It became manifest to all that it was because of the amulets that these men had been killed; and, praising the justice of God, they besought Him to pardon the sins of the unhappy dead. And Judas collected a sum of twelve thousand drachms of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to have sacrifices offered for his soldiers who had thus fallen in battle. “It is, therefore”, says the Scripture, “a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.”
Before one of the many battles which Judas fought, he had a vision. He saw the deceased High Priest, Onias[1], holding up his hands, and praying for the Jewish people. After this another man appeared, surrounded with great glory. Onias said: “This is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God.” Then Jeremias gave Judas a sword of gold, saying: “Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overcome the adversaries of My people Israel.”
Judas, encouraged by these heavenly favours, gained many battles. At last it happened that he engaged the enemy with very unequal numbers[2]. In this battle he was vanquished and slain[3]. Then all the people mourned him for many days, saying: “How is the mighty man fallen that saved the people of Israel!”
COMMENTARY.
The Justice of God is very clearly revealed in the account of the death of Antiochus. The wicked king had deliberately prepared tortures for the Jewish martyrs, and now he himself was slowly tortured to death. His body while still alive became corrupt, and he was unbearable both to himself and to those about him. In his arrogance he had despised God and forbidden His worship; now he had to bow down under the hand of the Almighty, and acknowledge that his terrible sufferings were but the just punishment of his pride and cruelty to God’s servants. He even prayed and made vows to God, knowing that it was only from Him that help could come; but his prayer was not heard, and he died
- ↑ Onias. This faithful servant of God had been killed by an assassin, 1 70 B. C. Judas had personally known the zealous High Priest.
- ↑ Unequal numbers. Bacchides, the Syrian general, was at the head of an army of 25,000 men, which Judas opposed with only 800. His followers urged him to retreat, but he replied: “God forbid we should do this thing and flee away from them. But if our time (i. e. the hour of our death) be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory."
- ↑ Slain. He died for the cause of liberty and the free exercise of religion.
