THE BATTLE OF EMMAUS.
The effort to wipe out the disgrace of the two defeats and to restore the
Greek supremacy was not long delayed; and when it was made, it was made
with all the force which the lieutenants of Antiochus could command. The
King himself was absent in Persia; but his vicegerent had _carte blanche_
for the preparations which they were to make. Lysias, Governor of Syria,
had collected forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse, and this force
had been put under the command of Nicanor, Gorgias being his principal
lieutenant. This time, it was intended, the work should be done
thoroughly. This Jewish people, so obstinately troublesome, was to be
absolutely extirpated. Not a single native inhabitant was to be left in
Palestine, which was to be peopled in future by a more accommodating and
manageable race.
This scheme, if it was to be carried out, would involve huge dealings in
human flesh, and the slave-merchants of the sea-coast cities were,
naturally, vastly interested in its success. Anxious to do the business as
cheaply and effectively as possible, they formed what, in the language of
modern commerce, would be called a “Syndicate,” and sent parties of
dealers to follow the two armies, and act as their agents when the scheme
should begin to come into practical working.
This was the occupation, then, of four repulsive-looking creatures who had
obtained permission to follow the army of Nicanor, and whom we may see
discussing a flagon of the best Chian wine—the trade was as profitable as
it was odious—and canvassing the prospects of business.
“Well,” said one of the four, pursuing the narrative of an interview which
he had just been having with Lysias, “we had a long debate about terms.
The Governor was quite firm about one thing: there must be no picking and
choosing. ‘No,’ he said, ‘either you buy them all, or they shall be put up
in the open market.’ ‘But what,’ I said, ‘am I to do with the old and the
weak?’ ‘And what am I to do with them?’ he answered. ‘No; you must buy
them all or none.’ There I could not move him. He could not be bothered
with detail. For so many prisoners, so many talents, half paid down, half
six months credit. Old men and women at their last gasp, and new-born
babes were all to be counted in. Those were his terms and I had to accept
them, or we should not have come to an agreement.”
“That does not seem a good bargain,” interrupted another member of the
company.
“Wait a moment,” said the first speaker, “till you hear the price. I think
you will agree that there is no reason to complain. At first he wanted a
talent(11) for every fifty. That of course was out of the question on the
‘take-all’ terms, and I told our friend so quite plainly. ‘No,’ I said, ‘a
talent for every hundred is about the right price, and even then we may
very well lose,’ which, you will allow, was sailing very near the wind
indeed. Well, we had a long argument. First he would meet me half way. But
I held out. You know they _must_ have money. There is Antiochus—the
‘Glorious’ they call him—gone off to Persia on a wild goose chase after
some treasures he has heard of. I’ll wager that he’ll spend more than he
gets by a long way. I have friends at Court, and they tell me that the
treasury is as empty as—well, we’ll say a wine jar, after our friend
Nicias there has had it at his mouth for a minute. So I was firm. And at
last—to make a long story short—we came to terms at a talent for ninety.
And I can’t help thinking that it is not by any means a bad bargain.”
“And what are we to do with the worthless ones?” said one of the dealers.
“Surely having to keep them will take all the shine off our profits.”
“Keeping them! Who talks about keeping them? We shall only have to bury
them, and that does not cost very much. You have not been long in the
trade, my good friend, and you don’t know how soon their food seems to
disagree with the poor wretches whom we can’t sell.”
He smiled an evil smile, and the others burst out into a laugh, in which,
however, the young man who “had not been long in the trade” did not join.
“And what becomes of all the money?” said one of the dealers, who had
hitherto taken no part in the conversation.
“Well, a part will be wanted for present expenses, pay of the troops,
stores, and so forth; and that is to be paid in gold. But the greater part
has to go to Rome—the King, you know, owes a great deal on the indemnity
account. For that we shall find bills of exchange.”
“Most of the money, then, is to go to Rome?”
“Yes; and don’t you see the advantage of the arrangement? Of course most
of it will come back into our pockets. Slaves from this part of the world
are quite the fashion in Rome now; and I am very much mistaken if these
Jewish slaves don’t turn out a great success. They are quite a novelty; I
should think that they have hardly been seen in the Roman markets. And
then they have a very distinguished look, and the girls are sometimes
remarkably handsome. I don’t like to brag—and of course this is all
between ourselves—but I think that we shall make a _very_ good business
indeed out of this campaign.”
“If our side wins, that is,” said the youngest of the dealers, who was
evidently a little discomposed by what he had heard.
