{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/apo/2mac.htm","path":"chr/apo/2mac.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/2mac.htm","text":"2Mac 1\nThe brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land\nof Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout\nEgypt health and peace:\n2\nGod be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he\nmade with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;\n3\nAnd give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will,\nwith a good courage and a willing mind;\n4\nAnd open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send\nyou peace,\n5\nAnd hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never\nforsake you in time of trouble.\n6\nAnd now we be here praying for you.\n7\nWhat time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and\nninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of\ntrouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that\nJason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,\n8\nAnd burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed\nunto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and\nfine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.\n9\nAnd now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the\nmonth Casleu.\n10\nIn the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that\nwere at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent\ngreeting and health unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus' master,\nwho was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews\nthat were in Egypt:\n11\nInsomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank\nhim highly, as having been in battle against a king.\n12\nFor he cast them out that fought within the holy city.\n13\nFor when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with\nhim that seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of\nNanea by the deceit of Nanea's priests.\n14\nFor Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the\nplace, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in\nname of a dowry.\n15\nWhich when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was\nentered with a small company into the compass of the temple,\nthey shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:\n16\nAnd opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like\nthunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces,\nsmote off their heads and cast them to those that were without.\n17\nBlessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the\nungodly.\n18\nTherefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the\npurification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of\nthe month Casleu, we thought it necessary to certify you\nthereof, that ye also might keep it, as the feast of the\ntabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias\noffered sacrifice, after that he had builded the temple and the\naltar.\n19\nFor when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that\nwere then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it\nin an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it\nsure, so that the place was unknown to all men.\n20\nNow after many years, when it pleased God, Neemias, being\nsent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those\npriests that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they\nfound no fire, but thick water;\n21\nThen commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and\nwhen the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests\nto sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the\nwater.\n22\nWhen this was done, and the time came that the sun shone,\nwhich afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire\nkindled, so that every man marvelled.\n23\nAnd the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was\nconsuming, I say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan\nbeginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.\n24\nAnd the prayer was after this manner; O Lord, Lord God,\nCreator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and\nrighteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,\n25\nThe only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and\neverlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and\ndidst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:\n26\nReceive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and\npreserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.\n27\nGather those together that are scattered from us, deliver\nthem that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are\ndespised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art\nour God.\n28\nPunish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.\n29\nPlant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath\nspoken.\n30\nAnd the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.\n31\nNow when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the\nwater that was left to be poured on the great stones.\n32\nWhen this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was\nconsumed by the light that shined from the altar.\n33\nSo when this matter was known, it was told the king of\nPersia, that in the place, where the priests that were led away\nhad hid the fire, there appeared water, and that Neemias had\npurified the sacrifices therewith.\n34\nThen the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he\nhad tried the matter.\n35\nAnd the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those\nwhom he would gratify.\n36\nAnd Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as\nto say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.\n2Mac 2\nIt is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet\ncommanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it\nhath been signified:\n2\nAnd how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged\nthem not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they\nshould not err in their minds, when they see images of silver\nand gold, with their ornaments.\n3\nAnd with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law\nshould not depart from their hearts.\n4\nIt was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet,\nbeing warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go\nwith him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses\nclimbed up, and saw the heritage of God.\n5\nAnd when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave,\nwherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of\nincense, and so stopped the door.\n6\nAnd some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but\nthey could not find it.\n7\nWhich when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for\nthat place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather\nhis people again together, and receive them unto mercy.\n8\nThen shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of\nthe Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed\nunder Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be\nhonourably sanctified.\n9\nIt was also declared, that he being wise offered the\nsacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.\n10\nAnd as when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire came down\nfrom heaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Solomon\nalso, and the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt\nofferings.\n11\nAnd Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten,\nit was consumed.\n12\nSo Solomon kept those eight days.\n13\nThe same things also were reported in the writings and\ncommentaries of Neemias; and how he founding a library gathered\ntogether the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David,\nand the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.\n14\nIn like manner also Judas gathered together all those things\nthat were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with\nus,\n15\nWherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them\nunto you.\n16\nWhereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we\nhave written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same\ndays.\n17\nWe hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people,\nand gave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the\npriesthood, and the sanctuary,\n18\nAs he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us,\nand gather us together out of every land under heaven into the\nholy place: for he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and\nhath purified the place.\n19\nNow as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the\npurification of the great temple, and the dedication of the\naltar,\n20\nAnd the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his\nson,\n21\nAnd the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that\nbehaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so\nthat, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and\nchased barbarous multitudes,\n22\nAnd recovered again the temple renowned all the world over,\nand freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down,\nthe Lord being gracious unto them with all favour:\n23\nAll these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in\nfive books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.\n24\nFor considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which\nthey find that desire to look into the narrations of the story,\nfor the variety of the matter,\n25\nWe have been careful, that they that will read may have\ndelight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory\nmight have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might\nhave profit.\n26\nTherefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour\nof abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and\nwatching;\n27\nEven as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and\nseeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we\nwill undertake gladly this great pains;\n28\nLeaving to the author the exact handling of every particular,\nand labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.\n29\nFor as the master builder of a new house must care for the\nwhole building; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint\nit, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I\nthink it is with us.\n30\nTo stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and\nto be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of\nthe story:\n31\nBut to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is\nto be granted to him that will make an abridgment.\n32\nHere then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to\nthat which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a\nlong prologue, and to be short in the story itself.\n2Mac 3\nNow when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the\nlaws were kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the\nhigh priest, and his hatred of wickedness,\n2\nIt came to pass that even the kings themselves did honour the\nplace, and magnify the temple with their best gifts;\n3\nInsomuch that Seleucus of Asia of his own revenues bare all\nthe costs belonging to the service of the sacrifices.\n4\nBut one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who was made governor\nof the temple, fell out with the high priest about disorder in\nthe city.\n5\nAnd when he could not overcome Onias, he gat him to\nApollonius the son of Thraseas, who then was governor of\nCelosyria and Phenice,\n6\nAnd told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of\ninfinite sums of money, so that the multitude of their riches,\nwhich did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, was\ninnumerable, and that it was possible to bring all into the\nking's hand.\n7\nNow when Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of\nthe money whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorus his\ntreasurer, and sent him with a commandment to bring him the\nforesaid money.\n8\nSo forthwith Heliodorus took his journey; under a colour of\nvisiting the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to\nfulfil the king's purpose.