been +available. Hitherto the Jews had been under a +ban; they were enemies of the Syrian King, and +none who desired to be his friends would have any +dealings with them. Now all was changed. The +ban was removed. The people were in favour with +Eupator and Lysias. A brisk trade commenced, and +supplies of food came in abundance. With good +heart and hope the people set themselves to their +work. From being a city of mourning Jerusalem +became gay and cheerful. +</p> + +<p> +The general gladness culminated in the Feast of +Tabernacles, always the most joyous of Jewish +<pb n='317'/><anchor id='Pg317'/>festivals, and now celebrated with special manifestations +of delight. Never had the people felt so keenly +the pleasure of seeming at least to return to the +simple life of earlier times, the rustic enjoyments of +a nation that had not yet learnt to dwell in cities. +It was the ordinance that for seven days the Israelite +should dwell, not in his house, but in a booth of +boughs. For days waggon-loads without number of +the boughs of the olive, the palm, the pine, the +myrtle, and other trees which had a foliage sufficiently +thick for the purpose, were brought into +the city. When a house had a roof of a convenient +size and situation, the booth was built +upon it; in many cases it was set up in the court. +Those who had come from elsewhere to share in the +festival set up their booths in the court of the +Temple, in the street of the Water Gate, and in the +street of the Gate of Ephraim. It was a beautiful +sight at any time, and now the fresh foliage hid +the scars of many a grievous wound that had been +inflicted during the years of desolation. +</p> + +<p> +Every day, at the time of the morning sacrifice, +each Israelite, gaily dressed in holiday attire, made +his way to the Temple. Each carried in one hand +a bundle of the same branches that were used in the +building of the booths, and in the other a fruit of +the citron tree. When all the company was assembled, +and the parts of the victim had been laid upon +the altar, a priest was seen approaching with a +<pb n='318'/><anchor id='Pg318'/>golden ewer in his hand. He had filled it at the +pool of Siloam, and he brought it into the court +of the Temple through the Water Gate. The +trumpets sounded as he came in and ascended the +slope of the altar. On each side of this were two +silver basins; into that on the eastern side he +poured the sacred water; while another priest +poured wine into that on the western. Then the +<q>Hallel</q><note place="foot">Psalms cxiii.-cxviii.</note> was sung; when the singers came to the +words, <q>O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is +good, because His mercy endureth for ever,</q> each +Israelite shook his bundle of branches; he did it +again when they sang, <q>Save, Lord, I beseech Thee, +O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity;</q> +and a third time at the words, <q>O give +thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His +mercy endureth for ever.</q> In the evening there was +a grand illumination. Eight lamps, so large and so +high that they sent their light over nearly the whole +of the city, were set up in the court of the Temple, +while many of the people carried flambeaux in their +hands. Meanwhile a company of Levites, standing +on the steps of the Court of the Women, chanted to +the music of cymbal and the harp the fifteen <q>Songs +of Degrees.</q><note place="foot">Ibid. cxx.-cxxxiv.</note> +</p> + +<p> +These were the public rejoicings; the private +festivities were on the most liberal scale. Never did +<pb n='319'/><anchor id='Pg319'/>the maxim that he who fails to contribute according +to his means to the general joy is a sinner above +other men meet with a more hearty acceptance. +</p> + +<p> +Azariah with his daughters and little Daniel +were watching the ceremonies of the last and +greatest day of the feast from the roof of the +Governor’s house, where they were joined by Micah +and by Joseph, who, it will be remembered, had shared +with him the disastrous command of the city during +the absence of Judas in Gilead. Joseph was exultant; +Micah’s face was grave and even sad. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Thank the Lord, Azariah,</q> cried Joseph, <q>for +He has dealt with the traitor after his deservings.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Whom mean you?</q> asked Azariah; <q>for we +have had more traitors here than one.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Whom should I mean but Menelaüs, the false +priest who sat in Aaron’s seat?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what has befallen him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The King has caused him to be put to death. +He was in little favour when they took him home, +for Lysias said that he had wrought all the mischief +that had been done. And when they came to +Antioch the matter of Oniah was brought against +him, for there were many who loved the old man, +and had taken it ill that his death had not been fully +avenged. And when the young King heard the +story, Menelaüs being present, and having nothing to +say against it, he cried, <q>I wonder that the King, my +father, suffered this murderer to escape, but he shall +<pb n='320'/><anchor id='Pg320'/>not go unpunished any more. Take him, and cast +him alive into the Tower of Ashes.</q> So they took +him and did as the King had commanded.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what is the Tower of Ashes?</q> asked the +little Daniel, who had been listening to this conversation +with a sort of terrified interest. +</p> + +<p> +Micah answered his question. <q>At Berea is a +tower, the bottom of which is full of ashes, and in +the tower is a machine which revolves and plunges +the criminal who is bound to it deep into the ashes +until he is smothered. But as for this unhappy man, +the Lord have mercy upon him!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Joseph turned fiercely upon him. <q>I marvel,</q> he +said, <q>that you should pray for this fellow, who +was worse than the heathen. He has but had his +deservings.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where should I be, if I had had mine?</q> +answered Micah. <q>I walked in the same way with +this Menelaüs, and sinned against the Law, even as +he sinned, and but that God had mercy upon me, +surely I had come to the same end.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Don’t be sorry, uncle,</q> said the boy, holding up +his little face for a kiss; <q>I am sure that God has +forgiven you, for He knows how bravely you have +fought for Him, and how many of the heathen you +have killed with your sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>May it be so, dear child! But though He +has forgiven me, yet I must reap as I have +sown.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='321'/><anchor id='Pg321'/> + +<p> +<q>And who shall be high priest in this traitor’s +place?</q> asked Joseph, after a pause. <q>For Oniah, +the son of him that was slain at Antioch, is in the +land of Egypt, and he takes part with the unfaithful +brethren who would build another Temple among the +temples of the heathen, leaving the place which the +Lord has chosen to set His name there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And if the House of Zadok have perished, why +should not Judas, son of Mattathias, be high priest?</q> +said Azariah. <q>He is of a principal house among +the sons of Aaron, and the Lord has been with him +always.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Joseph had never forgiven Judas for his own +disaster. His was one of those mean natures that +justify the saying, <q>The injured may forgive, the +injurer never.</q> The captain had treated him with +the same generous kindness which he had showed to +Azariah, but this kindness had not been received in +the same temper. On the contrary it rankled in +his mind, till by a strange, yet not uncommon, perversion +of feeling, it had produced a positive sense +of injury. He now broke out: +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, nay, my friend, you say too much. That +he has won victories I deny not; but was the Lord +with him when he fled before the face of the heathen +at Beth-Zachariah, or when Beth-zur was yielded +up to Lysias, or when we had well-nigh perished +with famine in the siege, or when the King broke +down the ramparts of the Temple? Not so: +what<pb n='322'/><anchor id='Pg322'/>ever the people may shout or sing in his praise, he +too has known defeat, even as we have.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This I know,</q> said Azariah, <q>that whereas we +were trodden underfoot by the heathen till there was +no life left in us, now we are risen and stand upright.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And how long, think you,</q> returned Joseph, <q>will +it be so with us? Did we drive away the King, or +did he not rather depart of his own accord, because +of what he and his counsellors had heard of the +doings of Philip? And will he not return, and the +end be worse than the beginning?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Azariah answered, with some heat, <q>As for that +which may happen hereafter, I say nothing. These +things are in the hand of God. But that the young +Antiochus departed to his own land was, I doubt not +at all, of the Lord’s doing. Why, even this child +knows the story of Sennacherib, and the words +which Isaiah the prophet spoke to Hezekiah when +the King was faint-hearted, and could not see how +there should be any deliverance for Israel. Did +not the prophet say, <q>He shall hear a rumour, and +shall return unto his own land?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +Joseph said nothing. With all his meanness and +littleness he was a patriot, and really loved his +country; and it went against his heart and conscience +to prophesy evil against her. +</p> + +<p> +Then the little Daniel startled them all by saying, +with flashing eyes, <q>And I will cause him to fall by +the sword in his own land.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="28" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='323'/><anchor id='Pg323'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVIII. Hopes and Fears"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVIII. Hopes and Fears"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">HOPES AND FEARS.</hi></head> + +<p> +A few weeks after the conversation recorded in the +last chapter, Ruth was hearing her little boy repeat +the Commandment when Seraiah came in, carrying +in his hand an open letter. +</p> + +<p> +<q>There is news from Syria,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And is it good or bad?</q> asked his wife. +</p> + +<p> +<q>That I can hardly say,</q> was Seraiah’s reply. +At the same time he signalled to his wife that she +should take the child out of the room. The signal, +however, was too late. The quick-witted little +fellow had heard what had been said, and immediately +jumped to the conclusion that something +had been heard about the boy-King. His mind +was occupied, it might almost be said, day and +night with the thought of the young Eupator. He +scarcely knew whether he hated or loved him; +but the brilliant figure of the lad had caught his +imagination. He lived, as imaginative children often +will, a sort of second life in thinking of him. +</p> + +<pb n='324'/><anchor id='Pg324'/> + +<p> +<q>Oh! father,</q> he now cried, <q>I am sure that you +have something to tell me about the boy-King. Is +he coming here again? I should like to see him, +though he did break his promise so shamefully.