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Wherever this decree was received, the people kept up a revelry of joy and shouting; as if their long-pent-up, hardened hatred, were now to show itself openly. The Jews suffered great throes of sorrow, and wept much; while their hearts, all things around being lamentable, were se... Mentions: Egypt .

Now Philopater, on learning from those who came back that Antiochus had made himself master of the places which belonged to himself, sent orders to all his footmen and horsemen, took with him his sister Arsinoe, and marched out as far as the parts of Raphia, where Antiochus and h... Mentions: Jerusalem .

Then he called Hermon , who had charge of the elephants. Full of rage, altogether fixed in his furious design, he commanded him, with a quantity of unmixed wine and handfuls of incense infused to drug the elephants early on the following day. These five hundred elephants were, whe... Mentions: Hermon , Judea .

King Ptolemy Philopator to the commanders throughout Egypt , and to all who are set over affairs, joy and strength. We, too, and our children are well; and God has directed our affairs as we wish. Certain of our friends did of malice vehemently urge us to punish the Jews of our re... Mentions: Jacob/Israel , Egypt , Ptolemais .

On discovering this, so incensed was the wicked king, that he no longer confined his rage to the Jews in Alexandria . Laying his hand more heavily upon those who lived in the country, he gave orders that they should be quickly collected into one place, and most cruelly deprived of... Mentions: Alexandria , Egypt , Syria , Phoenicia , Jerusalem .

Now was it that the high priest Simon bowed his knees over against the holy place, and spread out his hands in reverent form, and uttered the following supplication: O Lord, Lord, King of the heavens, and Ruler of the whole creation, Holy among the holy, sole Governor, Almighty, ... Mentions: Simon , Jacob/Israel , Egypt .

And Eleazar , an illustrious priest of the country, who had attained to length of days, and whose life had been adorned with virtue, caused the presbyters who were about him to cease to cry out to the holy God, and prayed thus: O king, mighty in power, most high, Almighty God, who... Mentions: Eleazar , Abram/Abraham , Jacob/Israel , Daniel , Egypt , Babylon .

Now this one, having endured this praiseworthy death, the third was brought along, and exhorted by many to taste and save his life. But he cried out and said, Know you⌃ not, that the father of those who are dead, became the father of me also; and that the same mother bare me; and...

Now after a space of three years tidings were brought to Judas and his company that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having sailed into the haven of Tripolis with a mighty host and a fleet, had gotten possession of the country, having made away with Antiochus and Lysias his guardi... Mentions: Judas , Simon , Mattathias , Jerusalem , Antioch 1 .

And in the hundred and seventy and second year king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media , to get him help, that he might fight against Tryphon. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media , heard that Demetrius was come into his borders, and he sent one of hi... Mentions: Simon , Jacob/Israel , Jonathan , Judas , Mattathias , Media, Persia , Joppa , Rome , Jerusalem .

The tyrant Antiochus, therefore, sitting in public state with his assessors upon a certain lofty place, with his armed troops standing in a circle around him, commanded his spearbearers to seize every one of the Hebrews , and to compel them to taste swine’s flesh, and things offer... Mentions: Eleazar .

And Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea to Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all the nation; and the contents thereof were after this manner: King Antiochus to Simon the chief priest and governor, and to the nation of the J... Mentions: Simon, Jerusalem , Dor , Rome , Samos , Pamphylia .

And Gorgias took five thousand footmen, and a thousand chosen horse, and the army removed by night, that it might fall upon the army of the Jews and strike them suddenly: and the men of the citadel were his guides. And Judas heard thereof, and removed, he and the valiant men, tha... Mentions: Judas , Jacob/Israel , David , Jonathan , Saul , Emmaus , Azotus , Antioch 1 .

But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria , resolved to set upon them with all security on the day of rest. And when the Jews that were compelled to follow him said, O destroy not so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which ... Mentions: Judas , Hezekiah , Samaria , Jerusalem .

For a certain man named Simon , who was in opposition to Onias, who once held the high priesthood for life, and was an honorable and good man, after that by slandering him in every way, he could not injure him with the people, went away as an exile, with the intention of betraying... Mentions: Simon , Syria , Phoenicia , Cilicia , Jerusalem , Egypt .