\n9\nAnd when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously\nreceived of the high priest of the city, he told him what\nintelligence was given of the money, and declared wherefore he\ncame, and asked if these things were so indeed.\n10\nThen the high priest told him that there was such money laid\nup for the relief of widows and fatherless children:\n11\nAnd that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man\nof great dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed:\nthe sum whereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and\ntwo hundred of gold:\n12\nAnd that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should\nbe done unto them, that had committed it to the holiness of the\nplace, and to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple,\nhonoured over all the world.\n13\nBut Heliodorus, because of the king's commandment given him,\nsaid, That in any wise it must be brought into the king's\ntreasury.\n14\nSo at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this\nmatter: wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole\ncity.\n15\nBut the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in\ntheir priests' vestments, called unto heaven upon him that made\na law concerning things given to he kept, that they should\nsafely be preserved for such as had committed them to be kept.\n16\nThen whoso had looked the high priest in the face, it would\nhave wounded his heart: for his countenance and the changing of\nhis colour declared the inward agony of his mind.\n17\nFor the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the\nbody, that it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what\nsorrow he had now in his heart.\n18\nOthers ran flocking out of their houses to the general\nsupplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.\n19\nAnd the women, girt with sackcloth under their breasts,\nabounded in the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran,\nsome to the gates, and some to the walls, and others looked out\nof the windows.\n20\nAnd all, holding their hands toward heaven, made\nsupplication.\n21\nThen it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of\nthe multitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest\nbeing in such an agony.\n22\nThey then called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things\ncommitted of trust safe and sure for those that had committed\nthem.\n23\nNevertheless Heliodorus executed that which was decreed.\n24\nNow as he was there present himself with his guard about the\ntreasury, the Lord of spirits, and the Prince of all power,\ncaused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in\nwith him were astonished at the power of God, and fainted, and\nwere sore afraid.\n25\nFor there appeared unto them an horse with a terrible rider\nupon him, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran\nfiercely, and smote at Heliodorus with his forefeet, and it\nseemed that he that sat upon the horse had complete harness of\ngold.\n26\nMoreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in\nstrength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood\nby him on either side; and scourged him continually, and gave\nhim many sore stripes.\n27\nAnd Heliodorus fell suddenly unto the ground, and was\ncompassed with great darkness: but they that were with him\ntook him up, and put him into a litter.\n28\nThus him, that lately came with a great train and with all\nhis guard into the said treasury, they carried out, being unable\nto help himself with his weapons: and manifestly they\nacknowledged the power of God.\n29\nFor he by the hand of God was cast down, and lay speechless\nwithout all hope of life.\n30\nBut they praised the Lord, that had miraculously honoured his\nown place: for the temple; which a little afore was full of fear\nand trouble, when the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with\njoy and gladness.\n31\nThen straightways certain of Heliodorus' friends prayed\nOnias, that he would call upon the most High to grant him his\nlife, who lay ready to give up the ghost.\n32\nSo the high priest, suspecting lest the king should\nmisconceive that some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by\nthe Jews, offered a sacrifice for the health of the man.\n33\nNow as the high priest was making an atonement, the same\nyoung men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside\nHeliodorus, saying, Give Onias the high priest great thanks,\ninsomuch as for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life:\n34\nAnd seeing that thou hast been scourged from heaven, declare\nunto all men the mighty power of God. And when they had spoken\nthese words, they appeared no more.\n35\nSo Heliodorus, after he had offered sacrifice unto the Lord,\nand made great vows unto him that had saved his life, and\nsaluted Onias, returned with his host to the king.\n36\nThen testified he to all men the works of the great God,\nwhich he had seen with his eyes.\n37\nAnd when the king Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be\nsent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,\n38\nIf thou hast any enemy or traitor, send him thither, and thou\nshalt receive him well scourged, if he escape with his life: for\nin that place, no doubt; there is an especial power of God.\n39\nFor he that dwelleth in heaven hath his eye on that place,\nand defendeth it; and he beateth and destroyeth them that come\nto hurt it.\n40\nAnd the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the\ntreasury, fell out on this sort.\n2Mac 4\nThis Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a\nbetrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as\nif he ha terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these\nevils.\n2\nThus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved\nwell of the city, and tendered his own nation, and was so\nzealous of the laws.\n3\nBut when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's\nfaction murders were committed,\n4\nOnias seeing the danger of this contention, and that\nApollonius, as being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did\nrage, and increase Simon's malice,\n5\nHe went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen,\nbut seeking the good of all, both publick and private:\n6\nFor he saw that it was impossible that the state should\ncontinue quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did\nlook thereunto.\n7\nBut after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called\nEpiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured\nunderhand to be high priest,\n8\nPromising unto the king by intercession three hundred and\nthreescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty\ntalents:\n9\nBeside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more,\nif he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and\nfor the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and\nto write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.\n10\nWhich when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his\nhand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish\nfashion.\n11\nAnd the royal privileges granted of special favour to the\nJews by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went\nambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away; and putting\ndown the governments which were according to the law, he brought\nup new customs against the law:\n12\nFor he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower\nitself, and brought the chief young men under his subjection,\nand made them wear a hat.\n13\nNow such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of\nheathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason,\nthat ungodly wretch, and no high priest;\n14\nThat the priests had no courage to serve any more at the\naltar, but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices,\nhastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place\nof exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth;\n15\nNot setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the\nglory of the Grecians best of all.\n16\nBy reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had\nthem to be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they\nfollowed so earnestly, and unto whom they desired to be like in\nall things.\n17\nFor it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws\nof God: but the time following shall declare these things.\n18\nNow when the game that was used every faith year was kept at\nTyrus, the king being present,\n19\nThis ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem,\nwho were Antiochians, to carry three hundred drachms of silver\nto the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof\nthought fit not to bestow upon the sacrifice, because it was not\nconvenient, but to be reserved for other charges.\n20\nThis money then, in regard of the sender, was appointed to\nHercules' sacrifice; but because of the bearers thereof, it was\nemployed to the making of gallies.\n21\nNow when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt\nfor the coronation of king Ptolemeus Philometor, Antiochus,\nunderstanding him not to be well affected to his affairs,\nprovided for his own safety: whereupon he came to Joppa, and\nfrom thence to Jerusalem:\n22\nWhere he was honourably received of Jason, and of the city,\nand was brought in with torch alight, and with great shoutings:\nand so afterward went with his host unto Phenice.\n23\nThree years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid\nSimon's brother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him\nin mind of certain necessary matters.\n24\nBut he being brought to the presence of the king, when he had\nmagnified him for the glorious appearance of his power, got the\npriesthood to himself, offering more than Jason by three hundred\ntalents of silver.\n25\nSo he came with the king's mandate, bringing nothing worthy\nthe high priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and\nthe rage of a savage beast.\n26\nThen Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being\nundermined by another, was compelled to flee into the country of\nthe Ammonites.\n27\nSo Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money that\nhe had promised unto the king, he took no good order for it,\nalbeit Sostratis the ruler of the castle required it:\n28\nFor unto him appertained the gathering of the customs.\nWherefore they were both called before the king.\n29\nNow Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the\npriesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the\nCyprians.\n30\nWhile those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos\nmade insurrection, because they were given to the king's\nconcubine, called Antiochus.\n31\nThen came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving\nAndronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.\n32\nNow Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a convenient time,\nstole certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave some\nof them to Andronicus, and some he sold into Tyrus and the\ncities round about.\n33\nWhich when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and\nwithdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by\nAntiochia.\n34\nWherefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus apart, prayed, him to\nget Onias into his hands; who being persuaded thereunto, and\ncoming to Onias in deceit, gave him his right hand with oaths;\nand though he were suspected by him, yet persuaded he him to\ncome forth of the sanctuary: whom forthwith he shut up without\nregard of justice.\n35\nFor the which cause not only the Jews, but many also of other\nnations, took great indignation, and were much grieved for the\nunjust murder of the man.\n36\nAnd when the king was come again from the places about\nCilicia, the Jews that were in the city, and certain of the\nGreeks that abhorred the fact also, complained because Onias was\nslain without cause.\n37\nTherefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity,\nand wept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that\nwas dead.