Under their new masters the Jews enjoyed for a time nearly as much tranquillity as under tlie "generally be- nign and liberal government of the Ptolemies. But in JB.C. 170, Scleucus Philopator, hearing that great treas-
ures were hoarded up in the Temple, and being distress- ed for money to carry on his wars, sent his treasurer, Heliodorus, to bring away these treasures. But this personage is reported to have been so frightened and stricken by an apparition that he relinquished the at- tempt, and Seleucus left the Jews in the undisturbed enjoyment of their rights (2 Mace, iii, 4-40 ; Joseph. A nt. xii, 3, 3). His brother and successor, Antiochus Epiph- anes, however, was of another mind. He took up the design of reducing them to a conformity of manners and religion with other nations ; or, in other words, of abol- ishing those distinctive featiu-es which made the Jews a pecuUar people, socially separated from all others. This design was odious to the great body of the people, al- though there were many among the higher classes wlio regarded it with favor. Of this way of thinking Avas Menelaus, wliom Antiochus had made high-priest, and who was expelled by the orthodox Jews with ignominy, in B.C. 1G9, when thej' heard the joyfid news that Anti- ochus had been slain in Egyjit. The rumor proved un- true, and Antiochus, on his return, punished them by plundering and profaning the Temple. Worse evils be- fell them two years after; for Antiochus, out of humor at being compelled by the Romans to abandon his de- signs upon Egypt, sent his chief collector of tribute, Apollonius, with a detachment of 22,000 men, to A-ent his rage on Jerusalem. This person plundered the city and razed its walls, with the stones of which he built a citadel that commanded the Temple Mount. A statue of Jupiter was set up in the Temple ; the peculiar ob- servances of the Jewish law were abolished, and a per- secution was commenced against all who adhered to these observances, and refused to sacrifice to idols. Je- rusalem was deserted by priests and people, and the daily sacrifice at the altar was entirely discontinued (1 Mace, i, 29-40 ; 2 ^Slacc. v, 24-26 ; Joseph. A nt. xii, 5, 4). See Antiochus Epiphaxes.
This led to the celebrated revolt of the Maccabees, who, after an arduous and sanguinary struggle, obtain- ed possession of Jerusalem (B.C. 163), and repaired and purified the Temple, which was then dilapidated and de- serted. New utensils were provided for the sacred ser- vices : the old altar, which had been polluted by heathen abominations, was taken away, and a new one erected. The sacrifices were then recommenced, exactly tliree years after the Temple had been dedicated to Jupiter Olympius. The castle, however, remained in the hands of the Syrians, and long proved a sore annoyance to the Jews, although Judas Maccaba3us surrounded the Tem- ple with a high and strong wall, furnished with towers, in which soldiers were stationed to protect the worship- pers from the Syrian garrison (1 Mace, i, 36, 37; Josepli. Ant. vii, 7). Eventually the annoyance grew so intol- erable that Judas laid siege to the castle. This attempt brought a powerful army into the country under the command of the regent Lysias, who, however, being constrained to turn his arms elsewhere, made peace with the Jews; but when he Avas admitted into tlie city, and observed the strength of the place, he thrcAV doAvn the walls in violation of the treaty (1 jMacc. vi, 48-65). In the ensuing war with Baccliides, tlie gen- eral of Demetrius Soter, in which Judas was slain, the Syrians strengthened their citadel, and placed in it the sons of the principal Jewish families as hostages (1 Mace, ix, 52, 53 ; Joseph. A nt. xiii, 1,3). The year af- ter (B.C. 159) the temporizing high-priest Alcimus di- rected the wall which separated the court of Israel from that of the Gentiles to be cast down, to afford the latter free access to the Temple ; but he was seized with palsy as soon as the work commenced, and died in great ago- ny (1 Mace, ix, 51-57), When, a few years after, De- metrius and Alexander Balas sought to outbid each oth- er for the support of Jonathan, the hostages in the cas- tle wcTC released; and subsequently all the Syrian gar- risons in Jud.Taa were evacuated, excepting those of Je- rusalem and Bethzur, which were chiefly occupied by apostate Jews, -who were afraid to leave their places of
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refuge. Jonathan then rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and repaired the buiklinss of the city, besides erecting a palace for his ov.-n residence (1 Mace, x, 2-4 ; Jose})h. Ant. xiii, 2, 1). Tlie particular history of Jerusalem for several years following is little nn/re than an account of the efforts of the Maccab;ean princes to obtain possession of the castle, and of the Syrian kings to retain it in their hands. At length, in B.C. 1-12, the garrison was forced to surrender by Simon, wlio demolished it altogether, that it might not again be used against the Jews by rheir enemies. Simon then strengthened the fortifica- tions of the mountain on which the Temple stood, and built there a palace for himself (1 Mace, xiii, 43-52 ; Joseph. .4 «^ xiii, 6, 6). This building was afterwards turneil into a regular fortress by John Hyrcanus (q. v.), and was ever after the residence of the Maccabiean princes (Joseph. A nt. xv, 11,4). It is called by Josephus *' the castle of Baris," in his historj- of the Jews ; till it was strengthened and enlarged by Herod the (ireat, who called it the castle of Antonia, under which name it makes a conspicuous figure in the Jewish wars of the Komans. See MACCAUEiis.