CHAPTER XIX. 499 the rightful high-priest at the return from Babylon ; See Ezra. iii. 2. andHag. i. 1. 30.Q. Was Alcimus admitted to the exercise of the office in Jerusalem ? A. IIe was refused by the Jews, because he complied with the heathen superstition in the time of the perse- cution ; but he besought the aid of Demetrius the new king against Judas and thepeople who refused to receive him. 31. Q. How came this Demetrius to be king? A. He was the son of Seleucus Philopator, who was the eldest brother of Antiochus Epiphanes ; and though he could not persuade the Romans to assist him in seizing the kingdom of Syria, since Antiochus Epiphanes was dead, yet lie landed in Syria, and persuaded the people that the Romans had sent him : where- upon Antiochus Eupator and Lysias were seized by their own soldiers, and put to death by order of Demetrius. 32. Q. Did Demetrius 'establish Alcimus in the priesthood in opposition to Judas and his people ? A. He endeavoured to do it by sending one Ba chides against them, but without suc- cess : afterwards making Nicanor, who was master of his ele- phants, governor of Judea, he sent him to slay Judas, and to subdue the Jews. 33. Q. What success had Nicanor in this attempt? A. Though at first he was unwilling to make war on Judas, yet be- ing urged by the king, he pursued it with fury ; and having spoken many blasphemous words against the temple and the God of Israel, and threatening to demolish it, and to build a temple to Bacchus in the room of it, he himself was slain, and his army was shamefully routed by Judas. 34. 'Q. What encouragement had Judas tohope for victory in this battle ? A. Not only from the blasphemies of Nicanor, but he was animated also by a divine vision, and thus he encountered bis enemies with chearfulness, and with earnest prayer to God; 2 Mac. xiv. and xv. 35. Q. What rejoicing did Judas and the Jews make on this occasion ? A. He cut off Nicanor's head, and his right-hand which lie had stretched out against the temple, and hanged them up upon one of the towers of Jerusalem, and appointed a yearly day of thanksgiving in Memory of this victory; which is called Nicanor's dr 36. Q. ''hat was the next act of Judas for the good of his country ? A. Hearing of the growing greatness of the Ro- mans, he sent to make a league for mutual defence with them, to which the Romansconsented, and established it, acknowledg- ing the Jews as their friends and allies, and ordered Demetrius to vex them no more. 37. Q. Did Demetrius obey his orders ? A. Before this order came tp his hand he had sent Baechides the second time
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