\n38\nAnd being kindled with anger, forthwith he took away\nAndronicus his purple, and rent off his clothes, and leading him\nthrough the whole city unto that very place, where he had\ncommitted impiety against Onias, there slew he the cursed\nmurderer. Thus the Lord rewarded him his punishment, as he had\ndeserved.\n39\nNow when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by\nLysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and the fruit thereof\nwas spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together\nagainst Lysimachus, many vessels of gold being already carried\naway.\n40\nWhereupon the common people rising, and being filled with\nrage, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began first\nto offer violence; one Auranus being the leader, a man far gone\nin years, and no less in folly.\n41\nThey then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus, some of them\ncaught stones, some clubs, others taking handfuls of dust, that\nwas next at hand, cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and\nthose that set upon them.\n42\nThus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the\nground, and all of them they forced to flee: but as for the\nchurchrobber himself, him they killed beside the treasury.\n43\nOf these matters therefore there was an accusation laid\nagainst Menelaus.\n44\nNow when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent\nfrom the senate pleaded the cause before him:\n45\nBut Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son\nof Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king\ntoward him.\n46\nWhereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain\ngallery, as it were to take the air, brought him to be of\nanother mind:\n47\nInsomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations,\nwho notwithstanding was cause of all the mischief: and those\npoor men, who, if they had told their cause, yea, before the\nScythians, should have been judged innocent, them he condemned\nto death.\n48\nThus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the\npeople, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust\npunishment.\n49\nWherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that\nwicked deed, caused them to be honourably buried.\n50\nAnd so through the covetousness of them that were of power\nMenelaus remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and\nbeing a great traitor to the citizens.\n2Mac 5\nAbout the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into\nEgypt:\n2\nAnd then it happened, that through all the city, for the\nspace almost of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in\nthe air, in cloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of\nsoldiers,\n3\nAnd troops of horsemen in array, encountering and running one\nagainst another, with shaking of shields, and multitude of\npikes, and drawing of swords, and casting of darts, and\nglittering of golden ornaments, and harness of all sorts.\n4\nWherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to\ngood.\n5\nNow when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though\nAntiochus had been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men,\nand suddenly made an assault upon the city; and they that were\nupon the walls being put back, and the city at length taken,\nMenelaus fled into the castle:\n6\nBut Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, not\nconsidering that to get the day of them of his own nation would\nbe a most unhappy day for him; but thinking they had been his\nenemies, and not his countrymen, whom he conquered.\n7\nHowbeit for all this he obtained not the principality, but at\nthe last received shame for the reward of his treason, and fled\nagain into the country of the Ammonites.\n8\nIn the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused\nbefore Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to\ncity, pursued of all men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and\nbeing had in abomination as an open enemy of his country and\ncountrymen, he was cast out into Egypt.\n9\nThus he that had driven many out of their country perished in\na strange land, retiring to the Lacedemonians, and thinking\nthere to find succour by reason of his kindred:\n10\nAnd he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for\nhim, nor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre with his\nfathers.\n11\nNow when this that was done came to the king's car, he\nthought that Judea had revolted: whereupon removing out of Egypt\nin a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms,\n12\nAnd commanded his men of war not to spare such as they met,\nand to slay such as went up upon the houses.\n13\nThus there was killing of young and old, making away of men,\nwomen, and children, slaying of virgins and infants.\n14\nAnd there were destroyed within the space of three whole days\nfourscore thousand, whereof forty thousand were slain in the\nconflict; and no fewer sold than slain.\n15\nYet was he not content with this, but presumed to go into\nthe most holy temple of all the world; Menelaus, that traitor to\nthe laws, and to his own country, being his guide:\n16\nAnd taking the holy vessels with polluted hands, and with\nprofane hands pulling down the things that were dedicated by\nother kings to the augmentation and glory and honour of the\nplace, he gave them away.\n17\nAnd so haughty was Antiochus in mind, that he considered not\nthat the Lord was angry for a while for the sins of them that\ndwelt in the city, and therefore his eye was not upon the place.\n18\nFor had they not been formerly wrapped in many sins, this\nman, as soon as he had come, had forthwith been scourged, and\nput back from his presumption, as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus\nthe king sent to view the treasury.\n19\nNevertheless God did not choose the people for the place's\nsake, but the place far the people's sake.\n20\nAnd therefore the place itself, that was partaker with them\nof the adversity that happened to the nation, did afterward\ncommunicate in the benefits sent from the Lord: and as it was\nforsaken in the wrath of the Almighty, so again, the great Lord\nbeing reconciled, it was set up with all glory.\n21\nSo when Antiochus had carried out of the temple a thousand\nand eight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto\nAntiochia, weening in his pride to make the land navigable, and\nthe sea passable by foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind.\n22\nAnd he left governors to vex the nation: at Jerusalem,\nPhilip, for his country a Phrygian, and for manners more\nbarbarous than he that set him there;\n23\nAnd at Garizim, Andronicus; and besides, Menelaus, who worse\nthan all the rest bare an heavy hand over the citizens, having a\nmalicious mind against his countrymen the Jews.\n24\nHe sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius with an\narmy of two and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all\nthose that were in their best age, and to sell the women and the\nyounger sort:\n25\nWho coming to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, did forbear\ntill the holy day of the sabbath, when taking the Jews keeping\nholy day, he commanded his men to arm themselves.\n26\nAnd so he slew all them that were gone to the celebrating of\nthe sabbath, and running through the city with weapons slew\ngreat multitudes.\n27\nBut Judas Maccabeus with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew\nhimself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after\nthe manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs\ncontinually, lest they should be partakers of the pollution.\n2Mac 6\nNot long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to\ncompel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and\nnot to live after the laws of God:\n2\nAnd to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it\nthe temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter\nthe Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the\nplace.\n3\nThe coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the\npeople:\n4\nFor the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the\nGentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women\nwithin the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought\nin things that were not lawful.\n5\nThe altar also was filled with profane things, which the law\nforbiddeth.\n6\nNeither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or\nancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.\n7\nAnd in the day of the king's birth every month they were\nbrought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when\nthe fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in\nprocession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.\n8\nMoreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of\nthe heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews,\nthat they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of\ntheir sacrifices:\n9\nAnd whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the\nGentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the\npresent misery.\n10\nFor there were two women brought, who had circumcised their\nchildren; whom when they had openly led round about the city,\nthe babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong\nfrom the wall.\n11\nAnd others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep\nthe sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all\nburnt together, because they made a conscience to help\nthemselves for the honour of the most sacred day.\n12\nNow I beseech those that read this book, that they be not\ndiscouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those\npunishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of\nour nation.\n13\nFor it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers\nare not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.\n14\nFor not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently\nforbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their\nsins, so dealeth he with us,\n15\nLest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he\nshould take vengeance of us.\n16\nAnd therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and\nthough he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his\npeople.\n17\nBut let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And\nnow will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.\n18\nEleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a\nwell favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth,\nand to eat swine's flesh.\n19\nBut he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live\nstained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his\nown accord to the torment,\n20\nAs it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out\nagainst such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be\ntasted.\n21\nBut they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the\nold acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside,\nbesought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was\nlawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh\ntaken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;\n22\nThat in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for\nthe old friendship with them find favour.\n23\nBut he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age,\nand the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his\ngray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from\na child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore\nhe answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send\nhim to the grave.\n24\nFor it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to\ndissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar,\nbeing fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange\nreligion;\n25\nAnd so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a\nlittle time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I\nget a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.