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My boy,</q> said his father, <q>you will never see +him again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh! Why?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He is dead. This letter tells me all about him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The boy burst into a passionate fit of tears, which +all his mother’s caresses and attempts at consolation +were for some time unable to stop. When the +violence of his grief had spent itself he said— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh! father, tell me about him. Were they very +cruel to him? And how did it happen? I thought +that kings killed people, but I did not know that +any one could kill them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Listen, my child, and I will try to explain it +to you. The father of Eupator, the boy who is just +dead, was not rightfully King. He came after his +elder brother, and this elder brother had a son +named Demetrius, who ought to have succeeded +his father. But this son had been sent to Rome +as a hostage.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What do you mean by a hostage, father?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>When you are going to trust some one about +whom you do not feel quite sure, you take something +from him that he values very much, and say, +<q>You will lose this unless you behave well.</q> So +Demetrius’s father gave his son to the Romans +<pb n='325'/><anchor id='Pg325'/>to keep, and the Romans were sure that as long +as they had the child his father would not do anything +that they did not like. Well, as I told you, +Demetrius was sent to Rome to be security for +his father’s good behaviour, and there he lived +all the time that Antiochus, whom they called +Epiphanes, was King. And when Epiphanes died +Demetrius asked the Romans to let him go, that +he might claim the kingdom which, he said, belonged +to him and which his cousin Eupator was +too young to be able to govern. But they would +not let him go, and I have been told that Lysias +bribed some of the chief men among them, and +these persuaded the rest. At last he got tired of +waiting for leave, and he ran away from Rome +without it, and landed at a place called Tripolis, +not very far from Antioch, with only twenty or +thirty men with him. But as soon as ever the +soldiers at Antioch heard of his coming, they +declared that they would have him for their King.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But why?</q> put in Daniel. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, if they did not know much that was +good about him, they knew nothing that was bad. +Anyhow they all rose in his favour; and they +seized the young King and Lysias the Governor and +brought them to him, and asked him what they +should do with them. He would not say, <q>Kill +them,</q> for, after all, the little boy was his cousin, +and had not done him any harm. And he did not +<pb n='326'/><anchor id='Pg326'/>like to say, <q>Keep them alive,</q> for he was afraid +that his cousin might some day have his throne; +so he only said to the soldiers, <q>Take care that +they do not see my face.</q> So the soldiers—they +were the young King’s own guard—took him and +killed him, and Lysias with him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When he had heard this the child allowed his +mother to take him away. He saw that his father, +usually so calm, was anxious and troubled, and, wise +with a wisdom beyond his years—the fruit of the +troubled life which he and his had been leading—would +not ask him any more questions. But that +night, when his mother came to give him the last +kiss before he went to sleep, he had many things to +say to her. Poor little fellow! he had seen many +terrible sights, which all his parents’ care could not +keep from his eyes, and had heard of many more, +and he could not help asking again, <q>Did they hurt +him very much?</q> and when she had comforted him +as best she could on this score, he showed that +there was another trouble in his mind. <q>Oh! +mother,</q> he said, <q>do you remember that when +he ordered the walls of the fortress to be pulled +down, I prayed to God that he might be punished +for breaking his promise? and only the other day, +when Joseph was talking about his coming back, +I said—something in me seemed to make me say +it almost without my knowing—<q>He shall fall by +the sword in his own land.</q> And now he is +<pb n='327'/><anchor id='Pg327'/>punished, for he has fallen by the sword. Do +you think that God listened to me, and did it +because I said these things? But, mother, I did +not hate him very much; sometimes I used to +think I loved him; and oh! it would be dreadful +to think that I had anything to do with his being +killed!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My son,</q> said Ruth, <q>do you remember what +our father Abraham said, <q>Shall not the Judge of +all the earth do right</q>?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, mother, I am sure that He will do right; +and the King did deserve to be punished. But +perhaps his counsellors told him to do it; and +I am sure that if I was told to do something that +was wrong by people that I loved, I should be +very likely to do it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When his mother came to see him some hours +afterwards she found him asleep, but his pillow +was wet with tears, and now and then a little sob +showed how deeply the trouble had entered into +his little heart. +</p> + +<p> +There was trouble in older and wiser hearts +than his. The Jews had hoped much from the +boy-King. His bad faith in the matter of the +Temple fortress they had willingly put down to +evil counsellors, and they could not forget that +he had given them terms, good beyond all their +hopes, when they were in the last extremity. The +death of Lysias was a more serious loss. He was +<pb n='328'/><anchor id='Pg328'/>the pacificator; to his influence they ascribed the +conciliatory policy of the young Antiochus. And +now he was gone. Would his death be the signal +of a change? Would Demetrius go back to the +ways of the mad Antiochus? or had he learnt +prudence, if not mercy, from his sojourn among the +Romans and the bitter experience of an exile? +</p> + +<p> +Opinion was divided. Some hoped, some feared; +but all were resolved that they would never give +way, that they would defend to the last drop of +their blood the freedom which they had won. +Azariah, whose temper of mind had gathered a +certain gloom from the unhappy experiences of his +life, took a desponding view of the situation. +Micah, on the contrary, was cheerful, and he had +some strong arguments to back him up. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Remember,</q> he said to his brother-in-law one +day, when the subject had been discussed at some +length between them, <q>that I have had opportunities +for forming a judgment which, happily for you, have +not come in your way. I once saw much of these +Greeks—I am ashamed to remember the time, but +still it would be folly not to make use of what +I then learnt—and I am sure that that madman +Antiochus did not represent what they really feel. +You don’t know how they despise all barbarians +as they call them; and, despising them, they are +disposed to let them alone. They don’t want us to +worship their gods; they think that we are not +<pb n='329'/><anchor id='Pg329'/>good enough. But Antiochus was mad with pride +and arrogance, and it is not likely that any one +else should be found to follow his steps. We may +have trouble; indeed I feel sure that we shall; +but depend upon it there will not be another such +attempt as the madman made to stamp out our +religion.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And the tidings that soon after reached Jerusalem +from Antioch seemed to justify this forecast. There +seemed to be trouble ahead, but it was not trouble of +the sort which had brought desolation upon the Holy +City. A deputation from that party among the Jews +which affected Greek habits and Greek practices had +been admitted to the presence of the new King. +They had accused Judas, the son of Mattathias, of +having driven them from their land, and of being an +enemy to the sovereignty of the Greeks. Demetrius +had listened to their representations, and had conferred +the office of high priest on Alcimus,<note place="foot">Alcimus seems to have been an adaptation, not a little remote, +however, from the original, of the Hebrew name Eliakim.</note> the +leader of the malcontents, and had promised to send +a force which would instal him in his office, and at +the same time take vengeance on Judas and the +Chasidim. This force was to be under the command +of Bacchides, one of the most trusted of his +counsellors. +</p> + +<p> +A high priest of the stamp of Menelaüs—for such +Alcimus was known to be—would be anything but +<pb n='330'/><anchor id='Pg330'/>welcome. Probably it would be necessary to resist +him and his proceedings by force. Still things were +not as bad as they might have been. That King +Demetrius should have appointed a high priest at all +showed that he was not bent, as Epiphanes had been, +on extirpating the Jewish faith. With such doubtful +comfort as this assurance could give they were compelled +to be satisfied and to await the development +of events. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="29" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='331'/><anchor id='Pg331'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIX. Civil War"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIX. Civil War"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">CIVIL WAR.</hi></head> + +<p> +The new high priest arrived at Jerusalem, escorted +by a powerful force under the command of Bacchides. +None but absolute renegades were glad to see Greek +soldiers again lording it in the streets of Jerusalem; +but otherwise there was a wide difference of opinion +as to the duty of faithful Jews with regard to the +reception of the stranger. Alcimus and his Greek +companions were loud in their professions of good +will. They intended, they said, nothing but benefits +to the people. All would be well if they were only +received in the same spirit in which they came. +</p> + +<p> +Judas and his brothers received these assurances +with profound incredulity. They and their immediate +followers had thought it prudent to leave the +city. There had been no opportunity of properly repairing +the walls of the Temple fortress, and without +some such stronghold to serve as shelter in case of +need, they would, they felt, be at the mercy of the +<pb n='332'/><anchor id='Pg332'/>Greeks. In the position to which they had withdrawn +there was a hot discussion. Judas, as usual, +urged the counsels of prudence and common sense. +It was easy, he said, to make these professions of +peace and good will—so easy that, without some +substantial guarantee of their sincerity, it would be +madness to risk anything on the strength of them. +Alcimus, or Eliakim—he must own that he did not +like or trust these double-named Jews, for they were +often double-faced also—might be thinking of nothing +but peace; but why did he come with an army behind +him? He might have been sure, sprung as he was +from the race of Aaron, that none of his countrymen +would harm him. Why had he surrounded himself +with a multitude of godless heathen who would be +only too likely to harm them? <q>Let us wait</q>—this +was his final advice—<q>till he and his friends give us +some proof that they really mean what they say.