When King Antiochus heard of the victories of Judas, he was greatly angered and raised a large army to crush him. But along with the news of the uprising of the Jews came the report that his eastern provinces, Armenia and Persia, had refused to pay their tribute. Finding his treasury almost empty, the King was forced to leave Antioch to collect the tribute from these provinces by force. He gave Lysias, one of the royal blood, one-half of all the Syrian forces; and placed him in charge of his kingdom, with orders to destroy the Jewish nation, and people their land with strangers. JUDAS’S VICTORY OVER NICANOR AND GORGIAS. In obedience to the King’s command, Lysias sent out, on the following year, forty thousand footmen and five thousand horse, under Nicanor and Gorgias. These generals set out for Judea, and encamped on the plains of Emmaus. So confident were the Syrians of victory, that Nicanor, one of their generals, announced before hand a sale of Jewish captives at ninety for a talent—about $1000. Many Slave-Merchants were in this way attracted to the camp, each supplied with large amounts of gold and silver and chains to lead off their slaves. Judas, in the meantime, having heard that the Syrian armies had come to fight against him, assembled his six thousand men at Mizpah near Emmaus, where they fasted and prayed as in the days of Samuel. They opened the books of the Law, upon which the heathens had painted images of their gods; and they were reminded of the desolation of their holy city, the profaning of the Temple, and all the wicked deeds of Antiochus. Then Judas, in strict accordance with the Law, ordered all those who had recently married, built a house, planted a vineyard, or were afraid, to return to their homes. His army, as a result, was reduced from six thousand to three thousand men. Judas then encouraged the remaining men to fight bravely for their people, and ordered them to prepare for battle. In the meantime, Gorgias with five thousand footmen and one thousand horse, had set out to surprise the Jewish army by night. But Judas was soon informed of this movement, and he immediately devised a plan by which he could take advantage of the separation of the two generals. Silently and quickly he gathered his men, and set out with them for Emmaus, where the remainder of the Syrian army under Nicanor lay encamped.