proposals were accepted; upon which a treaty was concluded. The Egyptians, relying on his promises, suffered him to pursue his conquests without molestation; by which, it seems, Judea enjoyed the blessings of peace during the remainder of his reign.

In the year that Antiochus died, Cleopatra, his daughter, then queen of Egypt, had a son, whom they named Ptolemy Philometer. There was great rejoicing at the birth of this prince. All the provinces sent persons of distinction to congratulate the king and queen. Coelosyria and Palestine were not behindhand. Joseph, of whom I gave you an account in my last letter, was receiver-general of those provinces. He, being too old to undertake such a journey, sent his youngest son Hyrcanus in his stead; a young man of great abilities and engaging manners. The king and queen received him graciously, and bestowed upon him the highest marks of their favour.

Seleucus having succeeded his father Antiochus the Great, in the kingdom of Syria, Ptolemy Epiphanes resolved to make war upon him: but his chief ministers being aware that his resources were very inadequate to such a purpose, asked him by what means he intended to raise the money to prosecute it. He replied, That his friends were his treasure. They concluded from this answer, that he meant to make use of their purses, and that they should be ruined by it; to prevent which, they caused him to be poisoned. Thus died this monarch, after a reign of twenty-four years. Ptolemy Philometer, his who was but six years of age, suc

son,

ceeded him; and Cleopatra his mother was declared regent.

The city of Jerusalem enjoyed, at this time, the most profound tranquility, till it was disturbed by the perfidy of the governor of the temple, whose name was Simon. Onias having opposed him in his unjust proceedings, he, out of revenge, informed king Seleucus that there were immense treasures in the temple.

Year of

3828.

The king, upon hearing this, sent Heliodorus his treasurer, to demand them in his name. The high-priest, not suspecting his errand, the World received him with all the respect due to his office. But how great was his astonishment, when Heliodorus opened his commission, by acquainting him, that his master had been informed of the treasure which was in the temple, and that he was come to demand it! The high-priest told him that their temple was revered for its holiness throughout the world, and that the treasure it contained, was the property of widows and orphans, who had put it there as a place of security. Heliodorus, perceiving Onias would not give it up, led his guards into the temple, with a determination to seize it by force. Upon this, the priests, levites, and people assembled, and besought God to preserve their sacred deposit.

Heliodorus, on attempting to proceed, was struck by the divine power, and seized with such terror, as deprived him of the use of his faculties; so that he, who came into the temple in defiance of the Jews, was obliged to be carried out in a litter, apparently dead. The people turned their supplica

tions into praises and thanksgivings to God, who thus wonderfully appeared for them. Some of Heliodorus's friends came and besought Onias to intercede with God in his behalf. This good man besought the Lord, and he heard him, and restored Heliodorus, who returned thanks to Onias, and went his way, declaring to every one the wonderful work of the Almighty,

The king, dissatisfied at not receiving the treasures, asked Heliodorus if any other person might be sent. He answered, That if the king had an enemy he wished to get rid of, he might send him, declaring, that He who dwelleth in the heavens was present in that place, to guard and protect it, and that he would strike those mortally who went thither to injure it. Seleucus himself was afterwards punished for this sacrilegious act by the very man whom he had ordered to perpetrate it: for Heliodorus poisoned his master, and usurped the throne; but was prevented from enjoying it long, by Antiochus, brother of Seleucus, who happened to be at Athens when this event took place. Being powerfully supported, he soon recovered the kingdom, and expelled the traitor. Antiochus assumed the title of Epiphanes, or the Illustrious, which was never worse applied, as you will see in the sequel.

Antiochus was scarcely seated on the throne, before Jason, brother to Onias the high-priest, treated with him secretly for the high priesthood, offering him three hundred and sixty talents (abou ninety thousand pounds sterling.) He succeeded, and good Onias was deposed, to the great grief of the pious Jews, who loved and revered him. Jason

subverted the religion of his ancestors, and brought great calamities on the Jews. He also prevailed on Antiochus to have his brother Onias banished to Antioch.

Antiochus, in his progress through the provinces, visited Jerusalem, where he was received with great pomp and magnificence. Jason, the following year, sent the king's tribute by the hands of his brother Menelaus, who, following the example of Jason, obtained his office by offering the king three hundred talents more than his brother had done. He supported his claim by force, and Jason was put to flight. But shortly after, not having paid the tribute agreeable to his promise, he was summoned to appear before Antiochus, to answer for the neglect. He accordingly left the management of affairs at Jerusalem in the hands of Lysimachus, his brother, and repaired to Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, and the residence of the king. On his arrival, he found that Antiochus had just been obliged to leave the city, in order to quell an insurrection which had broken out in Cilicia, committing the government, during this interval, to Andronicus, one of his prime ministers. Menelaus soon perceived that nothing would satisfy the court but the payment of the stipulated sum, and was conscious that he did not possess resources adequate to the purpose. To extricate himself from this difficulty, he sent private instructions to his brother at Jerusalem, to furnish him with some of the golden vessels of the temple, which, being sold, supplied him with money sufficient not only to pay the tribute, but even to bribe the courtiers in his favour.

Being severely rebuked for this sacrilege by Onias, who was still living, he was so exasperated, that he shortly after prevailed upon Andronicus to put him to death. Onias was universally respected both by Jews and Gentiles, Antiochus himself lamented his fate, and caused Andronicus to be executed for the murder. In the mean time, great disturbances arose in Jerusalem, on account of the alienation of the sacred vessels, and Lysimachus, the perpetrator of this sacrilege, fell a victim to the fury of the people.

About this time, a war broke out between Antiochus and Ptolemy Philometer, and a battle was fought, in which the latter was completely defeated. After the victory, Antiochus returned to Tyre, and made that neighbourbood the winter quarters for his army.

During his stay there, the sanhedrim of Jerusalem sent three persons, with an accusation against Menelaus, whom, in the king's presence, they proved to be guilty of impiety and sacrilege. The king was about to condemn him, but, through the interposition of Ptolemy Macron, one of his ministers in the interest of Menelaus, he was persuaded not only to acquit him, but even to put the three deputies to death as false witnesses. The innocence of these persons was so conspicuous, that the Tyrians, as a token of respect, gave them an honourable inter

ment.

This Ptolemy Macron was formerly governor of the island of Cyprus, under king Ptolemy Philometer; but, on some occasion of disgust, deserting his interest, he delivered up the island of Cyprus to