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Chasidim were loud and vehement in their +opposition to this counsel. Joseph, whose bitterness +and jealousy had not been weakened by the lapse of +time, constituted himself their spokesman. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Law,</q> he said, <q>plainly declares that there +shall be a high priest. There are acts, acts of the +highest importance, even necessity, which only he +can perform. Our worship without him is maimed +and imperfect. We cannot expect that there will be +a blessing upon it, that, lacking this essential part, +our sacrifices will be accepted or our prayers heard. +<pb n='333'/><anchor id='Pg333'/>And now we have a high priest that is of the race +of Aaron. He promises—and why should we not +believe him?—that his purposes towards us are for +good and not for evil. Let us go to him, and do him +the honour that is due to his office. If harm come +of it, we shall have at least obeyed the commandment +of God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Judas and his brothers, with such faithful followers +as Seraiah and Micah, stood resolutely aloof, but +they could not control the action of the enthusiasts. +A large body of the Chasidim paid to Alcimus a +formal visit. They welcomed him to the seat of his +office; they paid him their homage; intimating at +the same time that there were grievances for which +they asked redress and abuses which needed reform. +Nothing could have exceeded the show of politeness +and even friendship with which they were received. +Alcimus made the most solemn protestations that +neither they nor their friends should suffer any harm. +He could only regret that unfounded suspicions +had kept away the great soldier who had done so +much for his country and whom he would have had +so much pleasure in welcoming. They were invited +to a banquet, which had been duly prepared, they +were assured, in obedience to the requirements of +the Law, and of which they could partake without +any fear of contracting impurity. +</p> + +<p> +After the banquet there was to be a conference. +The proceedings began, and were continued for some +<pb n='334'/><anchor id='Pg334'/>time without interruption, though Alcimus could +scarcely control his impatience at what he thought +the unreasonable demands of the bigots. Meanwhile +Bacchides, who had hitherto kept himself in the +background, was quietly surrounding the council-chamber +with troops. Joseph was in the midst of an +harangue when the doors were thrown open, a +company of soldiers marched in, and arrested every +member of the deputation. It was now the turn of +Alcimus to retire into the background. He had +served his purpose, acting, it may be said, as a +decoy, and, thanks to him, some of the most inveterate +enemies of the Greek party had been +entrapped. The Greek commander made short work +with his prisoners. Alcimus went through the farce +of interceding for them, but he never expected, and, +perhaps, never intended, to obtain his requests. +Sixty of them were executed on the spot, and the +rest were cast into prison. The bodies of the +victims were hurriedly thrown into carts, drawn outside +the city, and left to be the prey of the vulture +and the wild dog. +</p> + +<p> +The horror and dismay which spread through the +city with the news of the bloody deed were such +as it would be impossible to describe. The victims +were well-known men, and, for the most part, as +much respected as they were known. There was a +frantic rush to do honour to the remains of the +martyred patriots. But Bacchides had foreseen that +<pb n='335'/><anchor id='Pg335'/>this would probably occur, and had surrounded the +place with a cordon of soldiers. The people could +do nothing but stand upon the walls while the birds +and beasts of prey mangled the corpses, and mingle, +in their impotent rage, curses on the murderers, +with lamentations over the dead. In more than one +of their national hymns they found a fitting expression +of their grief; but none was more suitable +to the circumstances of the time than the words of +the seventy-ninth Psalm: <q>The dead bodies of Thy +servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls +of the heaven, and the flesh of Thy saints unto +the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed +like water round about Jerusalem, and there was +none to bury them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The conduct of Judas did not, as may be supposed, +escape censure. It is the first impulse of a multitude +in the presence of some great disaster to throw +the blame upon its rulers, and the Jews, in their +anger and grief, felt and yielded to it. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> said an old man, who had lost a brother +and a son in the massacre, <q>he was too prudent to +trust himself to the heathen; he stood aloof from +their danger, and when they offered themselves up +as a sacrifice, he was not there.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And did he not well?</q> said a zealous partisan. +<q>Did he not warn them and entreat them, and +they took no heed to his words?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But had he and his men of war gone with +<pb n='336'/><anchor id='Pg336'/>them,</q> returned the other, <q>they had not been left +without defence. But now they went as sheep to +the slaughter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What can you look for when the sheep will go +where the shepherd does not lead them? And as +for Judas, did he ever spare his life? Has he not +taken it in his hand time after time, fighting with a +few men against thousands of the heathen? And +tell me now,</q> went on the speaker, <q>to whom +should we have looked for deliverance had Judas +also been slain with these? The Lord has had +mercy upon His people, lest they should be utterly +cast down, and has left unto them their captain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +On the whole, popular opinion was strongly in +Judas’s favour. Then came another turn of events. +The Greek general, weary of his sojourn among a +people that hated him, marched out of Jerusalem, +and encamped in one of the suburbs,<note place="foot"><q>Bezeth,</q> it is called. Possibly it may be identified with Bezetha, +which was afterwards part of the city.</note> where he could +keep his troops better in hand, and not expose them +to the daily risk of collision with a hostile population. +This place, too, he shortly evacuated, returning with +the main part of his army to Antioch, though he +left a small force to support Alcimus, who would +now, he thought, with this help, be able to hold his +own. +</p> + +<p> +But before he went he committed another deed +only less atrocious than the treacherous massacre +<pb n='337'/><anchor id='Pg337'/>of the Chasidim. Every partisan, or supposed partisan, +of Judas whom he could either entrap or seize +was mercilessly slaughtered. Nor did Greeks, who, +from motives of expediency or under pressure of +superior force, had submitted to Judas, escape. +</p> + +<p> +If Bacchides imagined that these cruelties would +strengthen the position of the renegade high priest +he was greatly mistaken. Alcimus was more universally, +more fervently hated than even Jason or +Menelaüs had been. The disappointment caused +by this renewal of troubles was all the more bitter +because it had succeeded to hopes that seemed so +well established. And every one felt that it was +Alcimus who was to blame. His greed and ambition +had disturbed the peace which they were beginning +to enjoy. On his head was all the innocent blood +that had been shed. +</p> + +<p> +And now a new horror was added to all that the +unhappy country had endured. It was no longer +Jew fighting against Greek, but Jew against Jew. +Civil war, always more bitter, more ruthless than the +very fiercest struggle between strangers, broke out. +The renegades rallied to Alcimus. Their interests +were bound up with his cause. Some of them had +committed themselves so deeply that they could not +hope for pardon from the patriots. Others had a +genuine dislike for Jewish severity and a liking for +Greek license, and fought for all that, as they +thought, made life worth living. But the number +<pb n='338'/><anchor id='Pg338'/>of these philo-Greek partisans was but small, and +the popular feeling was unmistakably against them, +and Judas felt himself strong enough to assert his +position vigorously. He was not now a partisan +leader, raising the standard of revolt against established +authority; he was himself the established +authority, justified in punishing all that presumed +to rebel against him. This judicious display of +firmness, of what might even be called severity, +vastly strengthened his position. The waverers +who always go with the strongest, who care little +for principle, but most for self-interest and safety, +when they saw that the sword of Judas was a more +immediate danger to his enemies than the sword of +the Syrian King, hesitated no longer about joining +him. Alcimus found himself deserted by all but a +few desperate partisans. The commander of his +Greek auxiliaries declared himself unable to give +him sufficient help. Accordingly he had no alternative +but to give up the unequal contest, and to +hurry back to Antioch, where he might lay his +complaints before King Demetrius. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="30" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='339'/><anchor id='Pg339'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXX. Nicanor"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXX. Nicanor"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">NICANOR.</hi></head> + +<p> +The complaints which Alcimus carried to the Syrian +King at Antioch were eagerly listened to. Demetrius +was eager, as new rulers frequently are, to +reverse the policy of his predecessor. Eupator had +yielded to the persistency of these obstinate Jews, +but he would show them that it was he and not +they who was master. A new expedition should be +sent, and this pestilent rebel, who, after all, had +been shown not to be invincible, should be extinguished +for ever. There was some doubt as to who +should be put in command; but ultimately the +King’s choice fell upon Nicanor, the same that had +been associated with Gorgias in an earlier campaign. +He had been since promoted to the exalted office of +<q>Commander of the Elephants,</q> and was in high +favour with Demetrius. +</p> + +<p> +Once more Judas found himself obliged to retire +from Jerusalem, where he could not command the +<pb n='340'/><anchor id='Pg340'/>liberty of movement that was necessary for his +safety; but he remained in the neighbourhood, +and watched the development of events. +</p> + +<p> +Nicanor’s first idea was to repeat the treachery of +Bacchides, and to get Judas and his brothers into +his power. A letter, written in studiously friendly +terms, was sent to the Jewish captain, suggesting a +conference, at which the matters in dispute might +easily be settled. Judas was not likely, especially +after recent experience, to fall into the trap; but +nevertheless he did not refuse the invitation. He +came to the conference, but he came with a strong +guard, and not till he had secured such conditions +as seemed to make a treacherous surprise impossible. +The meeting took place. Side by side, on two +chairs of state, sat the two generals, each with their +armed guard within call. On either side was a +barrier, beyond which no one that did not belong +to the stipulated number of attendants was allowed +to pass. The conversation between the two was +friendly and animated. Nicanor’s treacherous +purpose did not prevent him from having a genuine +admiration for the character and achievements of his +great adversary; and the praises which he heaped +upon him were perfectly sincere. But this feeling +did not make him at all less anxious to get this +formidable hero into his power. +</p> + +<p> +Negotiations had not proceeded very far, in fact +had not got beyond the initial stage, when a +pre<pb n='341'/><anchor id='Pg341'/>concerted signal warned Judas that there was danger +at hand. Self-possessed as ever, he showed no sign +of having penetrated his companion’s intention. A +point of some importance was raised by Nicanor, and +Judas intimated that he could not deal with it until +he had consulted his council. Rising from his seat, +without allowing the least indication of disturbance +to be seen in his manner, he bade the Greek general +a courteous farewell, rejoined his guard, and was +soon out of the reach of danger. But when he was +again among his friends, he did not conceal his +feelings. <q>He is a false liar,</q> he said, <q>and, so +long as he lives, I will see his face again no more.