The other was the revolt of the Hebrews under Judas Maccabaeus, against their Grecian rulers.

[Footnote 9: See Judas Maccabaeus Liberates Judea, page 245.] Had Alexander even at the moment of his greatest strength directed his forces westward instead of east, he would have found a different world and encountered a sturdier resistance.

165 JOSEPHUS (The noble-minded Judas Maccabaeus was the hero of Jewish independence the deliverer of Judea and Judaism during the bloody persecutions of the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes, in the second century B.C.

When Mattathias died, in B.C. 166, he was succeeded as leader by his son Judas, called Maccabaeus, "the Hammer"; as Charles, who defeated the Saracens at Tours, is called Martel or hammer.

Take Maccabaeus for the general of your army, because of his courage and strength, for he will avenge your nation and will bring vengeance on your enemies.

But when Timotheus' men perceived that it was Maccabaeus that was upon them, of both whose courage and good success in war they had formerly had sufficient experience, they were put to flight; but Judas followed them with his army and slew about eight thousand of them.

Judas Maccabaeus enters Jerusalem; he purifies the Temple.

Defeat and death of Judas Maccabaeus in battle.

Simon Maccabaeus captures the citadel of Jerusalem.

The Jews proclaim Simon Maccabaeus hereditary prince; with this dignity is united the office of high-priest.

Simon Maccabaeus is assassinated; John Hyrcanus, his son, succeeds him as ruler at Jerusalem.

There is no trace of any such speech in the Saxon Chronicle or Asser, and the one reported does not ring like that of Judas Maccabaeus.

The captivity Weeping by the river of Babylon JUDAS MACCABAEUS.

JUDAS MACCABAEUS.

After the heroic ages of Joshua, Gideon, and David, no warriors appeared in Jewish history equal to Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers in bravery, in patriotism, and in noble deeds.

But before I present the wonderful career of Judas Maccabaeus, we must look to the circumstances which made that career remarkable and eventful.

On the death of Mattathias, mourned by all Israel as Samuel was mourned, at the age of one hundred and forty-five, and buried in the sepulchre of his fathers at Modin, Judas, called "The Maccabaeus" ("The Hammer," as some suppose), rose up in his stead; and all his brothers helped him, and all his father's friends, and he fought with cheerfulness the battles of Israel.

Among other things, Judas Maccabaeus attacked the citadel or tower on Mount Zion, overlooking the Temple, in which a large garrison of the enemy had long been stationed, and which was a perpetual menace.

The gallant Maccabaeus, however, gained a great victory, and slew Nicanor himself.

The heroic career of Judas Maccabaeus was ended.

Meanwhile the long expectation of the Jews, especially during the reign of Herod, of a promised Deliverer, was fulfilled, and one claiming to be the Messiah appeared,not a temporal prince and mighty hero of war, a greater Judas Maccabaeus, as the Jews had supposed, but a helpless infant, born in a manger, and brought up as a peasant-carpenter.

Had Napoleon died at the Bridge of Lodi, he would have passed down in history as a Judas Maccabaeus.

And when Holofernes, nettled with the ridicule showered on his abortive impersonation of Judas Maccabaeus, says, 'I will not be put out of countenance,'Byron replies, 'Because thou hast no face.'

Conder, Judas Maccabaeus; Bevan, Jer.

Judas Maccabaeus, the Jewish hero, who freed his country from the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes.