Hebrew Heroes: A Tale Founded on Jewish History

  CHAPTER XV.

  THE TWO CAMPS.

  While the scenes lately described had been occurring in theneighbourhood of Jerusalem, Maccabeus, in the mountains, had beenpreparing for the deadliest shock of war. Like wave upon wave, eachswelling higher than the one before it, successive armies hurled theirstrength against the devoted band that held aloft the banner of thetruth, as a beacon-light gleaming on high amidst the fiercest fury ofthe tempest. The mighty Nicanor, son of Patroclus, a man honoured withthe king's peculiar favour, had gathered together a powerful force "toroot out the whole generation of the Jews," and with him was joined incommand Georgias, a general of great experience in war.

  A large camp was formed by the Syrians at Emmaus, about a Sabbath-day'sjourney from Jerusalem. The hills were darkened with their goats'-hairtents, the roads thronged with soldiers, and with a multitude ofmerchants who brought much silver and gold to purchase Hebrew captivesas slaves for their markets. For so confident of victory was Nicanor,that he had beforehand proclaimed a sale of the prisoners whom he wouldreserve from slaughter; nay, had fixed the very price which he woulddemand for his vanquished foes! Ninety of the Hebrew warriors shouldbe sold for a talent, so ran Nicanor's proclamation.

  "These bold outlaws," said the haughty Syrian, "shall spend theirsuperfluous strength, as did their Samson of old, in grinding corn fortheir victors, or in tilling the fields which they once called theirown, with the taskmaster's lash to quicken their labours. Ha! ha! itwere good subject for mirth to see the lordly Maccabeus himself, withblinded eyes, turning the wheel at the well, and bending his proud backto serve as my footstool when I mount my Arab steed! This were sweetervengeance, a richer triumph, than to hew him to pieces with the swordwhich he took from the dead Apollonius. Let the Asmonean fall into myhands, and he shall taste what it is to endure a living death!"

  Maccabeus, on his part, had led his forces to Mizpeh, where they hadencamped. Here a day of solemn humiliation was appointed by theAsmonean chief; he and his warriors fasted, put on sackcloth, andunited in prayer to the God of Hosts.

  The leader then more perfectly organized his little army, dividing itinto bands, and appointing captains over the divisions. While Divineaid was implored, human means were not neglected.

  Early in the morning of the succeeding day, Maccabeus and Simon, hiselder brother, held grave consultation together. The scene around themwas historic; the very heap of stones upon which the chiefs were seatedmarked the spot where the last leave of Laban had been taken by Jacobtheir forefather, when returning to his aged parent.

  But few months have elapsed since Judas stood, as the reader first sawhim, by the grave of the martyrs, but these eventful months havewrought a marked change upon the Asmonean leader. Fatigue, hardship,the burden of care, the weight of responsibility, added to the sorrowof bereavement, have left their stamps on his expressive features.Maccabeus looks a worn and a weary man; but there is increased majestyin his demeanour, that dignity which has nothing to do with pride; forpride has its origin in self-consciousness, true dignity inforgetfulness of self.

  "This will be our sharpest conflict; the enemy is strong," observedSimon, glancing in the direction of the Syrian hosts, which lay betweenthem and Jerusalem.

  "With the God of Heaven it is all one to deliver with a great multitudeor with a few," said Maccabeus.

  "What is the number of our forces?" asked Simon.

  "Six thousand, as given by yesterday's returns," was the reply; "butto-day I will make proclamation that they who are planting vineyards orbuilding houses, or who have lately married wives, have full leave toretire if they will it, and then--ha! Eleazar returned already!" criedthe leader, interrupting himself, as a young Hebrew, dressed as aSyrian merchant, with rapid step ascended the little eminence on whichthe Asmonean brothers were seated.

  "I have been in the midst of them!" exclaimed Eleazar; "ay, I havestood in their tents, heard their songs, listened to their proudboastings, been present when the sons of Mammon bartered for the limbsand lives of the free-born sons of Abraham! They may have our bodiesas corpses," added the young Asmonean, with a proud smile, "but neveras slaves; and even as corpses, they shall purchase us dearly."

  "Know you the numbers of the Syrians?" inquired Simon, whose quiet,sedate manner formed a strong contrast to that of the fiery youngEleazar.

  "Nicanor has forty thousand footmen and seven thousand horse," was thereply; "to say nothing of those who hang round his camp, as vultureswho scent the carnage from afar."

  "More than seven to one," observed Simon, slightly shaking his head.

  "Hebrews have encountered worse odds than that," cried the young man.

  "Ay, when all were stanch," his elder brother rejoined.

  "Do you then doubt our men!" exclaimed Eleazar.

  "Many of them will be faithful unto death; but I know that in somequarters there are misgivings--I may call them fears," was the gravereply of Simon. "Not all our troops are tried warriors; some in thecamp have spoken of submission."

  "Submission!" cried Eleazar, clenching his hand; "I would lash theslaves up to the conflict as I would lash dogs that hung back in thechase."

  "On the contrary," said Maccabeus, who had hitherto listened to theconversation in silence, "I shall proclaim that whoso is fearful, hasmy free permission to depart from us in peace."

  "Were that well?" asked Simon, doubtfully, "we are already so greatlyoutnumbered by the foe."

  "It is according to the law," replied Judas, calmly; "it is what Gideondid before encountering Midian. We can have no man with us who ishalf-hearted; no one who will count his life dear in the struggle whichis before us."

  "If we are to fall in the struggle," observed Simon, "half our numberwill indeed suffice for the sacrifice." He spoke without fear, but inthe tone of one who felt the full extent of the threatening danger.

  "See you yon stone, my brother?" asked Maccabeus, pointing to a pillaron the way to Shen, which was clearly visible against the background ofthe deep blue sky. "Yonder is Ebenezer, _the stone of help_, whichSamuel set up in remembrance of victory over the Philistines, when Godthundered from heaven, and discomfited the foes of Israel."

  "Ay, I see it," replied Simon; "and I see the power and faithfulness ofthe Lord of Hosts written on that stone. We are in His hand, not inthat of Nicanor."

  "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered!" exclaimed Eleazar.

  "My brother, give order that the trumpets be sounded," said Maccabeus,"and let our proclamation be known through the camp--that all who fearmay retire at once, nor remain to shame us by turning their backs inthe day of battle."

  The commands of the leader were at once obeyed; the proclamation wasissued, and its alarming effects were speedily seen. The small forceof Maccabeus began to melt like a snow-wreath under the beams of thesun. One man remembered the tears of his newly-wedded bride, anotherthe helpless state of a widowed mother; the hearts of not a few wereset on their flocks and herds, while many of their comrades found inthe state of crops needing the sickle, an excuse to cover the fearwhich they would have blushed to own as their motive for deserting thecause of their country. Long before the evening had closed in, theforces under Maccabeus had been reduced to one-half their number.

  "They have judged themselves unworthy to share the glory that awaitstheir brave brethren," cried the indignant Eleazar, as, leaning on hisunstrung bow, he watched a long line of fugitives wending their waytowards the west.

  Undismayed, though perhaps somewhat discouraged by the defection ofhalf his troops, Maccabeus made before sunset a brief address to thosewho remained. "Arm yourselves," he said, "and be valiant men; and seethat ye be in readiness before the morning, that ye may fight withthese nations that are assembled together to destroy us and oursanctuary. For it is better for us to die in battle than to behold thecalamity of our people and our sanctuary. Nevertheless, as the will ofGod is in heaven, so let Him do."

  So, with stern resolution to conquer or die,
the Hebrews retired totheir appointed places in the small camp till morning light shouldarouse them to the desperate conflict.