caused sixty-two of them to be seized and put to death in one day, contrary to his word given them. This perfidy incensed the people, and made them more cautious. However Bacchides, who had the power in his hands, put Alcimus into possession of the country, and left troops to support him. Alcimus being master of Judea, made a great slaughter of the Jews that were not for him. Judas openly declared against Alcimus, and stood upon his defence; and Alcimus being sensible that his party was not the most powerful, thought it most expedient to return to the king to strengthen his interest by additional forces; and being arrived at court, he charged Judas and his followers with many crimes: which accusation being heard in prejudice of Judas and his friends, Demetrius sent Nicanor, one of the prime men of his court, with orders to seize the Jewish general, to destroy all his party, and to set up Alcimus.

Nicanor coming to Jerusalem, and pretending he came in a friendly manner to let them know the good inclinations of the king to the Jews, they were so credulous as to believe him, and received him and his army with great hospitality. But Judas, who was as politic as he was brave, soon found out Nicanor's design against his person; and therefore retiring to his friends, resolved to defend himself by open force. Near Capharsalam there happened a skirmish, in which Judas being overpowered by numbers, was forced to retreat into the citadel of Jerusalem, having lost five thousand men in the action. Nicanor pursued him, and went up to mount Sion, where some of the priests met him, shewing him the sacrifices, which, they told him, they were going to offer for the safety of king Demetrius. Nicanor in a rage threatened them, that if they would not deliver Judas to him, he would raze the temple to the ground. But being disappointed of his aim in taking Judas, he was resolved to be revenged on some body; and therefore having been informed, that there was a man named Razias, eminent for his steady constancy in the religion of his country, he sent a guard of five hundred men to seize him; for he thought the loss of so considerable a person would be a

great affliction to the Jews. This company attacked the good old man in the castle, which he defended bravely; but at last being overpowered, and finding himself just ready to fall into the enemy's hands, rather than be a reproach to his nation by submitting to these infidels, he thrust his sword into his own body and died.

Nicanor leaving Jerusalem in a rage, and breathing nothing but revenge against the Jews, encamped at a vil lage called Betheron, where he was joined by several recruits from Syria. Judas was not long behind him; for he drew out of Jerusalem, and with his little army encamped at Adasus, within thirty furlongs of the enemy. Though Judas's army scarcely deserved that name, (for it consisted but of one thousand men, and Nicanor's of nine thousand) yet he was resolved to give them battle, trusting more to the merits of his cause, than numbers of men. Then in a short harangue, at the head of his troops, he encouraged them not to be dismayed at the inequality of their numbers, but to consider the cause they fought for; and falling on, a bloody fight ensued; in which Nicanor, the enemy's general, was killed, and his whole army cut off, not one man escaping. Judas's victorious troops proclaimed their success to the country by sound of trumpet wherever they came, which was welcome news to the Jews. When they searched the field, they found the body of Nicanor, which carrying to Jerusalem, Judas ordered the head to be hung upon the top of the citadel, first cutting out the tongue for the blasphemy it had uttered, which was thrown over the wall to the fowls: after which they instituted a festival in memory of this victory on the thirteenth of the month Adar, or August.

About this time died Alcimus the high-priest, who, attempting to demolish the old wall which encompassed the priest's apartment, was struck with a painful distemper, of which he miserably died.

After this the Jews remained absolute masters of Jerusalem, had peace for some time, and concluded an alliance with the Romans; but soon after Demetrius sent Bacchides against them, with an army of choice troops.

Bacchides marched by the way that leads to Galgala, took that city, and slew abundance of people; after which they advanced to Jerusalem. Bacchides hearing that Judas was encamped at Berezoth, sent a detachment of two and twenty thousand foot, and two thousand horse, to surprise him.

