After the death of Antiochus, his son tried to reconquer Judea. The Jews under Judas Machabeus set out to oppose him. As the battle raged, there appeared a horseman going before them, clothed in white. with golden armor, and holding a spear. The Jews blessed the merciful Lord, and took on great courage, because they knew they had a helper from heaven. Rushing violently upon the Syrians, they defeated them with great slaughter. The Syrians who were not killed turned and fled in fear.
Finally, after many battles, Judas won the freedom of his country from foreigners. At his death his brothers became the rulers.
There was peace in Judea for many years. The land began to flourish once more. But later rulers turned away from God. Many of the people disobeyed God's laws. They said that they believed in the True God. They said that they loved Him. They were very careful to keep the different forms ordered by the Law. But in their hearts they were wicked, and denied God. They did not really love Him.
The Jews forgot the Lord Who had revealed Himself and done wonderful things for them. Outside of Judea, people every-where also lived in sin. They worshipped idols, and adored false gods. Their hearts were full of wickedness, and they committed much evil. There was need of One to show mankind the true way. There was great need for the fulfillment of the many prophecies, and of the promise made by Jacob to his son Juda. This promise was that a Saviour, the Messias, would come to redeem mankind from sin.
Finally the Jews quarreled even among themselves. The Roman armies came to take control of everything. The Jews became a subject people in their own land.
Herod, a foreigner, was made king. The Kingdom of Judea was no more. No ruler came from the tribe of Judea to rule his people. Jacob had foretold: "The scepter shall not be taken away from Juda till He come that is to be sent and He shall be the Expectation of Nations." This was the time when Our Lord Jesus Christ came to teach, to bless, and to save mankind.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines