Page 326 - Bible History

THE LAST DAYS OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDA
enemy king. He determined to take revenge on the Jws and started for Jerusalem .
On the way he was struck with a terrible disease. He was in great pain, yet he tried to go on. He con­ tinued on the journey until one day he fell from his chariot and could go no farther. The esh fell from his bones, and the stench from his body was so great that no one could stand to be near him. He cried out
to God for mercy and promised to give independence to the J ews, but his repentance was not sincere and God did not hear his p ayer. He died a miserable death in a strange country among the mountains.
5. JunAs MACHABEus Is SLAIN AND THE ScEPTER PASSES FROM JUDA
The Syrians still held the fortress on Mount Sion, M and Machabeus besieged it. During the siege some Syrian soldiers escaped from the fortress. With t traitors from the Jewish army, they went to Antiochus Eupator, who was then king of Syria, to ask for help.
The king marched on Jerusalem with a large army. Judas left the siege of Mount Sion and marched to
meet him. He placed his army near a mountain pass where he could meet the companies of the enemy's
army one at a time. A erce battle followed. Judas
saw that the king's army was too powerful for him.
He retreated to Jerusalem, and Antiochus, Eupator marched against the Temple. The army of Judas Machabeus had but little food. He would have been
compelled to surrender had not quarrels in the Syrian
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