</q> +The words were to have a singularly close fulfilment. +</p> + +<p> +Nicanor, finding his attempted fraud unsuccessful, +resolved to try force. He marched against Judas, +who, for military reasons, had retired as far as +Samaria, and gave him battle at Capharsalama. +But the plans of Nicanor were conceived with more +haste than prudence. He delivered his attack under +unfavourable conditions, and received a crushing +defeat in which he lost fully five thousand men. +</p> + +<p> +Thus baffled for a second time, he returned to +Jerusalem in a frenzy of rage. On the day after his +arrival he went, followed by an armed guard, to the +Temple, and forced his way into the Great Court. +It was the time of the morning sacrifice, and the +trembling priests came down from the altar to salute +him. +</p> + +<pb n='342'/><anchor id='Pg342'/> + +<p> +<q>Rebels,</q> he cried, <q>you are praying to your God +that the enemies of the King may prosper.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not so, my lord,</q> said the presiding priest, <q>we +have but this moment offered the customary sacrifice +for the health and welfare of the most excellent +Demetrius.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>These are but words, and I ask for deeds. Let +this pestilent fellow, this Judas, be delivered into my +hands. Thus and thus only shall I know that you +are faithful to my lord the King.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, my lord, you ask that which is impossible. +How can we, that are men of peace, have power to +lay hands upon this man of war?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ask me not how, but do the thing that I command, +or it shall go ill with you and your city.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, my lord, speak not so. Ask that which is +possible, and it shall be done to the uttermost of our +power.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fair words! fair words! But I know well that, +after the manner of your race, for you are the enemies +of all men, you curse me behind my back. Now +listen unto me. You will not deliver this traitor +into my hands——</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priests attempted to speak, but he silenced +them with an imperious gesture. +</p> + +<p> +<q>So be it. Then I will take him by force. And +when I have taken him, and dealt with him after +his deserts, then——</q> he paused for a moment, and +held out his right hand with a threatening gesture +<pb n='343'/><anchor id='Pg343'/>towards the altar—<q>then I will burn this house with +fire; even as the Chaldæans burnt it in the days +of your fathers, so will I burn it. All the gods of +heaven and hell confound me, if I do not burn it, +as a man burns a brand in the fire.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So speaking he turned away, and without deigning +to salute the terrified priests, quitted the precincts of +the Temple. +</p> + +<p> +When he was gone the priests stood weeping and +praying before the altar. <q>O Lord,</q> they said, +<q>for the blasphemies wherewith Thine enemies +blaspheme Thee, reward Thou them sevenfold into +their bosom. Thou didst choose this house to be +called by Thy name, and to be a house of prayer for +Thy people. Avenge Thyself, therefore, of this +man and his host, and cause them to fall by the +sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Nicanor had sent to Antioch for reinforcements, +for he would not fail again for lack of strength or +due preparation, and marching out of Jerusalem, he +awaited their arrival at the western end of the Pass +of Beth-horon. Judas, who, after his victory near +Samaria, had followed his beaten enemy, took up +his position at Adasa, an elevated position about +four miles to the north of Jerusalem. He thus put +himself between Nicanor and the Holy City. But +he had only three thousand men to match against +a force three times as numerous. +</p> + +<p> +The fate of the Sanctuary of Israel now seemed +<pb n='344'/><anchor id='Pg344'/>to be trembling in the balance. If Nicanor was +victorious its doom was sealed. He had vowed, +with all the emphasis of an awful curse upon +himself, that if he came again in peace he would +utterly destroy it. Day after day the women and +the old men left behind were continually in the +Temple, which, perhaps, they might in a few days +see destroyed before their eyes. And when at night +the Temple gates were shut they sought their homes +to fast and to renew in private their prayers for +the deliverance of the Holy Place, and the victory +of the armies of the Lord. +</p> + +<p> +By a notable coincidence the anniversary of a +great danger and a great deliverance was approaching. +Within a few days the Feast of Purim would +be celebrated. Would the time bring with it a fresh +cause for thanksgiving, or a disaster so terrible that +all the deliverances of the past would seem to be +of no <corr sic='avail?"'>avail?</corr> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell us, mother,</q> said little Daniel, one evening +when they had returned from their daily visit to the +Temple—<q>tell us about Mordecai and the wicked +Haman.</q> He knew the story well, but, after the +manner of children, liked it better the oftener he +heard it. +</p> + +<p> +So Ruth told the familiar tale again—how the +wicked Haman, wroth that the honest Mordecai +would not pay him reverence, slandered the whole +nation to the King till he obtained a decree for their +<pb n='345'/><anchor id='Pg345'/>slaughter, how Mordecai went to Esther the Queen, +a Jewess herself, and bade her save her people, +though she risked her own life to do it, how the +wicked Haman was hanged on the gallows which +he had made for his enemy, and the Jews had +license given them by the King to slay their +adversaries in every city of the kingdom of Persia. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And this Nicanor,</q> she went on, when she had +finished her story—<q>this Nicanor is a new Haman. +May the God against whom he has uttered his +blasphemies cast him down and destroy him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the hour of battle was drawing near. +Judas and his little army were bivouacking on the +hills of Adasa. It was the 12th day of the month +Adar—about equivalent to the beginning of March—and +on that high ground the night air was cold and +piercing. Seraiah, Azariah, and Micah were sitting +by a camp-fire, and talking over the chances of the +coming struggle. +</p> + +<p> +It was the eve of the great Purim feast—the +memorial which had been kept now for three +hundred years of the great deliverance which God +had wrought for His people by the hands of +Mordecai and Esther. The thoughts of the comrades +naturally turned to this memorable day. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Where and how,</q> said Micah to his companions, +<q>shall we keep the Purim feast?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shall we keep it at all?</q> said Azariah, always +somewhat disposed to take a gloomy view of their +<pb n='346'/><anchor id='Pg346'/>prospects. <q>A Mordecai we have, none more +steadfast; and there is a Haman against us even +more cruel and wicked than he of Persia. But +Ahasuerus is against us, nor do I see who shall +turn him from his purpose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said Seraiah, with a smile, <q>at least we +can use our swords without his license.</q> +</p> + +<p> +While they were talking they observed a figure +emerge from out the darkness into the circle of +light made by the flames. They rose to their feet, +for it was the captain himself. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Sit down, my friends,</q> he said, <q>we shall be on +our feet enough to-morrow.</q> And as he spoke, he +took his seat on the ground by their side. +</p> + +<p> +He went on, after a few minutes of silence, <q>So +Azariah doubts what sort of a Purim festival we +shall keep. As for myself I doubt not. But I have +been thinking not so much of Mordecai and Haman—though +it seems to me a happy thing that we shall +fight on the day of that deliverance—as of Hezekiah +and Rabshakeh. Did not the king his master send +him to blaspheme the Holy City? And did not +Hezekiah lay the letter before the Lord? And what +was the end? In one night the host of the Assyrians +was as if it had not been. So shall it be, I am persuaded +in my heart, with this blaspheming Nicanor +and his host. He and they shall be utterly destroyed. +Yes, Azariah, we shall keep our Purim +right joyously, after the manner of our fathers. +<pb n='347'/><anchor id='Pg347'/>But as for our enemies, the wine that they shall +drink<note place="foot">Copious draughts of wine were an important part of the customary +celebration of the Purim festival.</note> will be the wine of the wrath of God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He rose with these words, and passed away to +spend the rest of the night in meditation and prayer. +His face next morning, when in the early dawn he +stood in front of his slender line, was as the face of +one who has talked face to face with God. Not less +rapt than his look was the tone of his voice as he +poured out the words of his prayer—<q>O Lord, when +they that were sent from the King of the Assyrians +blasphemed, Thine angel went out and smote an +hundred fourscore and five thousand of them. Even +so destroy Thou this host before us this day, that the +rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously +against Thy Sanctuary, and judge Thou him according +to his wickedness.