Nicanor, finding his attempted fraud unsuccessful, resolved to try force. He marched against Judas, who, for military reasons, had retired as far as Samaria, and gave him battle at Capharsalama. But the plans of Nicanor were conceived with more haste than prudence. He delivered his attack under unfavourable conditions, and received a crushing defeat in which he lost fully five thousand men. Thus baffled for a second time, he returned to Jerusalem in a frenzy of rage. On the day after his arrival he went, followed by an armed guard, to the Temple, and forced his way into the Great Court. It was the time of the morning sacrifice, and the trembling priests came down from the altar to salute him. “Rebels,” he cried, “you are praying to your God that the enemies of the King may prosper.” “Not so, my lord,” said the presiding priest, “we have but this moment offered the customary sacrifice for the health and welfare of the most excellent Demetrius.” “These are but words, and I ask for deeds. Let this pestilent fellow, this Judas, be delivered into my hands. Thus and thus only shall I know that you are faithful to my lord the King.” “But, my lord, you ask that which is impossible. How can we, that are men of peace, have power to lay hands upon this man of war?” “Ask me not how, but do the thing that I command, or it shall go ill with you and your city.” “Nay, my lord, speak not so. Ask that which is possible, and it shall be done to the uttermost of our power.” “Fair words! fair words! But I know well that, after the manner of your race, for you are the enemies of all men, you curse me behind my back. Now listen unto me. You will not deliver this traitor into my hands——” The priests attempted to speak, but he silenced them with an imperious gesture. “So be it. Then I will take him by force. And when I have taken him, and dealt with him after his deserts, then——” he paused for a moment, and held out his right hand with a threatening gesture towards the altar—“then I will burn this house with fire; even as the Chaldæans burnt it in the days of your fathers, so will I burn it. All the gods of heaven and hell confound me, if I do not burn it, as a man burns a brand in the fire.” So speaking he turned away, and without deigning to salute the terrified priests, quitted the precincts of the Temple. When he was gone the priests stood weeping and praying before the altar. “O Lord,” they said, “for the blasphemies wherewith Thine enemies blaspheme Thee, reward Thou them sevenfold into their bosom. Thou didst choose this house to be called by Thy name, and to be a house of prayer for Thy people. Avenge Thyself, therefore, of this man and his host, and cause them to fall by the sword.”