Jeshua, having obtained a grant of the high priesthood from Bagoas governor of Syria, proceeds to Jerusalem to depose Johanan, but is slain by him in the inner court of the temple. For this offence, Bagoas condemns the Jews to a severe fine, which they pay until the death of Artaxerxes, about seven years after Mausoleus, king of Caria, dies The Phoenicians, joined by some of the Jews, revolt against Ochus, but are defeated. Ochus attacks Jericho, captures it and carries many Jews into captivity Johanan, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by Jaddua Philip, king of Macedonia, assassinated Darins Codomanus ascends the throne of Persia Alexander gains the battle of Granicus, and, in the following year, that of Issus Besieges Tyre; requires provisions from the Jews, but they refuse to grant them, because of their allegiance to Darius After taking Tyre, he proceeds to Jerusalem; but instead of punishing the Jews, confers many privileges upon them, especially the free exercise of their own laws and religion Alexandria founded by Alexander The reed Papyrus first used for writing Battle of Arbela, which transfers the empire of the world to Alexander Alexander dies at Babylon, through intemperance The empire of Alexander divided. Palestine, with other countries, falls to Laomedon the Mytilenian Jaddua, the Jewish high priest, dies, and is succeeded by Onias Ptolemy defeats Laomedon; besieges Jerusalem, which he carries by assault on a sabbath day, as the Jews would not then defend themselves B. C. 366 354 351 341 336 335 333 332 ib. 331 ib. ib. 323 ib. 321 320 He carries 100,000 Jews captive to Egypt, but honours many of them with offices of great responsibility The æra of the Seleucidæ, used all over the east by Heathens, Jews, Christians, and Mahomedans, begins: memorable for the capture of Babylon by Seleucus, who establishes the Syro-Macedonian empire Epicurus, thirty-two years of age, begins to promnige his doctrines In the war between Ptolemy and Antigonus, Judea frequently changes its master; but after the defeat of Antigonus, at Ipsus in Phrygia, Palestine is secured to Ptolemy Onias, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by Simon, his son, denominated the Just. Simon is said to have completed the canon of the Old Testament, by adding the two books of Chronicles, Ezra and Esther, (which four he seems to have written himself) Nehemiah and Malachi Simon dies: his son, being an infant, is set aside; and B. C. 320 312 310 301 300 292 ib. The Scriptures translated from Hebrew into Greek, about this time, being the eighth year of Ptolemy Philadelphus 277 Eleazar, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by Manasseh, son of Jaddua 276 The first Punic war begins 264 Berosus, the Babylonish historian, flourishes about Manasseh, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by Onias II. son of Simon 260 250 Ptolemy Evergetes, after great successes against Laodice, queen of Syria, offers thanksgiving and sacrifices to the true God, in Jerusalem 246 Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barcas, at nine years of age, swears on the altar, eternal enmity to the Romans 237 Displeased at the non-payment of the annual tribute of twenty talents, Evergetes threatens to dispossess the Jews of their country. Alarmed at this, Onias sends his nephew Joseph to Egypt, to intercede with the king, in which he is very successful Onias, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by his son Simon Hannibal crosses the Alps, and invades Italy Ptolemy Philopater, visiting Jerusalem, sacrifices to the true God. Attempts to enter the most holy place of the temple; but is smitten by the hand of Providence, "and carried out half dead." In revenge, he subjects the Jews to a severe persecution B. C. 226 218 ib. 217 Hannibal defeats the Romans at Thrasymene, and, in ib. the following year, at Cannæ An insurrection in Egypt against Philopater. The Jews supposed to be engaged in it, as forty thousand of them were cut off about this time Marcellus, the Roman, captures Syracuse: Archimedes, the famous mathematician, is slain by a common soldier Antiochus the Great, king of Syria, makes himself master of Palestine Hannibal recalled from Italy; and, in the following year, defeated by Scipio, at the battle of Zama Scopas, an Egyptian general, captures and plunders Jerusalem and other Jewish cities, and thus alieniates the affections of the Jews 216 213 212 203 ib. 199 Antiochus, being received with open arms by the Jews, grants them many immunities 198 Simon, the high priest, dies, and is succeeded by his son Onias III. 195 Antiochus entirely defeated at Magnesia in Asia, by the Romans, under Lucius Scipio 190 Simon, governor of the temple, quarrelling with Onias, flies to Apollonius the governor of Cœlo Syria, and incites him to plunder the temple, with the hope of finding great treasure Jason, having purchased the priesthood of Antiochus Epiphanes, deposes his brother Onias. Erects a Gymnasium, and seduces the Jews to idolatry Menelaus, another brother, purchases the priesthood Menelaus professes idolatry, plunders the temple, and causes Onias to be murdered Jason attacks and captures Jerusalem, and again seizes the priesthood Antiochus hastens to attack Jerusalem. Having taken the city, he slays forty thousand Jews, sells as many more for slaves, plunders the temple, and defiles the holy of holies B. C. 176 175 172 171 170 ib. Jason, who had escaped the vengeance of Antiochus, dies miserably in Lacedemonia ib. Paulius Æmilius vanquishes Perseus, king of Macedon, and makes that country a Roman province Antiochus vents his displeasure on the Jews; causes great numbers to be slain, and commences a sanguinary persecution against all who observe the law of Moses, or refuse to become idolaters Mattathias, a priest, (great grandson of Asmonæus) and his sons Johanan, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan, boldly oppose apostacy, at Modin; and, slaying the king's commissioner, retire to the mountains 168 ib. ib. They resolve to fight on the sabbath, if attacked then by their enemies ib. Antiochus proceeds to Judea to see his laws enforced; and causes great numbers of Jews to be slain The first library founded at Rome, consisting of books brought from Macedon Mattathias begins the restoration of the true worship in the cities of Judah, but dies the following year 167 ib. 166 Judas, called Maccabæus, succeeds his father. He restores the worship of God in several places Judas obtained the name Maccabæus from Mi Ca Ba Ie the Judas, with a very small army, gains in a short time several important victories, makes great carnage among his enemies, retakes Jerusalem, and re-establishes the worship of God Antiochus, smitten by the hand of God, dies of a horrible disease in his bowels, on the confines of Persia and Babylon The like fate has attended other persecutors, as may be instanced Judas inflicts severe punishment on the Edomites and B. C. 166 ib. 164 163 Eleazar, one of the brothers of Judas, slain in a battle with the Syrians ib. Menelaus, the high priest, smothered in ashes, by order of Antiochus Eupator, who appoints Alcimus to be his successor Onias, son of Onias III. flies to Egypt The Jews, refusing to accept Alcimus as high priest, Demetrius Soter, who had seized the crown of Syria, sends a great army against them, which is defeated by Judas and cut off to a man Judas implores and obtains the alliance of the Romans ib. Judas, deserted by his men, is defeated and slain by Bacchides; and Jerusalem, with a great part of Judea, falls into the hands of the Syrians Jonathan succeeds Judas John slain by a tribe of Arabs ib. ib. ib. |