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ANtiochus Epiphanes, that is, An illustrous Aduersary, in the yeare of Christ 380, was sent out of Syria by Antiochus the Great, to Rome, which 1600 miles, where he remained as an hostage for his father and his brother Seleucus Philopater seuen∣teen yeares, 1 Mac. 1.
After the death of his father he stole secretly from Rome, and went backe again to Antiochia in Syria, which was 1600 miles; and there succeeded his brother Seleucus Philopater in the gouern∣ment. He began to reign 173 yeares before Christ.
In the third yeare of his reign he went from Antiochia to Ty∣rus, 60 miles: in that journey he conquered all the lower part of Syria and Phoenicia.
From thence he went aboue sixe score miles through Galilee and Iudaea, conquering al the cities and countries that lay in his way; and would also haue gon downe into Egypt; but when hee heard that his nephew Ptolomais Philometor had proclaimed an as∣sembly and parliament, and would not acknowledge him for his Protector, he sent Apolonius one of his princes, vpon the day of the meeting into Egypt, and he himselfe returned back again to Iop∣pa, 2 Mac. 4.
From Ioppa hee went to Ierusalem, which was 20 miles, where Iason the high-Priest and all the people receiued him with great honour. At that time Antiochus placed a Gard in the Castle or tower of Ierusalem, which was the beginning of their intolerable seruitude.
But for that yeare, which was the fourth of his reign, he retur∣ned through Phoenicia to Antiochia in Syria, 280 miles.
In the fift yeare of his reign hee went from Antiochia with a great army into Cilicia, being 80 miles. There he appeased the vprores of the inhabitants of Tharsus and Mallotus, and conque∣red all Cilicia, 2 Mac. 4.
From Cilicia he returned backe againe to Antiochia, eightie miles.
In the sixt yeare of his reign Antiochus went with a great army both by sea and land (wherein were many Elephants) to Pelusio, 400 miles. This city he conquered, and ouercame the Alexandri∣ans in a navall battell. 2 Mac. 4.
From Pelusio (hauing built a bridge ouer Nilus) he went with his army to Memphis, conquerd all the countries & strong cities as he went, about 140 miles, and brought thither a mightie and great prey: where according to the saying of the Prophet Daniel, cap. 11. He dealt subtilly with Ptolomais Philometor.
From Memphis he returned to Alexandria, where the citisens would not suffer him to enter the gates, wherefore he besieged it, but to small purpose, which was 120 miles.
From Alexandria he returned to Pelusio, which was 160 miles, there he left a garrison to retaine what hee had gotten in Aegypt, 1 Mac. 4.
From Pelusio he returned to Antiochia with a great prey, be∣ing 400 miles. In the mean time Ptolomais King of Egypt, & his sister Cleopatra brought in the aid of the Romanes, Livy, Decad. lib. 4. 5.
In the next yeare (that is, in the seuenth yeare of Antiochus E∣piphanes) there was seen in the aire as if there had been men figh∣ting; a Comet also appeared. This happened in the yeare before Christ 167.
This yeare in the spring Antiochus went the second time from Antiochia with his army into Alexandria in Egypt, which was 560 miles. So passing through Coelosyria and Iudaea, hee came into Egypt, which he inuaded with open war, endeauoring to get that by force, which hee could not get by entreaty. But the Ro∣mans sent P. Popillius with other Embassadours into Egypt, who hearing that Antiochus was come to Leusia, which was within a mile of Alexandria, the Romanes went thither to him. Where when he had welcommed them, and shewed all the courtesie hee could to P. Popillius, P. Popillius deliuered him certain tables that he had about him written. And first of all commanded him to reade them, which he did. Then he counselled with some of his friends, What was best to be done in the businesse. While he was thus in a great study, P. Popillius with a wand that hee had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust, saying, Ere thou stirre a foot out of this circle returne thy answer, that I may tell the Senate Whe-thou hadst rather haue warre or peace. This hee vttered with such a firme countenance, that it amased the King. Wherefore, after he had paused a while, quoth hee, I will doe what the Senate hath written, or shall thinke fit. So doing little or nothing in Egypt, hee returned backe againe. Iustine, Lib. 34. Decad. Lib. 4. cap. 5.