\n26\nFor though for the present time I should be delivered from\nthe punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the\nAlmighty, neither alive, nor dead.\n27\nWherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew\nmyself such an one as mine age requireth,\n28\nAnd leave a notable example to such as be young to die\nwillingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And\nwhen he had said these words, immediately he went to the\ntorment:\n29\nThey that led him changing the good will they bare him a\nlittle before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches\nproceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.\n30\nBut when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and\nsaid, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy\nknowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death,\nI now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am\nwell content to suffer these things, because I fear him.\n31\nAnd thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a\nnoble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young\nmen, but unto all his nation.\n2Mac 7\nIt came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother\nwere taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste\nswine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.\n2\nBut one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest\nthou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to\ntransgress the laws of our fathers.\n3\nThen the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons\nto be made hot:\n4\nWhich forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the\ntongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts\nof his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.\n5\nNow when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded\nhim being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried\nin the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space\ndispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die\nmanfully, saying thus,\n6\nThe Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in\nus, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces,\ndeclared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants.\n7\nSo when the first was dead after this number, they brought\nthe second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled\noff the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt\nthou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy\nbody?\n8\nBut he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore\nhe also received the next torment in order, as the former did.\n9\nAnd when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury\ntakest us out of this present life, but the King of the world\nshall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting\nlife.\n10\nAfter him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was\nrequired, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding\nforth his hands manfully.\n11\nAnd said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his\nlaws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.\n12\nInsomuch that the king, and they that were with him,\nmarvelled at the young man's courage, for that he nothing\nregarded the pains.\n13\nNow when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled\nthe fourth in like manner.\n14\nSo when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being\nput to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up\nagain by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to\nlife.\n15\nAfterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.\n16\nThen looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over\nmen, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think\nnot that our nation is forsaken of God;\n17\nBut abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will\ntorment thee and thy seed.\n18\nAfter him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die\nsaid, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things\nfor ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore\nmarvellous things are done unto us.\n19\nBut think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against\nGod, that thou shalt escape unpunished.\n20\nBut the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of\nhonourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within\nthe space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because\nof the hope that she had in the Lord.\n21\nYea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language,\nfilled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish\nthoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,\n22\nI cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave\nyou breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of\nevery one of you;\n23\nBut doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the\ngeneration of man, and found out the beginning of all things,\nwill also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye\nnow regard not your own selves for his laws' sake.\n24\nNow Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it\nto be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive,\ndid not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with\noaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he\nwould turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would\ntake him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.\n25\nBut when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the\nking called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel\nthe young man to save his life.\n26\nAnd when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised\nhim that she would counsel her son.\n27\nBut she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant\nto scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my\nson, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb,\nand gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought\nthee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.\n28\nI beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth,\nand all that is therein, and consider that God made them of\nthings that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.\n29\nFear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren,\ntake thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy\nbrethren.\n30\nWhiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said,\nWhom wait ye for? I will not obey the king's commandment: but I\nwill obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our\nfathers by Moses.\n31\nAnd thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against\nthe Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.\n32\nFor we suffer because of our sins.\n33\nAnd though the living Lord be angry with us a little while\nfor our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again\nwith his servants.\n34\nBut thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not\nlifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes,\nlifting up thy hand against the servants of God:\n35\nFor thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God,\nwho seeth all things.\n36\nFor our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are\ndead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through\nthe judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy\npride.\n37\nBut I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws\nof our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be\nmerciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues\nmayest confess, that he alone is God;\n38\nAnd that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty,\nwhich is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.\n39\nThan the king' being in a rage, handed him worse than all the\nrest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.\n40\nSo this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the\nLord.\n41\nLast of all after the sons the mother died.\n42\nLet this be enough now to have spoken concerning the\nidolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures.\n2Mac 8\nThen Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went\nprivily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and\ntook unto them all such as continued in the Jews' religion, and\nassembled about six thousand men.\n2\nAnd they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the\npeople that was trodden down of all; and also pity the temple\nprofaned of ungodly men;\n3\nAnd that he would have compassion upon the city, sore\ndefaced, and ready to be made even with the ground; and hear the\nblood that cried unto him,\n4\nAnd remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants, and\nthe blasphemies committed against his name; and that he would\nshew his hatred against the wicked.\n5\nNow when Maccabeus had his company about him, he could not be\nwithstood by the heathen: for the wrath of the Lord was turned\ninto mercy.\n6\nTherefore he came at unawares, and burnt up towns and cities,\nand got into his hands the most commodious places, and overcame\nand put to flight no small number of his enemies.\n7\nBut specially took he advantage of the night for such privy\nattempts, insomuch that the fruit of his holiness was spread\nevery where.\n8\nSo when Philip saw that this man increased by little and\nlittle, and that things prospered with him still more and more,\nhe wrote unto Ptolemeus, the governor of Celosyria and Phenice,\nto yield more aid to the king's affairs.\n9\nThen forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of\nhis special friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty\nthousand of all nations under him, to root out the whole\ngeneration of the Jews; and with him he joined also Gorgias a\ncaptain, who in matters of war had great experience.\n10\nSo Nicanor undertook to make so much money of the captive\nJews, as should defray the tribute of two thousand talents,\nwhich the king was to pay to the Romans.\n11\nWherefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea\ncoast, proclaiming a sale of the captive Jews, and promising\nthat they should have fourscore and ten bodies for one talent,\nnot expecting the vengeance that was to follow upon him from the\nAlmighty God.\n12\nNow when word was brought unto Judas of Nicanor's coming, and\nhe had imparted unto those that were with him that the army was\nat hand,\n13\nThey that were fearful, and distrusted the justice of God,\nfled, and conveyed themselves away.\n14\nOthers sold all that they had left, and withal besought the\nLord to deliver them, sold by the wicked Nicanor before they met\ntogether:\n15\nAnd if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants he had\nmade with their fathers, and for his holy and glorious name's\nsake, by which they were called.\n16\nSo Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six\nthousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of\nthe enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen, who\ncame wrongly against them; but to fight manfully,\n17\nAnd to set before their eyes the injury that they had\nunjustly done to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the\ncity, whereof they made a mockery, and also the taking away of\nthe government of their forefathers:\n18\nFor they, said he, trust in their weapons and boldness; but\nour confidence is in the Almighty who at a beck can cast down\nboth them that come against us, and also all the world.\n19\nMoreover, he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers\nhad found, and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib\nan hundred fourscore and five thousand perished.\n20\nAnd he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with\nthe Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the\nbusiness, with four thousand Macedonians, and that the\nMacedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed an\nhundred and twenty thousand because of the help that they had\nfrom heaven, and so received a great booty.