Thou-when Sennacherib, Assyria's chief,
The self-styled conqueror of a little world,
Proud of his countless troops, his battles won,
His cities sack't, and idol-gods o'erthrown-
Could not restrain his bursting insolence,
But rashly dar'd thy holy land to invade ;-
Thou, to the world displaying thy vast might,
The empty threatenings of his idle tongue
Didst in one moment, and for ever, quell.
When the three Hebrew youths in Babel's court
Sustain'd the trial; whom nor threats could force,
Nor soft persuasion charm, to bow the knee
In idol-worship;-firm in faith they stood,
Unmov'd, unflinching; while beneath their glance
The courtiers wither'd, and the baffled king
Champ't at his favours spurn'd, his power defied.
He ask'd their conscience—and they gave their lives.
But when his angry furnace flam'd on high
With seven-fold fury charg'd, from its huge mouth
Gaping as if for prey, whole sheets of fire
Burst forth beyond controul, and with blind rage
The helpless ministers for victims slew.
Into this lake, of fire and seeming death,
Bound hand and foot, they sank.-But quickly rose, And walked, unharm'd, and free.-For THOU wert there!
At thy command, above, below, around,
The laughing flames played harmless; and a dew
Heaven-sent, breathed such cool freshness o'er the place,
The tyrant's Hell became God's Paradise.-
Thou from the Assyrian lions' hungry jaws
Didst rescue Daniel, foully doom'd to die.
And Jonah, in the huge sea-monster's maw
Immur'd, beyond all hope of human aid,
To his despairing friends didst safe restore.
And now, most merciful, all-seeing GOD,
Hater of insolence, thyself display
A swift avenger of thy people's wrongs,
Whom odious heathens lawlessly oppress.
And, for those sins, which idly we have wrought Against thy name in this sad pilgrimage,
We dare not ask forgiveness :-Yet, at least
Save us, we pray, from man's rude tyranny;
Into Thy hands, O LORD, content we fall.
Let not vain Gentiles with mistaken joy
Thank their false idols for our overthrow;
Nor ask exulting, "Where lies Israel now?
"Where is their promis'd aid, their boasted GOD?"
But THOU, who hast all majesty and might,
Eternal One! look down, behold thy sons
Smarting beneath oppression's iron rod,
And to a traitor's abject fate consign'd.
Thou honour'd mighty One! this very morn
Let heathens own thy power, o'er Israel sav'd.
Our elders pray Thee, and our infant babes
In untaught eloquence of tears implore.
Prove to the world that Thou art with us still,
Thy face still on us sheds its favouring light :
And for thy promise, never to desert
E'en in captivity thy once-lov'd race,
That gracious promise, LORD, this day fulfil.
The Genealogy of the Maccabean Family, so far as it is mentioned in
John Hyrcanus (and two other sons slain by Ptolemy)
The Genealogy of Herod the Great, so far as it relates to these
324 Alexander the Great dies.
312 The Era of the Seleucidæ begins.
277 Translation of the Bible into Greek.
217 The battle of Raphia in Egypt.
Ptolemy orders the Jews to be destroyed by
his elephants.
176 Heliodorus sent to rob the temple at Jerusalem.
167 The "abomination of desolation," or statue of Jupiter set up in the temple, by Antiochus Epiphanes.
The martyrdom of Eleazar, and the seven
brethren.
166 Judas Maccabæus begins his exploits.
164 Judas purifies the temple.
144 Jonathan treacherously slain by Tryphon.
143 Simon acknowledged for an independent
prince. He coins money.
142 Simon is created high priest, governor,
captain, by the Jews.
st.) 130 Hyrcanus shakes off the Syrian yoke.
126 Hyrcanus takes the title of king.
80 (about) Antipater, Herod's father, comes to dwell at Jerusalem.
63 Pompey reduces Judæa, enters the temple, and puts an end to the kingdom of Syria. 54 Crassus plunders the temple.
49 The battle of Pharsalia. Pompey defeated. 40 Herod declared king of Judæa by the Ro
37 The Asmonæan dynasty extinguished, by Herod putting to death Antigonus.
31 The battle of Actium: Antony defeated.
30 The kingdom of Egypt ended, by the death
of Cleopatra.
28 Herod murders his wife Mariamne.
19 Herod undertakes to rebuild the temple.
6 Herod puts to death his two sons.
3 Herod slays his son Antipater, and dies.
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