fled; and many were wounded to death. Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt, and he took the spoils thereof.”* Daniel, in some subsequent verses, is more minute in his prophecy of this event. "And at the time of the end shall the king of the South push at him;" Ptolemy is here alluded to; "and the king of the North," Antiochus," shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over."† "He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown but he shall escape out of his hand, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon." "He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape."§ "But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over the precious things of Egypt," &c.ll If we compare the relation given by the author of the Maccabees with Daniel's prophecy, we find a perfect resemblance, except that the prophet is more clear and particular than the historian. Diodorus relates, that Antiochus, after this victory, conquered all Egypt, or at least the greatest part of it: for all the cities, Alexandria excepted, opened their gates to the conqueror. He subdued Egypt with an astonishing rapidity, and did that" which his forefathers had not done, nor his father's fathers."** Ptolemy either surrendered himself, or fell into the hands of Antiochus, who at first treated him with kindness; had but one table with him, seemed to be greatly concerned for his welfare, and left him the peaceable possession of his kingdom, reserving to himself Pelusium, which was the key of it. For Antiochus assumed this appearance of friendship, with no other view than to have the better opportunity of ruining him." They that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him."†† Antiochus did not make a long stay in Egypt at that time, the news which was brought of the general revolt of the Jews, obliging him to march against them. In the mean time, the inhabitants of Alexandria, offended at Philometer for having concluded an alliance with Antiochus, raised Evergetes, his younger brother, to the throne in his stead. Antiochus, who had advice of what had passed in Alexandria, took this opportunity to return into Egypt, upon pretext of restoring the dethroned monarch, but in reality to make himself absolute master of the kingdom. THIRD EXPEDITION OF ANTIOCHUS INTO EGYPT. "And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief; and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper; for the end shall be at the time appointed." ++ "Then shall he," Antiochus," return into his land with great riches."§§ The third expedition of Antiochus could scarcely be pointed out more clearly. That prince, hearing that the Alexandrians had raised Evergetes to the throne, returned to Egypt upon the specious pretence of restoring Philometer: "Per honestum speciem majoris Ptolemæi reducendi in regnum." After having overcome the Alexandrians in a sea-fight at Pelusium, he laid siege to Alexandria. But, finding the inhabitants made a strong opposition, he was contented with making himself master of Egypt again, in the name of his nephew, in whose defence he pretended to have drawn the sword: "Cui regnum quæri suis viribus simulabat."* They were then at Memphis, eat at the same table, and behaved toward one another with all the outward marks of a sincere friendship. The uncle seemed to have the nephew's interest at heart, and the nephew to repose the highest confidence in his uncle; but all this was mere show, both dissembling their real sentiments. The uncle endeavoured to crush his nephew: "Cui regnum quæri suis viribus simulabat, ut mox victorem aggrediretur;"† and the nephew, who saw through his design, "voluntatis ejus non ignarus," strove immediately to be reconciled to his brother. Thus neither succeeded in deceiving the other: nothing was yet determined, and Antiochus returned into Syria. FOURTH EXPEDITION OF ANTIOCHUS INTO EGYPT. "At the time appointed he shall return and come toward the South; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter."‡ "For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant."§ Advice being brought to Antiochus, that the two brothers were reconciled, he threw off the mask, and declared publicly that he intended to conquer Egypt for himself. And, to support his pretensions," he returned toward the South," that is, into Egypt, but was not so successful in this expedition as before. As he was advancing to besiege Alexandria, Popilius and the other Roman ambassadors, who were on board a fleet composed of Macedonian or Greek ships, for this the Hebrew word Chittim signifies, which they found at Delos, obliged him to lay down his arms, and leave Egypt. He obeyed, but "with the utmost reluctance, and made the city and temple of Jerusalem feel the dire effects of his indignation," as will be presently seen. Had the prophet been eye-witness to this event, could it have been possible for him to point it out in a clearer and more exact manner? II. CRUEL PERSECUTION EXERCISED BY ANTIOCHUS AGAINST THE JEWS, AND FORETOLD BY THE PROPHET DANIEL. I HAVE mentioned and explained, in another place, the account which Daniel the prophet gives of the reign of Alexander the Great, and those of his four successors. "Behold a he-goat came from the West, on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground." Could it have been possible to denote more plainly the rapidity of Alexander's conquests? "The he-goat waxed very great, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."