2 Maccabees

Peace With Antiochus

In the year one hundred and forty- nine (year 163 B.C.), the men of Judas learned that Antiochus Eupator had come against Judea with countless troops,

together with Lysias, his tutor, who was head of the government. Each commanded a Greek army of , soldiers, , horsemen, elephants, and approximately chariots of war equipped with scythes.

Menelaus joined them and incited Antiochus with malicious intent because he was not really fighting for his country’s freedom but only hoping to be restored to the office of high priest.

But the king of kings stirred Antiochus’ anger against that wicked man when Lysias made the king realize that Menelaus was the cause of all the evils. So the king ordered Menelaus to be taken to Berea and executed according to the local customs.

There is a tower at that location, twenty-five meters tall, filled with burning ashes, with a revolving device on top that slopes on all sides into ashes.

Whoever stole something sacred or committed any other infamous crime was taken to the tower and then pushed into the ashes.

In this way, Menelaus died without even being buried.

This was indeed a just punishment for him who had committed numerous offenses against the Altar, whose fire and ashes were sacred, and so, he met his death in ashes.

The king arrived with a heart full of evil plans, ready to be more ruthless to the Jews than his father had been.

When Judas learned of this, he commanded his troops to pray to God day and night so that, as God had done before in other situations, He would now also help the

who were in danger of losing their law, their country, and their temple. God could not allow His people, who had just begun to breathe freely, to fall once again into the hands of blasphemous pagans.

Once everyone had carried out the order to pray to the merciful Lord with lamentations, fasting, and prayer for three consecutive days, Judas encouraged and commanded them to stand ready.

After secretly summoning the elders, he decided to leave with his men for a decisive attempt with God’s help before the king’s army could invade Judea and take control of Jerusalem.

Judas entrusted the decision to the Creator of the world and encouraged his men to fight heroically to the death for the law, the temple, the city, the country, and the institutions. So he left with his army and camped near Modein.

He gave his men this rallying cry: “God’s victory.” With his most capable young soldiers, he attacked the king’s tent at night, killing about two thousand men, capturing the strongest elephant and its rider.

They caused panic and chaos in the camp, then withdrew successfully.

All this happened just as dawn was breaking, because God’s help protected them.

When the king saw the Jews’ bold attitude, he tried to weaken their fortresses with tricks.

He moved against Beth-Zur, a city strongly defended by the Jews; he attacked it but was pushed back and defeated.

Judas provided the city’s defenders with everything they needed.

Rhodocus, one of Judas’ men, delivered secret information to the enemies. He was hunted, captured, and executed.

The king again stayed in contact with the defenders of Beth-Zur, made peace with them, and withdrew.

He attacked Judas’ troops but was defeated. He was dismayed when he learned that Philip, whom he had left as head of the government in Antioch, had revolted. He sought peace with the Jews and was forced to accept and swear to uphold their fair petitions; he reconciled with them, offered sacrifices, honored the temple, and showed generosity to the Holy Place.

The king took leave of Maccabeus and appointed Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to the land of the Gerrhenes.

When he arrived in Ptolemais, he found the residents were angry about that treaty; they were so upset they wanted to cancel its terms.

But Lysias went to the tribunal to defend the decision; he persuaded and calmed them, winning their support before he left for Antioch.This was the outcome of the king’s expedition and retreat.