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A murmur of assent passed through the little army +as he uttered these words in that clear, thrilling +voice which was one of his many gifts as a born +leader of men. The next moment the line advanced, +for Judas followed again the successful tactic of +attack. Never had his Ironsides advanced with a +more determined courage; never did they deal fiercer +blows. The enemy were scattered by their impetuous +onset, as the dust is scattered before the wind. +For all his brutality and falsehood, Nicanor was no +coward. He stood in the very van of his army, +<pb n='348'/><anchor id='Pg348'/>giving such cheer as he could to his men, and +though the lines behind him reeled and shook +with that movement which is the sure presage of +defeat to a soldier’s eye, at the approach of the +Chasidim, he stood his ground with a dauntless +courage. He was almost the first to fall, Azariah +striking him to the ground with a sweeping blow of +his sword. It was an appropriate ending to the +blasphemer that he should receive his death-stroke +from the weapon that bore the talisman of the Holy +Name. +</p> + +<p> +The Greek line had been already beginning to +break, but the death of the leader completed the +rout. +</p> + +<p> +It was no common victory that Judas won that +day. The pursuit was long and bloody. The beaten +army fled in wild disorder over the country, only to +find enemies on every hand. Before the sun set it +was simply annihilated. The tradition of that awful +slaughter still lingers in the place, and the valley is +called <q>The Valley of Blood.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Their work done, the conquerors entered the city. +The news of the great deliverance had already +reached it, and the Feast of Purim was being kept +in earnest. During the earlier part of the day the +suspense and anxiety had been too great to admit of +anything more than formal rejoicing. The customary +sacrifices were offered, the customary prayers put +up; but the thoughts of all were with Judas and +<pb n='349'/><anchor id='Pg349'/>his men on the battle-field of Adasa. Then came +rumours, at first wholly vague and even fictitious—rumours +first of victory, then of defeat, then of +victory again. An hour or so after noon a swift +runner came in with some authentic tidings. But +he could not tell of all that happened. This was +gradually learnt, and then, long after the darkness +had closed in, came the advanced guard of the +conquering army, and, close upon midnight, Judas +himself. In spite of the darkness, multitudes +thronged to meet him. With extravagant manifestations +of delight, with shouting and singing, with +mingled tears and laughter, they welcomed him +home, the deliverer of the city and the Temple. +Never before had he been so enthusiastically +received. And it was well that it should be so, +for this was his last return as a conqueror. +</p> + +<p> +The feast was continued with yet more hearty +rejoicing into the next day. And indeed from +thenceforth the two deliverances were to be celebrated +together—the salvation which Judas had +wrought for his people on the battle-field of Adasa, +and that which Esther and Mordecai had accomplished +in the presence-chamber of the Persian +King. +</p> + +<p> +Ruth would gladly have stayed at home and +expressed thankfulness in private, but the children +were urgent with her that she should take +them into the streets that they might see the people +<pb n='350'/><anchor id='Pg350'/>keep holiday. It was a request that, as the wife +and sister of patriots, she could not refuse; and in +the depth of her mother’s heart was the proud +thought that the little Daniel was not an unworthy +scion of the race, and that not a few would look +with admiration on the son of Seraiah, the nephew +of Azariah.<note place="foot"><q>Et pater Æneas et avunculus excitet Hector.</q></note> And indeed she did hear as she passed +along not a few whispered praises, which made her +pulses beat quick with thankfulness and joy. +</p> + +<p> +As they came in their rambling into the neighbourhood +of the Temple, they found their way +blocked by a dense crowd, which seemed eagerly +pressing forward to see some spectacle of surpassing +interest. <q>What is it?</q> she asked of one who had +been, it seemed, successful in the struggle for a +glimpse of this interesting sight, and was now +turning away. She could not help shuddering at +his answer, and called to the children to come away. +But the quick ears of little Daniel had also caught +the man’s reply, and he loudly objected. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, mother,</q> he said, <q>I must see. Such things +are not for women to see</q>—the little fellow of five +or six had already caught the masculine tone of +superiority—<q>but I am a soldier’s son, and shall +not be afraid to look. And when I am a man I shall +fight for God and for His Holy Temple.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are a brave lad, and if I mistake not, and +you are the nephew of Azariah, there is no one here +<pb n='351'/><anchor id='Pg351'/>that has a better right to look at yonder sight than +you. For ’twas your brave uncle, I am told, that +slew that son of Belial with his sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +So saying he lifted the child from the ground, and +raised him till he could stand upon his shoulders. +And what did the little Daniel see that made him +shout and clap his hands? It was the head and +hand of Nicanor nailed against the Temple wall. +There were the pallid, distorted lips that had uttered +such proud blasphemies against the Sanctuary of +the Lord; there was the shrunken, bloodless hand +that had been lifted up with threats and scorn +against His Holy Place. The Lord had indeed +punished the proud doer. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="31" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='352'/><anchor id='Pg352'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXXI. The Falling Away"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXXI. The Falling Away"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXXI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE FALLING AWAY.</hi></head> + +<p> +Though Jerusalem was almost wild with joy—and, +indeed, so utterly had the Greek army disappeared +that deliverance was complete for the time—Judas’s +heart was full of sad forebodings. Demetrius, he +knew, had a steadfastness of purpose which augured +ill for the future. He was not a madman like +Epiphanes, nor a child like Eupator; but a cool-headed, +resolute man, who had seen something of +the world, and would carry out his plans with both +perseverance and skill. Would he sit down under +the defeats which he had received and recognize +Jewish independence? Judas thought it unlikely. +The vengeance might be laid aside, but it would be +sure to come. Could he hope to repeat these victories +again and again? Once before he had been reduced +to the greatest straits, and had only escaped by an +unexpected change in the purpose of the young +Antiochus. Could he look for anything so +marvel<pb n='353'/><anchor id='Pg353'/>lous again? Only one plan appeared to him to be +possible, and he lost no time in calling a council of +his principal followers and announcing it to them. +It was certain, he told them, that there would be +another war, and a war that would last for years, if +only the Jewish people could hold out so long. <q>We +warriors may endure it, and if the worst come to +the worst, we can but fall on the field of battle. But +what of the old and the weak? What of the women +and children? And then we are not united. Our +foes are of our own household. We have to fight +not only against the Greek, but against the Jew +also. And even in this assembly there are some,</q> +he went on, with an emphasis which could not be +mistaken, <q>who speak evil of me behind my back. +What, then, shall we do? Speak, any one who has +counsel to give.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The appeal was met with silence, and the speaker +continued, <q>You have nothing to advise. Listen, +therefore, to my counsel, and resist it not in haste +because it seems strange. There is a nation that, +rising from a beginning small as ours, has now made +for itself a great dominion. They are stern to their +enemies, but they are just and faithful to their +friends. Like Israel in the earlier and better days, +they have no king to rule them after his own pleasure, +but an assembly that weighs every plan carefully +and wisely. And in battle they cannot be resisted. +Have you heard of such a people?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='354'/><anchor id='Pg354'/> + +<p> +One or two voices answered with the word +<q>Rome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have said well,</q> he said; <q>it is of the +Romans that I have been speaking. Let us make +alliance with them. We shall be, as it were, an +outpost for them against the King of Syria, against +whom they have fought already, and, doubtless, will +fight again. And they will be a protection to us. +And with the Romans on our side, we need fear the +Greeks no more.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One <anchor id="corr354"/><corr sic="of">or</corr> two of the council were in Judas’s secret. +Others had guessed, more or less correctly, what he +was intending, but on most the announcement of +his intention fell like a thunderbolt. For a few +moments there was the pause of intense astonishment. +Then followed a burst of indignation, in +which, of course, the Chasidim led the way. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Say not,</q> cried one of their chief speakers, <q>the +Romans are like to Israel because they have no +king. Did not Samuel say to the people, when +they fell away from their faith because of Nahash the +Ammonite, and would have a king after the manner +of the heathen round about, <q>The Lord your God is +your King.</q> And shall we, knowing that the Lord +Jehovah is the King of the Jews, reject Him from +reigning over us, and choose us for rulers an +assembly of some three hundred idolaters. Will +you set these men of sin to be lords over the City of +God?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='355'/><anchor id='Pg355'/> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> replied Judas, <q>you speak unadvisedly +and rashly. We shall have our own rulers. We +shall worship after our own way. The Romans will +help us in war; and we shall help them as we only +can. Did not David make friendship and alliance +with Hiram, King of Tyre, and did not Solomon, in +whose reign was peace, make that friendship and +alliance yet closer?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Chasidim replied, quoting the prophets and +denunciations of the Egyptian alliance. <q>Even +that accursed Rabshakeh,</q> they said, <q>spoke the +truth, when he said that Pharaoh, King of Egypt, +was a bruised reed which will go into a man’s +hand and pierce it, if he lean upon it. So shall +it be with thee, if thou lean upon Rome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The war of words raged long and furiously. The +Chasidim had the best of the argument, but to the +majority of the council the prospect of a settled +peace was irresistibly alluring. And the influence +of Judas, too, was overpowering. By a large +majority it was decided to send to Rome, +Eupolemus, the son of John, and Jason, the son +of Eleazar,<note place="foot">Observe the Greek names of the two. In each case the father’s +name is Hebrew, and the son’s Greek. This seems to show how far +the Hellenization of the people had proceeded.