Part 219 (2/2)

_How King Demetrius Made a Treaty and How Jonathan, in Despite of Him, Took the City of Joppa_.

(Alexander slew Demetrius and succeeded him as king, but a son of Demetrius, also named Demetrius, attempted to recover his father's kingdom, and sent an army into Palestine. Jonathan remained on the side of King Alexander, and conquered Apollonius, general of Demetrius.)

And in the hundred and threescore and fifth year came Demetrius, son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers: and King Alexander heard thereof, and he was grieved exceedingly, and returned unto Antioch. And Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coelesyria, and he gathered together a great host, and encamped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan, the high priest, saying,--

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

SITE OF APHAMEA.

From a photograph in the possession of Rev. Louis F. Giroux of the American International College, Springfield, Ma.s.s., and used by his kind permission.

The capital of Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander's generals, founder of the famous dynasty of the Seleucidae. These kings are mentioned in the book of Daniel and in the books of the Maccabees.

This is the region from which the kings of the North used to come down against Palestine [End ill.u.s.tration]

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”Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, but I am had in derision and in reproach because of thee. And why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains? Now therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities. Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help us; and they say, 'Your foot cannot stand before our face; for thy fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.' And now thou shalt not be able to abide the horse and such a host as this in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.”

Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him. And he encamped against Joppa: and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa: and they fought against it. And they of the city were afraid, and opened unto him: and Jonathan became master of Joppa.

XIX.

_How Jonathan Put to Rout Apollonius and His Regiments of Cavalry_.

And Apollonius heard, and he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great host, and went to Azotus as though he were on a journey, and from thence drew {456} onward into the plain, because he had a mult.i.tude of horse, and trusted therein. And Jonathan pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle.

And Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind them in ambush. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him. And they surrounded his army, and cast their darts at the people, from morning until evening: but the people stood still, as Jonathan commanded them: and their horses were wearied. And Simon drew forth his host, and joined battle with the phalanx (for the hors.e.m.e.n were tired), and they were discomfited by him, and fled. And the hors.e.m.e.n were scattered in the plain, and they fled to Azotus, and entered into Beth-dagon, their idol's temple, to save themselves.

And Jonathan burned Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, and them that fled into it, he burned with fire. And they that had fallen by the sword, with them that were burned, were about eight thousand men. And from thence Jonathan marched, and encamped against Ascalon, and they of the city came forth to meet him with great pomp. And Jonathan, with them that were on his side, returned unto Jerusalem, having many spoils.

And it came to pa.s.s, when King Alexander heard these things, he honored Jonathan; and he sent unto him a buckle of gold, as the custom is to give to such as are of the kindred of the kings: and he gave him Ekron and all the coasts thereof for a possession.

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JAFFA, THE ANCIENT JOPPA.

Joppa has a long and famous history of battle and siege. Many times it has changed hands and has known many masters. Its Jewish inhabitants were ma.s.sacred early in the Maccabean struggle. It was attacked at night by Judas Maccabeus, who burned the boats in the harbor. It was captured by Jonathan and again by Simon. It was several times captured in the Roman wars--by Gallus, when 8,400 Jews were killed; by Vespasian, in 68 A.D., when 4,200 people perished.

It was the seat of conflict during the Crusades, and was taken by Napoleon.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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