\n21\nThus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready\nto die for the law and the country, he divided his army into\nfour parts;\n22\nAnd joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each\nband, to wit Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving each one\nfifteen hundred men.\n23\nAlso he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he\nhad given them this watchword, The help of God; himself leading\nthe first band,\n24\nAnd by the help of the Almighty they slew above nine thousand\nof their enemies, and wounded and maimed the most part of\nNicanor's host, and so put all to flight;\n25\nAnd took their money that came to buy them, and pursued them\nfar: but lacking time they returned:\n26\nFor it was the day before the sabbath, and therefore they\nwould no longer pursue them.\n27\nSo when they had gathered their armour together, and spoiled\ntheir enemies, they occupied themselves about the sabbath,\nyielding exceeding praise and thanks to the Lord, who had\npreserved them unto that day, which was the beginning of mercy\ndistilling upon them.\n28\nAnd after the sabbath, when they had given part of the spoils\nto the maimed, and the widows, and orphans, the residue they\ndivided among themselves and their servants.\n29\nWhen this was done, and they had made a common supplication,\nthey besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his\nservants for ever.\n30\nMoreover of those that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who\nfought against them, they slew above twenty thousand, and very\neasily got high and strong holds, and divided among themselves\nmany spoils more, and made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and\nthe aged also, equal in spoils with themselves.\n31\nAnd when they had gathered their armour together, they laid\nthem up all carefully in convenient places, and the remnant of\nthe spoils they brought to Jerusalem.\n32\nThey slew also Philarches, that wicked person, who was with\nTimotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways.\n33\nFurthermore at such time as they kept the feast for the\nvictory in their country they burnt Callisthenes, that had set\nfire upon the holy gates, who had fled into a little house; and\nso he received a reward meet for his wickedness.\n34\nAs for that most ungracious Nicanor, who had brought a\nthousand merchants to buy the Jews,\n35\nHe was through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of\nwhom he made least account; and putting off his glorious\napparel, and discharging his company, he came like a fugitive\nservant through the midland unto Antioch having very great\ndishonour, for that his host was destroyed.\n36\nThus he, that took upon him to make good to the Romans their\ntribute by means of captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the\nJews had God to fight for them, and therefore they could not be\nhurt, because they followed the laws that he gave them.\n2Mac 9\nAbout that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the\ncountry of Persia\n2\nFor he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about\nto rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude\nrunning to defend themselves with their weapons put them to\nflight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight\nof the inhabitants returned with shame.\n3\nNow when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had\nhappened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.\n4\nThen swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews\nthe disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee.\nTherefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing,\nand to dispatch the journey, the judgment of GOd now following\nhim. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come\nto Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jew\ns.\n5\nBut the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an\nincurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken\nthese words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon\nhim, and sore torments of the inner parts;\n6\nAnd that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels\nwith many and strange torments.\n7\nHowbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still\nwas filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against\nthe Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to\npass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so\nthat having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much\npained.\n8\nAnd thus he that a little afore thought he might command the\nwaves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man)\nand weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the\nground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all\nthe manifest power of God.\n9\nSo that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man,\nand whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and\nthe filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.\n10\nAnd the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to\nthe stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his\nintolerable stink.\n11\nHere therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his\ngreat pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the\nscourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.\n12\nAnd when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said\nthese words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man\nthat is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were\nGod.\n13\nThis wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more\nwould have mercy upon him, saying thus,\n14\nThat the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay\nit even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,)\nhe would set at liberty:\n15\nAnd as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so\nmuch as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to\nbe devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all\nequals to the citizens of Athens:\n16\nAnd the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would\ngarnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with\nmany more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges\nbelonging to the sacrifices:\n17\nYea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go\nthrough all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power\nof God.\n18\nBut for all this his pains would not cease: for the just\njudgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his\nhealth, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten,\ncontaining the form of a supplication, after this manner:\n19\nAntiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens\nwisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:\n20\nIf ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to\nyour contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my\nhope in heaven.\n21\nAs for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly\nyour honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being\ntaken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care\nfor the common safety of all:\n22\nNot distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape\nthis sickness.\n23\nBut considering that even my father, at what time he led an\narmy into the high countries. appointed a successor,\n24\nTo the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to\nexpectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous,\nthey of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not\nbe troubled:\n25\nAgain, considering how that the princes that are borderers\nand neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and\nexpect what shall be the event. I have appointed my son\nAntiochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many\nof you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have\nwritten as followeth:\n26\nTherefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits\nthat I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that\nevery man will be still faithful to me and my son.\n27\nFor I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will\nfavourably and graciously yield to your desires.\n28\nThus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most\ngrievously, as he entreated other men, so died he a miserable\ndeath in a strange country in the mountains.\n29\nAnd Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his\nbody, who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to\nPtolemeus Philometor.\n2Mac 10\nNow Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them,\nrecovered the temple and the city:\n2\nBut the altars which the heathen had built in the open\nstreet, and also the chapels, they pulled down.\n3\nAnd having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and\nstriking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a\nsacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights,\nand shewbread.\n4\nWhen that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the\nLord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if\nthey sinned any more against him, that he himself would chasten\nthem with mercy, and that they might not be delivered unto the\nblasphemous and barbarous nations.\n5\nNow upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple,\non the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and\ntwentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu.\n6\nAnd they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast\nof the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had\nheld the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the\nmountains and dens like beasts.\n7\nTherefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms\nalso, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success\nin cleansing his place.\n8\nThey ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every\nyear those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.\n9\nAnd this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.\n10\nNow will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was\nthe son of this wicked man, gathering briefly the calamities of\nthe wars.\n11\nSo when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the\naffairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of\nCelosyria and Phenice.\n12\nFor Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do\njustice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto\nthem, endeavoured to continue peace with them.\n13\nWhereupon being accused of the king's friends before Eupator,\nand called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus,\nthat Philometor had committed unto him, and departed to\nAntiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable\nplace, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself and died.\n14\nBut when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired\nsoldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:\n15\nAnd therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands\nthe most commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving\nthose that were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to\nnourish war.\n16\nThen they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and\nbesought God that he would be their helper; and so they ran with\nviolence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,\n17\nAnd assaulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept\noff all that fought upon the wall, and slew all that fell into\ntheir hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.\n18\nAnd because certain, who were no less than nine thousand,\nwere fled together into two very strong castles, having all\nmanner of things convenient to sustain the siege,\n19\nMaccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them\nthat were with him, who were enough to besiege them, and\ndeparted himself unto those places which more needed his help.\n20\nNow they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness,\nwere persuaded for money through certain of those that were in\nthe castle, and took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of\nthem escape.