Books Jesus Read
50
Books Jesus Read
sent a messenger to the king. In reply, Demetrius sent Prince Nicanor, highly honored among the Gentiles, with a simple command: “Don’t leave Israel without destroying its people!” Nicanor despised Israel and her people. He invaded Jerusalem with a large army while offering terms of peace to Judas, saying, “Let there be no strife between us but let us meet face to face with a few of my men.” Judas met briefly with Nicanor, then slipped away knowing his real intent was to capture and kill him. The two next met on the field of battle at Caphar-salama, where five hundred of Nicanor’s soldiers fell to Judas and his brothers. Many others fled to the fortress in the City of David. When Nicanor himself arrived at Zion, he was greeted by some priest from the sanctuary and elders of the people who were preparing burnt offerings to sacrifice on behalf of the king. Nicanor threatened them, “Bring Judas and his men to me or I will burn down this house!” Then he and his men left in a rage. The priests entered the sanctuary and stood weeping before the altar and praying, “This is the house you chose to be called by your name, to be a house of prayer and supplication for your people. Avenge yourself on this man and his host: may they fall by the sword. Remember their many blasphemies and do not let them continue” ( 1 Kgs 8:29, 43 ). While Nicanor and his army were encamped at Bethhoron, Judas took three thousand men with him to Adasa. There he prayed, “When emissaries of the king of Assyria blasphemed, your angels went forth and struck down 185,000 of them ( 2 Kgs 19:35 ). Strike down this host before us today, therefore, that everyone may know that
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