** These are Alexander's four successors. "And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the South, and toward the East, and toward the pleasant land." This is Antiochus Epiphanes, who gained several victories toward the south, and the east, and who strongly opposed the army of the Lord and the Jewish people, of whom God was the strength and the protector. The prophet afterwards points out the war which Epiphanes proclaimed against the people of God, the priests of the Lord, his laws and his temple. "And it waxed great," the horn, "even to the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host," to God; "and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.§§ And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised and prospered." Daniel gives still greater extent to the same prophecy in his eleventh chapter. "His heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits. He shall return and have indignation against the holy covenant."* During the siege of Alexandria, a report had prevailed that Antiochus was dead, and the Jews had been accused of expressing great joy at it. He thereupon marched to their city, stormed it, and exercised all the barbarity that his fury could suggest. About forty thousand men were killed, and the same number sold as slaves, in three days. Antiochus went into the temple, polluted it, and carried off all the vessels, treasures, and rich ornaments. After Popilius had forced him to leave Egypt, he turned the fury he conceived upon that occasion against the Jews. He sent Apollonius into Judea, with orders to kill all the men capable of bearing arms, and to sell the women and children. Accordingly, Appollonius made dreadful havoc in Jerusalem, set fire to the city, beat down the walls, and carried the women and children into captivity.§ "He shall return and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part; and they shall pollute the sanc tuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall be corrupt by flatteries," &c.] Antiochus declared openly for all those who should renounce the law. Having published an ordinance, by which all the Jews were commanded, upon pain of death to change their religion. He sent some officers to Jerusalem, ordering them to pollute the temple, and abolish the worship of the Most High. They accordingly dedicated this temple to Jupiter Olympus, and placed his statue in it. They raised in every part of the city profane temples and altars, where they compelled the Jews to offer sacrifices, and partake of meats sacrificed to idols. Many from the dread of torture, seemed to comply in all things required from them, and even prompted others to countenance their base apostacy. And such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall he," Antiochus, "corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God, shall be strong and do exploits." This manifestly points out old Eleazar, the seven Maccabees and their mother, and a great number of other Jews, who courageously opposed the impious orders of the king.** And they that understand among the people shall, instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days," This relates chiefly to Mattathias and his sons. "Now when they fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries." Mattathias and Judas Maccabeus supported the distressed nation, and the almost universally abandoned religion, with so small a number of forces, that we can consider the success which the Almighty gave their arms no other than a miracle. Their troops grew more numerous by degrees, and afterwards formed a very considerable body. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed."§§ The sufferings and death of those who steadfastly refused to obey the king's decree, was their glory and triumph. "And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished for that that is determined, shall be done."||| Dan. xi. 28, 30. † We are told in the Maccabees, that it was twice this number. 11 Maccab. i. 21-24. et ii. 5-21. Joseph. Lib. de Maccab. &c. 1 Maccab. i. 30-34. et ii. 24-26v T1 Maccab. 1. xliii. &c. 2 Maccab. iv. 7 &c. vi. 1, &c. Ver. 36. Ver 36: Dan. xi. 30, 31, 32. ** Dan. xi. 32. ++ Ver. 33 1 Ver. 84. 145 "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all."* Epiphanes ridiculed all religions. He plundered the temples of Greece, and wanted to rob that of Elymais. He exercised his impious fury chiefly against Jerusalem and the Jews, and almost without any resistance. The Almighty seemed to wink for a time at all the abominations which were committed in his temple, till his wrath against his people was satisfied. "But tidings out of the east, and out of the north, shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to take away many." Antiochus was troubled when news was brought him, that the provinces of the east,and Artaxias, king of Armenia, to the north, were in arms, and going to throw off his yoke. Tacitus tells us, that when Antiochus had formed a resolution to force the Jews to change their religion, and embrace that of the Greeks, the Parthians had revolted from Antiochus.