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Updated: June 18, 2025
It was agreed therefore that Zarah, under the escort of Lycidas, should start at the hour which the Greek had first proposed; but that, instead of Joppa, her destination should be Bethsura at which place, by travelling all night, she might hope to arrive before dawn. While Zarah was concluding these arrangements with Lycidas, Anna returned from Jerusalem.
Rachel a woman who, though well stricken in years, had lost none of the energy and enthusiasm of youth was filled with triumphant joy at the victory of Bethsura, and declared to Zarah her intention of starting for the city in advance of the army. "I have a vow upon me a solemn vow," said the old Jewess to the maiden.
"Well done bravely done!" shouted the Hebrews who were rushing on from behind. "He is no Gentile, though he be a Greek!" cried the wild shrill voice of Jasher; "onwards, upwards, warriors of Judah! one struggle more, and Bethsura is ours!" Almost at the top of the ladder, almost close to the wall, gasping, straining, bleeding, struggles on the young Greek.
Here Judas met him at Bethsura, near to Jerusalem, with ten thousand men, now inspirited by victory, and again defeated the Syrian forces, with a loss to the enemy of five thousand men. Lysias, who commanded this army in person, returned to Antioch and made preparations to raise a still greater force, while the victorious Jews took possession of the capital.
Bethsura was not a place of much strength, though the height of its towers gave to their defenders the power to annoy and distress assailants with a shower of arrows and other missiles as they rushed to the assault.
The banner of Maccabeus is planted on the highest tower of Bethsura, and as it waves in the light of the evening sun, such a loud wild shout of triumph rises from the victors, as might be heard for miles around!
The apostate never went near Bethsura again; he kept far away from the place where he had passed his innocent childhood, the place where slept the relics of his young Jewish wife.
And while the inhabitants of Bethsura courageously opposed him, and sallied out upon him, and burnt his engines of war, a great deal of time was spent in the siege.
But never had the Athenian listened to any oration which had so stirred his own soul, as the simple prayer of Judas Maccabeus before the battle of Bethsura.
The young proselyte was rather glad than otherwise to carry on his person some token of his having fought under Judas Maccabeus, and been one of the foremost of those who had stormed Bethsura. With Zarah and her attendant for his deeply interested listeners, Lycidas gave a graphic and vivid description of the fight.
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