\n21\nBut when it was told Maccabeus what was done, he called the\ngovernors of the people together, and accused those men, that\nthey had sold their brethren for money, and set their enemies\nfree to fight against them.\n22\nSo he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately\ntook the two castles.\n23\nAnd having good success with his weapons in all things he\ntook in hand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty\nthousand.\n24\nNow Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had\ngathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of\nAsia not a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of\narms.\n25\nBut when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned\nthemselves to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their\nheads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,\n26\nAnd fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to\nbe merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an\nadversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.\n27\nSo after the prayer they took their weapons, and went on\nfurther from the city: and when they drew near to their enemies,\nthey kept by themselves.\n28\nNow the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the\none part having together with their virtue their refuge also\nunto the Lord for a pledge of their success and victory: the\nother side making their rage leader of their battle\n29\nBut when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the\nenemies from heaven five comely men upon horses, with bridles of\ngold, and two of them led the Jews,\n30\nAnd took Maccabeus betwixt them, and covered him on every\nside weapons, and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings\nagainst the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness,\nand full of trouble, they were killed.\n31\nAnd there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five\nhundred, and six hundred horsemen.\n32\nAs for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold,\ncalled Gawra, where Chereas was governor.\n33\nBut they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the\nfortress courageously four days.\n34\nAnd they that were within, trusting to the strength of the\nplace, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.\n35\nNevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of\nMaccabeus' company, inflamed with anger because of the\nblasphemies, assaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage\nkilled all that they met withal.\n36\nOthers likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied\nwith them that were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires\nburnt the blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates,\nand, having received in the rest of the army, took the city,\n37\nAnd killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and\nChereas his brother, with Apollophanes.\n38\nWhen this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and\nthanksgiving, who had done so great things for Israel, and given\nthem the victory.\n2Mac 11\nNot long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin,\nwho also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the\nthings that were done.\n2\nAnd when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all\nthe horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the\ncity an habitation of the Gentiles,\n3\nAnd to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of\nthe heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:\n4\nNot at all considering the power of God but puffed up with\nhis ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and\nhis fourscore elephants.\n5\nSo he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a\nstrong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and\nhe laid sore siege unto it.\n6\nNow when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged\nthe holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears\nbesought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver\nIsrael.\n7\nThen Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting\nthe other that they would jeopard themselves together with him\nto help their brethren: so they went forth together with a\nwilling mind.\n8\nAnd as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on\nhorseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.\n9\nThen they praised the merciful God all together, and took\nheart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men,\nbut with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.\n10\nThus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper\nfrom heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them\n11\nAnd giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew\neleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put\nall the other to flight.\n12\nMany of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias\nhimself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.\n13\nWho, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself\nwhat loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not\nbe overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto\nthem,\n14\nAnd persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and\npromised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a\nfriend unto them.\n15\nThen Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being\ncareful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto\nLysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.\n16\nFor there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to\nthis effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth\ngreeting:\n17\nJohn and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the\npetition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the\ncontents thereof.\n18\nTherefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the\nking, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might\nbe.\n19\nAnd if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state,\nhereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.\n20\nBut of the particulars I have given order both to these and\nthe other that came from me, to commune with you.\n21\nFare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the\nfour and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.\n22\nNow the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus\nunto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:\n23\nSince our father is translated unto the gods, our will is,\nthat they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may\nattend upon his own affairs.\n24\nWe understand also that the Jews would not consent to our\nfather, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but\nhad rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause\nthey require of us, that we should suffer them to live after\ntheir own laws.\n25\nWherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and\nwe have determined to restore them their temple, that they may\nlive according to the customs of their forefathers.\n26\nThou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant\nthem peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may\nbe of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own\naffairs.\n27\nAnd the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was\nafter this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the\ncouncil, and the rest of the Jews:\n28\nIf ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good\nhealth.\n29\nMenelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return\nhome, and to follow your own business:\n30\nWherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till\nthe thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.\n31\nAnd the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as\nbefore; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested\nfor things ignorantly done.\n32\nI have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.\n33\nFare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the\nfifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.\n34\nThe Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these\nwords: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the\nRomans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.\n35\nWhatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith\nwe also are well pleased.\n36\nBut touching such things as he judged to be referred to the\nking, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we\nmay declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to\nAntioch.\n37\nTherefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your\nmind.\n38\nFarewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the\nfifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.\n2Mac 12\nWhen these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king,\nand the Jews were about their husbandry.\n2\nBut of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and\nApollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon,\nand beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer\nthem to be quiet and live in peace.\n3\nThe men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed\nthe Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and\nchildren into the boats which they had prepared, as though they\nhad meant them no hurt.\n4\nWho accepted of it according to the common decree of the\ncity, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting\nnothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they\ndrowned no less than two hundred of them.\n5\nWhen Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he\ncommanded those that were with him to make them ready.\n6\nAnd calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against\nthose murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night,\nand set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.\n7\nAnd when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he\nwould return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.\n8\nBut when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like\nmanner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,\n9\nHe came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the\nhaven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at\nJerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.\n10\nNow when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their\njourney toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on\nfoot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.\n11\nWhereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by\nthe help of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia,\nbeing overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give\nhim cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.\n12\nThen Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in\nmany things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and\nso they departed to their tents.\n13\nHe went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city,\nwhich was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of\ndivers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.\n14\nBut they that were within it put such trust in the strength\nof the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved\nthemselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and\nblaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.\n15\nWherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord\nof the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down\nJericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the\nwalls,\n16\nAnd took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable\nslaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near\nadjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with\nblood.\n17\nThen departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty\nfurlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called\nTubieni.\n18\nBut as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for\nbefore he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence,\nhaving left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.