fhall be given into his band. (ver. 11.) Ptolemy Philopator was, -no doubt, moved with choler for the loffes which he had fuftained, and for the revolt of Theodotus and others. And he came forth; he (8) marched out of Egypt with a numerous army to oppofe the enemy, and incamped not far from Raphia, which is the nearest town to Egypt after Rhonoçorura. And there he fought with him, even with the king of the north; for thither likewife (9) came Antiochus with his army, and a memorable battle was fought by the two kings. And he, the king of the north, fet forth a great multitude; Polybius hath (1) recited the various nations of which Antiochus's army was compofed, and all together it amounted to fixty-two thousand foot, fix thoufand horfe, and 102 elephants. But yet the multitude was given into his hand, that is into the hand of the king of the fouth; for (2) Ptolemy obtained (8) Polyb. ibid p. 421, 422. Hieron. ibid. (9) Polyb. ibid. p. 423, &c. Strabo, Lib. 16. p. 759. Edit. Paris. 1620. p. 1102. Edit. Amftel. 1707. Hieron. ibid. (1) Polyb. ibid. 421, 422. Και της μεν Αντιοχο δυναμεως το πλήθος ην, πεζοι μεν εξακισμυβιοι και δισχίλιοι, συν δε τέλοις ἱππεις εξακισχίλιοι, θηρια δε δυσι πλείω των ἑκαλον. Summa totius exercitus Antiochi; peditum a complete duo et fuptuaginta [fexaginta] millia; equitum fex; elephanti duo fupra centum. (2) ησαν δε οἱ τελελευληκολες των παρ' Αντιοχές, πεζοί μεν ου πολυ λείποντες μυρίων, ἱππεις δε πλειες τριακοσίων· ζωγρεία δι εαλω σαν ὑπερ τις τελρακισχιλίες.. • TWO δε παρα Πτολεμαι, πεζοι μεν εις χίλιες και πελακοσιος ελελεύλησαν, ἱππεις δε εις επλακοσιος. Defideravit autem e fuis Antiochus non multo pauciores decem millibus a complete victory and of Antiochus's army there were flain not much fewer than ten thoufand foot, more than three hundred horse, and above four thousand men were taken prisoners; whereas of Ptolemy's there were killed only fifteen hundred foot, and feven hundred horse. Upon this defeat (3) Raphia and the neighbouring towns contended who should be moft forward to fubmit to the conqueror; and Antiochus was forced to retreat with his shattered army to Antioch, and from thence fent embaffadors to folicit a peace. Ptolemy Philopator was more fortunate in gaining a victory, than prudent in knowing how to make a proper advantage of it. And when he bath taken away the multitude, bis heart shall be lifted up, and he fall caft down many ten thousands; but he fhall not be frengthened by it. (ver. 12.) If Ptolemy had pursued the blow that he had given, it is (4) reasonably prefumed that he might have deprived Antiochus of his kingdom: but bis beart millibus peditum equites trecentos et eo plures: capti funt vivi fupra quattuor millia.-E Ptolemaicis occifi funt pedites mille et quingenti: equites feptingenti. Polyb.ibid. p. 427. Inito ergo certamine juxta oppidum Raphia, quod in foribus Ægypti eft, omnem Antiochus amifit exercitum ; &c. Hieron. ibid. (3) Polyb. ibid. p. 427,428. Quumque ceffiffet Syria, ad extremum fædere, et quibufdam conditionibus pugna finita eft. Hieron. ibid. (4) Juftin. Lib. 30. Cap. 1. -fpoliaffetque regno Antio chum heart was lifted up by his fuccefs; being delivered from his fears, he now more freely indulged his lufts; and after a few menaces and complaints he granted peace to Antiochus, that he might be no more interrupted in the gratification of his appetites and paffions. He had before (5) murdered his father, and his mother, and his brother; and now (6) he killed his wife, who was also his fifter; and (7) gave himself up entirely to the management of Agathoclea his harlot, and her brother Agathocles who was his catamite, and their mother Oenanthe