</note> envoys who had been selected for the +mission by Judas himself. +</p> + +<p> +When the resolution had been passed the council +broke up, and the Chasidim dispersed with dark +<pb n='356'/><anchor id='Pg356'/>looks and saddened hearts. The next few days +passed in uncertainty and gloom. No news had +come from Antioch as to the movements or intentions +of the King. But there was little doubt as to +what he would do. Whatever they might try to +believe in their secret hearts they could not but own +that when the opportunity came Demetrius would +deal them a blow into which he would put all his +strength. +</p> + +<p> +And how would that blow be met? Would they +be able to escape it, or parry it, or stand up against +it? The Chasidim, the Ironsides, the men who had +been the stay and strength of Judas’s armies, who +had followed him to victory at Beth-zur, at Beth-horon, +at Adasa, were miserably dejected. The +embassy to Rome had broken their spirits. The +issue, before so simple to these stern souls, narrow, +perhaps, in their range of vision, but of a clear and +single eye, was now confused. While they fought +for the Lord against the gods of the heathen, they +could confidently expect that He would show Himself +greater than all gods, and this faith had made +them irresistible. But now, if Jew and Roman +were to fight side by side, with what confidence could +they call upon the Lord of Hosts? Was He the +Lord of <hi rend='italic'>that</hi> host, in whose ranks were ranged the +battalions of the uncircumcised? +</p> + +<p> +Some left the leader whom they now regarded as +unfaithful to his trust, and departed to distant +<pb n='357'/><anchor id='Pg357'/>villages, hanging up the swords which they were +steadfastly resolved not to draw side by side with +the heathen. Others, in whom the military instinct +of discipline, or the personal attachment to Judas, +as the general who had led them so often to victory, +were so strong as to overpower all other considerations, +remained with him. Nothing could take +them from his side, but they went with heavy hearts +and with an outlook on the future that was almost +hopeless. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the embassy started. What the +answer of the Romans would be Judas did not +doubt. They would rejoice to secure the alliance +of a people who could lend them aid so useful. But +would the answer come in time to save the city and +the Temple from the wrath of Demetrius? +</p> + +<p> +And indeed that wrath did not linger. Within a +month Bacchides was on his way from Antioch with +a force of twenty thousand foot and two thousand +horse. The renegade Alcimus accompanied him, +and was to be reinstated in his high-priesthood. +Their line of march was through Galilee. On their +way they took the fortified town of Masaloth, and +put the garrison to the sword. It was about the +time of the Passover feast that the invaders reached +Jerusalem. There was some talk about attacking +it; but Alcimus was urgent in resisting the proposal. +<q>The King’s quarrel,</q> he said, <q>is with +Judas, who is the cause of all this mischief, and +<pb n='358'/><anchor id='Pg358'/>Judas is not here. And the King has commanded +that I should be replaced in my office; but what +shall my office profit me if there be no city for me +to govern, nor Temple in which I am to minister?</q> +Bacchides yielded to these representations, and +leaving the city unhurt marched to Beeroth (a few +miles north-east of Jerusalem) and there pitched his +camp. +</p> + +<p> +Among the patriots there was such doubt and +dismay as had never been felt from the day when +the aged Mattathias struck the first blow for +freedom, not even in that dark hour when Judas +and his famine-stricken followers were about to +make their desperate sally from the Temple fortress. +It was not that they were fighting against overwhelming +odds, for they had faced as great before; +it was that they had lost their unquestioning faith +in their leader. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said Micah to Azariah, when they were +discussing the matter for the twentieth time—and +indeed it was almost the only subject of their talk—<q>I +have seen these heathen from near at hand—I +say it with shame—and I know <sic>what</sic> they are +better than you, better than Judas, who is so good +that he can scarcely believe that other men are bad. +<q><corr sic="(double quotes)">He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled,</corr></q> says +Jesus, the son of Sirach, and though our captain is +greater than other men, in this matter he is but as +they are. What madness drove him to meddle with +<pb n='359'/><anchor id='Pg359'/>the accursed thing? God forgive me if I speak evil +of the ruler of my people, but I must say that which +is in my heart.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> said Azariah, still loyal to his great-hearted +chief, though he too had doubts which he +had to crush down by sheer force of will—<q>nay, you +go too far. Did not Jehoshaphat, the servant of the +Lord, make alliance with the children of Edom when +he fought against Mesha, the King of Moab?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But the children of Edom,</q> answered Micah, +<q>were akin to our people; but as for these Romans, +they are utterly unclean. O, brother, I have often +thought whether, as a faithful servant of the Law, I +could remain any longer with the captain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You will not leave us?</q> cried Azariah—<q>it only +wants that, and I shall be ready to fall on my own +sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No; I shall not go. If I am wrong the Lord +pardon me; but I cannot go when so many are +falling away. Yet if these Romans come—then I +shall depart.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They will not come—at least before the battle. +Judas knows it, and it troubles him. As for me, I +know not. But this I know, that he is the servant +of the Lord, and I will follow him to the death. +Nevertheless I cry day and night unto the God of +Israel that He will not suffer His servants to be found +fighting in the ranks of them that know Him not.</q> +</p> + +<p> +There were the same doubts among the faithful +<pb n='360'/><anchor id='Pg360'/>in the city. The aged Shemaiah had been in the +Temple all day, assisting at the sacrifices which +were being offered, and the prayers which were +being put up for the success of Judas and his army. +All night the services would be continued; but the +old man was utterly worn out, and he had been led +back by one of the Levites to Seraiah’s house. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> said Ruth, <q>do you think that our +prayers are heard? I know that God does not +vouchsafe the visible signs of His presence in His +Temple as He did in the days of old, and that He +does not touch with fire from heaven the sacrifice +that He accepts. But yet He sometimes seems to +answer, and we feel in our hearts that He will give +us what we ask. Has it been so to-day with you, +father?</q> +</p> + +<p> +There was a touching eagerness in her manner, +as she put the question. Not Miriam, not Deborah, +had loved their country with a sincerer passion than +did she; and then she had a husband and a brother +in the camp, and she knew that before another sun +had set, their fate and the fate of their country +would be decided. +</p> + +<p> +The priest shook his head. <q>My daughter,</q> he +said, <q>I can give you no comfort, for no comfort has +been given to me. My heart was cold within me +while I prayed, for I could not forget that the +servant of the Lord had touched the accursed thing +when he sought the alliance of the Romans.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='361'/><anchor id='Pg361'/> + +<p> +<q>O sir,</q> broke in Huldah, who had been eagerly +listening, <q>he did not do it for his own gain or +advancement. He did but seek the peace of Israel.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Daughter,</q> said the old man, solemnly, <q>there +are that cry <q>Peace! Peace!</q> when there is no +peace; and that is no peace which can be got only +by unlawful dealing with the heathen. It is God, and +God only, that can give this blessing to His people. +And He has greater blessings in store than this. +Does Judas seek to be honoured and to make us +honoured by the nations round about? If he would +be in truth the servant of the Lord let him rather +be content with the lot of which Isaiah the prophet +speaks: <q>He is despised and rejected of men; a +man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.</q> So +only shall he make many righteous; so only shall +he be exalted of God. This is the lot of the chosen +people: not to live at ease among the nations.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="32" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='362'/><anchor id='Pg362'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXXII. The Last Battle"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXXII. The Last Battle"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXXII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE LAST BATTLE.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was the night before the battle. Day by day +and hour by hour the contagion of doubt and disaffection +had been spreading through the little +army that followed Judas. He had had three +thousand men when he pitched his camp at Eleasa, +and the three thousand had now dwindled down to +less than one. +</p> + +<p> +Judas was sitting by one of the camp-fires with +Azariah and Seraiah, when two soldiers came up, +bringing bound between them a man who had +endeavoured, they said, to make his way into the +camp. He wore his hat drawn down over his forehead, +and little of his face could be seen, but there +was something in his figure that seemed familiar to +Azariah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Who are you?</q> said Judas, <q>and what want +you in the camp? Are you for us or for our +enemies?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='363'/><anchor id='Pg363'/> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> said the man, <q>my name is Benjamin, +and—for I will hide nothing from you—I am +a robber. Once I was a soldier in your army, but +I broke the law, and I fled lest I should be put to +death. Now I am come, of my own accord, to make +such amends for my transgression as I may. Slay +me, if you will, as I stand here. There is no need +of a trial. I have been tried and condemned, and +I acknowledge that I deserve to die. But if you +will be merciful, let me fight in the morning by your +side; and on the morrow, if I yet live, let me suffer +the due punishment. Life I ask not, but only that +I may strike a blow for you before I die.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Unbind him,</q> said Judas to the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +The command was obeyed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are free to go or stay. But I would gladly +have you at my side to-morrow, for I have forgotten +all but that you are a brave man.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Benjamin stepped forward, and raising the hem +of the captain’s robe to his lips, kissed it. He then +knelt, and putting his head to the ground made as +though he would have placed Judas’s foot upon his +neck. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> said the captain, <q>we want not slaves, +but brothers.</q> And he raised him from the ground. +<q>And now,</q> he went on, <q>sit down and tell us +what you know, for I make sure that you have not +come empty of news.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Benjamin did indeed know all that could be known +<pb n='364'/><anchor id='Pg364'/>about the enemy, and, indeed, about the situation of +affairs. To a question from Seraiah he replied that +a surprise was impossible. The camp was too well +guarded and watched. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do they know our real numbers?