“_If_, indeed! There is no ‘if’ in the matter. You don’t suppose this set
of ragged beggars can stand against the army of Lysias?”
“Well, they stood against Apollonius, and killed him; and they stood
against Seron.”
“Yes, but this is another matter altogether. Lysias has got fifty thousand
as good troops as there are in the world, barring, of course, the Romans;
and they _must_ win. And then we shall all make our fortunes as sure as
the sun is in the sky.”
And, indeed, as viewed from without, the prospects of success which seemed
to lie before the forces of Antiochus were very great. The army was
powerful—it numbered nearly eight times as many as that of the patriots—it
was thoroughly well equipped, and it was led by men who at least had the
reputation of being good soldiers.
This time it was judged expedient to avoid the difficult pass of
Beth-horon and to advance by the easier road of Emmaüs. At Emmaüs,
accordingly, Nicanor had pitched his camp for the night, intending to move
early the next day on Jerusalem, to occupy that city with overwhelming
force, and to carry on the operations of the campaign from that base. He
was the more hopeful of success because he had received exact information
of the position of the patriot general. Benjamin had never forgiven the
painful wound which he had received from the arrow of one of the Chasidim
after the battle of Beth-horon. The injury had galled him all the more
because his feelings had been really touched by the appeals of Seraiah,
and he had seriously meditated throwing in his fortunes once more with the
cause of his countrymen. He now made his way to the camp of Nicanor, and
told him all that he knew of the position of Judas. The Greek general
despatched his lieutenant with a picked force to attack him. While the
enemy was thus occupied he should be able, he thought, to make the passage
of the mountains without hindrance or loss.
Judas was at Mizpeh, in command of a force more numerous than any he had
before been able to collect, but still not amounting to more than six
thousand men. But the sight that this six thousand saw from the Mizpeh
ridge—the watch-tower, as it was called—was such as to rouse to fury the
hearts of all who beheld it. For there, lying before them, was the city of
their love, the city of David, of Solomon, of Josiah, of Hezekiah, of
Ezra, and Nehemiah, and they could see, only too plainly in the clear
sunset light, the horror of its desolation. The streets were empty; the
walls, in old time thronged at evening by crowds of citizens and their
families, were deserted; the gates were shut. The Temple could be seen,
but its courts were silent and empty. And, rising above, in the City of
David, in the very heart of the Jewish kingdom, was the fort of the Greek
garrison—the hateful sign of the domination of the heathen. Then followed
a touching ceremony, by which the servants of the Lord, banished from the
courts of His House, yet sought to show the reverence and the love which
they felt for its sacred precincts, for the Holy Place which they could
see with their eyes, though they might not tread it with their feet. A
numerous company of mourners, chosen to represent the whole people, ranged
themselves on the ridge which commanded the prospect so sad and yet so
dear. They were clad in garments of black sackcloth, itself ragged and
tattered, and had strewn ashes on their heads. They spread out copies of
the Law—that Law which the heathen had silenced in its own peculiar seat,
and which they had insulted and profaned, picturing on its very pages the
cruel and lustful demons whom they worshipped; the functions of the
priests had ceased, but they could at least display within sight of the
Sanctuary the garments which they wore; the sacrifices could not be
offered, but they could at least show the bullocks and rams, the
firstfruits of the cornfield and the vineyard, and present them in heart
and will; vows could not be performed, but the Nazarites, with their
unshorn locks, could stretch out their hands to the Sanctuary, and
dedicate themselves in intention. And then from the whole multitude rose
the cry, “What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them?
For Thy Sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and Thy priests are in
heaviness and brought low. And lo! the heathen are assembled together
against us to destroy us; what things they imagine against us, Thou
knowest. How shall we be able to stand against them, except Thou, O God,
be our help?”
This done, the trumpets sounded, as if to remind the mourners that they
were soldiers again, and the whole multitude fell at once into military
order. Judas carefully inspected his force. Mindful of the old indulgence
given by the Law, he proclaimed that any among his followers who were
building a house, or planting a vineyard, or had left behind him at home a
newly-married wife, should depart. Those were not days when houses were
being built or vineyards planted, for the land, save for some barren
mountain ranges, was in the power of the heathen; nor was it a time for
marrying or giving in marriage. Scarcely a man out of the whole array
claimed the exemption. And when the leader went on, “If any man be timid
or of a faint heart, let him turn back, while there is time,” only two or
three slunk away.