who was his bawd. And (8) fo forgetful of all the greatness of his name and majefty, he confumed his days in feafting, and his nights in lewdnefs; and became not only the fpectator, but the master and leader of all wickedness. And what availed it to have conquered his enemies, when he was thus overcome by his vices? He was fo far from being ftrengthened by it, that even (9) his own fubjects, offended at his inglorious peace, chum, fi fortunam virtute juviffet. Polyb. Lib. 5. p. 428. Edit Cafaubon. (5) Juftin. Lib. 29. Cap. 1. Polyb. Lib. 5. p. 380, 382. (6) Juftin. Lib. 30. Cap. 1. Polyb. Lib. 15. P. 719. (7) Plutarch in Cleomene, p. 820. Edit, Paris. 1624.Polyb. and Lib. 15. paffim. Juftin. Lib. 30. (8) Atque ita omnem magnitudinem nominis ac majeftatis oblitus, noctes in ftupris, dies in conviviis confumit-necjam fpectator rex, fed magifter nequitiæ, Juftin. ibid. Cap. 1. (9) Polyb. Lib. 5. p. 444. and more inglorious life, rebelled against him. But the prophet in this paffage alluded more particularly to the cafe of his own countrymen. After the retreat of Antiochus, Ptolemy (1) vifited the cities of Cole-Syria and Paleftine, which had fubmitted to him; and among others in his progress he came to Jerufalem. He there offered facrifices, and was defirous of entring into the holy of holies, contrary to the custom and religion of the place, being (as the (2) writer of the third book of Maccabees fays) greatly lifted up by pride and confidence. His curiofity was reftrained with great difficulty, and he departed with heavy displeasure against the whole nation of the Jews. At his return therefore to Alexandria, he began a cruel perfecution upon the Jewish inhabitants of that city, who had refided there from the time of Alexander, and enjoyed the privileges of the most favored citizens. And he caft down many ten thoufands; for it appears from (3) Eufebius, that about this time forty thousand Jews were flain, ♦r fixty thousand as they are reckoned in Jerome's Latin interpretation. No king could be (1) For thefe particulars the 3d book of Maccabees must be confulted. (2) ύβρει και θράσει μεγαλως Engμrov. 3 Macc. II. 21. Strengthened (3) Ιεδαίοι ληφθείλες, τεσσα ρακοντα χιλιαδας ὁπλίων αποβαAouevo. Eufebii Chron. p. 185. Viti Judai : et LX millia armatorum ex numero eorum cœfa. Interprete frengthened by the lofs of fuch a number of ufeful fubjects. The lofs of fo many Jews, and the rebellion of the Egyptians, added to the male-adminiftration of the ftate, muft certainly very much weaken, and almost totally ruin the kingdom. Peace was to continue between the two crowns of Egypt and Syria for fome years, and then the king of the north should attempt another invafion. For the king of the north fhallreturn, and fball fet forth a multitude greater than the former, and jhall certainly come, after certain years, (at the end of times, that is years) with a great army, and with much riches. (ver. 13.) The following events, you fee, were not to take place till after certain years; and the peace continued between the two crowns (4) about fourteen years. In that time Ptolemy Philopator (5) died of intemperance and debauchery, and was fucceeded by his fon Ptolemy Epiphanes, a child of four or five years old. Antiochus too, (6) having taken and flain the rebel Achæus, and having (7) also reduced and fettled the eastern parts in their obedience, was at leisure to Interprete Hieron. p. 143. (4) See Ufher, Prideaux, and the Chronologers. (5) Ptolem. in Canone, Eufebius, Juftin. Lib. 30. Cap. 2. Hieron. &c. profecute (6) Polyb. Lib. 8. p. 522, &c. Edit. Cafaubon. (7) Polyb. Lib. 10 & II. Appian. de Bell. Syr. in principio. (8) Kas |