‡ Before he set out for the provinces on the other side of the Euphrates, he gave Lysias, whom he appointed regent of the kingdom in his absence, half his army; commanding him to extirpate all the Jews, and to settle other nations in their country.§ "He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace," [in Apadno] "between the sons in the glorious holy mountain" [of Zabi]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." This verse which is literally translated from the Hebrew, is very difficult to be explained, because of the two words Apadno and Zabi, which were not to be found in the ancient geography. The reader knows that I do not take upon me to clear up difficulties of this kind. Porphyry, whom we have no reason to suspect, imagined that this alluded to the expedition of Antiochus beyond the Euphrates, and to his death which happened on that march. This is the opinion of the greatest part of the interpreters, and therefore we ought to be satisfied with it. The prophet therefore declares that Antiochus shall pitch his camp near mount Zabi, doubtless the same with Taba,**" where, according to Polybius,tt he died, and there he shall come to his end," being abandoned by God, and having none" to help him." We have seen how he expired, in the most cruel agonies, and struck with an unavailing repentance, which only increased his torments. Theodoret, St. Jerom, and several interpreters, take all that the prophet Danjel speaks concerning Antiochus Epiphanes in another sense, as alluding to Antichrist. It is certain that this prince, who was equally impious and cruel, is one of the most lively as well as most expressive types of that enemy of Jesus Christ and our holy religion. It is impossible for us while we are reading this prophecy, not to be forcibly struck at seeing the justness and accuracy with which the prophet traces the principal characteristics of a king, whose history is so much blended with that of the Jews; and we perceive evidently, that for this reason the Holy Spirit, either entirely omitting, or taking only a transient notice of the actions of other much more famous princes, dwells so long on that of Antiochus Epiphanes. With what certainty does Daniel foretell a multitude of events, so very remote, and which depended on so many arbitrary circumstances! How manifestly did the Spirit, which presented futurity to his view, show it him as present, and in as clear a light as if he had seen it with his bodily eyes! Do not the divine authority of the Scriptures, and by a necessary consequence, the ↑ Antiochus demere superstitionem et mores Græcorum dare admixus, quominus teterrimam gentem in melius mutaret, Parthorum bello prohibitus est; nam ea tempestate Arsaces defecerat.-Tacit. I. v. c. 8. 31 Maccab. iii. 31-39. || The words between the crotchets of this verse are not in our English translation of the Bible. Dan. xi. 45. **Taba, according to Polybius, was in Persia; and in Paretacena, according to Quintus Curtius. VOL. IV. certainty of the Christian religion, become, by such proofs, in a manner palpable and self-evident ? No prophecy was ever fulfilled in so clear, so perfect, and so indisputable a manner as this. Porphyry,* the professed enemy of the Christian religion, as well as of the Old and New Testament, being infinitely perplexed in finding so great a conformity between the events foretold by Daniel, and the relations given by the best historians, did not pretend to deny this conformity; for that would have been repugnant to sense, and denying the shining of the sun at noon-day. However, he took another course, in order to undermine the authority of the Scriptures. He himself laboured, by citing all the histo rians extant at that time, and which are since lost, to show, in a very extensive manner, that whatever is written in the eleventh chapter of Daniel, happened exactly as foretold by that prophet; and he concluded from this perfect uniformity, that so exact a detail of so great a number of events could not possibly have been written by Daniel so many years before they happened; and that this work must certainly have been written by some person who lived after Antiochus Epiphanes, and borrowed Daniel's name. In this contest between the Christians and heathens, the former would indisputably carry their cause, could they be able to demonstrate, by good proofs, that Daniel's prophecies were really written by him. This they proved unanswerably, by citing the testimony of a whole people, I mean the Jews, whose evidence could not be suspected or disallowed, as they were still greater enemies to the Christian religion than the heathens themselves. The reverence they had for the sacred writings, of which Providence had appointed them the depositaries and guardians, was so great, that they would have thought him a criminal and sacrilegious wretch, who should have attempted only to transpose a single word, or change one letter in them; what idea then would they have entertained of that man who should pretend to introduce any suppositious books in them? Such are the witnesses who attested the reality of Daniel's prophecies. And were there ever proofs so convincing, or cause so victorious? Thy testimonies are very sure, O Lord, for ever."t Porphyry was a learned heathen, born at Tyre, A. D. 259, and wrote a very voluminous treatise against the Christian religion. † Psal. xciii. 5. |