A COINCIDENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 3 January 1918, Page 4

A COINCIDENCE.

A remarkable coincidence is that of the conquest of Jerusalem on December 10th by General Allenby, when 2000 years ago on the same date, Judas Maccabeus victoriously entered into possession (states a writer in the '" Sydney Sun"). The whole story is told in the Maccabees, two books of the Apocrypha. A glance backwards show's us. Alexander the Great, flushed with his victories in the East as far as Punjaub and the Indus, turned his attention to Northern Syria. After reducing Tyre and Sidon to desolation, a dreanr of a gigantic campaign against the Jews of the fertile south next engrossed his attention- Although a vision appeared t6 him, wherein he saw Jaddua, the High Priest, coming out to meet him, he- ignored it, and persisted <in continuing his march against Jerusalem. This day, December 10th, was the first day of the eight days of Chamicah, which festival is observed throughout the world wherever the Jews reside, to commemorate this victory of Judas Maccabeus against the pagan invader. It is fitting that General Allenby's triumphal entry —on' foot to indicate that he was a liberator, not a conqueror be celebrated on the anniversary of that day, and doubtless will be (looked upon as a happy omen for the futureby the Jewish people in all parts of the globe.