An armed reconnaissance penetrating into Judea from Idumea. Defeated at Bethzur, he broke off the campaign with an armistice and returned to Antioch, where uncertain news was arriving about the death of the King, who had designated the general Philip as guardian of his son and regent.
Disregarding this wish, L. proclaimed the nine-year-old (or twelve-year-old) Antiochus V (q.v.) king, surnaming him Eupator (1 Macc. 6:14-17), and undertook another expedition into Palestine with him. Again advancing from the south, he defeated Judas Maccabaeus at Beth-zachariah, laid siege to Jerusalem, and captured Bethzur (1 Macc. 6:18-54).
Meanwhile, however, L. learned that the general Philip was attempting to supplant him in Antioch; he concluded peace with the Jews, defeated and killed Philip (1 Macc. 6:55-63; 2 Macc. 13:23), but was himself killed together with Antiochus V, by order of Demetrius I, son of Seleucus IV Philopator, in 162 B.C. (cf. 2 Macc. 14:1 ff.).
Historians debate the number of L.’s expeditions into Palestine after the actual death of Antiochus Epiphanes. According to G. Ricciotti (op. cit., in bibliography, II, p. 290), some, “with little criticism,” set the number at three, while others, “with too much criticism,” posit only one (cf. 2 Macc. 11:1–14:2).