</q> asked +Judas. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> was the answer, <q>the deserters have told +them.</q> And he proceeded to give a number of +names of those who had gone over to the enemy, +with a readiness and a precision that showed how +diligent had been his watch. +</p> + +<p> +When he had told all his story, and understood +that there was nothing more for him to do before the +morrow, he wrapped himself in his cloak, and with +characteristic indifference to the future, fell immediately +into a profound and dreamless sleep. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the first rays of light were seen Judas +mustered his soldiers and hastily numbered them. +There were about eight hundred in all, while the +army of Bacchides, according to the calculations +of Benjamin, which seemed to have been carefully +made, could not be less than twenty thousand. +</p> + +<p> +Judas was not dismayed by this disparity of +numbers, but was still true to his old strategy of +attack. <q>Let us go up against our enemies,</q> was +the exhortation that he addressed to the remnant +that was still faithful to him. At first they shrank +back. The odds were too vast; the attempt too +desperate. An old soldier who had proved his valour +<pb n='365'/><anchor id='Pg365'/>on more than one battle-field was put forward as +their spokesman. +</p> + +<p> +<q>This, sir,</q> he said, <q>will be to tempt God. Let +us now save our lives. Hereafter we will return +again, and fight with them. But now we are too +few.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But Judas did not waver for a moment. <q>God +forbid,</q> he cried, <q>that I should do this thing, and +flee away from them. Not so; if our time is come, +let us die manfully for our brethren, and not stain +our honour.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His words roused once more an answering echo +in the hearts of those who heard him. They replied +with a cry of assent. Victory they could not hope +for, but their captain they would follow whithersoever +he should lead them, and as long as he lived +they would guard his life with theirs. +</p> + +<p> +The little host was then divided into five companies, +commanded by Judas and his two brothers, +Simon and Jonathan, by Seraiah and Micah respectively. +Azariah, whose standing in the army +would have entitled him to a separate command, had +made a special request that he might be allowed to +fight by the side of Judas. Benjamin had begged +and obtained the same privilege. +</p> + +<p> +On both sides the trumpets sounded, and both +armies moved forward. It was with nothing less +than astonishment that the Greeks saw the slender +proportion of the force that was opposed to them. +<pb n='366'/><anchor id='Pg366'/>Most laughed aloud at the thought that such a +handful of men should venture to stand up against +their own well-appointed and numerous host. +Others, who had before crossed swords with Judas’s +men knew that that day’s battle, end as it might, +would be no laughing matter. And indeed they +were right. The little company of Jewish heroes +fought as three centuries before Leonidas and his +men had fought at Thermopylae.<note place="foot">We commonly talk of the <q>three hundred</q> at Thermopylae. +As a matter of fact there were <hi rend='italic'>a thousand</hi>, not reckoning the Thebans, +who are said to have laid down their arms at once. But the seven +hundred men from Thespiae, a little Bœotian town, fought bravely to +the end; only their glory is swallowed up in that of the <q>three +hundred</q> Spartans. Canon Westcott speaks of this battle as the Jewish +Thermopylae (<q>Dictionary of the Bible</q>).</note> The Greeks +came on with the same arrogant confidence in their +numbers as did the picked Persian force against +the defenders of Greece, and met with a like disastrous +repulse. Such was the fury of the Jewish +soldiers, such their agility and strength, that they +kept the attacking force in check during the whole +day. When night approached the Greeks had made, +it might almost be said, absolutely no way. +</p> + +<p> +But the resistance, successful as it had been, had +cost lives, and Judas saw his force dwindling before +his eyes. Then he made his last desperate effort. +He threw himself on the right wing, where +Bacchides commanded in person, broke the line, +and drove it in confusion before him. Possibly he +<pb n='367'/><anchor id='Pg367'/>was too rash in his pursuit, but on such a day, when +such odds are to be encountered, it is scarcely possible +to distinguish between rashness and courage. +Anyhow, it was but a brief success. The left wing +closed in upon his rear, and he and his gallant band +were surrounded. Judas was the mark of a hundred +swords and spears. For a time he seemed to bear a +charmed life. Azariah and Benjamin, at his right +hand and his left, beat down the blows aimed at +him, wholly careless of their own lives, while he +with the long sweep of his fatal sword—the same +that he had taken from the dead Apollonius on his +first battle-field—dealt blow after blow, till the +ground was covered with the corpses of his enemies. +But a spear pierced the stout heart of Benjamin, +and a sword-stroke laid Azariah in the dust; and +just as the sun sank behind the rugged hills, the +hero who had smitten the enemies of his country at +Bethhoron and Emmaüs, at Elah and at Adasa, had +struck his last blow. The Hammer lay broken on +the rock. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="33" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='368'/><anchor id='Pg368'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXXIII. The Hope of Israel"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXXIII. The Hope of Israel"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXXIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE HOPE OF ISRAEL.</hi></head> + +<p> +A week had passed since the fatal day of Eleasa. +Judas had been buried in peace in the grave where +he had laid, five years before, the aged Mattathias. +The Greek general had been so much impressed +with the valour and generalship of the Jewish hero +that he strictly ordered that no indignity should be +offered to his remains; and when an envoy came +from the surviving brothers to ask that the corpse +should be given up for burial, made no difficulty +about granting the request. It was only fitting that +a brave man should be so honoured. The King, too, +had been avenged on his enemy, nor did he imagine +for a moment that the rebels, as he called them, +would continue to hold out now that their leader had +been taken from them. It was impossible for him to +foresee that those undaunted brothers would maintain +the desperate struggle until they had wrung +from the Syrian king the recognition of Jewish +<pb n='369'/><anchor id='Pg369'/>independence. Accordingly he granted a truce for +a fortnight, and even sent some of his troops to +accompany the funeral procession. It had been +a touching scene; and when the hero had been laid +to rest in the sepulchre of his fathers, and the +piercing voices of the women, many of whom had +struggled over the long and toilsome way from Jerusalem +to be present, raised the cry of lamentation, +many of the Greek soldiers found themselves moved +to tears. This had been the dirge that had been +sung over the grave:— +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">How is the valiant man fallen that delivered Israel.</q></l> +<l>In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion’s whelp roaring for his prey.</l> +<l>For he pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people.</l> +<l>Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.</l> +<l><q rend="pre: none">He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever.</q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +And now once more the little company of those +whom we have known by name are gathered in +Seraiah’s house. The orphaned girls are there, +Miriam and Judith, passionately grieving for their +father, but yet exulting as passionately that he was +at the side of Judas to the last, and that his hope +had been at least so far fulfilled that he and the +captain whom he loved had been saved from drawing +sword among the legions of Rome. Little Daniel, +<pb n='370'/><anchor id='Pg370'/>too, is there, his childish heart sorely troubled with +the darkness of a dispensation which he cannot +understand; and Ruth, comforting herself and the +children with the thought that he whom they had +lost had rejoined his own Hannah, and half reproaching +herself for her selfish joy in having her +Seraiah still spared to her. Huldah and Eglah, +who had been among the mourners at Modin, are +there also, and the aged priest Shemaiah. +</p> + +<p> +<q>O father,</q> cried one of the women, <q>tell us why +these things are so. Why does God so disappoint us +of our hopes? We trusted that it had been he who +should have delivered Israel, and now he is dead!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We must wait,</q> said the old man, <q rend="post: none">for God’s +good time, for He seeth not as we see. Did not +David think that Solomon, his son, should be the +promised king of Israel; and, behold, he turned aside +to worship idols, and laid such burdens on the people +that his kingdom was broken in twain? And now +we, too, have built our hopes upon a man, and they +have failed. Surely of Judas it might have been +said, <q>He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, +the poor also, and him that hath no helper; he +shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and +dear shall their blood be in his sight.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We looked,</q> said Seraiah, <q>for the time when +all kings should fall down before him, all nations +should do him service. He seemed like the stone +cut out of the mountain without hands that should +<pb n='371'/><anchor id='Pg371'/>smite all the kingdoms of evil, and we waited for the +reign of Messiah the Prince.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And will Messiah come?</q> cried little Daniel, +who had been eagerly listening to these words, +not understanding all, indeed, but catching their +general purport. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Surely, my son,</q> said the old man; <q>but there +are many things to be suffered first.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He was silent for a time, sitting with eyes that +seemed to take no heed of the present, but to be +gazing into a far futurity. At last he spoke. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He loved Israel with all his heart, but he has +brought upon us a people of iron, harder than the +brazen Greeks. He looked to them for help that he +might build up the walls of Sion, and behold! in the +days to come they will make Jerusalem a desolation +and the inhabitants thereof a hissing. And yet, by +the Lord’s help, he wrought a great deliverance for +Israel. He recovered and cleansed the Temple, and +by his hand the Lord changed the king’s commandment, +so that we may once more worship Him in +the beauty of holiness. And surely, had it not been +for him, when he put to flight the hosts of Lysias, +we should have been carried away again into +captivity. For this was in the heart of our persecutors; +only Judas stood in the way that it should +not be done. The Lord reward him for it, and +impute not his transgression unto him, for he did +not transgress wilfully, or out of an evil heart. +<pb n='372'/><anchor id='Pg372'/>Nevertheless, I am persuaded that it shall not be so +when Messiah shall come, for come He will at the +appointed time, seeing that the Lord repenteth Him +not of His promises. Verily He shall not do homage +to any godless bestower of kingdoms, nor listen to +the voice of the Evil One, though he promise Him +all the world and the glory of it. With His own +right hand and with His holy arm will He get +Himself the victory!