Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/411

 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,  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. In this  battle  he  was  vanquished  and slain. Then all  the  people  mourned  him  for  many  days,  saying: “How is  the  mighty  man  fallen  that  saved  the  people  of  Israel!”

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