Books Jesus Read

Chapter 2: Hasmonean Holiness – Judas Maccabeus

47

with him, he fought his way toward the animal with his sword in one hand and a long spear in the other. When he was near the elephant, he could see that its underside was unprotected. Diving beneath it, he rammed his spear with all his might up into the belly of the beast which screamed out in pain and fell upon Eleazar, killing him instantly. Despite Eleazar’s courageous act, his fellow warriors saw the enemy’s strength and retreated. And by the day’s end, the king’s forces had advanced to the outskirts of Jerusalem. That very night a messenger came to Lysias with the news that his rival, Philip, of the eastern kingdom, was advancing with his forces from Persia in order to capture the king’s son and consolidate the kingdom under his own rule. Lysias told no one but decided to break off the siege of Jerusalem at once. To survive an attack by Philip, he would need Israel as an ally rather than an enemy. Lysias assembled his commanders together with the young king and addressed them as follows: “Sons of Seleucus, why are we wasting the might of our forces on this worthless place? Our supplies are lacking and the enemy shows no signs of surrender. Important business awaits us in Antioch, yet here we are wasting away in this wilderness! And how did these people come to be our enemies? I’ll tell you: our former king forbade them to keep their own laws and customs. Come, brothers, can we not restore their privileges and thereby renew our peaceful relations?” This speech of Lysias persuaded his commanders, and the young king agreed, on oath, to leave Jerusalem peacefully, if the Jews would abandon the Akra. However, the king broke his oath as he left Jerusalem: passing through