Judas, notwithstanding his troops were but a handful in comparison of the enemy, still retained his zeal and courage, and animates his men to behave themselves as usual under such disadvantages; but they were so alarmed at the numbers of the enemy, that many of them deserted, till at last he had but eight hundred men left. However with these he resolved to try his fortune; and when his soldiers advised him to retreat and wait for a supply, he with disdain answered them: "God forbid "that the sun should ever see me turn my back to my "enemies; for I will never stain the glory of our former "actions gained by so much valour, with an ignominious flight." Then animating them by his own example, he charged and broke the right wing, where Bacchides in person commanded, and pursued them to the mountains of Azotus; but having not forces enough to keep the left wing in play, that followed and enclosed him. The action was very hot and obstinate on the side of the Jews, who sold their lives at a dear rate. At last Judas, wholly encompassed and overpowered by the enemy, was killed; and his men thus deprived of their heroick leader were forced to fly. Simon and Jonathan having obtained a truce of Bacchides, conveyed the body of their brother Judas to the city of Modin, where they buried it in their father's sepulchre, with all the funeral honours due to the memory of so brave a man, and so excellent a commander.

The Syrian general, by the assistance of Judas's enemies, soon made himself master of the country, and disposed of the government into the hands of such only as were enemies to Judas's friends, who were used with greater barbarity than was ever practised since the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. In this miserable condition of affairs, those Jews who persevered

in their integrity, chose Jonathan, brother to Judas, their general which when Bacchides understood, he attempted by fair means to get him into his power; but Jonathan and his brother Simon having timely notice of it, withdrew with their friends out of his reach, into the desart of Thecue, and coming to the lake Asphar, they made a stand there. Bacchides soon after followed them with all his army; and Jonathan hearing of his approach, sent his brother John to convey the baggage into the country of the Nabutheans, who were their friends but on their march they were attacked by the people of Madabab, who slew John and his party, and carried off their baggage. For which some time after Jonathan was revenged of them; for surprising them as they were making merry at a wedding, he slew many of them, and obliged the rest to fly to the mountains. After which, Jonathan and his party returned to the river Jordan, whither Bacchides pursued them, and coming up with them on the sabbath, supposing they would not violate the religion of the day, he expected to make an easy conquest. But Jonathan encouraged his men to dispute it bravely, by shewing them the danger; for the enemy was in the front, and the river in the rear, so that they could hope for no safety by flight. Then praying to God for success they engaged; and Jonathan seeing Bacchides very active in encouraging his men, charged him with all his might; but Bacchides declining, sheltered himself among his soldiers. Jonathan finding the enemy's numbers too great, and being no longer able to resist them, with his friends threw themselves into the water, and swam the Jordan, the enemy not daring to pursue them. Upon which, Bacchides returned to the citadel of Jerusalem with the loss of nearly two thousand of his men.

Bacchides having retired to the capital, fortified the neighbouring towns, and put garrisons into them; and taking hostages for the fidelity of the inhabitants, he returned to the king, and the country enjoyed peace for two years. During which time Jonathan and his lived quietly; but at the end of two years his enemies

party

prevailed with Bacchides to return of which, when Jonathan had notice, he slew the advisers of it, and withdrew with his brother Simon and his followers to Bethalaga, a town situated near the desart, where he fortified himself. Bacchides pursues and besieges him for some time; but Jonathan, making a sally in the night, occa sioned a great slaughter among the followers of Bacchides his brother Simon, with his party, attacking them in another quarter, burnt their engines of war, and pui many to the sword. This defeat so exasperated Bacchides, that he vented his malice on the renegado Jews who were the occasion of his return and disgrace. This last defeat inclined Bacchides, however, to an accommodation; and therefore finding Jonathan and his party would never suffer him to be quiet, and that it would be a tedious and difficult work to reduce them, a treaty was proposed, and Bacchides took an oath no more to molest the Jews. In pursuance of this treaty, he restored to Jonathan the prisoners of Judea, and never more returned into the country.

The war being thus happily terminated in Judea, Jonathan lived very quietly at Machma, where he governed the people in peace, and administered justice as supreme, having a watchful eye over the deserters from the religion of his country. His power was soon enlarged by an unexpected accident between two rival princes: for Alexander, a son of Antiochus Epiphanes, coming into Syria, by the treachery of the garrison, who hated the haughty temper of Demetrius, delivered up Ptolemais. Demetrius hearing that Alexander had possessed himself of Ptolemais, prepared to recover it; in order to which, he thought it necessary to court Jonathan, who he thought at this time might prove a dangerous enemy; and therefore concluded an alliance with him, for fear he should join with Alexander; and, to engage him the more in his interest, he gave him full power to raise forces, to provide arms, and ordered the hostages which were in the citadel to be delivered up to him.

Upon the offer of these conditions, Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read his orders, which when the garrison