\n19\nHowbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus'\ncaptains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in\nthe fortress, above ten thousand men.\n20\nAnd Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the\nbands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred\nand twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five\nhundred horsemen.\n21\nNow when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas' coming, he sent\nthe women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress\ncalled Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to\ncome unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.\n22\nBut when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies,\nbeing smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him\nwho seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way,\nanother that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own\nmen, and wounded with the points of their own swords.\n23\nJudas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those\nwicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.\n24\nMoreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus\nand Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go\nwith his life, because he had many of the Jews' parents, and the\nbrethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should\nnot be regarded.\n25\nSo when he had assured them with many words that he would\nrestore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let\nhim go for the saving of their brethren.\n26\nThen Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of\nAtargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.\n27\nAnd after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas\nremoved the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias\nabode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong\nyoung men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein\nalso was great provision of engines and darts.\n28\nBut when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God,\nwho with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they\nwon the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that\nwere within,\n29\nFrom thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six\nhundred furlongs from Jerusalem,\n30\nBut when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the\nScythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them\nkindly in the time of their adversity;\n31\nThey gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still\nunto them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks\napproaching.\n32\nAnd after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth\nagainst Gorgias the governor of Idumea,\n33\nWho came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred\nhorsemen.\n34\nAnd it happened that in their fighting together a few of the\nJews were slain.\n35\nAt which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor's company, who was on\nhorseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking\nhold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken\nthat cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him\nsmote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.\n36\nNow when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and\nwere weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew\nhimself to be their helper and leader of the battle.\n37\nAnd with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms\nwith a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias' men, he\nput them to flight.\n38\nSo Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of\nOdollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified\nthemselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same\nplace.\n39\nAnd upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and\nhis company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain,\nand to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers' graves.\n40\nNow under the coats of every one that was slain they found\nthings consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is\nforbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was\nthe cause wherefore they were slain.\n41\nAll men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who\nhad opened the things that were hid,\n42\nBetook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin\ncommitted might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that\nnoble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin,\nforsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to\npass for the sins of those that were slain.\n43\nAnd when he had made a gathering throughout the company to\nthe sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to\nJerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and\nhonestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:\n44\nFor if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have\nrisen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the\ndead.\n45\nAnd also in that he perceived that there was great favour\nlaid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good\nthought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that\nthey might be delivered from sin.\n2Mac 13\nIn the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that\nAntiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,\n2\nAnd with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs,\nhaving either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and\nten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and\nelephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with\nhooks.\n3\nMenelaus also joined himself with them, and with great\ndissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the\ncountry, but because he thought to have been made governor.\n4\nBut the King of kings moved Antiochus' mind against this\nwicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was\nthe cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring\nhim unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in\nthat place.\n5\nNow there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high,\nfull of ashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side\nhanged down into the ashes.\n6\nAnd whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed\nany other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto\ndeath.\n7\nSuch a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having\nso much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:\n8\nFor inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar,\nwhose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.\n9\nNow the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far\nworse to the Jews, than had been done in his father's time.\n10\nWhich things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude\nto call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other\ntime, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put\nfrom their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:\n11\nAnd that he would not suffer the people, that had even now\nbeen but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the\nblasphemous nations.\n12\nSo when they had all done this together, and besought the\nmerciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the\nground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded\nthey should be in a readiness.\n13\nAnd Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before\nthe king's host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go\nforth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.\n14\nSo when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and\nexhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for\nthe laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the\ncommonwealth, he camped by Modin:\n15\nAnd having given the watchword to them that were about him,\nVictory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he\nwent in into the king's tent by night, and slew in the camp\nabout four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with\nall that were upon him.\n16\nAnd at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and\ndeparted with good success.\n17\nThis was done in the break of the day, because the protection\nof the Lord did help him.\n18\nNow when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the\nJews, he went about to take the holds by policy,\n19\nAnd marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the\nJews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:\n20\nFor Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things\nas were necessary.\n21\nBut Rhodocus, who was in the Jews' host, disclosed the\nsecrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when\nthey had gotten him, they put him in prison.\n22\nThe king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave\nhis hand, took their's, departed, fought with Judas, was\novercome;\n23\nHeard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch,\nwas desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted\nhimself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them,\nand offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly\nwith the place,\n24\nAnd accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor\nfrom Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;\n25\nCame to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the\ncovenants; for they stormed, because they would make their\ncovenants void:\n26\nLysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be\nin defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well\naffected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king's\ncoming and departing.\n2Mac 14\nAfter three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son\nof Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a\ngreat power and navy,\n2\nHad taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his\nprotector.\n3\nNow one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled\nhimself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the\nGentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor\nhave any more access to the holy altar,\n4\nCame to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth\nyear, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also\nof the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple: and so\nthat day he held his peace.\n5\nHowbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish\nenterprize, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and\nasked how the Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he\nanswered thereunto:\n6\nThose of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is\nJudas Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let\nthe rest be in peace.\n7\nTherefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honour, I mean\nthe high priesthood, am now come hither:\n8\nFirst, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things\npertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the\ngood of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small\nmisery through the unadvised dealing of them aforersaid.\n9\nWherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be\ncareful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on\nevery side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest\nunto all.\n10\nFor as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the\nstate should be quiet.\n11\nThis was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's\nfriends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense\nDemetrius.\n12\nAnd forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the\nelephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him\nforth,\n13\nCommanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were\nwith him, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.\n14\nThen the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came\nto Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities ot the\nJews to be their welfare.\n15\nNow when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the\nheathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads,\nand made supplication to him that had established his people for\never, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of\nhis presence.