the Syrian Christians aroused in their antagonists sentiments of horror and indignation.  “I will cleave the skull of any blaspheming idolater who says that the Most Holy God, the Almighty and Eternal, has begotten a son.”  The Khalif Omar, who took Jerusalem, commences a letter to Heraclius, the Roman emperor:  “In the name of the most merciful God!  Praise be to God, the Lord of this and of the other world, who has neither female consort nor son.”  The Saracens nicknamed the Christians “Associators,” because they joined Mary and Jesus as partners with the Almighty and Most Holy God.

It was not the intention of the khalif to command his army; that duty was devolved on Abou Obeidah nominally, on Khaled in reality.  In a parting review the khalif enjoined on his troops justice, mercy, and the observance of fidelity in their engagements he commanded them to abstain from all frivolous conversation and from wine, and rigorously to observe the hours of prayer; to be kind to the common people among whom they passed, but to show no mercy to their priests.

Fall of Bozrah.  Eastward of the river Jordan is Bozrah, a strong town where Mohammed had first met his Nestorian Christian instructors.  It was one of the Roman forts with which the country was dotted over.  Before this place the Saracen army encamped.  The garrison was strong, the ramparts were covered with holy crosses and consecrated banners.  It might have made a long defense.  But its governor, Romanus, betrayed his trust, and stealthily opened its gates to the besiegers.  His conduct shows to what a deplorable condition the population of Syria had come.  After the surrender, in a speech he made to the people he had betrayed, he said:  “I renounce your society, both in this world and that to come.  And I deny him that was crucified, and whosoever worships him.  And I choose God for my Lord, Islam for my faith, Mecca for my temple, the Moslems for my brethren, Mohammed for my prophet, who was sent to lead us in the right way, and to exalt the true religion in spite of those who join partners with God.”  Since the Persian invasion, Asia Minor, Syria, and even Palestine, were full of traitors and apostates, ready to join the Saracens.  Romanus was but one of many thousands who had fallen into disbelief through the victories of the Persians.

Fall of Damascus.  From Bozrah it was only seventy miles northward to Damascus, the capital of Syria.  Thither, without delay, the Saracen army marched.  The city was at once summoned to take its option—­conversion, tribute, or the sword.  In his palace at Antioch, barely one hundred and fifty miles still farther north, the Emperor Heraclius received tidings of the alarming advance of his assailants.  He at once dispatched an army of seventy thousand men.  The Saracens were compelled to raise the siege.  A battle took place in the plains of Aiznadin, the Roman army was overthrown and dispersed.  Khaled reappeared before Damascus with his standard of the black eagle, and after a renewed investment of seventy days Damascus surrendered.