Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/410

 died in  torment,  the  death  of  a reprobate,  as  the  seven  Machabean brothers had  foretold  him.

The son  and  successor  of  Antiochus  sent  his  ablest  generals with mighty  armies  to  take  Judaea  and  Jerusalem  again. Judas Machabeus and  his  small  army,  seeing  the  hosts that  were  marching against them,  had  recourse  to  God  in  humble  prayer. Then they took up  their  arms  and  advanced  to  meet  the  enemy,  trusting  in God  alone.

In the  midst  of  the  combat  five  horsemen,  in  shining  armour , were seen  by  the  enemy  in  the  air  above,  fighting  for  the  Jews. Two of  these  heavenly  warriors  were  with  Judas  Machabeus,  as it  were  shielding  him  from  danger,  while  the  other  three  cast darts from  on  high  against  the  Syrian  host. Seeing this  strange sight the  enemy  were  seized  with  terror,  and  fled  in  confusion, leaving twenty  thousand  of  their  number  dead  on  the  field.

Thus favoured  by  divine  assistance,  Judas  Machabeus  defeated the Syrians  in  many  other  bloody  engagements. But it  happened in one  of  these  that  some  of  the  Jews  were  slain,  and  on  the following day,  when  Judas  and  his  soldiers  came  to  bury  them, they found  under  their  tunics  certain  heathen  charms,  or  amulets , which it  was  not  allowable  even  to  touch.