To those that remained Judas addressed a few stirring words. “You have
seen,” he said, “the city of your fathers from afar, how it lies desolate
and dishonoured. Be bold and quit you like men, and the Lord will deliver
it into your hands, for He can deliver both by many and by few. Arm
yourselves at dawn, and we will fight with those nations who have defiled
our sanctuary and have now come out to destroy us.”
But the struggle was to come sooner than any one had looked for it.
Azariah had been setting the sentinels who were to watch the northern side
of the encampment, when he heard a voice that seemed to have a familiar
sound.
“Azariah!” it said, in a penetrating whisper.
“I am here; say on;” and he felt sure that he recognized the voice of
Benjamin.
“Tell your captain that Gorgias has come out of the camp of Nicanor with
six thousand men, the very choicest of his army, and that he will attack
him this night. Farewell!”
And before Azariah could answer he was out of sight and hearing. A quick
remorse had overtaken the robber for his treacherous act, and he had done
his best to remedy the wrong.
Judas, on hearing the news, lost no time in making his resolve. It was
bold, even audacious. He would not wait to be attacked, but would himself
attack, and that not the detachment under Gorgias, which it was quite
possible he might have some difficulty in meeting, but the main body
itself. Here he would certainly have the advantage of being utterly
unexpected. And a victory over this would be almost, if not absolutely,
decisive.
Accordingly he left his camp at Mizpeh without attempting to remove any of
his belongings. In truth, they were scanty enough, and, if things went
well with him, he should secure spoil of a hundredfold more value than all
that he had left. With nothing but their arms, and such scanty provision
as they could carry in their pouches, his men marched through the darkness
down into the plain.
The day was dawning when he came within sight of the camp of Nicanor.
Though not regularly fortified, it was a place of considerable strength,
which an army far more numerous and better equipped than that which Judas
had under his command might hesitate to attack. The cavalry had bivouacked
outside; the infantry were within the lines, but might be seen passing out
of the gates.
So formidable a task did it seem to attack a fortified camp, held by a
vastly superior force, that even Judas’s band of heroes hesitated for a
moment. He felt it at once, and at once addressed himself to check it. He
called a halt, and bidding the ranks close in to as small a space as
possible, he addressed them, sending his mighty voice in the still air of
the morning with so commanding a power that it reached the very extremity
of the crowd. In a few stirring words he reminded them of the deliverances
which God had wrought in old time for His people. He spoke of the three
hundred of Gideon, how they had discomfited the host of the Midianites, of
the angel that had smitten with an unseen sword the legions of the haughty
Sennacherib. He told them of the day when Macedonian and Jew had stood
side by side against the Gallic invaders of Asia, and of how the Jew had
stood firm while the Greek had fled before the fury of the barbarian
onset. Finally he reminded them of the victories which they themselves had
so lately won against overwhelming odds.
When he had finished his harangue, he divided the host between himself and
his brothers, John, Simon and Jonathan. Eleazar was to recite the Holy
Book, and to give his name as the watchword of the day. These arrangements
made, he gave a signal to the trumpeters. They blew a piercing blast.
Then, with a shout, “The Help of God! The Help of God!”(12) the patriots
charged. It might have seemed to an onlooker the strategy of despair, but
it was successful, as it had been many a time in history before, as it has
been many a time since.
The Greeks stared at them, as they advanced, with astonishment. Were these
men madmen, or were they fired by some Divine fury? In either case they
would be dangerous antagonists. As the patriots drew nearer, without a
sign of hesitation or holding back, the terror which had been creeping
over the minds of the Greeks became insupportable. They broke and fled,
and did not even, so complete was their demoralization, attempt to hold
their camp. Though pursuit was shortened by the approach of the Sabbath,
which Judas would not suffer to be infringed upon even to complete his
victory, more than three thousand fell, and as the Greek line had not
waited to receive the onset of the patriots, all of them perished in the
flight.
The work was not yet done, for the detachment under Gorgias had still to
be accounted for. This, however, gave the conquerors very little trouble.
That general had found the camp of Judas empty, and had naturally
concluded that its occupants had been frightened away by his approach. He
started in pursuit, but without being able to find any clear traces of the
route which the supposed fugitives had taken. Probably, he thought, this
would be in the direction of the mountain retreat from which they had
issued. It was long before he satisfied himself that he was mistaken; but
the peasants whom he questioned were evidently truthful when they declared
that they had seen nothing of the force of which he was in search. He had
to retrace his steps, and could not do this till he had given his men a
rest, wearied as they were with almost incessant marching for a night and
a day. It was late in the afternoon before he arrived in sight of the camp
of the main body, and by that time Judas’s victory had been won. He was
astonished and alarmed to see that part of it was on fire. Shortly
afterwards a fugitive from the defeated army came in with news of what had
happened. Neither Gorgias nor his men were in any humour to encounter the
patriots; they hastily turned and made the best of their way to Jerusalem.