And Judas heard of the fame of the Romans , that they are valiant men, and have pleasure in all that join themselves to them, and make amity with all such as come to them, and that they are valiant men. And they told him of their wars and exploits which they do among the Gauls, an... Mentions: Judas , Eleazar , Jacob/Israel , Spain , Asia , India , Media , Greece .

But Judas , who is also called Maccabaeus, and they that were with him, making their way privily into the villages, called to them their kinsfolk; and taking to them such as had continued in the Jews’ religion, gathered together as many as six thousand. And they called upon the L... Mentions: Judas , Simon , Joseph , Jonathan , Phoenicia , Babylon , Jerusalem , Antioch 1 .

Now about this time Antiochus made his second inroad into Egypt . And it so befell that throughout all the city, for the space of almost forty days, there appeared in the midst of the sky horsemen in swift motion, wearing robes inwrought with gold and carrying spears, equipped i... Mentions: Ammonites , Judas , Egypt , Antioch 1 , Jerusalem .

In the hundred forty and ninth year tidings were brought to Judas and his company that Antiochus Eupator was coming with great multitudes against Judaea, and with him Lysias his guardian and chancellor, each having a Greek force, a hundred and ten thousand footmen, and five tho... Mentions: Judas , Antioch 1 , Ptolemais .

But the aforesaid Simon , he who had given information of the money, and had betrayed his country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodorus, and made himself the author of these evils. And him that was the benefactor of the city, and the guardian of his ... Mentions: Simon , Ammonites , Jacob/Israel , Phoenicia , Jerusalem , Antioch 1 , Tyre , Egypt .

And more that this, they even urged them on to this ill-treatment; so that they not only despised pains themselves, but they even got the better of their affections of brotherly love. O reasonings more royal than a king, and freer than freemen! Sacred and harmonious concert of th... Mentions: Abram/Abraham .

The argument is exceedingly ridiculous: for reasoning does not appear to bear sway over its own affections, but over those of the body, in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it. One may no... Mentions: David , Asia .

When he, too, had undergone blessed martyrdom, and died in the caldron into which he had been thrown, the seventh, the youngest of all, came forward: whom the tyrant pitying, though he had been dreadfully reproached by his brethren, seeing him already encompassed with chains, had...

Then, indeed, vehemently swayed with passion, he commanded to bring others of the adult Hebrews , and if they would eat of the unclean thing, to let them go when they had eaten; but if they objected, to torment them more grievously. The tyrant having given this charge, seven breth...

In those days rose up Mattathias the son of John , the son of Simeon , a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem ; and he lived at Modin. And he had five sons, John , who was surnamed Gaddis; Simon , who was called Thassi; Mentions: Mattathias , Simeon , Simon , Judas , Eleazar , Jerusalem , Zimri , Egypt .

When Eleazar had in this manner answered the exhortations of the tyrant, the spearbearers came up, and rudely haled Eleazar to the instruments of torture. And first, they stripped the old man, adorned as he was with the comeliness of piety. Then tying back his arms and hands, the... Mentions: Eleazar, Abram/Abraham .

And when he had died, disfigured in his torments, the fifth leaped forward, and said, I intend not, O tyrant, to get excused from the torment which is in behalf of virtue. But I have come of mine own accord, that by the death of me, you may owe heavenly vengeance a punishment for...

And John went up from Gazara, and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus was doing. And Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John , and said to them, I and my brethren and my father’s house have fought the battles of Israel from our youth, even to this day; and things have p... Mentions: Simon, Judas , Jacob/Israel , Mattathias , Kidron , Azotus , Jericho , Jerusalem .

And his son Judas , who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his stead. And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that clave to his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel . And he got his people great glory, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girde... Mentions: Judas , Jacob/Israel , Judah , Samaria , Syria , Persia , Euphrates , Egypt .

And Maccabaeus and they that were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city; and they pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the aliens, and also the walls of sacred inclosures. And having cleansed the sanctuary they made ano... Mentions: Simon , Joseph , Jacob/Israel , Phoenicia , Cyprus , Jerusalem , Asia .

As I am going to demonstrate a most philosophical proposition, namely, that religious reasoning is absolute master of the passions, I would willingly advise you to give the utmost heed to philosophy. For reason is necessary to every one as a step to science: and more especially d... Mentions: Eleazar .