The Age of the Maccabees (Illustrated) by Annesley Streane Page A
Authors: Annesley Streane
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this service he acquired fromBalas Ekron and its
territory.
In 145 BC, however,
Demetrius obtained the throne with the help of Ptolemy, who transferred his
daughter Cleopatra from Balas to his rival. Jonathan at this time, trusting that
the Syrian forces were sufficiently employed, sought to obtain possession of
the citadel at Jerusalem, which still contained a Syrian garrison. Demetrius
hearing of this, summoned Jonathan to Ptolemais. The latter, however, was able
as a result of that interview to obtain his own confirmation in his dignities,
the promise for Judea of freedom from tribute, and the addition of the three
Samaritan provinces of Ephraim, Lydda, and Ramathaim—all this apparently on
condition that Jonathan should raise the siege of the citadel.
Antiochus VI, son of
Alexander Balas, was now brought forward by Trypho (the leader of some troops
whom Demetrius had disbanded) as rival king to Demetrius, and thereupon an
opportunity was furnished Jonathan to make still further demands as the price
of aid. Before, however, effect could be given to these, Demetrius was driven
from power, and Jonathan passed over to the side of the new ruler, taking the
field on his behalf, while at the same time he sent ambassadors to open up
friendly relations with Sparta, as well as to Rome to renew the treaty made in
the time of Judas. At this time also the city was refortified and a wall
erected so as to cut off the citadel effectually from the rest of Jerusalem. At
length, Trypho suspecting, and not without cause, that Jonathan was advancing
rapidly towards the step of casting off completely the Syrian suzerainty,
treacherously secured the person of the Jewish leader, and after a further
exhibition of successful craft in his dealings with Simon Maccabeus, who had
taken the command, caused Jonathan to be murdered at Bascama, and returned
home.
Simon, on his
succession to power (142 BC), reaped the benefit of his predecessor's skilful
policy and generalship. All that was needed was to obtain from Syria the
confirmation of the concessions made to Jonathan. These were readily granted by
Demetrius, who indeed had no power to refuse them, and Simon's position as an
independent prince was virtually conceded, though not perhaps in language
wholly free from ambiguity. He now proceeded to secure the fortress of Beth-zur
and Gazara. The latter was of special importance to obtain, as being on the
route between Jerusalem and Joppa, a town which was one of the most valuable
acquisitions made at this time, as its trading dues were a source of large
income to the Jewish commonwealth. Above all, he at last obtained possession of
the citadel itself, and demolished its forts, the Hellenists who occupied it
either withdrawing to Egypt, or accepting the new conditions of life in their
own country, or lastly, in some few cases where they were unwilling to yield,
being put to death for their idolatrous leanings. Public documents were dated
from the commencement of Simon’s reign (142 BC), as a new era, thus following
the example of neighboring independent states. Embassies sent by him to Sparta
and to Rome procured promises of friendship and support from both. Prosperity
prevailed throughout the land. According to the description of the Maccabean
historian, “Then they tilled their ground in peace, and the land gave her
increase, and the trees of the plains their fruit. The ancient men sat in the
streets, they communed all of them together of good things, and the young men
put on glorious and warlike apparel. He provided victuals for the cities, and
furnished them with all manner of munition, until the name of his glory was
named unto the end of the earth. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced
with great joy: and they sat each man under his vine and his fig-tree, and there
was none to make them afraid: and there ceased in the land any that fought
against them: and the kings were discomfited in those days. And he strengthened
all those of his
territory.
In 145 BC, however,
Demetrius obtained the throne with the help of Ptolemy, who transferred his
daughter Cleopatra from Balas to his rival. Jonathan at this time, trusting that
the Syrian forces were sufficiently employed, sought to obtain possession of
the citadel at Jerusalem, which still contained a Syrian garrison. Demetrius
hearing of this, summoned Jonathan to Ptolemais. The latter, however, was able
as a result of that interview to obtain his own confirmation in his dignities,
the promise for Judea of freedom from tribute, and the addition of the three
Samaritan provinces of Ephraim, Lydda, and Ramathaim—all this apparently on
condition that Jonathan should raise the siege of the citadel.
Antiochus VI, son of
Alexander Balas, was now brought forward by Trypho (the leader of some troops
whom Demetrius had disbanded) as rival king to Demetrius, and thereupon an
opportunity was furnished Jonathan to make still further demands as the price
of aid. Before, however, effect could be given to these, Demetrius was driven
from power, and Jonathan passed over to the side of the new ruler, taking the
field on his behalf, while at the same time he sent ambassadors to open up
friendly relations with Sparta, as well as to Rome to renew the treaty made in
the time of Judas. At this time also the city was refortified and a wall
erected so as to cut off the citadel effectually from the rest of Jerusalem. At
length, Trypho suspecting, and not without cause, that Jonathan was advancing
rapidly towards the step of casting off completely the Syrian suzerainty,
treacherously secured the person of the Jewish leader, and after a further
exhibition of successful craft in his dealings with Simon Maccabeus, who had
taken the command, caused Jonathan to be murdered at Bascama, and returned
home.
Simon, on his
succession to power (142 BC), reaped the benefit of his predecessor's skilful
policy and generalship. All that was needed was to obtain from Syria the
confirmation of the concessions made to Jonathan. These were readily granted by
Demetrius, who indeed had no power to refuse them, and Simon's position as an
independent prince was virtually conceded, though not perhaps in language
wholly free from ambiguity. He now proceeded to secure the fortress of Beth-zur
and Gazara. The latter was of special importance to obtain, as being on the
route between Jerusalem and Joppa, a town which was one of the most valuable
acquisitions made at this time, as its trading dues were a source of large
income to the Jewish commonwealth. Above all, he at last obtained possession of
the citadel itself, and demolished its forts, the Hellenists who occupied it
either withdrawing to Egypt, or accepting the new conditions of life in their
own country, or lastly, in some few cases where they were unwilling to yield,
being put to death for their idolatrous leanings. Public documents were dated
from the commencement of Simon’s reign (142 BC), as a new era, thus following
the example of neighboring independent states. Embassies sent by him to Sparta
and to Rome procured promises of friendship and support from both. Prosperity
prevailed throughout the land. According to the description of the Maccabean
historian, “Then they tilled their ground in peace, and the land gave her
increase, and the trees of the plains their fruit. The ancient men sat in the
streets, they communed all of them together of good things, and the young men
put on glorious and warlike apparel. He provided victuals for the cities, and
furnished them with all manner of munition, until the name of his glory was
named unto the end of the earth. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced
with great joy: and they sat each man under his vine and his fig-tree, and there
was none to make them afraid: and there ceased in the land any that fought
against them: and the kings were discomfited in those days. And he strengthened
all those of his