Page 320 - Bible History

THE LAST DAYS OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDA 293
years after his rst attack upon the city, he returned and took possession of it. He destroyed the houses and the walls. He made a fort of Mount Sion for the Syrian troops.
Antiochus forbade the Jews to o er sacri ces to their God. He tried to force them to worship the gods of the Greeks. The Temple of the true God was made the temple of the pagan god. Pagans went to the Temple to adore their idols and they o ered unclean animals upon the altar. In all the cities of Juda, pagan altars were set up and pagan worship commanded. All who practiced circumcision or who observed the Sabbath were punished by death. Once a month a search was made for copies of the law, and those who had them in their possession were put to death. Great numbers of the Jews ed from the cities. Others were sold into slavery. Strangers from other coun- tries were brought into Jerusalem to take the place of
the scattered Jews.
These persecutions made the Jews strong. They be-
came more devoted to the customs of Israel and to the worship of the true God. Their heroism was so great that many su ered martyrdom. They persevered in their loyalty even unto death.
Eleazar,amanninetyyearsold,oneoftheimportant men of the nation, was brought before the governor. He was accused of keeping the commandments of the old faith of the Jews. The governor commanded him to eat the esh of swine, which was forbidden to the Jews. Eleazar bravely refused to do so. The great aged man aroused the pity of the people who were
Religi
­ tion the Je
=
The m ­ dom