Ios. lib. 12. cap. 6. These things hapned ann. vrb. Rom. 585. L. Aemi∣lius Paulus & Caius Licinius Crassus being then Consuls: in which yeare the Moon was totally eclipsed, Aemilius ouercame Perseus King of Macedon, and reduced Macedonia into a Prouince, Lib. Dec. 4. lib. 5.
From Leusia, Antiochus (fearing lest the Iewes would forsake his Empire and rebell) went to Ierusalem, which was 288 miles; but the inhabitants of the towne shut him out of the city, where∣fore he besieged it, and by the treason of Menelaus chiefe Priest, (who for that purpose conspired with the gard that was in the ca∣stle) quickly got it and entred the gates. In every place where he came hee put the Citisens to the sword, and for three daies space did little else but cruelly massacre the people. He went also with Menelaus into the Temple, where he polluted the sacred things of the Temple, and took thence the vessels of siluer & gold, or what∣soeuer he found pretious or worthy: so that the prey he tooke a∣mounted to 1800 talents, which make almost 11 tunne of pure gold; all which were partly gifts dedicated to the Temple, and partly treasure that was left there as in a safe and sure place, to the vse of poore distressed widowes and orphans.
After that Antiochus had robbed the Temple of all the siluer and gold that he could finde, had banished Iason, had placed a strong garrison in the tower of Acropolis, (the captaine of which was one Philip a very cruell man) and made Menelaus high-Priest; with all this booty and some number of captiues hee returned to Antiochia, which was 280 miles. In the yeare following, that is, before Christ 166, Lu. Aemilius Paulus triumphed for the wars of Macedonia. Not long after, Antiochus misdoubting the fidelitie of the Iewes, sent Apolonius with an army of 22000 to Ierusalem, who entred the city vpon the Sabbath day, and committed many outrages.
Then, Antiochus hauing spent a great part of the gold and sil∣uer which he had got from Ierusalem, about the eleuenth yeare of his reigne made his expedition from Antiochiato, Persepolis, (it was also called Elymaides) in Persia, which was 196 miles.
Here he took the temple of Diana, spoiled all that country round about, and with strong hand gathered together a great masse of gold and siluer to maintain warre against Iudas Machabeus. But a multitude of citisens disliking his sacriledge, banded themselues together, and put Antiochus and his souldiers to flight before hee could take the city of Persepolis. 1 Mach. 6. 2 Mach. 9.
Wherefore being driuen from thence, he fled with his army to Egbatana, a city in Media, which was 209 miles. Here hauing certain intelligence by letters, of the noble exploits of Iudas Ma∣chabeus, and that he purged the temple of such things as were pro∣phane, he fell into an extreme griefe, and like one distracted rai∣led against the Iewes, and swore to be reuenged of them, 1 Mac. 9.
In this extreme anger he went from Egbatana to Babylon with his army, which was 464 miles. But as he went, his Chariot was ouerthrown, in the fall wherof he was so extremely wounded, that they were constrained to carry him in a bed to Babylon, where he shortly after died miserably.
So all his trauels were 8153 miles.
Thus may we see with what difficulties and dangers this wic∣ked prince obtained his victories, and past away his life, somtime in trauel, his journies long and troublesome, somtimes in prospe∣ritie, somtimes in aduersitie, again somtimes afflicted with trou∣blesome cogitations, sometimes with extreame anger, seldome in peace, and then also his actions sauoring of violence and filthines From whence it appeareth, That the wicked with more sorowes, troubles, and vexations gaine eternall damnation; than the Iust, though they suffer many grieuous afflictions, obtain euerlasting saluation. For amongst all the Patriarchs, good Kings, and Pro∣phets, there is not found any that had so many long and tedious journies as this Antiochus, who continually oppressed his minde and conscience with vnprofitable vanities and wicked thoughts, and at length had a miserable and terrible end.