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| Chapter XL. Courage in war was not wanting in our forefathers, as is shown by the example of the men of old, especially by the glorious deed of Eleazar.
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Chapter XL.
Courage in war was not wanting in our forefathers, as is
shown by the example of the men of old, especially by the glorious deed
of Eleazar.
205. But perhaps
renown in war keeps some so bound to itself297
as to make them think that fortitude is to be found in battle alone,
and that therefore I had gone aside to speak of these things, because
that was wanting in us. But how brave was Joshua the son of Nun,
who in one battle laid low five kings together with their
people!298
Again, when he fought against the
Gibeonites and feared that night might stop him from gaining the
victory, he called out with deep faith and high spirit:299
“Let the sun stand
still;” and it stood still until the victory was complete.
Gideon with three hundred men gained a triumph over a great nation and
a cruel foe.300
Jonathan when a
young man showed great courage in battle,301
and
what shall I say about the Maccabees?
206. First, I will speak of the people of
our fathers. They were ready to fight for the temple of God and
for their rights, and when attacked on the Sabbath day by the craft of
the enemy, willingly allowed wounds to be inflicted on their
unprotected bodies, rather than to join in the fight, so that they
might not defile the Sabbath.302
They all
gladly gave themselves up to death. But the Maccabees thinking
that then all the nation would perish, on the Sabbath also, when they
were challenged to fight, took vengeance for the death of their
innocent brethren. And afterwards when he had been roused by this
to fresh exertions, King Antiochus, having begun the war afresh under
the leadership of his generals Lysias, Nicanor, and Georgias, was so
utterly crushed, together with his Eastern and Assyrian forces, that he
left 48,000 lying on the battle-field, slain by an army of but 3,000
men.
207.
Mark the courage of the leader, Judas Maccabæus, as exemplified in
the character of one of his soldiers. Eleazar,303
meeting with an elephant higher than all
the rest, and with all the royal trappings upon it, and thinking that
the king was on it, ran hastily and threw himself into the midst of the
legion; and, casting away his shield, with both hands he slew those
opposed to him until he reached the beast.304
| 304 The Latin text
has: “utraque manu interficiebat, donec pervenit ad
bestiam.” Cod. Dresd., ed. Med. have:
“utraque manu interficiebat bestiam, atque intravit sab
eam.” | Then he got beneath it, thrust in his
sword and slew it. But the beast in falling crushed Eleazar and
so killed him. What courage of mind was his then, first, in that
he feared not death, next because, when surrounded by enemies, he was
carried by it into the thickest of his foes and penetrated the very
centre! Then, despising death, and casting away his shield, he
ran beneath the huge beast, wounded it with both his hands, and let it
fall upon him. He ran beneath it so as to give a more deadly
blow. Enclosed by its fall, rather than crushed, he was buried in
his own triumph.
208. Nor was he deceived in his intention
though he was deceived by the royal ornaments. For the enemy,
startled at such an exhibition of valour, dared not rush upon this
single unarmed man, held fast though he was. They were so
terrified after the mischance of the slaughter of the beast, that they
considered themselves altogether unequal to the valour of one.
Nay, King Antiochus, son of Lysias, terrified at the fortitude of one,
asked for peace. He had come to the war with 120,000 armed men
and with 32 elephants, which glittered and gleamed with the sheen of
arms like a line of burning lamps, as the sun rose upon them, marching
along one by one, like very mountains for size.305
| 305 Ed. Bened. here
has: “ita ut ab ortu solis per singulas bestias velut
montes quidam splendor armorum corusco, tanquam lampadibus
ardentibus.” Cod. Dresd. and Goth.: “ita
ut…quidam armorum coruscorum…refulgerent.”
Other ancient editions: “ita ut…quidam armorum
corusco…refulgerent.” | Thus Eleazar left peace as the heir of
his courage. These are the signs of triumphs.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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