</q> +</p> + +</div> </body> + <back rend="page-break-before: always"> +<div><pb n='373'/><anchor id='Pg373'/> + +<head>THE FAMILY OF THE ASMONEANS, OR MACCABEES.</head> + +<p> +The name <q>Maccabee,</q> probably derived from a Hebrew word +signifying a <q>Hammer,</q> was originally given to Judas, and afterwards +extended to his four brothers. They came of a priestly family, belonging +to the first and noblest of the twenty-four <q>courses,</q> taking its +name from a certain Asmon or Chasmon, great-grandfather of +Mattathias, father of Judas. The five heroic brothers all met with +a violent death. +</p> + +<p> +That of Judas and Eleazar has been already described. +</p> + +<p> +John, the eldest, was killed in a skirmish, shortly after the death of +Judas. +</p> + +<p> +Jonathan maintained himself in power by a clever policy of leaning +on Rome, and taking part with various claimants to the Syrian crown. +He became High-priest at some time after the year 153, and perished +in 144 by the treachery of a certain Tryphon, who usurped for a time +the throne of Syria. +</p> + +<p> +Simon succeeded to the High-priesthood, and governed the Jewish +people for a period of eight years with great success. In <hi rend='small'>B.C.</hi> 143 he +obtained from the Syrian king a formal recognition of the independence +of the Jews, and in the following year he got possession of the fortress +in Jerusalem occupied by the Syrian faction. In 135 he was treacherously +murdered by his son-in-law, Ptolemaeus. +</p> + +<p> +Simon, who had maintained the alliance with Rome, was succeeded +by his son John Hyrcanus, who followed the same policy, and he again +by his son Aristobulus, who assumed the title of King in 107. +</p> + +<p> +Mariamne, the unhappy wife of Herod the Great, belonged to the +Maccabean House. With the death of her two sons it became extinct. +</p> + +</div><div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pg374'/> + +<p rend="center"> +The Gresham Press,<lb/> +<hi rend="small">UNWIN BROTHERS</hi>,<lb/> +<hi rend="small">CHILWORTH AND LONDON</hi>. +</p> +</div><div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pg375'/> + +<p rend="center"> +BY THE SAME AUTHOR. +</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="rule: 30%"/> +<p> +STORIES FROM HOMER. With Coloured Illustrations. Eighteenth +Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A book which ought to become an English classic. It is full of +the pure Homeric flavour.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Spectator.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +STORIES FROM VIRGIL. With Coloured Illustrations. Fourteenth +Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Superior to his <q>Stories from Homer,</q> good as they were, and perhaps +as perfect a specimen of that peculiar form of translation as could +be.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Times.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +STORIES FROM THE GREEK TRAGEDIANS. With Coloured +Illustrations. Eighth Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not only a pleasant and entertaining book for the fireside, but a +storehouse of facts from history to be of real service to them when they +come to read a Greek play for themselves.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Standard.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +STORIES OF THE EAST FROM HERODOTUS. With +Coloured Illustrations. Seventh Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>For a school prize a more suitable book will hardly be found.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Literary +Churchman.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A very quaint and delightful book.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Spectator.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THE STORY OF THE PERSIAN WAR FROM HERODOTUS. +With Coloured Illustrations. Fifth Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We are inclined to think this is the best volume of Professor +Church’s series since the excellent <q>Stories from Homer.</q></q>—<hi rend='italic'>Athenæum.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +STORIES FROM LIVY. With Coloured Illustrations. Fifth +Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The lad who gets this book for a present will have got a genuine +classical treasure.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Scotsman.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +ROMAN LIFE IN THE DAYS OF CICERO. With Coloured +Illustrations. Fourth Thousand. Price 5s., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The best prize-book of the season.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Journal of Education.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THE STORY OF THE LAST DAYS OF JERUSALEM FROM +JOSEPHUS. With Coloured Illustrations. Fourth Thousand. +Price 3s. <corr sic="6d.">6d.,</corr> cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The execution of this work has been performed with that judiciousness +of selection and felicity of language which have combined to raise +Professor Church far above the fear of rivalry.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Academy.</hi> +</p> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pg376'/> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +A TRAVELLER’S TRUE TALE FROM LUCIAN. With +Coloured Illustrations. Third Thousand. Price 3s. 6d., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>There can hardly be a more amusing book of marvels for young +people than this.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Saturday Review.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +HEROES AND KINGS. Stories from the Greek. Fifth Thousand. +Price 1s. 6d., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>This volume is quite a little triumph of neatness and taste.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Saturday +Review.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THE STORIES OF THE ILIAD AND THE ÆNEID. With +Illustrations. Price 1s., sewed, or 1s. 6d., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The attractive and scholar-like rendering of the story cannot fail, +we feel sure, to make it a favourite at home as well as at school.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Educational +Times.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THE CHANTRY PRIEST OF BARNET: A Tale of the Two +Roses. With Coloured Illustrations. Fourth Thousand. Price 5s. +</p> + +<p> +<q>This is likely to be a very useful book, as it is certainly very interesting +and well got up.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Saturday Review.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +WITH THE KING AT OXFORD. A Story of the Great Rebellion. +With Coloured Illustrations. Fourth Thousand. Price 5s. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Excellent sketches of the times.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Athenæum.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE. A Tale of the Departure +of the Romans from Britain. With Sixteen Illustrations. +Third Thousand. Price 5s. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A good stirring tale.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Daily News.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +STORIES OF THE MAGICIANS: <hi rend='smallcaps'>Thalaba</hi>; <hi rend='smallcaps'>Rustem</hi>; <hi rend='smallcaps'>The +Curse of Kehama</hi>. With Coloured Illustrations. Price 5s. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Worthy of all praise.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Pall Mall Gazette.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +THREE GREEK CHILDREN. A Story of Home in Old Time. +With Twelve Illustrations. Price 3s. 6d. +</p> + +<p> +<q>This is a very fascinating little book.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Spectator.</hi> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +TO THE LIONS! A Tale of the Early Christians. With Sixteen +Illustrations. Price 3s. 6d., cloth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The picture of the life of the Early Christians is drawn with admirable +simplicity and distinctness.</q>—<hi rend='italic'>Guardian.</hi> +</p></div> +<div> + <pgIf output="pdf"> + <then/> + <else> + <div id="footnotes" rend="page-break-before: right"> + <index index="toc" level1="Footnotes"/> + <head>Footnotes</head> + <divGen type="footnotes"/> + </div> + </else> + </pgIf> + </div> +<div rend="page-break-before:right; x-class: boxed"> + <index index="pdf" level1="Transcriber's Note"/><index index="toc" level1="Transcriber’s Note"/> + <head>Transcriber’s Note</head> + <p>Variations in hyphenation + have not been changed. In several places, wrong quotation marks have been silently corrected.</p> + <p>Other changes, which have been made to the text:</p> + +<list> +<item><ref target="corrxi">page xi</ref>, <q>ELEAZER</q> changed to <q>ELEAZAR</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr230">page 230</ref>, double <q>the</q> removed</item> +<item><ref target="corr354">page 354</ref>, <q>of</q> changed to <q>or</q></item> + +</list> + </div> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter"/> + </div> + </back> + </text> +</TEI.2> diff --git a/44550-tei/images/cover.jpg b/44550-tei/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..24441bb --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_004.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c49ba5 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_004.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_047.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_047.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb3c980 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_047.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_135.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_135.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d448dd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_135.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_187.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_187.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e65369f --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_187.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_213.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_213.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..349d8ee --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_213.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_255.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_255.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbeac56 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_255.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_327.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_327.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4a91a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_327.jpg diff --git a/44550-tei/images/i_341.jpg b/44550-tei/images/i_341.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..25ed43b --- /dev/null +++ b/44550-tei/images/i_341.jpg |
