CHAPTER XlX. 491' his dominions should be of one religion, chieflydesigning to dis- tress the Jews : He forbid their children to be circumcised, and forbid all burnt offerings and sacrifices in the temple to the God of Israel : Hecalled it the temple of Jupiter Olympius, set up his image on the altar, and sacrificed to it ; he commanded the people to profane the sabbath, he set up altars and groves, and chapels of idols throughout the cities, and required them to offer the flesh of swine and other unclean beasts, and then to eat it; and he destroyed the books of the law wheresoever they were found. Note, This image of Jupiter set up on the altar by Anti - ochns Epiphanes, is supposed to be the abomination thát maketh desolate, foretold by Daniel, chapters xi. 31. as the Roman en. sign with the eagle on it, which was the bird of Jupiter set up in the temple, was the abomination of desolation which Daniel foretels ; Dan. ix. 27. andxii. 11. and which our Saviour refers to ; Mat. xxiv. 15. Abomination is the common name for an idol in the Old Testament, and when such are set up in the Sanctuary, it may be well called desolation, for the priests are driven away, and the true worship of God ceases Observe, yet further, that this Antiochus Epiphanes is called by some the Jewish antichrist, because several of the same things are fore- told of him by the prophet Daniel, which are also predicted of the Roman antichrist in the christian church by the apostle John. 16. Q. Did any of the Israelites comply with his command ? A. Though there were multitudes who would not defile them- selves, and break the law of God, yet too many of them for fear, and some out of ambition to please the king, conformed to his religion, and sacrificed, and burned incense to idols in the streets of the cities of Judea. 17. Q. How did tire king punish those that refused ? A. He put the men to death every month, be slew several women that had caused their children to be circumcised, hanged the in- fants about their necks, and killed those that circumcised them. This persecutionmay be seen more at large ; 1 Mac. chap. i. and iii. and 2Mac. vi. IS. Q. What did the Samaritans do on this'occasion ? A. When the Jews were in prosperity, they challenged kindred with the Jews, but they disowned themwhen they were under persecution : and therefore on this occasion they made an apology to Antiochus the king for having heretofore used the Jewish rites, but now having renounced them, they complied with the heathen religion, and desired their temple on mount Gerizim might be made the temple of the Grecian Jupiter, the defender of strangers ; 2 Mac. vi, t 1 2 it It
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