Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-12-21
Reiigieus InteIlIgs nee.

| HAsxucA, OR DkDIcArIoN.-This week begins
| this holiday of which we have already given a
slight notice. 1t is kept eight days, in conmemo-
ration of the time when the Hebrews re-consecrat-
ed their Temple after il had been polluted and de-
| filed by that wicked King, Antiochus, surnamed
Epiphanes. At present. every pious Jew throughout
the world has in his house peculiar sort of lamp,
with light branches in line, above which Is ano-
Their, which is called the shamass, or servant In
to each of these branches, which are shaped like
the bow part of a spoon, oil and wick are placed,
and light is lit up the FIRST night, two lights the
second night and so on, according TO the number OF
the days of the holiday. For the edfcation of Jew
and Gentle we give below brief outline Of the
facts in relation TO the whole affair. In view Of the
great mercy of God, walk very hambly and softly,
We Hebrews, before Yehopa Yreh (Jehovah il
reh,) lie. " The Lord will provide" and that
do not provoke him GAM as in the day ofpropoca-
ton" Antiochus E,iphanes, in the year 1856 sent
Appolonius into Judes, with an army Of twenty-tw"
thousand men, and commanded him to kill all the
Jews who were of full age, and to sell the women
and Young men. These orders were too punetua'ly
executed. These misfsrtuncs were only preudes
Of what they were to suffer- for Antiochns, appTe-
hendng that the Jews would never be constant IN
their obedience TO him, unless he compelled them TO
change their religion, and TO embrace that OF the
Greeks, issued an edict, enjoning on them to con
form the laws of other nations and forbiding the
usual sacrifices in the temple, their festivals, and
their Sabbath. The statue of Jupiter Olympus was
placed upon the altar Of the temple, and thus the
Abomin alton of desolation seen in the temple
of God. Many corrupt Jews complied with these
orders; out others resisted them. Mattathias and
his sons retired to the mountains. Old Eeazar and
the seven brethren, suffered death with great cou-
rage at Antioch. Judas Macca6ees, headed those
Jews who continued faithful, and opposed with sue
cess the generals whom king Antiochus sent into
Juha /. Judas Maccabees retoek
the temple at Jerusalem and restored the worship OF
the Lord, and the usual sacrifices. When the king
received this intelligence he was transported with
indignation, and threatened to make Jerusalem
grave for the Jews, commanded the driver of his
chariot to urge the horses forward, and to hasten
his isurney However, divine vengeance soon over
took him: he fell from his chariot, and bruised all
his limbs He was also tornented with such pains
in His bow els allowed him rest, and his disease
was aggravated by grief and vexation In this-con'
dlion he wrote to the Jews very humbiy, promised
them many things, and engaged even to turn Jew, IL
God would restore him to health He earnes ly
recommended TO them his sen Antioch who was
to succeed him, and entreated them to favor the
young prince, and to continue faithful to him. He
died, overwhelmed with pain and grief, in the
ain of Paratacene, in the little town OF Tabes,
A. NJ $50 and b. c. l64