The Death of Menelaus
2 Maccabees 13, verse 1. In the one hundred forty-ninth year, Judas and his men got word that Antiochus Eupator was marching against Judea with a huge army, 2 Maccabees 13, verse 2. and with him his guardian, Lysias, who was in charge of the government. Each of them had a Greek army of one hundred ten thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 3. Menelaus also joined forces with them. It was a great irony that he encouraged Antiochus, not for the preservation of his homeland, but for his expectation to be established in authority. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 4. But the King of kings aroused anger in Antiochus against this sinful man. So when Lysias pointed out that this man was the cause of all the trouble, he commanded them to take him to Beroea, to put him to death as was the custom there. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 5. For there is a tower in that place, fifty cubits high and filled with ashes. It also has a contrivance continuing around it on all sides that inclines steeply into the ashes. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 6. There they all shove anyone guilty of sacrilege or who has done excessive evils to their destruction. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 7. Thus it happened that Menelaus the lawbreaker died by such a destiny. He was even deprived of a burial in the ground. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 8. Now this was altogether just, for since he committed many sins against the sacred altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he should get death for himself in ashes.
The Jews Prevail near Modein
2 Maccabees 13, verse 9. The king was coming with barbarous arrogance to face the Jews with things far worse than anything done by his father. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 10. But when Judas learned of this, he charged the people to call upon the Lord day and night, asking Him to help them now as He had formerly; for they were about to be deprived of their law, their homeland, and their temple. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 11. They prayed He would not allow the people who had just begun a new life to fall into the hands of the blaspheming Gentiles. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 12. After they all made the same petition together and constantly implored the merciful Lord with weeping, fasting, and prostrations for three days, Judas encouraged them and commanded them to stand firm. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 13. Then he consulted privately with the elders and determined to march out, to let the matter be decided by the help of God before the king's army could enter Judea and take possession of the city. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 14. So, committing the results to the Creator of all and urging those with him to fight nobly to the death for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he positioned his army near Modein. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 15. After he gave his men the watchword, “God's Victory,” and chose his best young men, he besieged the royal palace by night, killing as many as two thousand men in the camp. He also slew the leading elephant and its rider. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 16. As a result, they filled the camp with terror and disorder and departed victoriously. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 17. This all happened by daybreak, because the protection of the Lord was with him.
Antiochus V Makes Peace with the Jews
2 Maccabees 13, verse 18. Thus the king tasted the courage of the Jews and plotted a strategy against their positions. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 19. He marched against Beth-zur, a stronghold of the Jews, but was turned back. He attacked again, but was beaten. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 20. Judas then sent supplies to the men inside the fortress. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 21. But Rhodocus, a man from the Jewish army, tipped off the enemy with secret information. Thus he was sought after, caught, and imprisoned. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 22. The king spoke a second time with the people in Beth-zur, gave assurances, received their pledges, and departed. He then attacked Judas and his forces, but was vanquished. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 23. He then learned that Philip, whom he had left in charge of the government in Antioch, had lost his sanity. He was disheartened and summoned the Jews, and yielded and gave an oath to honor all their rights. Thus he settled with them and offered sacrifice, respected the temple, and treated the place humanely. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 24. He welcomed Maccabeus, and Hegemonides was left as governor from Ptolemais to Gerar. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 25. Then he went to Ptolemais, but the people of Ptolemais were indignant over the treaty with the Jews. In fact, they were so enraged they sought to annul its provisions. 2 Maccabees 13, verse 26. But Lysias took the public stage and defended the treaty as best he could. He did persuade them, and gaining their goodwill, he returned to Antioch. This is the outcome of the king's strategy and settlement.