Information of this retreat was soon brought to Judas by his scouts, and
he felt that now at last he and his followers might enjoy their victory.
The Sabbath was given, as usual, to rest and devotion. A great service was
held, a prominent feature of it being the chanting of the great Psalm of
Thanksgiving,(13) “O give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endureth for
ever.” The marvels of creation, the deliverance from Egypt, the passage of
the hosts of the Lord through the Red Sea, the fall of the Amorite kings
who had sought to stop their way to the Promised Land, the possession of
the inheritance which had been promised to the fathers—all these blessings
were enumerated, and after each new theme, given by the clear voices of
the singers, rose the thunderous chorus of reply from the multitude, “For
His mercy endureth for ever.”
On the first day of the week the spoils were divided. The division was
made with scrupulous fairness, and with a reverent regard to the
injunctions of the Law. The wounded received a special consideration for
their sufferings; a share was reserved for the widows and orphans of the
slain; and those to whom had been given the unwelcome duty of staying
behind to guard the encampment were not forgotten. The rich furniture of
the officers’ tents, the gold and silver plate, the many-coloured silks,
and robes of Tyrian purple, with a well-furnished pay-chest, made together
a splendid booty.
Among the prisoners was the party of slave-dealers to whom our readers
were introduced at the beginning of this chapter.
“Who are you?” cried Judas, when they were brought before him, “and what
do you here?”
“We are merchants,” said their spokesman, “brought by business into the
camp of his Excellency Nicanor.”
“And in what merchandize do you deal?” asked Judas, though, as may be
supposed, he was perfectly well acquainted with their occupation.
“We deal in the prisoners of war,” answered the man. “Permit me, sir,” he
went on, “to congratulate your Excellency on the splendid victory that you
have won, and to beg the favour of your custom. We offer the best of
prices for goods, and pay in ready money or in bills on the best houses,
quite as safe as cash, I can assure you, and far more convenient to
carry.”
“Do you know this document?” asked Judas, holding up a piece of parchment
which had been found among the property of the slave-dealers.
The man turned pale and said nothing.
Judas then proceeded to read aloud: “It is hereby covenanted between the
most excellent Lysias, Governor of Syria, on the first part, and Theron
and his Company, dealers in slaves, on the second part, that the said
Lysias shall hand over, and that the said Theron and his Company shall
take all persons that shall be captured in the operations now about to be
begun by the army of the said Lysias. And it is further covenanted that
the said Theron and Company shall pay to the said Lysias or such other
persons as he shall appoint, the sum of one talent of gold for every
ninety persons delivered alive into the hands of the said Theron and
Company. Furthermore it is agreed that the said Theron and Company shall
have no claim for a drawback for any such persons dying after they have
been once delivered; but that a drawback shall be allowed at the rate of
six _minæ_(14) for every person, who, as being a loyal subject of our lord
and king Antiochus, or of any prince in friendship and alliance with him,
shall have been wrongfully taken prisoner.”
“Know you this document?”
Theron stammered an assent. “It is but a common matter of business, my
lord. Such covenants must be drawn up, and, doubtless, they sound somewhat
harsh.”
“Ye have digged a pit, and are fallen into the midst of it yourselves,”
said Judas, in a voice of thunder. “Let them be taken with the followers
of the camp to the slave-market of Sidon.”
“Mercy, my lord!” cried the dealers, falling on their knees.
“Such mercy as you have shown yourselves you shall have, and no more. Lead
them away.”
“Nay, my lord,” cried Theron, struggling away from the soldier who had
grasped him by the arms, “you do ill to deal so harshly with men that have
not borne arms against you.”
“You have done tenfold worse,” was the answer. “I know your works. You
sell our youths to the mines, where the young man grows old and decrepit
before he has reached to middle age, and the maidens you sell to shame;
and the old and sick you slay with the sword or poison. Take them away.”
“Listen once more, my lord,” cried the man, in an agony of despair. “We
have money; not here, of course, but with those whom we represent; if you
should want a loan, we can find it for your Excellency, and at low
interest, lower than you will find elsewhere.”
“Take them away!” thundered Judas.
And taken away they were, still screaming out, as they were dragged off,
offers of ransom, or loans at five per cent. interest, or no interest at
all.
The next day Judas and his army, richly laden with spoils of every kind,
returned to the sanctuary among the hills.