\n16\nSo at the commandment of the captain they removed\nstraightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of\nDessau.\n17\nNow Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor,\nbut was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his\nenemies.\n18\nNevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that\nwere with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight\nfor their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.\n19\nWherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias,\nto make peace.\n20\nSo when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the\ncaptain had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it\nappeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the\ncovenants,\n21\nAnd appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and\nwhen the day came, and stools were set for either of them,\n22\nLudas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some\ntreachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they\nmade a peaceable conference.\n23\nNow Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent\naway the people that came flocking unto him.\n24\nAnd he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for\nhe love the man from his heart\n25\nHe prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so\nhe married, was quiet, and took part of this life.\n26\nBut Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and\nconsidering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and\ntold him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state;\nfor that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be\nthe king's successor.\n27\nThen the king being in a rage, and provoked with the\naccusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying\nthat he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding\nhim that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto\nAntioch.\n28\nWhen this came to Nicanor's hearing, he was much confounded\nin himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the\narticles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.\n29\nBut because there was no dealing against the king, he watched\nhis time to accomplish this thing by policy.\n30\nNotwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be\nchurlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than\nhe was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of\ngood, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew\nhimself from Nicanor.\n31\nBut the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by\nJudas' policy, came into the great and holy temple, and\ncommanded the priests, that were offering their usual\nsacrifices, to deliver him the man.\n32\nAnd when they sware that they could not tell where the man\nwas whom he sought,\n33\nHe stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made\nan oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a\nprisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground,\nand I will break down the altar, and erect a notable temple unto\nBacchus.\n34\nAfter these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up\ntheir hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a\ndefender of their nation, saying in this manner;\n35\nThou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast\npleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:\n36\nTherefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house\never undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every\nunrighteous mouth.\n37\nNow was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the\nelders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of\nvery good report, who for his kindness was called a father of\nthe Jews.\n38\nFor in the former times, when they mingled not themselves\nwith the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did\nboldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the\nreligion of the Jews.\n39\nSo Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the\nJews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:\n40\nFor he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.\n41\nNow when the multitude would have taken the tower, and\nviolently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should\nbe brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side\nfell upon his sword;\n42\nChoosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands\nof the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble\nbirth:\n43\nBut missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also\nrushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast\nhimself down manfully among the thickest of them.\n44\nBut they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell\ndown into the midst of the void place.\n45\nNevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being\ninflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out\nlike spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran\nthrough the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,\n46\nWhen as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his\nbowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the\nthrong, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore\nhim those again, he thus died.\n2Mac 15\nBut Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the\nstrong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set\nupon them on the sabbath day.\n2\nNevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him\nsaid, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour\nto that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with\nholiness above all other days.\n3\nThen the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a\nMighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be\nkept.\n4\nAnd when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and\nmighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:\n5\nThen said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I\ncommand to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he\nobtained not to have his wicked will done.\n6\nSo Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to\nset up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them\nthat were with him.\n7\nBut Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would\nhelp him:\n8\nWherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of\nthe heathen against them, but to remember the help which in\nformer times they had received from heaven, and now to expect\nthe victory and aid, which should come unto them from the\nAlmighty.\n9\nAnd so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and\nwithal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore,\nhe made them more cheerful.\n10\nAnd when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their\ncharge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen,\nand the breach of oaths.\n11\nThus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of\nshields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and\nbeside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if\nit had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.\n12\nAnd this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high\npriest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation,\ngentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a\nchild in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for\nthe whole body of the Jews.\n13\nThis done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray\nhairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and\nexcellent majesty.\n14\nThen Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren,\nwho prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit,\nJeremias the prophet of God.\n15\nWhereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas\na sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,\n16\nTake this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou\nshalt wound the adversaries.\n17\nThus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were\nvery good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage\nthe hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp,\nbut courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the\nmatter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the\ntemple were in danger.\n18\nFor the care that they took for their wives, and their\nchildren, their brethren, and folks, was in least account with\nthem: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy\ntemple.\n19\nAlso they that were in the city took not the least care,\nbeing troubled for the conflict abroad.\n20\nAnd now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the\nenemies were already come near, and the army was set in array,\nand the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in\nwings,\n21\nMaccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers\npreparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts,\nstretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord\nthat worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms,\nbut even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are\nworthy:\n22\nTherefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord,\nthou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of\nJudea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred\nfourscore and five thousand:\n23\nWherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel\nbefore us for a fear and dread unto them;\n24\nAnd through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with\nterror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he\nended thus.\n25\nThen Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with\ntrumpets and songs.\n26\nBut Judas and his company encountered the enemies with\ninvocation and prayer.\n27\nSo that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God\nwith their hearts, they slew no less than thirty\nand five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they\nwere greatly cheered.\n28\nNow when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they\nknew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.\n29\nThen they made a great shout and a noise, praising the\nAlmighty in their own language.\n30\nAnd Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens\nboth in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his\ncountrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head,\nand his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.\n31\nSo when he was there, and called them of his nation together,\nand set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were\nof the tower,\n32\nAnd shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that\nblasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against\nthe holy temple of the Almighty.\n33\nAnd when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor,\nhe commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls,\nand hang up the reward of his madness before the temple.\n34\nSo every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord,\nsaying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.\n35\nHe hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and\nmanifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.\n36\nAnd they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let\nthat day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth\nday of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called\nAdar, the day before Mardocheus' day.\n37\nThus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the\nHebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an\nend.\n38\nAnd if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is\nthat which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that\nwhich I could attain unto.\n39\nFor as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as\nwine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste:\neven so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that\nread the story. And here shall be an end.","title":"The Second Book of the Maccabees","type":"page"}